man beaten by motorists (not cycling!)

[SouthernBelle]

Generally riding in my vehicle does not make me happy. The only exceptions were when I was 16 and first licensed, and when I had my convertible sportscar.

I can find myself really irritated while sitting in traffic wondering if I'm going to run late. I can picture myself mouthing off to somebody.

In the instant case I wondered:

1. If the gardener picked a bad time of day to water, i.e. rush hour;

2. If the women in question were substantially blocked off or just a little inconvenienced;

3. If the last guy really knew what was going on or thought he was rescuing some ladies who were being assaulted.

The trouble with many articles is the reporter often doesn't have the entire story, doesn't report all of it, or doesn't quite grasp all of it.

[kelownagirl]

Here's another one to add to the collection, Mimi. I do not understand people.

Disabled woman attacked over parking space.

[crazycanuck]

I don't get why we're posting this stuff? It's nothing to do with cyclists..

I could post a gazillion links but THEY"RE NOT ABOUT CYCLISTS getting bashed, mashed or whatever by drivers or pedestrians..

Can we keep it this way please?

[kelownagirl]

I don't get why we're posting this stuff? It's nothing to do with cyclists..

I could post a gazillion links but THEY"RE NOT ABOUT CYCLISTS getting bashed, mashed or whatever by drivers or pedestrians..

Can we keep it this way please?

Gee, I dunno. We've been known to go off-topic before.

[Trek420]

Generally riding in my vehicle does not make me happy. The only exceptions were when I was 16 and first licensed, and when I had my convertible sportscar.

That's it! Each grumpy, tired, angry motorist will be given a convertible sportscar problem solved.

In the instant case I wondered:

1. If the gardener picked a bad time of day to water, i.e. rush hour;

Yeah, seems a poor choice of timing. But even a rush hour delay I would not jump out of the car and pummel someone ... I've had some choice words in the privacy of my car when Caltrans picks the worst possible time to do road repair.

[mimitabby]

I don't get why we're posting this stuff? It's nothing to do with cyclists..

I could post a gazillion links but THEY"RE NOT ABOUT CYCLISTS getting bashed, mashed or whatever by drivers or pedestrians..

Can we keep it this way please?

actually yes it is. That same man might have attacked a cyclist for being in his way too. Road rage affects more than just cyclists. By focusing on just cyclists, we are really only seeing a small part of the picture. So many gals post on here, oh, it's awful, motorists hate us, it's getting worst. What's getting worst is traffic, and we on our bikes are seen as just another impediment. Non-cyclists are also being brutally attacked, run over, harrassed. The sooner we can see that it's not motorists vs bicycles, it's motorists trapped in metal cans out of control and furious because this vehicle they bought for $30,000 as an instrument of freedom as shown in commercials is NOT an instrument of freedom, it's a big pain in the butt, all they ever do is stop for lights, traffic, men watering flowers, bicycles and pedestrians.

This corner of the forum is called "crazy drivers"
If this little bit of news doesn't fit that category, I'll go eat my raleigh bikes hat.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't "get it" either.
Mimi posts a thread called "Man beaten by motorists (not cycling!)" in the CRAZY DRIVERS forum. The news story is about road rage and crazy drivers....HELLO?
So, if she posted the same thread in the OFF TOPIC (non-cycling) forum then it would have been ok? Or is is that she's not supposed to post negative things because some people feel it serves no useful purpose?

Threads are started every day here on TE that have way less to do with cycling than this one, yet the posters are not asked to explain "what effect or change or response they hoped to elicit by posting it" or having to say "why they think we'd be interested". I for one was interested. Others are apparently not. That's fine, so don't read the thread. I also wonder why anyone who feels posting such news stories is merely dwelling on negative or non-productive "sensationalism" would be reading the Crazy Drivers forum anyway. This forum is all about car drivers doing crazy, dangerous, or angry things.
When people here post endless notices about "another cyclist killed by angry driver" or post bloody pictures if injured cyclists- what effect or change or response do THEY hope to elicit by posting it? Half the time, just as with this thread, all we can say is "how awful" or "when will it stop?". We don't really learn much from most of those limited information news stories either, except it might hopefully make us a bit more careful in general. There is some value in that too.

Road rage is a BIG problem for cyclists- it kills cyclists every day. I think that's very relevant to cycling. This story wasn't about some guy stabbing his wife because she cheated on him. I saw it clearly as a story about how car drivers get angry and act out when something gets "in their way" and holds them up. Any dialog about road rage can only be a good thing I'd think. It's good to be aware of the different faces of road rage, and I see no harm in being reminded that it's not always directed at people on bikes.

I'll need to remember that oxysback and BleekerSt_Girl have a mindmeld with you and can speak for you.

As for that all I can say is that I always speak for myself (as indeed I am now), and Mimi has never needed the likes of me or anyone else to speak for her. I really see no need for such sarcasm.

And now I have to go to our local Village Board meeting to attempt (for the third time) to get them to install a couple of bike racks along Main Street.....I'm sure they think of me as "that crazy bike lady".

[ttaylor508]

I think this article is very relevant (at least to those of us in Seattle) as 9,000+ cyclists will be riding through this neighborhood on Saturday. If one man trying to simply water some plants elicits this kind of road rage, just think what could happen when the surge of cyclists come through their neighborhood. Thanks for the heads up Mimi!!!

[Iris616]

Mimi-Is there an update on the victim?

These stories should always be relevant, they should make us stop and feel sadness for the victims (and maybe the perpetrator). Heck, that Man is somebodies Dad/husband/son/Grandfather who was injured. That matters in this world.

[SadieKate]

Hmm, I'm flabbergasted. If mimi recommended a particular book and I asked why it was special to her I think she'd be more than willing to explain. She reads a lot. I think it's great that people read a lot and read broadly.

I ask the same question about a newspaper article and it invokes anger.

I didn't ask about relevancy. I asked her what made the article stand out above hundreds of others on the same topic.

[KnottedYet]

Mimi-Is there an update on the victim?

These stories should always be relevant, they should make us stop and feel sadness for the victims (and maybe the perpetrator). Heck, that Man is somebodies Dad/husband/son/Grandfather who was injured. That matters in this world.

These stories should also remind us that when dealing with persons who are clearly behaving in an emotionally disturbed manner (in the throes of irrational road rage or other irrational mind-spasms) that our behaviour must remain CALMER and MORE RATIONAL than theirs. Sometimes (often times, as so many of us have experienced) reacting out of our own anger only escalates things.

(obviously everyone in this particular news story was angry, and everyone contributed to the escalation)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

These stories should also remind us that when dealing with persons who are clearly behaving in an emotionally disturbed manner (in the throes of irrational road rage or other irrational mind-spasms) that our behaviour must remain CALMER and MORE RATIONAL than theirs. Sometimes (often times, as so many of us have experienced) reacting out of our own anger only escalates things.

(obviously everyone in this particular news story was angry, and everyone contributed to the escalation)

That's a good point, yeah it's true. Hard to do in certain situations, too!

[Boise Birder]

Mimi, I suspect this struck a chord with you. We've all had that experience - a sense of why did this have to happen, hoping the victim is ok. A little empathy can go a long ways. Mimi, I hope I didn't take too much license with what you were expressing

Biking, walking, shopping or driving, we all face these predicaments. Knotted's suggestion - respond commonly, try to de-escalate the situation, or where necessary, walk way, is a good idea.

I think we all care about each other on this forum. Let's all try to make this world a better, less violent place, no matter what circumstances we face.

Do that, we will all have safer world for biking.

[Trek420]

Do that, we will all have safer world for biking.

.... and gardening

Oh, welcome to TE Boise Birder.

[Boise Birder]

Love gardening, too! Bugs, too! Can't kill 'em with few exceptions. Sometimes conflicts with the gardening thing.

Another story for another thread.

Anyway, I was born in Seattle area, and still love it (not quite as much as Boise!)

Mimi and others, please keep working to keep, and improve my birthplace as a place that loves and respects all people, and bicycles!

Ok, I'm selfish.

I want to vacation there and enjoy my stay!