DLP

I've been riding regularly for recreation and small errands for a few weeks now, and I've run into my share of idiot drivers, but yesterday was something special. I'll cut to the chase: I'm riding back from the gym, feeling good about my workout. The traffic isn't too bad; it's Saturday evening. I'm cruising along when some guy calls from the passenger side of his friend's passing SUV, "Hey fagg*t! You're gay!" Overwhelmed by the redundancy of his insult (and what it revealed about his intellect) I rode on without response.

Not two minutes later, I slip past them at an intersection while waiting on a red light. This affords them the opportunity for a second attack, but this one comes silently. As they pass, a 32oz cup of soda (which was pretty full) lands on my left thigh and soaks me and my bike. My first reaction was "ah, that actually feels kind of nice," but then "ah, WTF?" when I turned around to see the 7-11 cup dancing in the gutter.

I hope the d-bag got thirsty right after that.

The license plate is all I know about these folks, so I knew it wasn't personal, and frankly, given that I'm on 29lbs of steel and they're in like 2900lbs of it, I didn't particularly feel like making it personal. But as I rode on, I got more and more steamed about it. I pulled off and called the local PD who told me, in effect, that there was little they could do. Compared to home invasions and drunk driving, I guess my hurt pride doesn't really register. Great.

Not that I'm interested in starting a rant thread, but is this the kind of crap I should get accustomed to if I want to keep riding? Or is this exceptionally d-bag? I can handle the brave commentary from motorists and their friends, but I'm not sure I've got the stones for routine projectiles.

CbadRider

I'm surprised the police didn't take a report, especially since you got the license plate. Hitting a cyclist with a thrown object should be considered assault.

kbro1986

the verbal stuff is tolerable... when they throw stuff, it's taken to a whole different level. It almost makes me want to carry a small rock or CO2 cartridge in my jersey to ding their car with.....

Cyclomania

Be glad it wasn't a bottle that shattered on your frame as you rode along! That happened to me once.

justkeepedaling

They assaulted you, your local PD is full of it. I would demand that they file a report

MegaTom

+1.

jamesdak 

Yep, there should have been a report done. I get steamed too when stuff is thrown at me. I'm just glad it's never happened on a day when I'm already not in a good mood.

amps

I had a similar incident a few years ago riding home late at night. Had a car coming from the other direction slow down while a kid leaned out a yelled "***" and proceed to throw an egg at me. Given it was night and they had speed going the other direction, there was nothing I could do.

I don't understand the ignorance of some people.

javal

I thought I´d never would have to write this, but today a car touched my arm with its mirror. The car came from behind and there was plenty of room for the driver to overtake me. A little harder push and I would have gone to hell. I never had any chance to catch the driver. I´m so p*ssed off! I really would like to meet that guy!

ahsposo 

Your bike weighs 29 lb? Jeez!

achoo

Damn right - file a complaint and make them take a police report.

Because the NEXT time the moron does it, there will be a paper record of him doing it in the past. And if he ever gets aggressive in his car and hits someone, that record will put him in jail where he belongs.

And maybe - just maybe - a visit from a police officer will straighten him out.

The gay-bashing slurs? Smile, wave, and shout back, "Not me, but if you swing that way that's OK by me!"

justkeepedaling

I'd politely ask them to stop checking me out and check out the sweet rig I'm riding instead! XD

HokuLoa

+a bunch. It is assault and the popo should follow up with a residence visit for the offender if not a ticket. They don't like to do it cause it seems "inconsequential" to them but it IS important to get the driver's record dinged with the incident so if repeat offenses happen there is a history to inform prosecution. Eventually nut bags who do things like that will likely cause an actual accident and injury...

iconicflux

There's a mythbusters episode where they clearly show that a cup of ice thrown from a car generates enough force to SHATTER A WINDSHIELD.

Depending on your area and state, there's a few things you can do...

Many states have a "malicious missile" law like the one in Virginia if you know what the code is. Police take that seriously, especially when you claim it was attempted murder and show them the mythbusters episode. Other than that, if you can't get the police to do anything then you can often get a criminal investigation started by filing a complaint with county commissioners.

Cheers,
Kevin

soccerpig70

plenty of stuff yelled at me but as of yet nothing thrown, although i'm sure its coming. People are idiots plain and simple. Today on my ride suv nearly pancacked me into a concrete barrier . There was no reason at all for the driver to be there, he/she had two other lanes they could have slid into. Of course this was the only stretch on this particular road where there wasn't a dedicated bike lane, figures.

hshearer

Yes, you had some very bad luck there. I've done about a thousand hours of riding over the last few years, and I have yet to have anything thrown at me. It's true that the police probably can't lay assault charges without a corroborating witness, but they could always have a talk with the driver. It's not too late to ask for more follow-up.

Harassment is pretty common, though, and I've experienced almost everything else... 95% of the time it's honks and 'advice', which I completely ignore and have come to find a little amusing. About 5% of the time it's an actual threatening gesture (buzzed, usually, deliberately bumped at a stop sign once), and I've gotten pretty good about getting plates and vehicle descriptions to report those to police. I just wish it was easier to get a look at the drivers (since vehicles don't get tickets, drivers do).

HokuLoa

Yeah, usually it is just the purposeful "too close" pass on an empty country road. Just enough to convey the message "I don't like or respect you" but not enough to warrant an incident report. :::sigh::::

caloso

Not just assault, but battery as well. [first year law school pedantry off]

Yes, the PD should take a report. Yes, the guy is an exceptional ******bag. It happens, but it's not a common occurence.

urbanknight

You tell the officer you want to press charges for assault, then make them take a report. That's there job, and you file a complaint against them if they don't do it.

ethman

If you're in CA (which your profile says you are) then you're protected. Check this out: https://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul...e-law-20110721

I would definitely make a stink about this. People have got to learn to stop being d-bags.

Makel

It's assault, it needs to be turned in, ask to speak with a supervisor. If they still won't do anything, file a complaint with their investigations unit in the morning.

Seamless

That's an important point (bonus mid-term quiz points!): it wasn't just a threat, but unconsented and offensive actual contact (thus both assault and battery). And they were criminal acts, not merely civil torts.

Police--even in CA--have an obligation to take reports of crime, to investigate, and only after to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to place charges. (Whenever it's politically convenient, of course, they mention having to allocate insufficient resources, but even that's irrelevant to allowing a crime to be reported.)

DLP

I'll pursue this as far as I can, which is likely not further than filing the report. Then I'll clean up the bike and get back to riding, though likely not in such highly-trafficked areas (Reseda and Nordhoff, for ethman, and anyone else familiar with Northridge). Glad to know this sort of thing should be considered the exception, not the rule.

Thanks for the encouragement, advice, and commiseration. If anything comes of it, I'll be sure to update those interested.

pcfxer

It is assault. In fact, you should now get the name of the person who told you "nothing I can do." and get them to put that on paper...then go to your local lawyer and let them work their magic. Denying a response for a violent crime is not something to be taken lightly.

This time it was just soda...next time...

ethman

Sorry to hear that happened in Northridge. Where were you when this took place? I generally try to stick to streets with lighter traffic. Doesn't always work in my favor. I was on Lindley one morning when some jack-ass drove by in a truck and tried to pick a fight with me.