Serious problems with driver aggression, us road bikers need YOUR help!
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Serious problems with driver aggression, us road bikers need YOUR help!
We live in Mustang, Oklahoma which is a suburb of Oklahoma City. Recently, driver aggression towards road cyclists as escalated to a dangerous level. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles show no respect for us road bikers. They pass us, yell obscene comments, blare their horns, etc all while disobeying road laws and endangering the lives of cyclists, other traffic, and themselves.
Just today we had a truck that followed us a ways and had ample time to safely pass us. We were doing about 25mph in a group of three. After following us a ways he revs his engine up, flies past us in a non passing zone and nearly hits a oncoming car in the other lane. During this time he is so close he nearly runs us off the road. After passing us he slows down greatly, puts his breaks on and starts yelling, swearing at us, and flipping us off. He then waits until we get to the stop sign ahead... continues yelling at us and then speeds off.
Now, this wouldn't be a huge deal if it wasn't for the fact that this kind of thing happens more than daily. Each time we go out and ride we have to be overly cautious of motorists who have absolutely no respect for us or what we are doing.
Due to the fact that riders around here have such a problem with motorists, many pack up each day and drive fairly long distances to places that are friendly and have accomidations for cyclists.
We have been trying to have bike trails or some other form of accomidations put in for cyclists in this area. We have spoken to the city council and many officials in regards to this, but our words have fallen on deaf ears.
There is a good number of road cyclists in this area. Does someone have to get killed before someone takes action? How long is this going to continue?
Our cycling group wants to do something about this. We need help and ideas on how to gain support in this area. We need ways of getting the word out there before someone gets seriously injured or killed. I will get the emails of officials in this area and will post them. They will need a good number of people bringing this to their attention or nothing is going to happen.
Will you guys help us with this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed? We would also very much appreciate any ideas on how we should go about advocating this cause.
Thanks.
Just today we had a truck that followed us a ways and had ample time to safely pass us. We were doing about 25mph in a group of three. After following us a ways he revs his engine up, flies past us in a non passing zone and nearly hits a oncoming car in the other lane. During this time he is so close he nearly runs us off the road. After passing us he slows down greatly, puts his breaks on and starts yelling, swearing at us, and flipping us off. He then waits until we get to the stop sign ahead... continues yelling at us and then speeds off.
Now, this wouldn't be a huge deal if it wasn't for the fact that this kind of thing happens more than daily. Each time we go out and ride we have to be overly cautious of motorists who have absolutely no respect for us or what we are doing.
Due to the fact that riders around here have such a problem with motorists, many pack up each day and drive fairly long distances to places that are friendly and have accomidations for cyclists.
We have been trying to have bike trails or some other form of accomidations put in for cyclists in this area. We have spoken to the city council and many officials in regards to this, but our words have fallen on deaf ears.
There is a good number of road cyclists in this area. Does someone have to get killed before someone takes action? How long is this going to continue?
Our cycling group wants to do something about this. We need help and ideas on how to gain support in this area. We need ways of getting the word out there before someone gets seriously injured or killed. I will get the emails of officials in this area and will post them. They will need a good number of people bringing this to their attention or nothing is going to happen.
Will you guys help us with this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed? We would also very much appreciate any ideas on how we should go about advocating this cause.
Thanks.
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What really needs to happen is that a couple of these clowns need to get beaten to a pulp by bikers.
That's not going to happen. So the next best bet is to choose another route.
If you're actually assaulted (put in fear of imminent bodily harm) by one of these hillbilly f*cks, whether driving or outside the car, you can and should file charges. Beeping and gesticulating, I'm afraid, isn't actionable.
That's not going to happen. So the next best bet is to choose another route.
If you're actually assaulted (put in fear of imminent bodily harm) by one of these hillbilly f*cks, whether driving or outside the car, you can and should file charges. Beeping and gesticulating, I'm afraid, isn't actionable.
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That massively sucks. I couldn't imagine where to begin but I would think a visit to Mustang City Council to open serious discussions about a bike path network. What you have on your side is that riders and motorists probably both want that, for their own reasons.
I've found personally that motorists in Los Angeles have become more aggressive towards cyclists as gas prices go up. I think it's because our presence is very challenging to their belief that they have no alternative but to drive. This is especially true during morning commutes. However, as the number of bikers goes up in any area the overall safety of biking goes up because motorists become more accustomed to sharing the road... once they stop throwing tantrums.
Good luck. It's not easy to change the local perception of drivers.
I've found personally that motorists in Los Angeles have become more aggressive towards cyclists as gas prices go up. I think it's because our presence is very challenging to their belief that they have no alternative but to drive. This is especially true during morning commutes. However, as the number of bikers goes up in any area the overall safety of biking goes up because motorists become more accustomed to sharing the road... once they stop throwing tantrums.
Good luck. It's not easy to change the local perception of drivers.
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Hey, you should try riding in the DC area. I'd be happy if drivers here behaved like those you describe!
Originally Posted by scrible
We live in Mustang, Oklahoma which is a suburb of Oklahoma City. Recently, driver aggression towards road cyclists as escalated to a dangerous level. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles show no respect for us road bikers. They pass us, yell obscene comments, blare their horns, etc all while disobeying road laws and endangering the lives of cyclists, other traffic, and themselves.
Just today we had a truck that followed us a ways and had ample time to safely pass us. We were doing about 25mph in a group of three. After following us a ways he revs his engine up, flies past us in a non passing zone and nearly hits a oncoming car in the other lane. During this time he is so close he nearly runs us off the road. After passing us he slows down greatly, puts his breaks on and starts yelling, swearing at us, and flipping us off. He then waits until we get to the stop sign ahead... continues yelling at us and then speeds off.
Now, this wouldn't be a huge deal if it wasn't for the fact that this kind of thing happens more than daily. Each time we go out and ride we have to be overly cautious of motorists who have absolutely no respect for us or what we are doing.
Due to the fact that riders around here have such a problem with motorists, many pack up each day and drive fairly long distances to places that are friendly and have accomidations for cyclists.
We have been trying to have bike trails or some other form of accomidations put in for cyclists in this area. We have spoken to the city council and many officials in regards to this, but our words have fallen on deaf ears.
There is a good number of road cyclists in this area. Does someone have to get killed before someone takes action? How long is this going to continue?
Our cycling group wants to do something about this. We need help and ideas on how to gain support in this area. We need ways of getting the word out there before someone gets seriously injured or killed. I will get the emails of officials in this area and will post them. They will need a good number of people bringing this to their attention or nothing is going to happen.
Will you guys help us with this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed? We would also very much appreciate any ideas on how we should go about advocating this cause.
Thanks.
Just today we had a truck that followed us a ways and had ample time to safely pass us. We were doing about 25mph in a group of three. After following us a ways he revs his engine up, flies past us in a non passing zone and nearly hits a oncoming car in the other lane. During this time he is so close he nearly runs us off the road. After passing us he slows down greatly, puts his breaks on and starts yelling, swearing at us, and flipping us off. He then waits until we get to the stop sign ahead... continues yelling at us and then speeds off.
Now, this wouldn't be a huge deal if it wasn't for the fact that this kind of thing happens more than daily. Each time we go out and ride we have to be overly cautious of motorists who have absolutely no respect for us or what we are doing.
Due to the fact that riders around here have such a problem with motorists, many pack up each day and drive fairly long distances to places that are friendly and have accomidations for cyclists.
We have been trying to have bike trails or some other form of accomidations put in for cyclists in this area. We have spoken to the city council and many officials in regards to this, but our words have fallen on deaf ears.
There is a good number of road cyclists in this area. Does someone have to get killed before someone takes action? How long is this going to continue?
Our cycling group wants to do something about this. We need help and ideas on how to gain support in this area. We need ways of getting the word out there before someone gets seriously injured or killed. I will get the emails of officials in this area and will post them. They will need a good number of people bringing this to their attention or nothing is going to happen.
Will you guys help us with this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed? We would also very much appreciate any ideas on how we should go about advocating this cause.
Thanks.
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Funny, I live and ride in NY, famed for it's short tempered drivers and have seen nothing that even comes close to that kind of behavior... Sounds like someone needs cleat marks in their forehead!
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Helmet mounted video cameras and frequent trips to the police with video of cars driven dangerously. Show the videos to your city council members too or better yet, invite them to ride with you to see what you're talking about.
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Originally Posted by incipit
Funny, I live and ride in NY, famed for it's short tempered drivers and have seen nothing that even comes close to that kind of behavior... Sounds like someone needs cleat marks in their forehead!
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I'm out on the south shore of Long Island and not in NYC. I just didn't think that there would be that type of problem in Mustang, Oklahoma...
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Philly drivers, except in North Philly (which is like medieval Europe in terms of ignorance), are generally good.
Besides, as a Philadelphian, I have the ultimate insult at my disposal for bad drivers...."Go back to Jersey, *********!"
Besides, as a Philadelphian, I have the ultimate insult at my disposal for bad drivers...."Go back to Jersey, *********!"
Last edited by Boogs; 06-17-06 at 09:03 PM.
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Originally Posted by Granny
Hey, you should try riding in the DC area. I'd be happy if drivers here behaved like those you describe!
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Oklahoma must have pretty lenient conceal carry laws. Pack some heat, and if it happens again, BLAM. Using a vehicle in the manner described makes it a deadly weapon, and you have the right to defend yourself.
Go ahead and flame me, but that's how I feel when I read stories like this.
Go ahead and flame me, but that's how I feel when I read stories like this.
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I ride mostly in south Oklahoma City/Moore/Norman and while there is the occasional jerk, most people are fairly courteous. There are several clubs that ride around here and I see cyclists almost daily when I'm driving. Maybe people down here are more used to seeing cyclists on "their" roads so they behave better? I don't know. I've been cussed at, flipped off, had oncoming traffic cross over their lane to play chicken with me and even had a beer bottle thrown at me for no reason. (they missed badly, but it was still a very wtf?? moment) It sucks and is dangerous but those people are few and far between. Just gotta deal with it.
I lived in Yukon just a couple years ago (which borders Mustang) and I don't recall ever seeing anyone out riding, though I hadn't started riding yet myself.
They're supposedly building a 13 mile bike/running path around the OK river somewhere near downtown. It may even be done already. That wouldn't be too bad a drive for you (or me) but probably wouldn't be much of a challenge either.
I guess the best advice I could give you would be to stay off the busy 2-lane roads. Out that way, there oughta be plenty of alternatives.
I lived in Yukon just a couple years ago (which borders Mustang) and I don't recall ever seeing anyone out riding, though I hadn't started riding yet myself.
They're supposedly building a 13 mile bike/running path around the OK river somewhere near downtown. It may even be done already. That wouldn't be too bad a drive for you (or me) but probably wouldn't be much of a challenge either.
I guess the best advice I could give you would be to stay off the busy 2-lane roads. Out that way, there oughta be plenty of alternatives.
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Originally Posted by Granny
Hey, you should try riding in the DC area. I'd be happy if drivers here behaved like those you describe!
DrPete
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Building bike paths???
How frigging pathetic are you? That's not going to happen anyway and it would only make your problem worse as once you have one stinking bike path, every moron is going to expect the cyclists to be on the path at all times. Let me tell you how friggin dumb people are. Yesterday I was out road riding with 3 other guys. We are just south of Loch Raven Reservoir, stop at a stop light and there are 3 mountain bikers at the light who are about to head into the trail just up ahead. Light turns green, we go, mountain bikers go with us for a while and then turn off the road at the trail head. We are not more than a few hundred yards up the road - very light traffic - when this old woman behind us toots the horn, pulls up next to us, rolls down the window and says "you boys missed the trial" and points back.
Next time some a$$hat pulls that crap, take out your cell phone, photo the vehicle and tag and call the cops right on the spot. Meet up with the cops and give a report.
Do this several times. Follow up with the cops as to what action they have taken (they should at least go talk to the clown). Then, write a letter to the Police Commissioner making them aware of the magnitude of the problem.
If none of that works, follow cydwase's advice and pack some heat and be prepared to use it to defend yourself.
How frigging pathetic are you? That's not going to happen anyway and it would only make your problem worse as once you have one stinking bike path, every moron is going to expect the cyclists to be on the path at all times. Let me tell you how friggin dumb people are. Yesterday I was out road riding with 3 other guys. We are just south of Loch Raven Reservoir, stop at a stop light and there are 3 mountain bikers at the light who are about to head into the trail just up ahead. Light turns green, we go, mountain bikers go with us for a while and then turn off the road at the trail head. We are not more than a few hundred yards up the road - very light traffic - when this old woman behind us toots the horn, pulls up next to us, rolls down the window and says "you boys missed the trial" and points back.
Next time some a$$hat pulls that crap, take out your cell phone, photo the vehicle and tag and call the cops right on the spot. Meet up with the cops and give a report.
Do this several times. Follow up with the cops as to what action they have taken (they should at least go talk to the clown). Then, write a letter to the Police Commissioner making them aware of the magnitude of the problem.
If none of that works, follow cydwase's advice and pack some heat and be prepared to use it to defend yourself.
Last edited by galen_52657; 06-18-06 at 07:02 AM.
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Originally Posted by jyossarian
Helmet mounted video cameras and frequent trips to the police with video of cars driven dangerously. Show the videos to your city council members too or better yet, invite them to ride with you to see what you're talking about.
#16
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Originally Posted by scrible
We live in Mustang, Oklahoma which is a suburb of Oklahoma City. Recently, driver aggression towards road cyclists as escalated to a dangerous level. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles show no respect for us road bikers. They pass us, yell obscene comments, blare their horns, etc all while disobeying road laws and endangering the lives of cyclists, other traffic, and themselves.
Just today we had a truck that followed us a ways and had ample time to safely pass us. We were doing about 25mph in a group of three. After following us a ways he revs his engine up, flies past us in a non passing zone and nearly hits a oncoming car in the other lane. During this time he is so close he nearly runs us off the road. After passing us he slows down greatly, puts his breaks on and starts yelling, swearing at us, and flipping us off. He then waits until we get to the stop sign ahead... continues yelling at us and then speeds off.
Now, this wouldn't be a huge deal if it wasn't for the fact that this kind of thing happens more than daily. Each time we go out and ride we have to be overly cautious of motorists who have absolutely no respect for us or what we are doing.
Due to the fact that riders around here have such a problem with motorists, many pack up each day and drive fairly long distances to places that are friendly and have accomidations for cyclists.
We have been trying to have bike trails or some other form of accomidations put in for cyclists in this area. We have spoken to the city council and many officials in regards to this, but our words have fallen on deaf ears.
There is a good number of road cyclists in this area. Does someone have to get killed before someone takes action? How long is this going to continue?
Our cycling group wants to do something about this. We need help and ideas on how to gain support in this area. We need ways of getting the word out there before someone gets seriously injured or killed. I will get the emails of officials in this area and will post them. They will need a good number of people bringing this to their attention or nothing is going to happen.
Will you guys help us with this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed? We would also very much appreciate any ideas on how we should go about advocating this cause.
Thanks.
Just today we had a truck that followed us a ways and had ample time to safely pass us. We were doing about 25mph in a group of three. After following us a ways he revs his engine up, flies past us in a non passing zone and nearly hits a oncoming car in the other lane. During this time he is so close he nearly runs us off the road. After passing us he slows down greatly, puts his breaks on and starts yelling, swearing at us, and flipping us off. He then waits until we get to the stop sign ahead... continues yelling at us and then speeds off.
Now, this wouldn't be a huge deal if it wasn't for the fact that this kind of thing happens more than daily. Each time we go out and ride we have to be overly cautious of motorists who have absolutely no respect for us or what we are doing.
Due to the fact that riders around here have such a problem with motorists, many pack up each day and drive fairly long distances to places that are friendly and have accomidations for cyclists.
We have been trying to have bike trails or some other form of accomidations put in for cyclists in this area. We have spoken to the city council and many officials in regards to this, but our words have fallen on deaf ears.
There is a good number of road cyclists in this area. Does someone have to get killed before someone takes action? How long is this going to continue?
Our cycling group wants to do something about this. We need help and ideas on how to gain support in this area. We need ways of getting the word out there before someone gets seriously injured or killed. I will get the emails of officials in this area and will post them. They will need a good number of people bringing this to their attention or nothing is going to happen.
Will you guys help us with this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed? We would also very much appreciate any ideas on how we should go about advocating this cause.
Thanks.
I say get a gun and next time some one does this crap blow em away..... j/k of corse.
You mentioned things about them not obeying the laws so obviously law changes will do nothing as they already feel safe breaking any law they choose. So what this mens is laws need to be enforced better that are alrteady inplace. Personaly what id do is every time i see such a idiot id call the cops leaving out the part about cyclist. Justy say you just witnessed some moron running some one off the road.
This way the cops will take action not knowing i it was cyclist or ped or another car. If they say you filed a false report say no i didnt i said he ran some one off the road not what kind of vehical that person was on or in.
#17
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Originally Posted by cydewaze
Oklahoma must have pretty lenient conceal carry laws. Pack some heat, and if it happens again, BLAM. Using a vehicle in the manner described makes it a deadly weapon, and you have the right to defend yourself.
Go ahead and flame me, but that's how I feel when I read stories like this.
Go ahead and flame me, but that's how I feel when I read stories like this.
I guess non cyclist see us the same way as a dog sees us. To dogs and other animals we are not seen as a human being on a bike were seen as a odd animal or object that moves. ( its why dogs tend to chase us.)
#18
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Oh how quick some are to suggest fire arms. Hope you all like jail. Get a grip. Imagine the headlines and the retaliation from other road users...., think about your odds of actually hitting a car while riding, how far away a car would be by the time you stop and get our your gun, what the chances of over penetration are. Use your ****ing head.
To the OP: One thing was not clear from your post, and may have no bearing on what happened. Were you in single file? sometimes, we can minimize our risk through riding behaviours. It does not sound like this would have helped much in this particular case since that driver was clearly a few bricks short of a load. The advocacy suggestions were good, as is the idea of photos if you can get them. Ignore the morons suggesting guns, that is the path taken by those wishing to escalate violence and make it worse for EVERY bike an other road user on the road. Check out the advocacy forum, there might be some good ideas for you to consider there. Good luck.
To the OP: One thing was not clear from your post, and may have no bearing on what happened. Were you in single file? sometimes, we can minimize our risk through riding behaviours. It does not sound like this would have helped much in this particular case since that driver was clearly a few bricks short of a load. The advocacy suggestions were good, as is the idea of photos if you can get them. Ignore the morons suggesting guns, that is the path taken by those wishing to escalate violence and make it worse for EVERY bike an other road user on the road. Check out the advocacy forum, there might be some good ideas for you to consider there. Good luck.
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Wear this jersey....problem solved!
You have a serious problem, you have a Right to that road, get plate #s take cell phone pics, carry small video and document, when all else fails, back up what is written on the back of this jersey!
You have a serious problem, you have a Right to that road, get plate #s take cell phone pics, carry small video and document, when all else fails, back up what is written on the back of this jersey!
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#20
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Ya, MD is much better than VA in my limited experience. 90% of my riding is in Ffx/PW counties.
Originally Posted by DrPete
Dude, DC is a pretty nice place to ride. I grew up in Ohio and rode there before I moved here, and in the 3 years I rode a road bike in Ohio, I had more redneck encounters than I have in the past 7 years in Maryland.
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If you dont single file up when cars come by you better get used to this
response from hillbillies. When I was in PA I had the misfortune of often being stuck
behind militant roadies who wouldnt move over when traffic stacked up behind them
on back roads. Since Im a rider I would never openly vent my frustration but most
people are not this patient. If this doesnt apply to you, sorry to waste the post,
if it does, I would suggest moving over. Sucks, but thats the way it is. Nothing
will change that.
response from hillbillies. When I was in PA I had the misfortune of often being stuck
behind militant roadies who wouldnt move over when traffic stacked up behind them
on back roads. Since Im a rider I would never openly vent my frustration but most
people are not this patient. If this doesnt apply to you, sorry to waste the post,
if it does, I would suggest moving over. Sucks, but thats the way it is. Nothing
will change that.
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☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
#22
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I ride southeast of Mustang pretty regularly and have never had a problem remotely like that. Go figure.
#23
Emondafied
Join Date: May 2005
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Originally Posted by sgtsmile
Oh how quick some are to suggest fire arms. Hope you all like jail. Get a grip. Imagine the headlines and the retaliation from other road users...., think about your odds of actually hitting a car while riding, how far away a car would be by the time you stop and get our your gun, what the chances of over penetration are. Use your ****ing head.
But sure, we're quick to suggest fire arms. After all, we lose less than a thousand of our own per year. I mean, we shouldn't be complaining at all, should we? I'm sure if it was your spouse or your little girl they were scraping off the pavement, you'd say, "Hey, accidents happen. No hard feelings."
Of course guns aren't the answer, and I have no desire to own a gun, much less ride with one, but we have to get f-ing serious about this problem. I bet at least 75% of the population in the US thinks that bicycles are not legally allowed on the road. Probably more.
Get a grip? Yeah, we need to get a grip, a grip on this problem. What we NEED is to have reminders on the evening news, on the radio, and on billboards reminding drivers to share the road, and that there will be serious legal reprocussions if they do not.
Aggressive driving is aggressive driving, whether it's against another car, a bike, a pedestrian, or a motor scooter.
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my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -AlpineStars Al Mega
my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -
#24
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Originally Posted by jjmolyet
Wear this jersey....problem solved!
You have a serious problem, you have a Right to that road, get plate #s take cell phone pics, carry small video and document, when all else fails, back up what is written on the back of this jersey!
You have a serious problem, you have a Right to that road, get plate #s take cell phone pics, carry small video and document, when all else fails, back up what is written on the back of this jersey!