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-   -   Can't be to careful out there. (https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/713193-cant-careful-out-there.html)

Phil85207 02-12-11 07:05 PM

Can't be to careful out there.
 
I was in the bike lane and a string of trucks with horse trailers came by. The last one cut over into my bike lane and very nearly crushed me against the curb. Had I not got on the binders hard and quickly, this nut would have gotten me. I yelled as loud as I could and he pulled over into his lane again. As I caught back up to him at the next light I could see he was on a cell phone. Well I lost it. I started to give him a tongue lashing at the light. The people across the street were wondering what was going on. When the light turned green I said to them " cell phone driver nearly ran me over", and about that time here he comes and pulled into the bike lane again. I know I should have just let it go but... grrrrrrrrr.

Lucillle 02-12-11 07:12 PM


Originally Posted by Phil85207 (Post 12216306)
and about that time here he comes and pulled into the bike lane again.

Possibly intentionally the second time. I'm glad you're OK.

skilsaw 02-12-11 08:53 PM

Last summer as I passed a parked utility van, the man in the drivers seat threw a banana skin out the window.
I circled around, picked it up and threw it back in his still open window.

Felt good, but people have been killed for less.

JanMM 02-13-11 09:36 AM


Originally Posted by skilsaw (Post 12216662)
Last summer as I passed a parked utility van, the man in the drivers seat threw a banana skin out the window.
I circled around, picked it up and threw it back in his still open window.

Felt good, but people have been killed for less.

Not recommended action but I would love to see the video.

DnvrFox 02-13-11 09:44 AM


Originally Posted by skilsaw (Post 12216662)
Last summer as I passed a parked utility van, the man in the drivers seat threw a banana skin out the window.
I circled around, picked it up and threw it back in his still open window.

Felt good, but people have been killed for less.

Like to live dangerously do you?

But, I would have loved to have been there and watched.

DnvrFox 02-13-11 09:47 AM


Originally Posted by Phil85207 (Post 12216306)
I was in the bike lane and a string of trucks with horse trailers came by. The last one cut over into my bike lane and very nearly crushed me against the curb. Had I not got on the binders hard and quickly, this nut would have gotten me. I yelled as loud as I could and he pulled over into his lane again. As I caught back up to him at the next light I could see he was on a cell phone. Well I lost it. I started to give him a tongue lashing at the light. The people across the street were wondering what was going on. When the light turned green I said to them " cell phone driver nearly ran me over", and about that time here he comes and pulled into the bike lane again. I know I should have just let it go but... grrrrrrrrr.

On the Ride the Rockies many moons ago, as we were leaving Granby while crossing a bridge, a semi with a flatbed cut the corner too wide and the rear wheels almost took out a female rider with no place to go on the bridge. Scary. She got through OK, but it was a bit close. Glad you got through OK.

bkaapcke 02-13-11 03:49 PM

This is why you should always carry a grenade. You could have tossed it into the horse trailer. bk

Not really.

RonH 02-13-11 04:08 PM

Glad you're ok.
Drivers are nuts!! :fight:
Here's what happened to me today. :mad:

jackb 02-14-11 11:31 AM

Be careful before yelling at drivers. They are in big, heavy, powerful vehicles. You're on some 18 lb. contraption that offers no protection. I've tried all kinds of strategies in dealing with discourteous/dangerous drivers. the best for me has been to spread my arms and open my hands palm upward as if asking "what the hell are you doing?" They can usually see me in their rear view mirrors. Very non-confrontative. Sometimes I've been able to catch up with drivers at lights and tap on their windows. When they lower them I point out what they did. This is a friendly way to do things but not always effective. I've gotten into arguments this way.

bobthib 02-14-11 11:52 AM

Get their Lic # and call the police. Report them for reckless driving.

DnvrFox 02-14-11 12:00 PM


Originally Posted by jackb (Post 12223303)
Be careful before yelling at drivers. They are in big, heavy, powerful vehicles. You're on some 18 lb. contraption that offers no protection. I've tried all kinds of strategies in dealing with discourteous/dangerous drivers. the best for me has been to spread my arms and open my hands palm upward as if asking "what the hell are you doing?" They can usually see me in their rear view mirrors. Very non-confrontative. Sometimes I've been able to catch up with drivers at lights and tap on their windows. When they lower them I point out what they did. This is a friendly way to do things but not always effective. I've gotten into arguments this way.

Why place oneself in a position to have an argument with an unknown quantity? Will that actually change their behavior in the future? That's not why I bicycle. How about simply ignoring the whole thing, or, at the very most, license plate and cell phone. Even then, it is always aggravating to me to phone the police - they always want a whole lot of info, descriptions, etc., etc.

Doohickie 02-14-11 12:28 PM

Ironic thread title is ironic.

jackb 02-14-11 01:21 PM

To ignore a dangerous incident caused by a driver is, in a way, to condone it. Any way that would communicate the driver's error to the driver that would be non-hostile would be better than saying nothing. but, of course, there is always a risk involved. In all my interactions over the forty years I've been riding, I've never gotten into anything more than an argument, never escalating to the point of violence. I assume that if I were right, the incident might have some possible effects on the driver the next time he interacts with a cyclist. But, of course, there is no guarantee. But it's all a matter of one's personality and inclinations..

Pat 02-14-11 01:42 PM

I have actually had a few drivers be contrite when they do a brain dead stunt. Their brains obviously functioned well enough for them to know that they had done something stupid and put someone else's life at risk. My response was always, "just try to be careful". Everyone makes slips. Automobiles are dangerous machinery as our traffic death toll indicates.

Doohickie 02-14-11 03:30 PM


Originally Posted by jackb (Post 12223999)
To ignore a dangerous incident caused by a driver is, in a way, to condone it. Any way that would communicate the driver's error to the driver that would be non-hostile would be better than saying nothing. but, of course, there is always a risk involved. In all my interactions over the forty years I've been riding, I've never gotten into anything more than an argument, never escalating to the point of violence. I assume that if I were right, the incident might have some possible effects on the driver the next time he interacts with a cyclist. But, of course, there is no guarantee. But it's all a matter of one's personality and inclinations..

There is a difference between communicating the driver's error to the driver and this:


Originally Posted by Phil85207 (Post 12216306)
I started to give him a tongue lashing at the light.



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