could have handled THAT better

[BikingNurse]

Heres a story about something that happened last week. It's been replaying in my mind to see what I should have done or said differently. IF anything. Or if I should have just left it alone. Mind you that my Mother Bear instinct jumped in.
Ok. Well, Last week. My son and I were riding home from the grocery store. We were headed up hill. I was riding in the parking lane and my son was on the sidewalk as that road is far too busy for him to be on the road . This guy was parked with his car pointed in the wrong direction going down hill with part of it in the street and the rest across the side walk. My son had quite a load in his basket. and he had 2 choices. 1 go right and end up in a 12 ft deep ditch. 2 go left into a busy street crossing over puncture vines. He was nervous and I was nervous for him. He did a great job of being careful and didn't wreck. As i passed Mr. Jerkwad, I said "it's a side walk not a parking lot"
The reaction I got was "Shut your @@#@@$ mouth lady before I run you over with my car!"

Needless to say I didn't show I was scared I kept peddling up the hill with my son at the same pace. Didn't stop to get his license plate. We were fine.But the qustions keep rolling in my brain.
Any thoughts?

[Zen]

The kids kind of throws a wrench in things. Not sure how I wold have handled that. But if it were just me I would have stopped right then and there and called the cops
. He did threaten your life.

[Aquila]

I wouldn't have handled it as well as you did.

However, should it happen again, get the license plate, and if you call the police, maybe don't bring it up as a biking issue, but as an access issue, because if your son can't get by on a bike, a person with a wheelchair or other limited mobility will have a problem, and that's even more serious.

I'm glad your son handled it safely.

[TrekTheKaty]

What I've learned about cycling safety is never yell at a car. They will win. The best advice off here was, at least hold up your phone so they THINK you are taking their picture. That may cause them to retreat. However, I've had a few close calls--and luckily the car was gone before I could start my rant. My husband did manage to get to a ladies open passenger car window after she cut me off and asked, "Why did you try to kill my wife?" But she was on the phone.............

But I completely understand your reaction, especially with your child's safety at risk. However, IMHO, you might want to sit down with him and discuss how that could have been handled differently.

PS. Everyone should check with their local cycling club. One organization in Missouri, will anonymously contact driver's if you can report a license plate. See if you can implement this in your area.

http://mobikefed.org/motoristcontact.html

[kenyonchris]

As a cop, here is my advice:

Don't yell at motorists. Road rage works both ways, and you could be yelling at someone who is mentally imbalanced and has a gun in the car. If you are concerned enough at the guys parking job (parking on the wrong side of the road is illegal, parking on the sidewalk is illegal) to consider it a safety issue, get a LP and call it in to the non emergency number. Once the guy yelled that at you, I would have certainly called. The police may not have been able to do anything about that except perhaps disorderly conduct (maaaaybe), anyone who is squirrely like that generally will get squirrely with the police. NOT a good idea.

Now, have I yelled? Yep. Shaken my fist? Yep. And, on one occasion, when a guy with a boat deliberately tried to hit me (I was going 24 mph on my bike in a 30 mph zone...not fast enough for him) I badged him (I had it in my wallet, which was in my bento box) when I caught him at a light. I was out of my jurisdiction or I would have detained him...as it was I gave him a fright. Dumb kid. But I would NOT recommend ANY of those actions.

[lph]

The best way to get someone to realize that they're doing something wrong and change their behaviour is to state it to them in a friendly, non-confrontational way. Assuming they're just being oblivious, and not downright mean. So I guess you could have said "Sorry, you probably don't realize it, but the way you've parked my son is forced to ride out into the road, but the road really is too dangerous for him at his age."

But I wouldn't have :D I would have yelled and said something rude. Even though all that generates is a bit more animosity.

[Zen]

As a cop, here is my advice:

Don't yell at motorists..

No one recommend this as a strategy.