Thread started by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji at 07.31.09 - 6:05 pm

I was heading east on 6th St into Downtown Los Angeles today, traveling uphill, just before the 110 fwy. A late model black Nissan Altima was waiting behind me at a red light. The light turned green, and I proceeded through the intersection, checking over my left shoulder for the driver’s presence.

by the time I’d gotten to the other side of the intersection, she was less than two inches away from my rear tire. I gave her the “wtf� look, and she proceeded to accelerate, heavily side-swiping me (is what we’ll call it), almost knocking me off of my bike. If I hadn’t have moved right, I would’ve been on her hood, and my bike under her car. I’m amazed that I stayed on the damn thing.

After I finished screaming expletives, I decided that I should haul ass and catch her, to report her.

As I was closing in on her, flying down the 6th St Hill as I crossed over the 110 fwy, I made the mistake of carrying too much speed into the just-changing light at Figueroa, lightly ran into the left-rear of a truck as he made a left onto Figueroa, and went over the handle bars. Everyone stopped, I jumped up, screamed that it was my fault, and that I was okay (unaware that my foot was bleeding and my right shin had road rash), and resumed my pursuit.

I almost caught the bitch, when I made the mistake of stopping for help when I saw a police officer parked on the side of the road. I rolled up, pointed at the car, and said, “the woman in that late model black 4-door Nissan Altima just hit me, and is running away.� The officer asked “which car?� I repeated myself. The officer then asked “are you okay?� I said I was pretty okay, but she is getting away. The officer said “go to that police station across the street, file a report, and wait for us there. We’ll see if we can catch her.� I proceeded in the direction of the police station, and watched, as the officer pulled away, stopped at the next red light, and waited a fucking eternity for it to turn green, as the woman escaped.

Things like this make it hard for me to look for the good in the Los Angeles Police Department. Yes, I’d call them if someone was trying to kill me, but I still think they suck right now.

Later in the day, about an hour ago, a man almost hit me in the same manner, accelerating like mad, probably testing out his new exhaust with his 7-year-old son in the car. After he got stuck at the next red light, I rolled up on his passenger side leaned down to find the father with the “oh shit� look on his face. I said, “you almost hit me, slow down.� He did. The light turned green, and he drove away slow as hell.

The point of this long story is to let the interested know that we don’t ALWAYS have to fuck shit up (sometimes, it’s DEFINTITELY warranted). I could’ve totally fucked up this guy’s car. However, I would’ve traumatized a child; I’m glad I didn’t, I honestly don’t think the dad understood the magnitude of what he did. I could’ve totally fucked up the Altima, but…well…can’t think of anything to refute THAT one…but you get the point…hopefully. I’m off to LACM with my helmet on.

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I had an incident with a family in an SUV on Venice once. I hit the car with my hand and the father driving got so mad that he sped up along the street and parked, got out of his car with his whole family and got into the bike lane, waiting for me. My friend reminded me that it wasn't necessary to hit his car even if he kept getting close to us with no regard. It just continues a cycle of aggression between cars and cyclists, and either way it's just not ever worth it. Today someone almost plowed right into me because they didn't see me, and I didn't lose my temper with the car at all, which I find pretty good. It's good to hold your temper when bad things like that happen. If there's ever a reason to catch up to a car, it's to get their license plate, not to hit it with a Ulock or insinuate a fight.



imachynna
07.31.09 - 6:16 pm

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http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2009/07/30/how-should-you-respond-to-road-rage/

get the license plate, file a police report, survive



Maulie
07.31.09 - 6:28 pm

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Fuck the police



TIMESARECHANGING
07.31.09 - 6:37 pm

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In the case of the black Altima, that driver was either unlicensed or undocumented.
The fear of being possibly arrested, or deported sends them into that freak-out mode that makes floor it.

As for the aggressive shits hauling ass and running you off the road, keep some tampons on hand to toss into their windows.
It's more of a friendly gesture to the driver that you don't want to die on account of his/her PMS.



bentstrider
07.31.09 - 6:38 pm

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I posted this in another thread, but I'm copying it because it seems relevant. Pretty much every time I ride I have a rear-facing camera mounted right beneath my seat. With a 2 gig card I can capture about an hour and a half of medium quality video. Doesn't help as much with the people who drive with dealer plates or no plates at all (generally those seem to be the worst drivers).

" http://www.camerahacker.com/build/Bicycle_Camera_Mount.php

I bought a 2 gig memory card for my camera (under $20), got a couple reflector mounts from the local bike shop (free), a couple nuts and bolts from the hardware store (buck or so) and I put together a camera mount."



thayr
07.31.09 - 8:20 pm

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dude the Police are such assholes these days. Today during critical mass so cop in his motorcycle cut me off making me and some other ridazz to eat shit. He didn't even apologize to me or at least to the other ridazz.



palucha66
08.1.09 - 1:12 am

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I just got back from the critical mass / people's rides. I experienced more shit tonight that weighs on my enjoyment of riding. But I'm gonna roll with the punches, and stfu and ride. Through it all, I'll just watch my ass, and do my best to create a safe environment to ride in. At the end of the day, I'm in great shape, and have the wind in my hair (what's left of it)...lol...thanks for the support



BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
08.1.09 - 1:32 am

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J-Ro was at the ride? i am correct right??



palucha66
responding to a comment by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
08.1.09 - 2:05 am

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yeah, we got separated after the last stop at the taco stand at the top of sunset



BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
responding to a comment by palucha66
08.1.09 - 2:07 am

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he looked well and in shape, like if nothing ever happened to him.



palucha66
08.1.09 - 2:10 am

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I hear he's actually here from Mars, inquiring as to why the hell we've got bots pokiing around on his planet. He's not of this world. lmfao



BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
08.1.09 - 2:13 am

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i could actually imagine that



palucha66
responding to a comment by BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji
08.1.09 - 2:14 am

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