I'm all for not antagonizing while on the road.
But I hope that the hit and run but driver will pay dearly to Pam for his
poor choice of behavior to one of his fellow citizens.
I also hope that that gets some press to remind all the future versions of
him that driving isn't all fun and games. It comes with responsibility too.
Since we are, with good reason, back on the topic of motorist vs. cyclist, I would like to update everyone on the status of my friend, a victim of harassment by a driver, and then an unrelated incident that occurred yesterday.
In August I wrote to the OBRA chat list describing an incident where a cyclist in my group had water thrown (or possibly spit) in her face as a pick-up truck sped by, towing a ski boat. The driver made no attempt to give clearance to the cyclist and the boat trailer hit her, sending her flying into a ditch. She is home now, after extensive surgery to piece her arm bones back together with metal plates and screws. She is recovering from that and all the bruises and road rash she sustained. The doctors say the arm should be nearly healed in about four months. We are hopeful that after her arm heals it will be close enough to normal to allow her to resume her work. She is a surgeon. I asked for your help in finding the driver and I thank those who assisted. Some of the responses surprised me with their lack of understanding, and although I considered them quite off the mark, I do think they were intended to be of benefit to the cycling community. The story made the news and
was aired by at least two TV stations. The Washington County Sheriff's office was flooded with phone calls giving tips. The driver was found, I mean, he turned himself in, and he was arrested. He posted bail and has a lawyer who we have heard is "very high priced". One of his passengers fled the state, but I have heard that he too has now been arrested. I will be testifying as a witness at a grand jury hearing in a couple of weeks.
On a positive note: Yesterday was a beautiful day to ride a bike. Despite the ever present threat of maniacs in motor vehicles, a group of us rode a lot of miles on shoulder-less roads in the areas around Mt. Angel, Scotts Mills, Molalla, Canby and Wilsonville. Roads not unlike Hwy. 219 near Newberg, where the August incident occurred. We were passed by many, probably hundreds of, cars and trucks. Some of the drivers were pretty jerky, accelerating when they saw us and speeding by way over the speed limit. We never give antagonistic gestures to those who threaten us like that. We don't want to encourage them. Even those drivers moved a little to the left, usually over the center line, and gave us enough clearance to let us ride in relative peace. In the final few miles of our ride we were on the rollers of Advance Rd. where motorists often cannot see over the crest of the next hill and so it is difficult for them to pass cyclists. Sometimes they just have to slow down and
wait until it is safe. As one in our group neared the top of a hill, he could see oncoming traffic, so he signaled the pick-up truck approaching from behind to slow down and stay in the lane. The driver slowed and stayed put and the oncoming traffic came through without incident. Afterward, as he passed our cyclist, he rolled down his window. Oh boy, we thought, here come some obscenities, or worse. Instead the driver waved and said, "Thank you for warning me about that!". Yes, it is possible for cyclists and motor vehicles to share the road, and treat each other with thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion.
Let's do our best to make peace and promote tolerance. Give as much room as you can to the motorists when it is safe for you to do so. And get those who break the law punished for their crimes.
Peace,
John
P.S. To Pam: I hope you do report the action of that log truck driver to the police and his employer, and let him know that he cannot get away with harassing cyclists. At the time of an incident though, it is best to keep a cool head in the face of a hostile driver and collect all the information you can about him, his vehicle and the events that transpired, so it can be reported later to the authorities. It makes no sense to sink to their level and invite even more hostility.
Cp53x11@aol.com wrote:
If you got his license #, I would definitely report him to whoever he is employed by.
If he was driving a log truck, he's got a commercial driver's license. And he should know even better than the average guy about safe-driving.
If you did get the license #, email it to me, I have some connections at the DOT and may be able to help out.
He may not give a crap. But whoever is paying him and responsible for him while he's being paid and paying for the insurance policy that that vehicle is covered under will sure as hell care.
About 3 months ago I got into a confrontation on the road with a guy who made a dangerous pass on a blind corner up by Washington Park. We waved at him. He stopped and started being the tough guy saying he was going to park his (white Ford Expedition-that had big black letters reading "DIGNITY" on the side) car and get out and then it was going to be "ground and pound" (as he put it). I said "great, while you're parking, I'll let the two cars behind you know there's about to be an assault and they should pay attention cuz I'll need some witnesses for later". He got this look on his face like he was outwitted but couldn't exactly figure out how it happened and said "Well, I'm just going to follow you all the way down the hill!". So he got tired of that after about 2 minutes and turned off.
But, we got his license plate #. Turns out he worked for that funeral home on Skyline that we all ride by. I called his boss and gave him an earful about how dangerous somebody like this is to the community and what a liability he is to his company and demanded that he call me back and tell me how this was being handled (I'm a fleet manager and I would fire somebody straight up if they were out in a company vehicle threatening to assault people).
Turns out he got fired for that and a few other things.
I have to admit. It felt good. All the times that jerks like this get away, it feels good when justice prevails!
chris _______________________________________________
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If you got his license #, I would definitely report him to whoever he is
employed by.
If he was driving a log truck, he's got a commercial driver's license. And
he should know even better than the average guy about safe-driving.
If you did get the license #, email it to me, I have some connections at the
DOT and may be able to help out.
He may not give a crap. But whoever is paying him and responsible for him
while he's being paid and paying for the insurance policy that that vehicle is
covered under will sure as hell care.
About 3 months ago I got into a confrontation on the road with a guy who made
a dangerous pass on a blind corner up by Washington Park. We waved at him.
He stopped and started being the tough guy saying he was going to park his
(white Ford Expedition-that had big black letters reading "DIGNITY" on the side)
car and get out and then it was going to be "ground and pound" (as he put it).
I said "great, while you're parking, I'll let the two cars behind you know
there's about to be an assault and they should pay attention cuz I'll need some
witnesses for later". He got this look on his face like he was outwitted but
couldn't exactly figure out how it happened and said "Well, I'm just going to
follow you all the way down the hill!". So he got tired of that after about
2 minutes and turned off.
But, we got his license plate #. Turns out he worked for that funeral home
on Skyline that we all ride by. I called his boss and gave him an earful about
how dangerous somebody like this is to the community and what a liability he
is to his company and demanded that he call me back and tell me how this was
being handled (I'm a fleet manager and I would fire somebody straight up if
they were out in a company vehicle threatening to assault people).
Turns out he got fired for that and a few other things.
I have to admit. It felt good. All the times that jerks like this get away,
it feels good when justice prevails!
chris
Report him to his employer, and report him to the police. Also you can
file a complaint with the police as under Oregon law, he committed a
traffic infraction by harassing a cyclist and endangering your group.
----Original Message----
From: evanm@ci.hillsboro.or.us
Date: 09/07/2006 3:03 PM
To: "Long, Steve", ,
"Fitzwater, Scott"
Subj: Re: [OBRA Chat] Can someone help - Log truck vs bicyclist
I don't suppose there was a blue Ford Taurus or similar car parked in
the driveway missing part of the driver's side rear view mirror? If
so,
that might be the guy who hit my wife Christine head-on last fall on
Padgett (on the wrong side of the road I might add), came sliding to a
stop in the ditch, then sped off.
-Evan
Evan MacKenzie
Urban Planner I
City of Hillsboro
150 E. Main Street, 4th floor
Hillsboro, OR 97123
503-681-6154
evanm@ci.hillsboro.or.us
http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/Planning_Department/
Try Hillsboro Maps! Tons of info on any property in Hillsboro.
http://hillsboromaps.ci.hillsboro.or.us/hillsboro/index.cfm
------------- __o
---------- _ '\<,_
----------(_)/ (_)______Get on your bikes and ride!
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org]
On
Behalf Of Long, Steve
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:32 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org; Fitzwater, Scott
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Can someone help - Log truck vs bicyclist
Heck,
I might try to get who the guy works for and let them know that they
have a driver out there that is a danger to the community.
Sheesh, I had a freaking school bus buzz me this morning on McGilvary,
close enough that I could actually slap the back of the bus with my
hand. My course of action this AM was:
1. Rode up to the front of the buss at the next stop and raised my
thumb
and fore finger asking the driver for a little room. I got not a look
from the driver so I rode off in front of the buss with the same hand
gesture. Not getting even a single look I took my next course of
action.
2. I took up the entire lane so that the buss had to either go into
the
next lane over (this lane was still traveling in the same direction as
McGilvary is a four lane road there), or, slow to my pace.
The buss slowed to my pace. Once the buss pulled off into its school,
I
rode back over into the bike lane. Yes, there was a bike lane even.
One might expect this kind of numb-skulled behavior from a logging
truck
but a school buss??? What I should have done is gotten the buss number
and reported it to the school district. I guarantee you they would not
look kindly on this behavior.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org]
On
Behalf Of Reid, Pam
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:15 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org; obrarace@list.obra.org; Fitzwater, Scott
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Can someone help - Log truck vs bicyclist
The following happened today (Thursday) to several riders and they are
looking for some help on what action they can take to the driver. Any
legal folks out there please reply to Scott Fitzwater NOT THE ENTIRE
LIST.
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
So, several of us were buzzed by a logging truck on the noon ride
today.
When we caught up to him, after he stopped, an ugly confrontation
ensued. He was aggressive and at one point I thought John or I were
going to get punched in the nose. He was saying things like "bikes
don't
belong on the road".
Thinking back, we did nothing wrong or illegal. We were riding south
on
Susbauer and turning east onto Wren Rd. He was heading east on Wren
and
stopped at Susbauer. We were single file, used hand signals and as we
turned, the driver was loudly spouting something that none of us could
understand. We continued down Wren and he passed us very closely and
whipped the tail end into us as he went by. We all commented what a
jerk
he was, John flipped him off and, much to our delight, the truck
turned
into a driveway (we think he lives there). Unfortunately the guy
stormed
out of the truck cab and was extremely aggressive. Whew, this guy was
having a bad day.
Nevertheless, I'm compelled to do something about this guy. He's a
danger to bicyclists. Anyone have suggestions what my next steps
should
be?
Scott Fitzwater
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
I don't suppose there was a blue Ford Taurus or similar car parked in
the driveway missing part of the driver's side rear view mirror? If so,
that might be the guy who hit my wife Christine head-on last fall on
Padgett (on the wrong side of the road I might add), came sliding to a
stop in the ditch, then sped off.
-Evan
Evan MacKenzie
Urban Planner I
City of Hillsboro
150 E. Main Street, 4th floor
Hillsboro, OR 97123
503-681-6154
evanm@ci.hillsboro.or.us
http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/Planning_Department/
Try Hillsboro Maps! Tons of info on any property in Hillsboro.
http://hillsboromaps.ci.hillsboro.or.us/hillsboro/index.cfm
------------- __o
---------- _ '\<,_
----------(_)/ (_)______Get on your bikes and ride!
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Long, Steve
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:32 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org; Fitzwater, Scott
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Can someone help - Log truck vs bicyclist
Heck,
I might try to get who the guy works for and let them know that they
have a driver out there that is a danger to the community.
Sheesh, I had a freaking school bus buzz me this morning on McGilvary,
close enough that I could actually slap the back of the bus with my
hand. My course of action this AM was:
1. Rode up to the front of the buss at the next stop and raised my thumb
and fore finger asking the driver for a little room. I got not a look
from the driver so I rode off in front of the buss with the same hand
gesture. Not getting even a single look I took my next course of action.
2. I took up the entire lane so that the buss had to either go into the
next lane over (this lane was still traveling in the same direction as
McGilvary is a four lane road there), or, slow to my pace.
The buss slowed to my pace. Once the buss pulled off into its school, I
rode back over into the bike lane. Yes, there was a bike lane even.
One might expect this kind of numb-skulled behavior from a logging truck
but a school buss??? What I should have done is gotten the buss number
and reported it to the school district. I guarantee you they would not
look kindly on this behavior.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Reid, Pam
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:15 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org; obrarace@list.obra.org; Fitzwater, Scott
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Can someone help - Log truck vs bicyclist
The following happened today (Thursday) to several riders and they are
looking for some help on what action they can take to the driver. Any
legal folks out there please reply to Scott Fitzwater NOT THE ENTIRE
LIST.
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
So, several of us were buzzed by a logging truck on the noon ride today.
When we caught up to him, after he stopped, an ugly confrontation
ensued. He was aggressive and at one point I thought John or I were
going to get punched in the nose. He was saying things like "bikes don't
belong on the road".
Thinking back, we did nothing wrong or illegal. We were riding south on
Susbauer and turning east onto Wren Rd. He was heading east on Wren and
stopped at Susbauer. We were single file, used hand signals and as we
turned, the driver was loudly spouting something that none of us could
understand. We continued down Wren and he passed us very closely and
whipped the tail end into us as he went by. We all commented what a jerk
he was, John flipped him off and, much to our delight, the truck turned
into a driveway (we think he lives there). Unfortunately the guy stormed
out of the truck cab and was extremely aggressive. Whew, this guy was
having a bad day.
Nevertheless, I'm compelled to do something about this guy. He's a
danger to bicyclists. Anyone have suggestions what my next steps should
be?
Scott Fitzwater
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
Heck,
I might try to get who the guy works for and let them know that they
have a driver out there that is a danger to the community.
Sheesh, I had a freaking school bus buzz me this morning on McGilvary,
close enough that I could actually slap the back of the bus with my
hand. My course of action this AM was:
1. Rode up to the front of the buss at the next stop and raised my thumb
and fore finger asking the driver for a little room. I got not a look
from the driver so I rode off in front of the buss with the same hand
gesture. Not getting even a single look I took my next course of action.
2. I took up the entire lane so that the buss had to either go into the
next lane over (this lane was still traveling in the same direction as
McGilvary is a four lane road there), or, slow to my pace.
The buss slowed to my pace. Once the buss pulled off into its school, I
rode back over into the bike lane. Yes, there was a bike lane even.
One might expect this kind of numb-skulled behavior from a logging truck
but a school buss??? What I should have done is gotten the buss number
and reported it to the school district. I guarantee you they would not
look kindly on this behavior.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Reid, Pam
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:15 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org; obrarace@list.obra.org; Fitzwater, Scott
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Can someone help - Log truck vs bicyclist
The following happened today (Thursday) to several riders and they are
looking for some help on what action they can take to the driver. Any
legal folks out there please reply to Scott Fitzwater NOT THE ENTIRE
LIST.
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
So, several of us were buzzed by a logging truck on the noon ride today.
When we caught up to him, after he stopped, an ugly confrontation
ensued. He was aggressive and at one point I thought John or I were
going to get punched in the nose. He was saying things like "bikes don't
belong on the road".
Thinking back, we did nothing wrong or illegal. We were riding south on
Susbauer and turning east onto Wren Rd. He was heading east on Wren and
stopped at Susbauer. We were single file, used hand signals and as we
turned, the driver was loudly spouting something that none of us could
understand. We continued down Wren and he passed us very closely and
whipped the tail end into us as he went by. We all commented what a jerk
he was, John flipped him off and, much to our delight, the truck turned
into a driveway (we think he lives there). Unfortunately the guy stormed
out of the truck cab and was extremely aggressive. Whew, this guy was
having a bad day.
Nevertheless, I'm compelled to do something about this guy. He's a
danger to bicyclists. Anyone have suggestions what my next steps should
be?
Scott Fitzwater
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
The following happened today (Thursday) to several riders and they are
looking for some help on what action they can take to the driver. Any
legal folks out there please reply to Scott Fitzwater NOT THE ENTIRE
LIST.
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
So, several of us were buzzed by a logging truck on the noon ride today.
When we caught up to him, after he stopped, an ugly confrontation
ensued. He was aggressive and at one point I thought John or I were
going to get punched in the nose. He was saying things like "bikes don't
belong on the road".
Thinking back, we did nothing wrong or illegal. We were riding south on
Susbauer and turning east onto Wren Rd. He was heading east on Wren and
stopped at Susbauer. We were single file, used hand signals and as we
turned, the driver was loudly spouting something that none of us could
understand. We continued down Wren and he passed us very closely and
whipped the tail end into us as he went by. We all commented what a jerk
he was, John flipped him off and, much to our delight, the truck turned
into a driveway (we think he lives there). Unfortunately the guy stormed
out of the truck cab and was extremely aggressive. Whew, this guy was
having a bad day.
Nevertheless, I'm compelled to do something about this guy. He's a
danger to bicyclists. Anyone have suggestions what my next steps should
be?
Scott Fitzwater
scott.fitzwater@intel.com
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