plantluvver
07-13-2006, 02:58 PM
This is more of a bike/property trespass issue.
Last week I was out with a (male) freind biking along a road with no shoulder, and very congested traffic We turned down what appeared to be an off ramp, and followed it. After about 1/4 mile, It abruptly dead-ended in a parkng lot. A house with a front lawn was next door. It was quite obvious that someone was at home because a lawnmower was outside, and the garage door was open. My freind was out of my veiw for about a minute, so I don't know how things started, but when I saw him, there were three guys, who seemed somewhat "thuggy". About the best way to describe them would be "Brooklyn-ish." (This is in Portland, OR.) I don't know anything about Brooklyn, except that on TV they always portray a knid of in your face, tough guy, working class sort of guy.
The leader was demanding we leave his property, and the quickest, shortest way to the main road was across his yard and a corner of the neighbors yard. My freind wanted to stand his ground, and have me find my cell phone, and call the cops. The resident refused to help with any directions, to get us to our distination, and was angered that we were were leaving his property in the most direct manner, by violating his neighbor's property.
These people had garages, and driveways, but it was not obvious how they connected to the road, and my attention was focused on these three guys.
I personnally feel that since these guys live next to a golf course, they might just be tired of lost souls traipsing across their property. But if so, it would be wise to just put up a few poles with a chain across.
My freind says they were just looking for a fight, and we had a duty to file a report, so they don't do this to other cyclists. I think that my freind is just being "male" and all this is just a territorial display by both parties.
I am angry because these guys did not quit their stuff in the presence of a woman. And so, I was being indirectly threatened too:eek: .
If I had been alone, I don't know if their behavior would have been any different, and I would have looked around for the owner, because we were genuinely lost, due to a road closure in the area, we could not follow the standard route, and the automobile detour may have taken us far out of our way.
I don't know what to think. These guys have a right to be insulting, bike hating thugs on their own property, whatever their reason. I just think my freind gave them an excuse to abuse the next cyclist that comes by. But front yards are a kind of public space. The mailman does come to your door, as well as the Avon Lady, and other solicitors, so it can't be illegal to cross a person's front yard. Obviously, we weren't lurking around, expecting to steal something with the obvious signs of activity around the place.
Luckily, nothing came of it. Maybe these guys were just posturing:confused: :confused: . Anyway, I'll never go THAT way again.:p
Mary
Last week I was out with a (male) freind biking along a road with no shoulder, and very congested traffic We turned down what appeared to be an off ramp, and followed it. After about 1/4 mile, It abruptly dead-ended in a parkng lot. A house with a front lawn was next door. It was quite obvious that someone was at home because a lawnmower was outside, and the garage door was open. My freind was out of my veiw for about a minute, so I don't know how things started, but when I saw him, there were three guys, who seemed somewhat "thuggy". About the best way to describe them would be "Brooklyn-ish." (This is in Portland, OR.) I don't know anything about Brooklyn, except that on TV they always portray a knid of in your face, tough guy, working class sort of guy.
The leader was demanding we leave his property, and the quickest, shortest way to the main road was across his yard and a corner of the neighbors yard. My freind wanted to stand his ground, and have me find my cell phone, and call the cops. The resident refused to help with any directions, to get us to our distination, and was angered that we were were leaving his property in the most direct manner, by violating his neighbor's property.
These people had garages, and driveways, but it was not obvious how they connected to the road, and my attention was focused on these three guys.
I personnally feel that since these guys live next to a golf course, they might just be tired of lost souls traipsing across their property. But if so, it would be wise to just put up a few poles with a chain across.
My freind says they were just looking for a fight, and we had a duty to file a report, so they don't do this to other cyclists. I think that my freind is just being "male" and all this is just a territorial display by both parties.
I am angry because these guys did not quit their stuff in the presence of a woman. And so, I was being indirectly threatened too:eek: .
If I had been alone, I don't know if their behavior would have been any different, and I would have looked around for the owner, because we were genuinely lost, due to a road closure in the area, we could not follow the standard route, and the automobile detour may have taken us far out of our way.
I don't know what to think. These guys have a right to be insulting, bike hating thugs on their own property, whatever their reason. I just think my freind gave them an excuse to abuse the next cyclist that comes by. But front yards are a kind of public space. The mailman does come to your door, as well as the Avon Lady, and other solicitors, so it can't be illegal to cross a person's front yard. Obviously, we weren't lurking around, expecting to steal something with the obvious signs of activity around the place.
Luckily, nothing came of it. Maybe these guys were just posturing:confused: :confused: . Anyway, I'll never go THAT way again.:p
Mary