What would you do, if anything, in the situation I encountered last night? I was riding home from work like I always do, 6:20pm, dark residential street, light traffic, 2 wide lanes; I was riding perhaps a foot off the gutter pan, straight line, brightly lit with three red blinkies and an ankle blinkie, 6W dual beam on the front. A car pulls up close to me on my left, window rolled down, and a young male voice says "Sidewalk", then zooms away. I notice it has a Papa Johns pizza sign on top and I get the first 3 digits of the license plate. What would you do, if anything?

You could obviously either call them and complain, or you could call and ask to talk to the young man and inform him of cyclists rights to the road. Or you could just let it go (I would).

Call the Papa Johns in that area and complain.

Nothing. The temptation is always to escalate. At this very moment, what does it matter that this fool told you to ride on the sidewalk? Zero. Continue on your way and patronize other pizza joints.

It depends on how he stated the word Sidewalk. If he looked angry like he might want to do something the next time, you should call the local Papa Johns and tell them what happened. He might be giving you a warning of what might come next time you get in his way!

Ride your bike to Papa Johns, open the door, and say "Pizza! Pizza!"

The driver probably did not only do this to you, and may even do it again if he sees you (it's your regular route, he probably works about the same time). You might inquire of the manager if they have a policy of harassing law-observing bike riders, because if they do you are considering whether to organize a consumer boycott. If they don't have a safe driver company policy that includes bikes, find out if they will post a notice in the empoyee area advising that bike riders are permitted on the street. Give him the license plate info and ask him to get back to you with the results of his investigation.

A letter from the local bike federation could carry some weight. Cc the Papa Johns home office franchise relations and legal departments.

I'd call it "educate" instead of "complain". This person doesn't know the laws, and would benefit from somebody politely educating him. You might also give the Papa John's manager a head's up that their drivers might need clarification on the rules of the roads. Specifically safe distances to give cyclists. If the wheels start to turn in the heads about the kind of money it would cost them if one of their drivers injured a cyclist they'll take it seriously.

You could take it a step further and write a letter to the Papa John's manager and their corp office. But whatever you do, please try to keep it friendly....in situations like these we need kind ambadors. (notice I left the ASS out of ambassador)

But, like ryko, personally i'd probably just let it go.

Call up & order a pizza. When he delivers it, give him a copy of your state's road regulations in place of a tip

This is deinitely a last resort. Just saying sidewalk doesn't warrent this kind of attack. It might pay to gently educate the driver or to let it go unless it happens again.

Joe

I think Seamless has the right idea. Very productive.

If he worked for me, I'd want to know about it. I would let the local manager know about it. If his driving wasn't actually agresssive, I would make sure the manager knew about that too.

I like this idea.

I agree with the folks who say report him to the manager. If you get the run-around, write to all franchises in the delivery area, as well as any headquarters office. In my town, pizza delivery places make an effort to keep good relations with the neighbors, especially when it comes to driver behavior. And for insurance purposes, they keep a tight reign on drivers when they receive complaints.

But don't overblow what the driver did. He was a jerk, that's it. He didn't throw anything. He didn't cut you off.

Unfortunately, the manager might be more concerned about the "zooming off" part than anything else.

Wait... All he said was "sidewalk?" That's it?

I personally wouldn't waste my time.

Yeah, I agree. If you get a chance, right in the instant, to say something witty (e.g. "get deez nuts"), then do it, but once the guy speeds off, let it go.

If he could arrange that pizza delivery person to be there, that is brilliant.

I personally would also give the driver the proper tip as no one needs enemies in this crazy world. . .

I agree, but I wouldn't let it go. Seems to me the perfect opportunity to educate someone on the rules of the road, especially someone whose primary job is to be driving. You might want to write the local store, and maybe the corporate public relations department as well. Tell them the general details (no need to get specific about the driver - if he wasn't actually driving dangerously) and include a quote from your State's vehicle code book regarding bike laws. An organization that employs lots and lots of drivers should take seriously any vehicle code ignorance displayed by their employees.

If this guy was irritated with you enough to roll down the window and say something, who knows what he will do after being angered countless more times by these "scofflaw" cyclists who keep using "his" roads?

Yeah, that could take a lot of orders before he finally scored the right delivery guy. Too bad it would have to be Papa Johns pizza
No offense to those who like Papa Johns, I just happen to live in an area rich with excellent Italian pizza joints

Educate? Is this actually possible? I am shocked.

I believe it most often comes at the end of a baseball bat. I would say leave it alone unless it happens again. If you complain he's likely to lose his job. I'd say that ignorance is no reason not to be allowed to deliver pizza.

Maybe he was doing verbal advertising for their new line of "Sidewalk Fresh Deli Style Crisp Crust New York Pizzas." But before he could get the rest out of his mouth he swallowed his crack pipe.

now that's funny

I don't. (well, the part about saying "Pizza, Pizza" in the door is good!)

The important part about "informing" the manager is to keep it "friendly". To try an organize a boycott would only end up making you (whoever was trying to do it) look like an idiot. Face it, the majority of people do think bicycles belong on the sidewalk, so why would they not do business with this place because a kid told you where you "belonged"?

I think super-douper has it right...

I'd take it to the manager of the local Papa John's. Keep in mind that the Founder of Papa John's was assaulted while cycling If the manager of this location is unwilling to help go to corporate level, based on the fact that "Papa" John Schnatter is himslef an avid cyclist and would want to promote positive relations with the cycling community.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. What great ammo