Pepper Spray

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Beastt
Here within the state we often call the hazards you mentioned, "blue hairs". 😉

what city are you in BEASTT?

I hate to be the wet blanket here . . . but please don't pepper spray a motorist.

During a Critical Mass ride in Washington DC this fall, there was an unfortunate incident where a motorist who was angry with the demonstration blew past a group of riders and frightened a few of them. One of them got angry, rode up to him at the next traffic light, and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray before riding off. It was a cowardly and destructive thing to do.

The man in the car was alright eventually, but several demonstraters who stopped to help him were harassed and physically assaulted by friends the man called on his cell phone. The entire incident ending with arrests and a good deal of misunderstanding and violence on both sides.

We have all been there . . . brushed off . . . knocked down . . . even hit or deliberately harassed by some jerk in a car. By matching their bad behavior with our own, we only lower the bar futher. Rise above and remember why you ride -- feel free and let the wind blow. Everyone gets what's coming to them somewhere down the road.

Peace.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by dwj444
I hate to be the wet blanket here . . . but please don't pepper spray a motorist.

During a Critical Mass ride in Washington DC this fall, there was an unfortunate incident where a motorist who was angry with the demonstration blew past a group of riders and frightened a few of them. One of them got angry, rode up to him at the next traffic light, and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray before riding off. It was a cowardly and destructive thing to do.

The man in the car was alright eventually, but several demonstraters who stopped to help him were harassed and physically assaulted by friends the man called on his cell phone. The entire incident ending with arrests and a good deal of misunderstanding and violence on both sides.

We have all been there . . . brushed off . . . knocked down . . . even hit or deliberately harassed by some jerk in a car. By matching their bad behavior with our own, we only lower the bar futher. Rise above and remember why you ride -- feel free and let the wind blow. Everyone gets what's coming to them somewhere down the road.

Peace.

i understand your point, but im on a 18lb bike minding my buisness, if im almost seriously hurt buy a 3k lb car i cant turn the other cheek, if i catch em at the light its a dent or spray. im not gonna lose sleep because i didnt get revenge if i could have. as far as im concerned its an assult with a deadly weapon, they are bringing it to me.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by zaskar
i understand your point, but im on a 18lb bike minding my buisness, if im almost seriously hurt buy a 3k lb car i cant turn the other cheek, if i catch em at the light its a dent or spray. im not gonna lose sleep because i didnt get revenge if i could have. as far as im concerned its an assult with a deadly weapon, they are bringing it to me.

I don't wish to choose sides here. I hate being crowded as much as anyone else out there on a bike and you are fortunate, Zaskar, to live in a state that requires a 3-foot right-of-way be granted by passing cars. Unfortunately, if you were to ask local officers about that law you'd likely find that the vast majority of them have no clue that it even exists. A violation of the law is supposed to carry a $1,000 fine though I can't recall ever hearing of anyone being cited.

Crowding a cyclist is seen as a traffic violation. The officer isn't going to see it as assault with a deadly weapon even if that's what it is. It's enforceable IF an officer witnesses it and chooses to act. If you report it later you'll be allowed to vent and the officer will probably tell you that he'll watch for the vehicle. That translates into, "nothing will happen to the careless, thoughtless or possibly malicious driver and you can go away now". If you dent their car that's considered criminal damage and is enforceable even if the officer doesn't see you do it. Spraying the driver with OC falls under the assault statute for which you can be arrested, jailed and fined.

It's unfortunate that officers don't take a greater interest in the wrongful acts that cyclists endure but the fact is that most of them don't and have no interest in non-motorists. I'd just hate to see insult added to injury, or vice versa in your quest for revenge. I'm afraid to carry OC spray because when motorists wrecklessly put my life in danger, I might well be tempted to use it. I know that in the eyes of the law, I'd be the bad guy.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Beastt
I don't wish to choose sides here. I hate being crowded as much as anyone else out there on a bike and you are fortunate, Zaskar, to live in a state that requires a 3-foot right-of-way be granted by passing cars. Unfortunately, if you were to ask local officers about that law you'd likely find that the vast majority of them have no clue that it even exists. A violation of the law is supposed to carry a $1,000 fine though I can't recall ever hearing of anyone being cited.

Crowding a cyclist is seen as a traffic violation. The officer isn't going to see it as assault with a deadly weapon even if that's what it is. It's enforceable IF an officer witnesses it and chooses to act. If you report it later you'll be allowed to vent and the officer will probably tell you that he'll watch for the vehicle. That translates into, "nothing will happen to the careless, thoughtless or possibly malicious driver and you can go away now". If you dent their car that's considered criminal damage and is enforceable even if the officer doesn't see you do it. Spraying the driver with OC falls under the assault statute for which you can be arrested, jailed and fined.

It's unfortunate that officers don't take a greater interest in the wrongful acts that cyclists endure but the fact is that most of them don't and have no interest in non-motorists. I'd just hate to see insult added to injury, or vice versa in your quest for revenge. I'm afraid to carry OC spray because when motorists wrecklessly put my life in danger, I might well be tempted to use it. I know that in the eyes of the law, I'd be the bad guy.

I hear ya BEASTT, i know its an assalt kicking or spraying i know i sound like a criminal but tha'ts realy not the case.plan is if i spray or kick you gotta catch me first that may be hard to do when im on a bike. anyway i hope i never have to use it! again Beastt what city are you in, ic your in AZ.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by dwj444
I hate to be the wet blanket here . . . but please don't pepper spray a motorist.

During a Critical Mass ride in Washington DC this fall, there was an unfortunate incident where a motorist who was angry with the demonstration blew past a group of riders and frightened a few of them. One of them got angry, rode up to him at the next traffic light, and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray before riding off. It was a cowardly and destructive thing to do.

The man in the car was alright eventually, but several demonstraters who stopped to help him were harassed and physically assaulted by friends the man called on his cell phone. The entire incident ending with arrests and a good deal of misunderstanding and violence on both sides.

We have all been there . . . brushed off . . . knocked down . . . even hit or deliberately harassed by some jerk in a car. By matching their bad behavior with our own, we only lower the bar futher. Rise above and remember why you ride -- feel free and let the wind blow. Everyone gets what's coming to them somewhere down the road.

Peace.

I believe in Karma as well. Unfortunately, turning the other cheek robs me of the opportunity of seeing the perpetrator getting their just desserts.