Assaulted on bike commute
 

I don't post here as much as I used to. But I do read often.

I was assaulted and injured Wednesday on my bike commute.

I'm too beat up to retype all the details, but I did blog post
Curtis Corlew in Bicycle Land: If it doesn't kill you, blog about it

I got so many questions I wrote a follow up. Plus, I can't move very well and I'm on pain meds,so what else is there to do?
Curtis Corlew in Bicycle Land: Bike commute assault followup

So sorry to hear this.

Damn! Glad you're relatively OK...

Damn, Curtis ... I am so sorry to hear that.

I ride on a path every day that is kinda famous for assaults (Ballona Creek) ... there have been many. And in the winter, I ride it at night.

I don't think there is ANYTHING you can really do. Like you say, if you were armed or had spray, it would have likely just been used on you.

I wonder if a video camera would have helped? My guess is that they probably would have just taken that too.

Just effing pisses me off ... I wouldn't call them young lads ... I'd call them young sociopaths.

Wishing you a quick recovery, physically is "relatively" easy, but emotionally unfortunately is different and it seems you are doing everything right by seeking help every which way you can. Including writing your informative blog.

Keep positive as much as you can.

That's lousy news. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

There are a couple of MUT's in the Houston area that are known for that kind of thing...
I guess I am one of the few who ride armed. I carry my pistol in a crossbreed bellyband holster under my jersey.

Middle schoolers with a gun? Wow Curtis, that is really scary. Glad you got out with as few injuries as you did.
Rest and take the pain meds. Best of luck on the recovery. Keep us posted.

That is deeply unpleasant on many levels. You're very wise to defer making any decisions, though. Give yourself some time to recover from the shock.

I'm glad they didnt decide to pull the trigger on you. I work with teen addicts such as this. They are dangerous and evil.

The picture looks familiar. I was an alternate juror on a murder case in which the young lady had shoe prints on her dead body from being stomped by the perp. The killer prized the shoes because they had been autographed by a rapper so he was too stupid to dispose of them and instead hid them in the closet. It helped lead to his conviction and sentencing to death. Maybe these jerks will try it again and get caught. They need to be put away for a long time.

Dang Curtis.......read your blogs and I sure hope you heal up quickly. Fractured ribs are the pits, but they do heal. Those were some nasty cuts and scrapes. I sure hope things work out for you in the long run and this episode doesn't create a significant change in how you commute.

Not sure how its codified, by Local Ordinance, or by State, but loitering near a bike trail is not allowed, at least in some places. Anyone without a bike, or even with a bike and staying put for long periods, is subject to citation or hopefully its Probable Cause for a field interview by LE.

I see sketchy behavior all the time on local bike paths like SGRT and CCRT where people are posting themselves along the trail, sometimes playing with their phones. Someone teaming up to commit assaults will need lookouts who can relay info to confederates further down the trail.

When I'm lucky enough to see trouble far down the trail I will leave the trail and seek an alternate route. I've been doing this quite a bit in the last few years.

Wow, so far out of my range of experience! Never even occurred to me as a possible risk. On the other hand, I ran into a bear on the trail earlier this week. Once we got over the mutual surprise he suddenly remembered an important appointment elsewhere and took off.

I wish you a speedy recovery of your physical and (undoubtedly) psychological injuries!

We have homeless living along our bike path. A lot of people say they won't use the path. I haven't had any problem (knock on wood) but if someone wanted to jump me probably not much I could do.

Get well.

scott s.
.

California...not surprised.

That really sucks. I hate to hear of stuff like that. Heal fast, Curtis.

These kids weren't loitering. They looked like any kids would who were walking across a school field to get to a multi use path.

baron von trail "California...not surprised" is your take away from this? Really?

Awful story. Glad you are recovering.

So sorry to hear. It's hard to wrap my head around the viciousness of the attack. I hope that you'll emerge from the experience wary, yet encouraged by those of us who stand with you in support. Just wish we could all be there to ride with you!

Bummer about the assault! Heal quick. I keep trying to place that "mark" on your face. Could it be from derailleur?

A couple years ago a cyclist was killed (shot) downtown for his high-end bicycle. There are no "safe areas".

Troubling. Hope you heal quickly, physically and otherwise.

Sacramento California was my home until I retired. I use to ride from Northern Sacramento out by Elverta/Rio Linda to Downtown via the bike trail. The homeless were always a problem, and I carried pepper spray, and folding knife. The really bad spot on the trip was a couple of pedestrian tunnel where you never knew what was waiting for you at the other end.

The best advice is you are not in the mental state to do battle, if you must battle you will most likely come out the looser. The homeless, vagrents, and thieve have little to loose if they can assult you, take your bike, take your wallet.

Have a plan and practice getting your pepper spray out, and indexing it so when you speay it. It dont spray toward you, and it going in the direction of the bad guy.

Curtis, All the best, hoping for a quick and complete recovery for you.

I wish you a speedy recovery and glad you got an Edible Arrangement to help you on your way (it was the best part of my surgery a while back).

Did the police have anything useful to say? I'm curious whether this is a "known problem" for them.

I must apologize, but when I saw your Strava recording with the ACHIEVEMENT box, I was half expecting it to say "survived first bike mugging... personal best!"

But all kidding aside, I'm glad that, while hurting, you're able to tell the tale. There are few things in life more scary that punks with a gun. So again, best wishes for your recovery, both physical and emotional.