Shaking My Confidence

[VeloVT]

Lisa, you're exactly right. I think that's why I'm still feeling badly about it. Even though the accident was technically the car's fault, nonetheless it was a situation I could have avoided.

Anyhoo. Sorry for the drift!

Be safe out there!

[HillSlugger]

I'm sorry that this happened to you. Never accept that "I know this is part of cycling". It shouldn't be a part of cycling and people acting that way shouldn't be a part of life. It's unacceptable behavior! Good on you for reporting it!

[Aggie_Ama]

Well dealing with jerks is part of life, sadly. But MD you are right, it shouldn't be and that is why I felt like I should file a report even with very little information.

We went for a ride tonight. I found myself very apprehensive of every car that passed. I felt like a newbie all over again but at least I was back out there.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well dealing with jerks is part of life, sadly. But MD you are right, it shouldn't be and that is why I felt like I should file a report even with very little information.

We went for a ride tonight. I found myself very apprehensive of every car that passed. I felt like a newbie all over again but at least I was back out there.

Good for you Amanda. And good that you filed a report. If 3 cyclists file reports then they might get a description and put out some patrols looking for those jerks. Also, if someone else does get their license #, then the police will see the other reports filed and it will add proof of their guilt. A third reason is that if they continue to get away with this kind of thing, they might eventually cause a cyclist to get seriously hurt or killed.

The more you get out there now, the quicker you will feel stronger again.
Hugs to you.

[luv'nAustin]

Amanda,

I'm so sorry that you were treated that way by the teens. I'm also glad that you filed that report. Hope it never happens to you again. I would offer to ride with you this week so that you wouldn't have to go alone, but I moved and now live in North Carolina.

On another note, glad to hear that you found some good weather to ride. I hear that it is still raining quite frequently. I just left in late August...what a wet summer.


Liza- glad that you are ok. Stop beating yourself up. It sounds like you learned something from the experience that may help you if you ever find yourself in that same situation.

Be safe...one and all!

[onimity]

Amanda,

So sorry that this happened to you but I am VERY glad that you reported the information that you had to the police. I have had a few similar situations and know what you mean about feeling vulnerable and angry; a guy ran me off the road (intentionally) a few weeks back and I totally lost it on the phone with the police outside of my office. I was embarrassed & felt I should have been stronger but I think it is natural to react that way.

Teenagers especially can be so nasty to those they perceive as 'weaker'; they're probably the same sort that torture animals because they can't fight back. I hope that they get a taste of their own medicine someday and survive to learn from it.

I hope that you quickly recover your confidence; don't let the jerks take away your freedom.

Anne

[glamgurl36]

aw that sucks...

people can be so disrespectful..dont worry about it, not everyone is like that

[invsblwmn]

Punks r everywhere. we ride because we must. it is freedom, light, breath. do not let fear be your captor, make it ur coach to push u to the next level. u will be my inspiration for "rehab day 3" in the commuters board, invsblwmn crash thread. thank you for ur strength, we girls gotta hang together!

[elk]

why not--if you won't take a notebook-- carry a piece of paper and a golf pencil...so you can write it down? And a cell phone.

[northstar]

why not--if you won't take a notebook-- carry a piece of paper and a golf pencil...so you can write it down? And a cell phone.

The guy I chatted with at REI says he keeps a pen in his pocket and if something happens, he writes it right on his arm, as soon as he gets the chance.

I think that's a great idea. Easy enough to keep it in a pocket.

[onimity]

Also, many cell phones have the capability to store memos or to send text messages...is there someone you can send the plate# to?

This came in useful for me a little over a week ago. My sister and I were taking the bike path home from the store after dark. It's mostly a very safe path b/c it is bike-only (peds, etc. have a separate path) and it has few intersections. The cars at the intersections are generally very bike aware... however, we always have good lights and slow way down and prepare for anything. This night we slowed, looked, no cars. We had a green light. My sister started across the intersection when suddenly I saw a black truck making a left turn *very fast* from the major road running parallel right into her. He had no headlights but taillights on, it looked like he had smashed headlights. I yelled !!!!CAR!!!! She sprinted and luckily she's quick. He missed her by maybe an inch, didn't ever hit his brakes. My instinct was to look at the plate, I said it aloud and kept repeating it under my breath. The driver apparently heard this, pulled out from the street he'd been on and in front of us, slowed, not sure if he was being aggressive, dumb, or just drunk, but he waited a moment, peeled out onto a residential street and parked. My sis was white and trembling, so we pulled to the side of the road and called the police (they normally file a dangerous driver report, but they said they'd send an officer out to contact the driver due to the circumstances). I hope they got the guy, but I was glad I'd trained myself to immediately notice and remember the plate.

My strategy is probably unique, but here we have a combination of three letters followed by three numbers. I try to remember them separately. Since I work in tech, I can usually relate the letters to an acronym, or failing that, I sound it out and come up with a word that it makes me think of. Last resort, I make it into an acronym myself, usually something snarky about the driver. LWA = Late for Work Again, etc. The numbers, I try to notice a pattern. 642, I think 6 minus 4 is 2. Or I tie them to an address or phone #, an age, a year. I've found that this helps me remember better. It is easy to remember a plate # up until the point when you're on the phone with police and then ... um ... ??? It's something I practice every day though.

Stay safe everyone...

Anne