john
Troll? How? How am out of line? Explain please.
He's not in the shoulder on a busy road because of a few rocks and glass. A
truck with a trailer, passes SAFELY. The cyclist gets upset and agressively
waves at driver. Driver waves back .
I've seen this on Group rides. I'll be one the shoulder, other people are
out in the road, unecessarily becasue they think they might get a flat or
something? , pissing other road uses off, causing great danger to the group
and giving a poor impression of cyclist in general.
I am sorry but a few little rocks and glass does NOT entitle one to leave
the shoulder. AND It's the law. How is stating this out of line ?
Explain yourself.
On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 9:38 AM, Brady Brady wrote:
> Troll; disregard.
>
>
> From: john
> Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 09:36:05 -0700
> To: "obra@list.obra.org"
>
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Interesting Encounter with an Off-duty Police
> Officer
>
> "...should I have done anything differently?"
>
> Mmmm. yes, you should have not been breaking the law, and should have been
> in the shoulder... ?
>
> "the shoulder is littered with rocks, glass and other miscellaneous
> debris"
>
> I am sorry, but IMHO, This does not sound like a safety hazard. A higher
> chance of a flat tire is NOT a safety hazard. (And if you think getting a
> flat tire on a biycle is a safety hazard, then you shouldn't be riding a
> bicycle).
>
> Just because someone choses to ride with lightweight training or racing
> tires, does not entitle you break the law and not ride to the right.
>
> And to be honest, if I am a white-lining and get left a foot or two and the
> speeds aren't that high, it's business as usual.
>
> That said, the police officer was right to feel sheepish about getting a
> little too close. Its a job where you can't even give the impression that
> you are being un-safe or dangerous.
>
> On Sat, Jul 30, 2011 at 7:49 PM, Jeremy wrote:
>
>> Dear OBRA,
>>
>> Long-time listener, first-time caller... I had a very interesting
>> interaction with someone who said she was a police officer today on a
>> training ride.
>>
>> I was white-line riding over an overpass over I-5 where the shoulder is
>> non-existent widens a bit for the overpass then narrows down. As these
>> sections get swept about once every 2-5 years, the shoulder is littered with
>> rocks, glass and other miscellaneous debris. I was passed safely by one car
>> then buzzed by a dark gray Ford Bronco towing a trailer about a foot from my
>> shoulder. I swung my left hand to signal the driver to give more room. She
>> took her arm out the window and waved over to indicate that I should have
>> been over more to the right. Knowing then that she knew exactly what she
>> was doing, I hauled tail, got the license plate and called 911 when she
>> turned onto the highway.
>>
>> 911 was friendly and helpful and asked repeatedly if I was okay. I said
>> physically I was fine but I was pretty shaken. They took all my info and we
>> parted company.
>>
>> I rode on and took a turn I have taken maybe twice ever, and there was the
>> Bronco, parked in a driveway, lights on and garage open. I asked the woman
>> in the garage if that was her car. She said it was her daughter's and I
>> said that car buzzed me about 15 minutes earlier. She went in to the house
>> and fetched her daughter.
>>
>> As I talked to the driver, I asked her if she knew she buzzed me. She
>> said yes. I introduced myself and asked her if she understood that buzzing
>> me was not within the law. She replied she was a police officer and asked
>> if I knew that I have to ride as far right as the road allows. I kindly
>> informed her that wasn't how the law read and I was as right as the
>> conditions allowed. Further talking with her brought out that she was
>> having a bad day and lost her uncle. I expressed condolences and politely
>> asked her to think about how her actions could have made her bad day my bad
>> day and that I have children that I do happen to love and who would miss me
>> should something terrible happen because someone tried to make a point by
>> putting my life in danger. She then said something to the effect of "when I
>> see a bicyclist" at which point I kindly said, "My name is Jeremy. I am not
>> 'a bicyclist'. I am father and husband."
>>
>> At first, she wanted not to identify herself and I repeatedly told her she
>> didn't have to if she didn't want to, I just wanted to talk. In the end,
>> she apologized and offered a business card, which I refused. After another
>> 2 hours of riding and thinking, I'm wishing, perhaps, I had taken that card,
>> but I really hope she took what I said to heart. A part of me wishes I had
>> a nutshell citation of the statutes involved with where we are "supposed to
>> ride" when there is no bike lane I could have handed her because, in
>> hindsight, I think I am more scared that an officer of the law would attempt
>> to make a legal point in that manner than simply pull me over and cite me,
>> if I were really in the wrong (which I don't think I am).
>>
>> I consider myself very fortunate that 1) the driver didn't wing me with
>> her mirror, 2) the driver was actually willing to talk to me, and 3) that
>> kind of buzzing happens to me really infrequently.
>>
>> Besides actually taking her card, should I have done anything differently?
>>
>> -Jeremy Everitt
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>
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