Advice - file complaint or not
 

Hey all. On my commute in to work this morning a driver harassed the hell out of me. Here's the gist of it:

4:50 am, riding down a side road in a local town, not a real busy street but it is a popular route to get from one side of town to the other. Usually no one out at this time of morning so I'm in the middle of the lane (road divided by double yellow line in some places). Driver comes down the road (not close enough to hear or see his headlights - it is sill fairly dark) and he starts laying on his horn. I get over to the right and he is still on his horn. Travel another 100 feet or so and make the first available right hand turn to get away from him. (and yes, by this point I am flipping him off because he is still on his horn) He makes the same right turn and as I make evasive maneuvers he mimics every move I make and during this time his front bumper is only a couple of feet off my rear tire. I'm getting pretty frickin' scared by this time, so I start yelling out this license plate number and two blocks later he breaks off the attack (and yes, I feel as if I'm being attacked by this time). I kept looking for a patrol car to make a report (phone was buried in my pack) but don't see one. Thought about going the cop shop but the driver was headed in the same direction as them and too afraid of a replay. this time he might not restrain himself.

Question now: Do I stop at the cop shop on the way home and file a police report? And if I make a report and they get the guy do I press charges?

Do you have a description of the driver?

Yes, report his plate number.
Yes, press charges.

"flipped him off"! Ouch.

Unfortunately no.

Yeah, well, I was pissed he was being such a moron. Laying on your horn at 5 am? No other traffic around with plenty of room for him to pass me? Little bit of road rage on his part, IMO, and unfortunately it is contagious.

Thank you. I've called the locals, they said stop by on my way home.

"Flipping him off" does not fall on the side of conservation. It actually says that you can't refrain from escalating the problem/situation.

I would just leave it alone. You're going to embarrass yourself.

So you are suggesting that a driver of a 3000 pound vehicle has the right to harass and intimidate bicycle riders? Have you ever had a car chase you? It is pretty freaking scary.

I'd file a report. That way it'll be on the record if he hits a cyclist in the future.

ditto

Definately file a report. Keep an eye out for the car too, maybe even driving your car thru the area during the same time, to see if he is there often or was just passing through that one time. I dont even pay any attention to the dummies anymore unless they get too close. 2 feet is too close. Flipping people off is a protected form of speech for commuters when a car gets any closer than 3 feet, Isnt it?

That is kind of my thoughts on the subject.

The only other thing I can think is there is a roadie who trains in the same area at the same time as I was going through. We pass each other occasionally. I wonder if it was one of his friends trying to be funny and realized he had the wrong person.

That's one of the most "cookie cutter" responses I have ever seen. That's just pure silly. Of course I don't think so. Damn. But I also know restraint can go a long way. I'm amazed you asked that, and from a fellow bicyclist.

Yes, I have been chased, but not far. And you are correct, it was scary, but I got out of the situation before the driver could actually become dangerous to ANYONE. I know how to keep a situation from escalating. When it starts, take a left on a one way street coming at you. Duh. Or a right or where ever the driver/cager can't go. He'll cool off in a minute and then the next person he comes upon whom he feels entitled to threaten may not get the thrashing he intended for you. Think for a minute, the guy harasses you, you flip him off or whatever it takes to make him boil, then you evade him. Now you've turned an idiot into a raving foaming idiot, prepared to release his rage on anyone else he comes upon after you lose him. Does that really sound like a safe way to diffuse a situation? I think not.

I wouldn't have let it go as far as the OP did, had it been me. It isn't worth the hassle, and who doesn't enjoy a little evasive biking. Just think of it as single track.

But then, I'm me, not you. If you feel comfortable fighting the driver for the "last word," go for it. It's way too much work for me, and I generally try to stay happy on a ride. Shiite happens, which is why I gave up pavement for mud 20+ years ago. I did my time on the curb lane and don't have a desire to reprise that era in my life. I've seen more than most would care to. I started at 12 yo with a paper route. I've been hit three times, suffered a broken left leg in one accident and had to take a year off to heal. Any other questions, or can you now get on with your day? :rolleyes:

Oddly, I hope your complaint works for you, but vigilanteism is a hard road to go.

You are, of course, right about avoiding the escalation. I make light of flipping people off but with the crazies out there it is not a good idea, and ending the incident as quickly as possible is probably the safest.

A very real possibility.

always report. this guy might have other complaints (or even warrants) against him. also the cops might do a stake out in that area just to make their presence known during that commute time. I like seeing the cops along my commute. it helps keep the drivers at bay.

try not to flip people off. it can be a rage trigger

This thread should be titled "I filed a report today"....are you waiting for our approval?

This guy needs at least a talking-to. Anyone that's that angry and aggressive that early in the morning isn't going to get any safer on the roads as the day goes on.

Sounds like he should be in anger management classes.

Let the cops stop by his house and let him know what's what.

my current spouse had a stalker from HS or College a couple years ago and we told the local cops where he lived and the uniformed officers visited at him home (his parents home where he lives hahaha) and spoke to the three of them. there haven't been any further attempts by him to contact her. amazing what a visit from a uniformed cop can do (to most people). I know I wouldn't want such a visit!

You had lights, I assume.

No, of course not. While "flipping people off" is understandable, it does not thing to help your situation. It could even make your situation worse!
Keep in mind that you can only control what you do.

Report him and ignore everyone about the finger. However, I would accidentally omit that fact from the report.

I'm with those who suggest that in the future you restrain from "flipping off" drivers. That said I've had my fair share of birds fly out of my hand and do think it is a form of free "speech" and does not warrant violence or a threat of violence in response.

This driver should be reported in my opinion.

For what it's worth I had a group of "kids" in a small car deliberately aim at me in an intersection and lean on the horn (as a joke !!?), as I went by Fenway Park immediately following a game the other night, the driver was inches from me as I "flipped him off". They then screamed at me some more and it really ticked me off. With tons of witnesses who'd seen their flagrantly aggressive move I whipped the bike around and quickly chased the car down and caught them in no time.

I only had the intention of giving them a further "piece of my mind" and seeing if I could grab a cop (there's usually a few of them around following the games to seek out rowdies like these guys) but was surprised at their response when I caught them. Granted I must have looked really enraged because they were rolling up windows and looking terrified as I caught up to them. The last thing they were trying to do was close was the sun roof, and I was tempted to yank the driver up out of his seat by his hair.

Instead, as he was literally pleading for mercy and apologizing, I gave him my standard, "That's 3000 lbs of responsibility you're driving there buddy. Learn how to handle it before someone shoves it right up your a.." Not my most elegant moment but it expressed what I was feeling and got a pretty good response from the bystanders who'd seen the whole event. Sometimes it pays to be 6'3 and to have the capacity to look like raging lunatic with split second accuracy. :notamused:

I wish I could be all zen all the time but every once in a while the demon comes out.

Yeah, you're probably right. I really doubt that the cager would bring it up. :rolleyes: X 1,000.

Your word against his.