Maybe I ought to consider myself lucky that this is the first time in over 3 years of riding, but some a**hole in a pickup truck tried to kill me today on my commute home.

I was riding in the bike lane on a 2 lane road, and the truck speeds up next to me and tries to make a right turn in front of me, but backs off and starts honking his horn. I raise my hands in disbelief, "What the hell?" So I keep riding, and about a mile down the road he speeds up next to me again and turns right into me. I hit the side of his truck but manage to stay on the bike. He sped off and I couldn't catch the plate.

Apparently, his impatience and ignorance of the law means I deserve to be run over and killed. People are great. Anyway, I'm sure this has happened to everyone before. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do about it; I just hope he's not waiting to see me again and finish the job.

I don't understand how a bicycle can foment such rage in people.

OMG

I am assuming you and your bike are fine.

I am recovering from a right hook during a commute home last month. However, it was caused out of ignorance rather than malice from the motorist.

License plate or not I would still report the incident to the police. Assault with a motor vehicle and what not.

You are supposed to call the cops and tell them everything you can remember.

You are supposed to call the cops and tell them everything you can remember.

If I don't have a plate, what can they do? They're not going to pull over every gray Chevy truck in the area and ask them if they ran over a bicyclist.

But yeah, me and the bike are fine; those Cane Creek cantis have got some stopping power!

Wow. That's pretty damn deliberate. I get plenty of people who swerve toward me to scare me or cut it as close as they can, but so far no one's outright tried to hit me (that I know of).

Glad you're all right. I've never experienced anything quite like that in many years of commuting.

Glad you're all right. I've never experienced anything quite like that in many years of commuting.

I have seen videos of people descending french climbs. Maybe you could install handlebar mounted cams like police cruisers. I dont know how to do this

If somebody does that intentionally then by all means dial 911. They might not be able to pull over every gray Chevy, but they may have pulled over a gray Chevy with a sweaty driver half a mile down the road for speeding. There also might be a traffic camera at one of the intersections.

Glad you're OK. What does not kill you makes you stronger.

If I don't have a plate, what can they do? They're not going to pull over every gray Chevy truck in the area and ask them if they ran over a bicyclist.

But yeah, me and the bike are fine; those Cane Creek cantis have got some stopping power!
If someone shot at you with a gun, would you not call 911 just because you didn't catch his name? He assaulted you with a multi-ton weapon. - TF

If someone shot at you with a gun, would you not call 911 just because you didn't catch his name? He assaulted you with a multi-ton weapon. - TF

I understand your point; maybe I'm just cynical after reading so many stories of people who actually did kill a cyclist, get caught, and receive a slap on the wrist or less. No cop is going to give a crap about this incident.

When I ride tomorrow, I'll have my camera ready just in case dipsh!t shows up and wants to play again.

report it to the police on principle if nothing else. I mean they most likely won't do anything, but then again maybe they will and if they catch the guy maybe it will keep him from KILLING the next cyclist that he sees.

Yes, report it. When I was hit a few years back, I was able to get a license number but the witnesses wouldn't offer info or make a statement. The officer taking my report said it was likely nothing would be done without witnesses, but the driver would be on the books if something happened to another cyclist. It's worth your time.

Yes, report it. When I was hit a few years back, I was able to get a license number but the witnesses wouldn't offer info or make a statement. The officer taking my report said it was likely nothing would be done without witnesses, but the driver would be on the books if something happened to another cyclist. It's worth your time.

Agree; report it; if it happens again, you'll have at least documented the first offense, and the second may be more credible; plus, if you wind up dead, at least they'll know who to start looking for.

report it to the police on principle if nothing else. I mean they most likely won't do anything, but then again maybe they will and if they catch the guy maybe it will keep him from KILLING the next cyclist that he sees.

Or if he does repeat the incident and actually hits someone the police will have a general discription of his vehical from previous reports. They may not go so easy on the dip in that case.

Opps I guess it might help if I read all the replies before adding my $.02 :idea:

Police won't do a thing if there are no injuries requiring medical attention, unless you are in Mayberry. I called the police on a car that repeatedly harrassed (threatened to kill me if he saw me again, etc.) me over a period on the same stretch of road at the same time on my commute. Police wouldn't do a thing, even though I had the plates of both vehicles he was driving (both registered to the same person).

I posted his plates on craigslist and someone who worked at the DMV gave me all sorts of info about the driver. It turned out to be my best defense--- and much more effective than the cops.


Or if he does repeat the incident and actually hits someone the police will have a general discription of his vehical from previous reports. They may not go so easy on the dip in that case.

Opps I guess it might help if I read all the replies before adding my $.02 :idea:

and maddening, though your lead may be a trifle exaggerated -- if he was really trying to kill you, you'd be dead; he could have run right over you. He did commit a crime, assault and battery, and he could have killed you, and I second all the suggestions to report it immediately. Were you carrying a cell phone? Here's another good reason to carry one. If you'd called immediately, reporting that a car deliberately hit you, and you had a description, location and direction, there's at least a chance he could have been pulled over -- it wouldn't hurt to try, regardless of whether you had the plate number. A crime was committed, unambiguously.

The cell phone can also be a defense in situations like this, since guys like this are cowardly bastards. After the first pass, if you'd pulled off the road and pulled out the phone and started dialing, I'm guessing he would have made some smoke getting out of there. Even if you didn't have the license, HE wouldn't know that.

Glad you're okay.

Or if he does repeat the incident and actually hits someone the police will have a general discription of his vehical from previous reports. They may not go so easy on the dip in that case.

Opps I guess it might help if I read all the replies before adding my $.02 :idea:

nmnmnm

If you want to kill someone legally...do it behind a wheel?

That is what they say is it not?

and maddening, though your lead may be a trifle exaggerated -- if he was really trying to kill you, you'd be dead; he could have run right over you.

I know, I know...I was still pretty freaked out when I posted this. Something like this has never happened to me before.

Police won't do a thing if there are no injuries requiring medical attention, unless you are in Mayberry. I called the police on a car that repeatedly harrassed (threatened to kill me if he saw me again, etc.) me over a period on the same stretch of road at the same time on my commute. Police wouldn't do a thing...

If they literally wouldn't do a thing- that's felony assault in most places (common misconception, usually assault is defined an unlawful aggressive and threatening approach, while battery is criminal physical contact)- you should be on the phone with both the D.A. and politicians who fund the police and ask why they're not taking violent crime more seriously. No guarantees, but it might rattle some cages.

I know, I know...I was still pretty freaked out when I posted this. Something like this has never happened to me before.

No offense to anyone, but I'm glad I live where the necks aren't quite that red. Carry that phone in the jersey pocket.

I had something similar happen a few weeks ago and called the cops. The officer told me, "this is a felony offense, if you had a gun you should have shot him."

Is that section of road always dangerous? Maybe a new route? I find people on back roads know they should be going slow, so they are less likely to rage out on ya, but you do have more stops..............MTT :mad:

What I think is utter boolsheet is how if this grey Chevy driving assumedly-NASCAR-lovin’ good ol boy (gosh I love stereotypes) had actually tapped another automobile, then charges could be pressed against him, but somehow cops don’t give a rat’s cornhole about cyclists.

GET a GUN!
Sometimes you need to protect yourself, otherwise you will be carried to the grave.
I hardly find towns like Mayberry anymore.

Gun? Do they make light carbon fiber guns now?

Hi tech polymer, virtually indestructible.

GET a GUN!
Sometimes you need to protect yourself, otherwise you will be carried to the grave.
I hardly find towns like Mayberry anymore.

Ah, Mayberry, where you can carry a gun, but only one bullet.

Police won't do a thing if there are no injuries requiring medical attention, unless you are in Mayberry. I called the police on a car that repeatedly harrassed (threatened to kill me if he saw me again, etc.) me over a period on the same stretch of road at the same time on my commute. Police wouldn't do a thing, even though I had the plates of both vehicles he was driving (both registered to the same person).

I posted his plates on craigslist and someone who worked at the DMV gave me all sorts of info about the driver. It turned out to be my best defense--- and much more effective than the cops.

With that sort of info it's not all that hard to file a restraining order.

Hi tech polymer, virtually indestructible.

that's just too tempting.

I kind of know my limits though. The cell phone is better for me.

How much is one of those btw?

The Glock 26 goes for about $500 here in South Florida.

Report it for the rest of us - that will tip the balance to the positive for this incident. As it sits, it's great that you are not hurt. On the other hand, if you had been killed, the a-hole may have concluded that his manuever was a bad idea.

Okay, now that sounds terrible and insensitive, but what I mean is that now he's had a good experience effing with a cyclist, no harm came, and he might just like to do it again. It gives him license. File the report, please.

Punch a dent in the side of the truck, then you can report a gray pickup with a dent. That will be easier for the cops to find.