Objects thrown at you

[channlluv]

So, great. Bicyclists have been challenged, antagonized, and harassed for over a hundred years! We just can't buy a break!

As for me, I recently had a black walnut fruit chucked at me, which hit me soundly on the arm. I was also shot in the leg with a pellet gun.

Yeah. People are stupid.

Isn't that assault? At what point do you call the police and report them?

Roxy

[mauisher]

A similar thing happened to me except the guy chased me down after I flipped him the "bird" after he cut me off. It was scary, but I held my ground and told him I had the right of way and he'd better not assault me any further. He left with no further problem., lucky for me. I didn't get his license number but later I wrote a letter to the police department and explained the circumstances, since I wanted to know if I really would be backed up by them after this scary incident. I got a nice letter back from our chief of police telling me I was correct in my assumptions of the law (in my circumstance) and that the guy who chased me down was wrong. Since then, I've decided that if there is any altercation with a motorist that goes this far, I will call the police immediately. I carry a cell phone with me at all times and will not hesitate to use it to report problem motorists. Usually, I ignore horn honks and cat calls, as annoying as they are. The more we ride, the more motorists will get used to us on the roads.

[BikeMomma]

What a waste of good brew. Assuming it was good, anyway....

Last year, we had a rash of incidents in our group, ranging from altercations with motorcyclists, empty water bottles, full soda bottles, FULL liter-size water bottles thrown from a car going 60-65 mph (thankfully they missed the target), and a half-full 1/2 gallon jug of orange juice (broke on impact, of course). Yellers are a normal occurance -- we wave exaggeratedly...and I usually mutter "a-hole" for emphasis.

After two or so incidents, I emailed a police commander I work with and asked him to please relay word of the problem to other law enforcement agencies (Sheriff and CHP), which he did. I also told him our regular ride routes on certain days and where you will generally find cyclists out & about. Shortly thereafter, we noticed more patrol cars on those roads.

In the wee-season this year, we managed to get half a license plate number from a yeller's car (I think they threw something too), called the CHP with our cell phones, and they showed up in about 5 minutes to take a report - he happened to be in the area.

The response from law enforcement around here has been amazing, and it has really strengthened our relationship with them. One officer finds time to catch speeders while he patrols -- waves to us from his ticket pad as we pass.

This spring/summer season has been better, but there was a verbal altercation with some knot-heads in a van a few weeks ago.

Be careful out there, but for those who this thread is scaring -- don't let the idiots win. Get out, ride your bike, and remember to smile big.

~BikeMomma

[Crankin]

I was "egged" by some teens crouching behind a rock wall, in Acton. I thought a rock or some other object had hit my helmet. My husband insisted we go back and check it out, and we saw the remains of the eggs. We rang the bell of the house, but no one answered. The kids were in there, though. We checked inside their mailbox for the name of the family.
I should have called the police, but I didn't. But, about 2 months later, I was at the pharmacy and saw a car with the family's name on their license plate (it's a very unusual name). I left a note on the car, signing my name. About 5 minutes after I got home, I had a phone call from the aunt of these kids; it was her car I saw. She explained the family situation (bad divorce, wild kids) and told me she would take care of it. I received a written apology from the kids.
This is why I live in a small town!

[7rider]

Isn't that assault? At what point do you call the police and report them?

Roxy

For the gun or the walnut?? For the walnut, no. But my DH did go and patrol the neighborhood later, looking for the offending vehicle (never found it). For the gun, yes. I rode straight to the police station and reported the incident. They shrugged and said "Yeah, we've had reports of garbage cans and stuff being shot at over there." So, now this person was shooting at cyclists and they are STILL unconcerned???? I guess having a welt the size of a pencil eraser on my thigh, and nothing more, did not worry them to much.

As for you new cyclists who are terrified of this thread. Please don't be. I - and many others here, undoubtedly - have ridden many thousands of incident free miles. These incidents are a collection of outliers to otherwise joyful rides. Ride like you are invisible....ride defensively...ride safely....but ride.

[Norse]

I always carry my cell phone and mace.

[TrekTheKaty]

Missouri is NOT bicycle friendly. Just this morning, my husband rode alone. He was on the frontage road, separate from the highway--and someone leaned out of a car on the highway--and yelled "GET OFF THE ROAD." He wasn't even on the SAME road as the vehicle! (Although, I have to say, the people in our town are getting to the increased cyclists on the road and give us a wide berth).

We have a state-wide group called MoBikeFed that has the following program (see their website for more):

The Missouri Bicycle Federation offers its members an option that can be very satisfying...Report that safety threat! In an effort to make our state a safer place to walk, run, and bicycle, the Missouri Bicycle Federation (MoBikeFed) has established a program in which the details of the incident are reported to us and a letter will be sent to the offending motorist.
Details of the incident should include: motorist license tag number and description of the incident (time, place, description of vehicle & driver, what happened).
The letter sent to the motorist is accompanied by a summary of the Missouri state statutes and Missouri Driver Guide sections related to bicycling. The summary was compiled by the Missouri Bicycle Federation and may be freely reproduced without copyright restriction. The summary is available for viewing/download in MSWord format and PDF format.
In addition, the offender's name and address will be keep on file in case the unsafe action is repeated and legal action becomes necessary. The names of both the offending motorist and the reporting bicyclist are kept confidential.

[bikerHen]

Had an interesting incident on my AM commute. I was on the highway and hear a dog woof behind me. I checked my mirror and saw a big SUV coming with a couple of BIG great dane heads sticking out the rear passenger window. As the jerk passed he got as close to me as he could, so the dogs would bark right over my shoulder. I just moved to the curb and let em pass.

Then we come up to a light and the driver stops with the car and dogs just over the line so I can't pass them. I've always been a sucker for big slobbery dogs, having owned and love a few in my life. So I stop and start baby talking to them and have their tails wagging in no time. As the car starts to go with the green light I call out to the driver and yell "thanks for letting me talk to your dogs!" Made my day. bikerHen