I can't believe this happened..

[solobiker]

This is from a local paper.

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_21571712/longmont-area-driver-honks-at-cyclists-nonstop-colorado

[radacrider]

Sad, but unfortunately true. We have had a couple issues like that here in Portland. One where the guy harassed bicyclists regularly. Such angry, dangerous people.

[OakLeaf]

Geez, where do you live that you can't believe that happened? The only unbelievable thing is that law enforcement is going to follow up. Slightly less unbelievable, though highly relieving, is that the driver didn't physically assault the riders.

[solobiker]

Geez, where do you live that you can't believe that happened? The only unbelievable thing is that law enforcement is going to follow up. Slightly less unbelievable, though highly relieving, is that the driver didn't physically assault the riders.

I used to live in Longmont and rode those roads all of the time without any problems. I guess I like to think that most people are nice and would not do that. That is my optimistic side that always gets crushed.

[Bike Writer]

What an arrogant jerk. Sadly they exist everywhere.

[solobiker]

I know...gosh..the older I get the more I realize there are plenty of jerks around.

[radacrider]

I used to live in Longmont and rode those roads all of the time without any problems. I guess I like to think that most people are nice and would not do that. That is my optimistic side that always gets crushed.

I do believe most people are nice and mutually respectful. The problem is those few who are not so nice are so darn mean and dangerous about it.

[zoom-zoom]

What's especially telling to me is that the driver sees these cyclists recording his/her behavior in a state with front plates and it isn't enough for him/her to cease being an asshat. Motorists have figured it out that they can get away with this sh!t...that's scary.

[zoom-zoom]

Saw this on MTBR:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/lidarman/misc/sharetheroadhonk800b.jpg

[Kathi]

What's especially telling to me is that the driver sees these cyclists recording his/her behavior in a state with front plates and it isn't enough for him/her to cease being an asshat. Motorists have figured it out that they can get away with this sh!t...that's scary.

As part of the 3 ft to pass law in Colorado motorists cannot harass cyclists. You can report motorists to the Colorado State Patrol. According to the State Patrol website, they enter this information into an aggressive driver database and send a warning letter after receiving three complaints. If the State Patrol receives additional complaints they send a trooper to make personal contact with the registered owner of the vehicle to take appropriate enforcement action.

A few days after this law was passed a couple of yahoo's pulled up next to a friend of mine, slowed down and the passenger leaned out the window and pushed down on my friend's handlebars. He didn't fall because luckily he had his hands in the center of his handebars. They called CSP, a patrol car was in the vicinity and they caught the motorists. Because these 2 were well known to CSP they were taken to court. Although my friend thought the judge wasn't "tough enough" they did get fined and some jail time (for the driver).

In addition to videoing this jerk, I'm surprised the cyclists didn't call CSP immediately.

[limewave]

There's a local LBS that keeps a list of plate numbers from aggressive and hostile drivers that local cyclists report. I did a jersey design for them a few years back and they actually wanted me to list the plate numbers on the back of the jersey! This was so that when riding in a group the person behind could read the plates. While kind of funny, I did not think that was appropriate and would only increase hostility between cyclists and drivers. Anyways, they keep the list and report it to the authorities. This way they can keep track of repeated offenders.

[OakLeaf]

I'm just a little bemused, I guess. Where I live, drivers don't get prosecuted when they kill cyclists, unless they do something else like being drunk and forgetting to leave the scene.

If I went into the cop shop to report a car honking its horn at me, I'd probably wind up in jail for wasting police resources.

[sookiesue]

Radacrider, did you go to the meeting at the Skyline Grange last winter where they discussed cyclists, motorists, and the law, and how it applied to those of us who ride/live/drive along this popular riding area? It was really interesting. The guy I think you are talking about, Scott Wheeler, was at the meeting. He really has no concern for the safety of cyclists - or probably other drivers. All he wanted to do was have his point of view (that bikes must get out of his way no matter what) confirmed, and when the law enforcement personnel at the meeting could not do this (because the law states otherwise!), he left. He is definitely dangerous, and my impression was that law enforcement would really like to do something about him, but they don't have any hard evidence yet. I try to avoid the area right around his house, and I hope I never encounter him along any of my routes. Hopefully someone with a helmet cam or easily accessible cell phone can catch him in the act of harassing cyclists soon, before someone gets seriously hurt. Maybe some jail time would help him understand the difference between being 'right' (even though according to the law, he is NOT) and doing the right thing.

And FWIW, I only list his actual name because he has been named in local public articles

http://bikeportland.org/2011/08/19/on-rock-creek-road-an-openly-hostile-road-user-galvanizes-the-community-57963

about his dangerous behavior previously, and so I figured he wasn't a secret. I hope that doesn't break rules of the forum. If so, my apologies and I will delete that part!

[Kathi]

Update: after interviewing the motorist, Colorado State Patrol ticketed him on 2 counts.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21587364/erie-driver-75-ticketed-after-viral-cycling-video