BostonBikeMom

So I was riding on Beacon Street right before Park Drive, 2 lanes there, nice and wide, giving myself a little space from the parked cars to also get better pavement. I am riding my fixed gear. All this honking (red light ahead) behind me and a white truck runs me off the road. I come up next to him at light he starts screaming calling me a stupid c-nt that I was taking the whole lane, which I tried to tell him legally I can....

he continues his expletive streak so I go to take a photo of his plate and he rams me!!!!



me and the bike are both fine - a bit of back strain for me that I am sure will feel great tomorrow.

Just a bit freaked. Reported to the police but am posting this everywhere I can.

He took off right after ramming me.

Tomorrow I will go in to file a complaint and I hope that anyone who has an encounter with this moron or anyone else like him does the same.

--cat

John E

I am glad you are OK, cat. I think posting license plates of aggressive or incompetent motorists is a great idea.

Dchiefransom

That's exactly what will happen they see you taking a picture of their plate. If he had a firearm, would you have done something similar for evidence?

BostonBikeMom

wait, so his running me off the road was not assault? and my taking a photo of his plate makes assault ok? firearm or truck either one is assault with a deadly weapon.

There was a mail carrier there as well who saw the whole thing - I happened to get his pic too.

I WILL file a police report and no I will not roll over and let morons like this rule the road.

thompsonpost

I would have. NO one gets away with 'it' forever.

GRedner

Holy smokes, I'm glad you weren't more seriously hurt!

I ride through that intersection every day (going west, making a left turn onto Park), and like you said - two lanes, nice and wide, usually no problem. But then again - it's Boston. There's always someone out on the road with a chip on their shoulder and an anger-management problem.

Please do file that complaint, and let us know how it turns out!

Dchiefransom

Were you standing behind his truck while taking the picture of his plate? It looks like it. People are going to do that to you, so you need to minimize the opportunity. Your exclamation points after the part about ramming you makes it look like you were surprised he did it. Don't be surprised, be ready for them to do that, but still get what evidence you can.

David13

Unfortunately, there are dozens of those types of idiot/thugs out there with no consideration for anyone else on the road, be it other car, motorcycle, or bicycle.
File your report, but as you might expect you will get nothing but lame excuses from the police.
Actually, if he had pulled a gun, then the police might go and do something. Anyway maybe you will get a bike friendly cop who will go and talk to the idiot, and mention the photos, so that the idiot decides he better pull in his horns a little.
dc

beat.tk

You should call the post office to figure out who the mail carrier is.
I'm really glad you're basically okay, but I recommend you go to a doctor... if you think there's anything physically wrong definitely see a doctor as soon as possible.

edit-also, since it's a commercial plate, the driver could get screwed by his boss (unless he's the owner)

BostonBikeMom

thanks. I am a doc - so I really know that I am ok!

will be going to the proper district tomorrow morning to file the report - the cops were nice on the phone, and Mayor Menino at least gives lip service to wanting to make the city more bike friendly - depending on what happens here I might try to get an op ed piece in etc....

just still blown away by the road rage....

caelric

I thought a lawyer was his own worse client, and a doctor is their own worse patient.... Seriously, you still might want to get checked out, as your judgment may be skewed by assessing your own health, rather than someone else's.

Glad you are okay, though.

Dchiefransom

The Post Office should know which carrier was on that route that day, even if it's not the regular. Just ask someone on that street what their zip code is, then you can go to that P.O.

beat.tk

I will never forget when a recycling truck plowed into the side of my car in Cambridge (concord ave and garden).
It was totally their fault, as it was a T intersection, I was going straight, and they pulled right into me for no reason.
On the phone, the representative for the driver was trying to get me to suggest that I might have been at fault, despite the police report.
Then I mentioned that I was having neck cramps-which I was..and the conversation completely changed, trying to be all nicey nice so I wouldn't sue anybody.
The neck cramps didn't develop until more than 24 hours later.

gcottay

In my opinion, this would have been worth an immediate call to 911.

unterhausen

Absolutely. Numerous police comments indicate that idiot motorists are calling cops on cyclists riding in a legal manner on a regular basis. We really should report the illegal crap that gets pulled in our presence. An event like this could easily be fatal if the motorist misjudges.

joeprim

For the first time that I know of your Mayor is a bicycle rider. If the police aren't helpful enough go to city hall - it may be the only time in your life it will be helpful. Glad you're ok!

Joe

JoRoFoto

Woww.. crazy to hear and glad you are at least OK and not hurt any worse than you were..

Hope you get some results since we all know that unfortunately once the immediate incident is over with, it's hard to get results since the police feel they should have been called immediately if it was a big deal..

BostonBikeMom

I did call the police right away. The NON emergency line since I was not injured. I called Brookline, they wanted to send and ambulance despite my insistence that I was ok. I waited but had to get to my office so they met me there. But this happened in Boston (a few blocks from Brookline) so they told me to call Boston, which I did, and they were very helpful but I do have to go in to file the report. I decided to wait until tomorrow when I have more time AND I will have my boys (11 and 13) with me - furthering the idea of a need for safe streets.

I might also try to use some of my media contacts over this - I go on tv as a medical expert frequently so I am going to try to get some play on sharing the road, the new laws etc....

JoRoFoto

Ahh I see.. and that's definitely a good idea to use as much of your contacts as possible to catch the guy and make things like this less likely to happen.. because god forbid it happens again and that person isn't as lucky as you..

Spartan112

Glad you're ok. Please, for the benefit of all of us press this as far and as hard as you can. This past winter Gov. Patrick signed a bill containing laws designed to protect cyclists, that too should operate in your favor.

duke_of_hazard

Sorry to hear about this awful incident. If he intensionally hit you with his truck, that sounds like a serious crime since he could easily have killed you. Great you have the license plate. In the future you should always ride with a helmet camera. They just around $100.

bluegoatwoods

I'm glad you're okay. You shouldn't forget that there are ways to make these guys sorry in the civil court system. They deserve everything they get and more.

dougmc

Indeed -- reminds me of this recent case where a cyclist was attacked with a car and lost his leg. (There were a lot of unanswered questions in that case. I'll have to go back and see if they were answered.)

Jim from Boston

Thanks for posting this thread and I'm glad your OK and pursuing this. I live about one half mile from that intersection. That stretch of Beacon from Coolidge Corner to Park Dr. is not friendly, and though I don't ride it much, I will often take a parallel route along Sewell Ave, Beech Dr and Monmouth St to avoid it. I alway am relieved when I arrive at Park, because Beacon is so wide into Kenmore Square, but a cyclist even was fatally hit there too.

64Paramount

I'm glad you weren't injured and I commend you for pursuing the issue.


I'm not sure I would have been able to think quick enough in that situation to snap a pic with my cell phone. ( Probably not) Good for you!