Road Rage, FROM ME!

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I went for a ride last night before (and into) dark. It was almost my last. Six inches and I would
have been dead. Some goof in a Camero or Firebird nearly hit me head on. I was doing everything
right. I was on a side street on the far right about 30 yards from the intersection. I saw this
car make a fast right turn from the street ahead on the left and come all the way to my side of
the street and come right at me. I let out a yell and swerved the last foot up against the curb
but there was nowhere else to go. He (or she, I couldn't tell) swerved to his right at the last
second and his mirror nearly clipped my handlebar as we passed. I don't think it was done on
purpose because he came to a quick stop after the swerve as if he was shocked at what almost
happened. I was so mad, I lit up that whole neighborhood with some pretty strong language that I
won't repeat. I actually chased him with my bike for a couple of blocks while calling him out but
he probably saw I wasn't in the mood to be messed with at this point and he took off. I had my
blinker in the back and my dual beem headlight shining right in his face. You can be as visible as
can be and it doesn't matter if someone isn't looking. I was kinda skittish the rest of the way
home whenever cars would come by. Good thing I prayed for safety before I rode.

Definitely sounds like a scary incident. I'm glad you weren't injured (physically, that is). It's
depressing when you do everything right, but somebody simply not paying attention still nearly
takes you out.

I'm guessing they probably stopped to be sure you weren't injured, but didn't want to mess with you
once they figured out you were ok. Did you get the license plate?

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

No Dave, I didn't even think of that until this morning. I guess when you get as mad as I was you
stop thinking clearly, as my 'chase' demonstrated.

Andy

AJRBJR <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I went for a ride last night before (and into) dark. It was almost my last. Six inches and I would
: have been dead. Some goof in a Camero or Firebird nearly hit me head on. I was doing everything
: right. I was on a side street on the far right about 30 yards from the intersection. I saw this
: car make a fast right turn from the street ahead on the left and come all the way to my side of
: the street and come right at me. I let out a yell and swerved the last foot up against the curb
: but there was nowhere else to go. He (or she, I couldn't tell) swerved to his right at the last
: second and his mirror nearly clipped my handlebar as we passed. I don't think it was done on
: purpose because he came to a quick stop after the swerve as if he was shocked at what almost
: happened. I was so mad, I lit up that whole neighborhood with some pretty strong language that I
: won't repeat. I actually chased him with my bike for a couple of blocks while calling him out but
: he probably saw I wasn't in the mood to be messed with at this point and he took off. I had my
: blinker in the back and my dual beem headlight shining right in his face. You can be as visible as
: can be and it doesn't matter if someone isn't looking. I was kinda skittish the rest of the way
: home whenever cars would come by. Good thing I prayed for safety before I rode.

If you had dual beam headlights aimed at the driver of the oncoming car he could easily have mistook
you for a car that was much further away.

Maybe?

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------

Quoted message said:

If you had dual beam headlights aimed at the driver of the oncoming car he could easily have
mistook you for a car that was much further away.

I don't think so. The beams were facing forward and only were in his face once he ligned up with me
after his turn. It is still no excuse for turning and ending up completely left of center. I think
he was looking left while turning right.

Andy

Badger South said:

In my case, for some reason the nice officer cited me for unsafe turning.

I brought photos, and arrows. The other guy steps up and admits he didn't stop at the double
whiteline and was doing a rolling left. The judge dismissed mine and cited him.

You were very lucky. The guy who hit you may be a horrible driver, but he has a conscience. Most
people would have stonewalled once the other guy was cited.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Accept risk. Accept responsibility. Put a lawyer out of _`\(,_ | business. (_)/ (_) |

"AJRBJR" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I went for a ride last night before (and into) dark. It was almost my

last. Six

Quoted message said:

inches and I would have been dead. Some goof in a Camero or Firebird

nearly hit

Quoted message said:

me head on. I was doing everything right. I was on a side street on the

far

Quoted message said:

right about 30 yards from the intersection. I saw this car make a fast

right

Quoted message said:

turn from the street ahead on the left and come all the way to my side of

the

Quoted message said:

street and come right at me. I let out a yell and swerved the last foot up against the curb but
there was nowhere else to go. He (or she, I couldn't

tell)

Quoted message said:

swerved to his right at the last second and his mirror nearly clipped my handlebar as we passed. I
don't think it was done on purpose because he

came to

Quoted message said:

a quick stop after the swerve as if he was shocked at what almost

happened. I

Quoted message said:

was so mad, I lit up that whole neighborhood with some pretty strong

language

Quoted message said:

that I won't repeat. I actually chased him with my bike for a couple of

blocks

Quoted message said:

while calling him out but he probably saw I wasn't in the mood to be

messed

Quoted message said:

with at this point and he took off. I had my blinker in the back and my

dual

Quoted message said:

beem headlight shining right in his face. You can be as visible as can be

and

Quoted message said:

it doesn't matter if someone isn't looking. I was kinda skittish the rest

of

Quoted message said:

the way home whenever cars would come by. Good thing I prayed for safety

before

Quoted message said:

I rode.

A friend of mine was killed earlier this year in an accident like this. A pickup truck came around a
corner too fast, crossed the center line, and hit him head on. It was in a semi-rural area with no
other traffic on the road.

I had a similar experience myself last weekend with some kid [censored] around in his daddy's pickup.
Fortunately, I heard the squealing tires before I saw the driver, and was ready to bail out if
necessary. Unfortunately, he didn't stop as I "gestured" at him, but perhaps that's a good thing. I
have a bad attitude about those kinds of drivers, and might get myself in trouble if I ever confront
one in person.

--
~_-* ...G/ \G cyclistats.comcyclistats.comOpen ↗ CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

"Badger South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In my case, for some reason the nice officer cited me for unsafe turning.

I brought photos, and arrows. The other guy steps up and admits he didn't stop at the double
whiteline and was doing a rolling left. The judge dismissed mine and cited him.

Why was the "other guy" in court in the first place?

Matthew

In article said:

"Badger South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In my case, for some reason the nice officer cited me for unsafe turning.

I brought photos, and arrows. The other guy steps up and admits he didn't stop at the double
whiteline and was doing a rolling left. The judge dismissed mine and cited him.

Why was the "other guy" in court in the first place?

Matthew

He went into the intersection without stopping on red. I had the green and was turning left. He hit
me in the front left center of my vehicle. I made a normal left hand turn. The officer was uh,
reactionary.

The judge seemed to agree, and dismissed my charge. The other guy freely admitted I had the green,
and he failed to stop on red before turning right. He rolled into the intersection and cut off the
radius of my normal left hand turn. (it's a narrow turn for him, and he went wide. I was outside of
his lane marker, and if you'd make a dotted line from my lane to the lane I was going it would be
completely legal, if a touch V rather than a Wide-ass U, or inverted L.

-B

--
Email Replies to johnson<nospm>01j <att> ntelos <dott> net

Chasing a car is not a complete waste of time. Years ago I was side swiped going up a small hill
with a blind turn. A guy had been behind me for about a mile with plenty of space to pass but decide
this blind turn was the ideal place to pass. Amother car came around the curve and rather then a
headon with the car he decide to side swipe me. He knew he hit me but did not stop. After pulling
myself out of the brush I went after him as fast as I could pedal. I did not catch him while in the
height of my rage. About 5 mile down the road he was stopped on the side of the road and his old
lady was giving him hell. I came up alongside his open window and before I could say a word he said
" I didn't do it" or words to that effect. That re-newed the rage real quick. I was able to get a
stright right to his jaw before I slipped and fell (never pick a fight in road cleats). Lucky for me
he took off rather then getting out of the car and kicking my ass. The event is nothing I'm proud
of. On the other hand I would like to believe that he will be a little more careful around cyclists
now, he'll probably keep his window up next time. Chris

"AJRBJR" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I went for a ride last night before (and into) dark. It was almost my

last. Six

Quoted message said:

inches and I would have been dead. Some goof in a Camero or Firebird

nearly hit

Quoted message said:

me head on. I was doing everything right. I was on a side street on the

far

Quoted message said:

right about 30 yards from the intersection. I saw this car make a fast

right

Quoted message said:

turn from the street ahead on the left and come all the way to my side of

the

Quoted message said:

street and come right at me. I let out a yell and swerved the last foot up against the curb but
there was nowhere else to go. He (or she, I couldn't

tell)

Quoted message said:

swerved to his right at the last second and his mirror nearly clipped my handlebar as we passed. I
don't think it was done on purpose because he

came to

Quoted message said:

a quick stop after the swerve as if he was shocked at what almost

happened. I

Quoted message said:

was so mad, I lit up that whole neighborhood with some pretty strong

language

Quoted message said:

that I won't repeat. I actually chased him with my bike for a couple of

blocks

Quoted message said:

while calling him out but he probably saw I wasn't in the mood to be

messed

Quoted message said:

with at this point and he took off. I had my blinker in the back and my

dual

Quoted message said:

beem headlight shining right in his face. You can be as visible as can be

and

Quoted message said:

it doesn't matter if someone isn't looking. I was kinda skittish the rest

of

Quoted message said:

the way home whenever cars would come by. Good thing I prayed for safety

before

Quoted message said:

I rode.

Chris Hughes said:

rage real quick. I was able to get a stright right to his jaw before I slipped and fell (never pick
a fight in road cleats). Lucky for me he took

Yet another reason why road and MTB pedal systems are backwards: In a fight, you need to put lateral
forces on a single foot.

Anyway, wear recessed cleats, and use them as a weapon; they are metal, and attached to the same
legs and feet that you use to pedal. That means you can really do some damage to a kneecap, or a
head if you're flexible enough. Take some karate lessons to learn how to kick best.
--
Rick "Imagined many fights, fought none" Onanian

Gary, sorry about your friend. That's a rough deal. Glad your OK though.

Chris, sorry for laughing when I pictured you falling after getting in a good shot. I really needed
to catch my guy right away because rage at such a high level doesn't last too long. When you loose
it, you loose your edge.

Hey Max, small world. The incident I wrote about in the Road Rage thread happened in Arlington
Heights. I fish the Fox River all the time and often ride the trail too. I parked in Algonquin and
rode to the Lake in the Hills airport last week and watched the planes land over my head. Very cool.

Andy

I had a recent experience where I mistook or misheard what I thought was a derogatory comment
directed at me from a passing vehicle. At a traffic light I caught up with the vehicle and I leaned
into his open passenger window and said to the driver in a voice full of chip on the shoulder :
"Hey, you talkin' to me?" I was surprised to hear my words come out with such vitriol and even more
surprised to see the startled and totally benign look on the driver's face. He said "No,no, I was
just singing to my radio", which I could hear playing.. He could have been lying but he looked
sincere. I mumbled a "sorry, thought you were talking to me" and backed away. Maybe he's a good
actor. Don't know. I thought it wise to give him the benefit of the doubt.

What I learned is that sometimes as cyclists we are quick to jump at what we perceive are
intentional slights against us. I'm sure there are times when they are indeed intentional, but we
could easily build up resentment against the general driving public to a degree that it begins to
cloud our judgment. I think keeping a cool head even when there is no doubt that a wrong has been
committed against us will serve us better in the long run. Every once in a while I'll catch a
driver staring at me at a stop light. I'm usually in full cycling gear on an aggressive looking
road bike and I think that perhaps they are put off by the way I look. In those situations I try
to keep my face relaxed and even shoot them a friendly smile or nod. More often than not, I'll get
a smile or a nod back. The driver feels good, I feel good and I feel like I just advanced the
state motorist/cyclist relations even if it's only one person. It's a amazing what a simple smile
can do :-}

"AJRBJR" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I went for a ride last night before (and into) dark. It was almost my

last. Six

Quoted message said:

inches and I would have been dead. Some goof in a Camero or Firebird

nearly hit

Quoted message said:

me head on. I was doing everything right. I was on a side street on the

far

Quoted message said:

right about 30 yards from the intersection. I saw this car make a fast

right

Quoted message said:

turn from the street ahead on the left and come all the way to my side of

the

Quoted message said:

street and come right at me. I let out a yell and swerved the last foot up against the curb but
there was nowhere else to go. He (or she, I couldn't

tell)

Quoted message said:

swerved to his right at the last second and his mirror nearly clipped my handlebar as we passed. I
don't think it was done on purpose because he

came to

Quoted message said:

a quick stop after the swerve as if he was shocked at what almost

happened. I

Quoted message said:

was so mad, I lit up that whole neighborhood with some pretty strong

language

Quoted message said:

that I won't repeat. I actually chased him with my bike for a couple of

blocks

Quoted message said:

while calling him out but he probably saw I wasn't in the mood to be

messed

Quoted message said:

with at this point and he took off. I had my blinker in the back and my

dual

Quoted message said:

beem headlight shining right in his face. You can be as visible as can be

and

Quoted message said:

it doesn't matter if someone isn't looking. I was kinda skittish the rest

of

Quoted message said:

the way home whenever cars would come by. Good thing I prayed for safety

before

Quoted message said:

I rode.

-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- newsfeeds.comnewsfeeds.comOpen ↗ - The #1
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Rick Onanian said:

Anyway, wear recessed cleats, and use them as a weapon; they are metal, and attached to the same
legs and feet that you use to pedal. That means you can really do some damage to a kneecap, or a
head if you're flexible enough.

or the side of the offending car...

Allan said:

I had a recent experience where I mistook or misheard what I thought was a derogatory comment
directed at me from a passing vehicle. At a traffic light I caught up with the vehicle and I
leaned into his open passenger window and said to the driver in a voice full of chip on the
shoulder : "Hey, you talkin' to me?" I was surprised to hear my words come out with such vitriol
and even more surprised to see the startled and totally benign look on the driver's face. He said
"No,no, I was just singing to my radio", which I could hear playing.. He could have been lying but
he looked sincere. I mumbled a "sorry, thought you were talking to me" and backed away. Maybe he's
a good actor. Don't know. I thought it wise to give him the benefit of the doubt.

What I learned is that sometimes as cyclists we are quick to jump at what we perceive are
intentional slights against us. I'm sure there are times when they are indeed intentional, but we
could easily build up resentment against the general driving public to a degree that it begins to
cloud our judgment. I think keeping a cool head even when there is no doubt that a wrong has been
committed against us will serve us better in the long run. Every once in a while I'll catch a
driver staring at me at a stop light. I'm usually in full cycling gear on an aggressive looking
road bike and I think that perhaps they are put off by the way I look. In those situations I try
to keep my face relaxed and even shoot them a friendly smile or nod. More often than not, I'll get
a smile or a nod back. The driver feels good, I feel good and I feel like I just advanced the
state motorist/cyclist relations even if it's only one person. It's a amazing what a simple smile
can do :-}

SNIP

Allan:

You are right about that. Many times drivers honk, yell things, and I just assume that their actions
are negative.

My thoughts are that on-road/vehicular cyclists themselves (me included)are hardened by years of
defensive driving and have "earned" their rightful place on the road. They will not accept a "yell"
or honk which they assume means "get off the road."

I know personally it is easy to react with a sometimes unfriendly gesture. What I have been trying
to do is to smile big and wave. It's somewhat of a smartass response to those who are negative, and
friendly gesture to those that may actually be positive.

Sorry, your post is not valid. Common sense is not allowed. Persecuted bicyclist paranoia syndrome
is a requirement to post here.

--
Rick "Top-posting and overquoting, indeed" Onanian

Allan said:

I had a recent experience where I mistook or misheard what I thought was a derogatory comment
directed at me from a passing vehicle. At a traffic light I caught up with the vehicle and I leaned
into his open passenger window and said to the driver in a voice full of chip on the shoulder :
"Hey, you talkin' to me?" I was surprised to hear my words come out with such vitriol and even more
surprised to see the startled and totally benign look on the driver's face. He said "No,no, I was
just singing to my radio", which I could hear playing.. He could have been lying but he looked
sincere. I mumbled a "sorry, thought you were talking to me" and backed away. Maybe he's a good
actor. Don't know. I thought it wise to give him the benefit of the doubt.

What I learned is that sometimes as cyclists we are quick to jump at what we perceive are
intentional slights against us. I'm sure there are times when they are indeed intentional, but we
could easily build up resentment against the general driving public to a degree that it begins to
cloud our judgment. I think keeping a cool head even when there is no doubt that a wrong has been
committed against us will serve us better in the long run. Every once in a while I'll catch a
driver staring at me at a stop light. I'm usually in full cycling gear on an aggressive looking
road bike and I think that perhaps they are put off by the way I look. In those situations I try
to keep my face relaxed and even shoot them a friendly smile or nod. More often than not, I'll get
a smile or a nod back. The driver feels good, I feel good and I feel like I just advanced the
state motorist/cyclist relations even if it's only one person. It's a amazing what a simple smile
can do :-}

In article <[email hidden]>,

Allan said:

I had a recent experience where I mistook or misheard what I thought was a derogatory comment
directed at me from a passing vehicle. At a traffic light I caught up with the vehicle and I
leaned into his open passenger window and said to the driver in a voice full of chip on the
shoulder : "Hey, you talkin' to me?" I was surprised to hear my words come out with such vitriol
and even more surprised to see the startled and totally benign look on the driver's face. He said
"No,no, I was just singing to my radio", which I could hear playing.. He could have been lying but
he looked sincere. I mumbled a "sorry, thought you were talking to me" and backed away. Maybe he's
a good actor. Don't know. I thought it wise to give him the benefit of the doubt.

What I learned is that sometimes as cyclists we are quick to jump at what we perceive are
intentional slights against us. I'm sure there are times when they are indeed intentional, but we
could easily build up resentment against the general driving public to a degree that it begins to
cloud our judgment. I think keeping a cool head even when there is no doubt that a wrong has been
committed against us will serve us better in the long run. Every once in a while I'll catch a
driver staring at me at a stop light. I'm usually in full cycling gear on an aggressive looking
road bike and I think that perhaps they are put off by the way I look. In those situations I try
to keep my face relaxed and even shoot them a friendly smile or nod. More often than not, I'll get
a smile or a nod back. The driver feels good, I feel good and I feel like I just advanced the
state motorist/cyclist relations even if it's only one person. It's a amazing what a simple smile
can do :-}

A couple weeks ago I was out riding, and noticed a car following me as I was blasting down a hill.
At the bottom, he rolled up next to me with his window down, and I was prepared for him to yell the
usual "Get off the road!".

Instead, he gave me a thumbs up and yelled "Hey dude! You hit 40 on that hill!"

Every once in a while you actually come across a cool driver!

(AJRBJR) said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What I learned is that sometimes as cyclists we are quick to jump at what we perceive are
intentional slights against us.

This is a good point. A week ago my neighbor and his wife came up behind me and yelled at me to get
that bike off the road. Am I glad I didn't snap back with something foul (like I usually do).

I started thinking how bad it would be to make a mistake and lash out at someone and have it end
being the pastor of our church or a friends mom or someone like that. OOPS!

were

Quoted message said:

Andy

Fri, 10 Oct 2003 18:48:13 -0400, <[email hidden]>, Mark Heiple

Quoted message said:

Every once in a while you actually come across a cool driver!

Yeah, and then they'll try to hook you at the stop sign. They're all sweethearts.
--
zk

(AJRBJR) said:

This is a good point. A week ago my neighbor and his wife came up behind me and yelled at me to get
that bike off the road. Am I glad I didn't snap back with something foul (like I usually do).

Why are you glad? The only reason I can see is that you now have the right to feel smugly
superior... 😉

Quoted message said:

I started thinking how bad it would be to make a mistake and lash out at someone and have it end
being the pastor of our church or a friends mom or someone like that. OOPS!

If a pastor yells at you to get his bike off the road, well, I would wonder just what those churches
are teaching nowadays. I was under the impression that it used to be tolerance.

Quoted message said:

Andy

--
Rick Onanian