Anyone else get hassled for riding a bike?

[TrikeKid]

It just keeps getting worse around here! My running tally for today is one trying to run me off the road and one stupid little highschool girl that thought it would be funny to shoot silly string at me while I'm already riding a VERY dangerous, shoulder-less road.

I rode TWELVE miles total today! That's it! I had one guy box me in with his truck because I was riding through is precious little gated community, like I do every week, and actually followed me out, regardless of the fact I've been riding there since before that community was a half of an idea in anyone's head. I didn't want to deal with it, and I figure the 8mpg he probably gets in his full size dodge 4x4 is karma enough for being a jerk. Most of the people in that community will smile and wave when you pass on a bike, even open the gates for you so you don't have to hop them (the little foot entrances are made in such a way as to block out dirt bikes, so you can't get a bicycle through either, and nothing breaks a good rhythm like having to heft your bike over a 3 foot gate.)

I must have caught both of the bad apples there though, as on my way back the person in the car ahead of me wasn't going anywhere until I left. This is where the shoulder-less highway comes in, I figure that rather than waste some poor cop's time, I'll just hop scotch driveway to driveway during breaks in traffic. On my first stint, I slipped off the edge of the pavement and ended up running along side my bike, when I heard the oh-so-familiar sound of silly string over my head. Because I was all but on the ground, I didn't get hit, but the girl spraying it was immediately on the phone to her friends about how awesome she was (the car stopped in the next driveway that I did, lots of pointing out the window and laughter).

All in all, I should have just taken my freaking truck. I don't know what happened. Two weeks ago, this area was as bike freindly as it could have ever been. This is seriously some of the sketchiest riding I've ever done (the highway part scared me to death). I try to ride the bike when I can, since you know, the easiest way to cut gas use is to drive less.

Sorry for the long winded rant, it just bugs me a lot. It's not even like we have a huge bike community here to where there would be a bunch of hoons causing problems on bikes, I'm one of the VERY few.

[wingbatwu]

are you riding for fun or for commuting?

whatever the case, if you get followed, it could be because those people suspect you of having caused whatever trouble, so you can probably explain to them that you're just riding for fun or for commuting, and they'll prolly leave you alone afterwards.

as for the silly string shooter, she needs a good thick layer of shaving cream (or teflon chain lubricant, depending on your level of revenge) on her windshield (especially since you know where she parks)

[SVOboy]

Sadly, I haven't been riding enough to be troubled recently,

On a more serious note though, it sounds like you got a bad lot. I would call in the silly string girl for assault though, seriously. You don't need to go all the way to showing up at court or anything, but the cops will go hassle her and it'll be on record in case something else happens, and she'll prolly really regret it.

[TrikeKid]

Originally Posted by wingbatwu

are you riding for fun or for commuting?

whatever the case, if you get followed, it could be because those people suspect you of having caused whatever trouble, so you can probably explain to them that you're just riding for fun or for commuting, and they'll prolly leave you alone afterwards.

as for the silly string shooter, she needs a good thick layer of shaving cream (or teflon chain lubricant, depending on your level of revenge) on her windshield (especially since you know where she parks)

Riding for fun, needed to head over to buddy's place anyway to check out a bike, figured why bother starting the truck when I need to get some exercise anyway. I explained to the guy that I would spend all of 8 minutes total inside the gates. I almost wanted to ask him if he was a cop, and if he said no tell him to call one if he has a problem. I'm just being less confrontational lately I guess, less stress the better right now for me.

[mhmitszach]

I'm sure I'll have stories real soon. Wednesday school starts, when I'll be riding to school everyday. I won't care though, I'll have my fixie going soon =]

[bikin' Ed]

I do most of my traveling by bicycle--my '06 Dakota only has 17,000 on it. I have 3 bikes and use the safest one for any given ride. Skinny tire road bike for best road conditions, fat tires if I'm likely to have to be off road onto the gravel shoulder, heavy steel bike with racks if I have a lot to carry.

In my years of cycling I have a horror story to match just about anyone's, except the silly string. There are a lot of morons out there. My latest retaliation is using a cell phone calling 911 reporting the vehicle as a suspected drunk driver--He's weaving all over the road and almost hit me. Its only been once that I have actually passed the driver pulled over, but it made my day.

[akcapeco]

Do what a guy in this story did... pull out a camera and say:

"I'm working on a project, I'm photographing people who've tried to kill me... smile please."

Moving Targets, by Jan Hoffman, The New York Times, August 8, 2008,


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[igo]

I have had my fair share of close passes (mainly because the streets are so narrow arround here). It can get a bit crazy around rush hour.

[Vince-HX]

round here they just run you over

one of my bros has been run over/into 6 times on his road bike

I would carry a bat, lol

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by akcapeco

Do what a guy in this story did... pull out a camera and say:

"I'm working on a project, I'm photographing people who've tried to kill me... smile please."

Moving Targets, by Jan Hoffman, The New York Times, August 8, 2008,


.
.

OMG, BSNYC quoted by NYT quoted by EM! Interestingly, I read both the original post and then the post about how he was quoted...

I think I'm a groupie.

[Otto]

Originally Posted by BlackDeuceCoupe

I had a guy pass me so close, I could feel the heat off his engine - so I flipped him off. The brake lights came on immediately, and he whipped into a parking lot and waited for me.

LoL! He didn't realize how big I am...

As I came up to his car, he rolled the window up and shouted at me through the 'crack'. I told him to get out and we'll talk about it. He's like, "Nope, not gonna happen" so I kicked his door in...

That didn't work either, so I gave him two fingers in the eyeballs - 3 Stooges style, nyut, nyut, nyut - and left him screaming in pain as I hauled ass.

You might try that next time - very cathartic!

I hope & assume you're taking some literary license with this story.

As maddening or frightening as some drivers may be, your stated confrontation with this driver shows both of you to be on the wrong side of the law. He could be cited for driving too close to you, and you should be arrested for criminal assault, fleeing the scene, etc.. At the very least, this just hardens his and your attitudes towards other riders/drivers in confrontational mode, making things worse for all.

Personally, I give cyclists as wide a berth as possible, veering into the oncoming lane if available, because I know how scary it can be when cars whiz past. As a cyclist, I never block the lane, ride on the shoulder to let cars past, and keep in mind that people have hectic schedules that should go unimpeded by my recreational riding. It's common courtesy.

[igo]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

OMG, BSNYC quoted by NYT quoted by EM! Interestingly, I read both the original post and then the post about how he was quoted...

I think I'm a groupie.

Nice. I heard about the NYT article a few days ago.