Don Joling
Thanks to the folk that have e-mailed their concern.
To clarify a couple of questions: I was in the bike lane between New Seasons and Fred Meyer- Northbound. Lot's of traffic as it was 4pm. The driver moved right and was essentially pushing me into the cars parked to my right. Windows up (and beyond my reach and yelling wasn't going to heard), thus the slap on the rear quarter panel. Not much harder than you'd get tapped in the group if you were about to sweep a wheel. It did keep him from moving further right. I didn't yell at him at that point (nor give him the finger) nor during any point of our "interaction" at the stop light. I did report it to the police, tho not until this morning, which of course was too late. My "calm" went away as soon as he turned east on Lombard, and I rode off the adrenaline, TT'ing home. For whatever reason, it didn't occur to me to call 911 right then.
I do live in Vantucky, however, I could probably ride most any road in the Metro area blindfolded, since I started racing in the 90's.
Cheers!
don
(BTW, if I didn't post it earlier, its a mid/ late 2000's VW wagon, silver with Washington plates).
Out of curiosity, where you in the bike lane. I live in the area and am always frustrated how the interstate bike lane disappears for a couple of blocks and then reappears. The area around new seasons is always crazy so I often peel off at ainsworth to avoid it. PDOT should really figure that out. It might help to minimize auto/bike conflict especially for our Washington brothers who always seem a little lost navigating Portland.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 5, 2013, at 11:04 AM, Ben Fischler wrote:
> Agreed. Window tap is preferred in a non life/limb situation.
>
> On Apr 5, 2013, at 11:00 AM, SPENCER BOHABOY wrote:
>
>> Something that has seemed to work for me is just knocking on the window and then waving. Different sound, different reaction.
>>
>> Thumping on the car means either "I hit someone" or "someone hit me". Both create a lot of stress and adrenalin. A double tap knock on the window registers differently. It usually has the effect of "ok crap, I didn't know he was there or was that close". Even with that said, it is still a move of last resort.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Apr 5, 2013, at 10:42 AM, Ben Fischler wrote:
>>
>>> I was joking. If our society is at the point where we need to ride armed, then we've got much bigger problems then we know.
>>>
>>> Otherwise, I agree on all your points except for my perspective is that if someone is squeezing me off the road and I'm next to their vehicle I will tap their fender and let them know. Maybe that's the wrong call, but it's saved me a few times.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Apr 5, 2013, at 10:33 AM, SPENCER BOHABOY wrote:
>>>
>>>> In this situation, i disagree. If the cyclist had drawn down it would have escalated the situation. The driver was already over the line by saying he was armed and making a threat. The cyclist probably should have called the cops as soon as he was out of sight. The driver was showing poor judgement and a lack of responsibility. For the cyclist part, he should had limited his reaction to a verbal notification. The thump on the quarter panel was also poor judgement.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Apr 5, 2013, at 10:19 AM, Ben Fischler wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Jesus. Glad you kept your cool and made it out unscathed.
>>>>>
>>>>> Of course, it's another example of how we should ALL carry guns, always. If you had a side arm you could have handled the situation with ease.
>>>>>
>>>>> Guns don't kill people, they just let assholes kill people with less difficulty.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -B
>>>>>
>>>>> On Apr 4, 2013, at 8:44 PM, Don Joling wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I almost got shot on the way home. Literally. I was rolling down Interstate between New Seasons and Fred Meyer and some car came over almost putting me in the sidewalk, so I slapped the rear quarter panel just hard enough to get his attention.
>>>>>> So at the next stop light, at Fred Meyer, I'm que'd up with a couple other cyclists, and he comes up on my right, and goes ballistic. Tells me that he's got a gun and is going to shoot me in the leg. I stay super calm, not reacting at all. I tell him I was just letting him know he almost hit me. I can see in his car and the glove box is open with his hand in it. He settles down a little telling me he rides too, but I'm lucky I didn't dent his car (he had gotten out to look apparently). A couple more standard issue cuss words (ya I'd say them, but trying to keep this family friendly) from him and we went our separate ways.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I didn't get his plate #, and didn't want to reach in my back pocket for my iPhone. It's a probably mid 2000's VW wagon with WA plates.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stay safe out there.
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>>>>>
>>>>> -Ben
>>>>>
>>>>> AnimationMentor.com
>>>>> [ ben.fischler@gmail.com ]
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>> -Ben
>>>
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>>> [ ben.fischler@gmail.com ]
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> -Ben
>
> AnimationMentor.com
> [ ben.fischler@gmail.com ]
>
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