The driver of a Ford Explorer, Colorado license plate 893 EKG, might, possibly, maybe, perhaps have some kind of grudge against road cyclists. I’m going out on a limb here saying this, but, well, it wouldn’t be “Adventure” Journal if we didn’t take risks.
No, seriously, WTF? Watch this video shot recently near Longmont, Colorado, and see if your sense of righteous anger doesn’t start brewing up a good head of steam. It’s true that road cyclists can antagonize drivers, but these guys are clearly in the right, riding single file and staying hard up against the edge of the pavement. But the driver, well, you’ll see — none of that matters to him.
The irony, of course, is that “this guy was so intent of bugging us that he backed up traffic behind him and cars had to pass him on a double yellow line. It seems he was the one obstructing traffic, not us. We ended up slowing up in order to force him to pass us and go on with his day,” wrote the uploader.
09-18-2012, 14:19
Teufelhund
Honestly, I can't stand bicyclists in the middle of a lane, creating traffic, three feet from a sidewalk, and typically not far from one of the many trails that stretch on for hundreds of miles in Colorado. I understand it is legal for them to do so, but you can't tell me it doesn't piss you off to get stuck in traffic behind some ass clown in a spandex outfit and pointy helmet pedaling 8mph in front of your car.
That said, these guys aren't causing any of those problems. I've got no heartache with the way they're doing it. This asshole in the SUV could have just gone around without even crossing the yellow stripe. I hope they do find him and fine him; there's no reason to act like that.
09-18-2012, 14:26
TFOGGER
I am a bicyclist and motorcyclist, and nothing pisses me off more than bicycles obstructing traffic, but these guys were doing everything right. Somone needs to offer Mr Exploder some anger management counselling...
09-18-2012, 14:27
Sawin
I'm a cyclist and I agree with you Teufelfund. When I'm driving, I get pissed too if some idiot on a bike is blocking traffic. Truth be told we're not allowed on the pedestrian sidewalks in most places. There's actually a difference between bike paths and sidewalks, if you weren't aware. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to be safe and not obstruct the flow of traffic. This driver is clearly deranged and needs to be corrected, asap. If I was one of those cyclists, I would have just pulled over completely and stopped. If the explorer stopped too, well i'd sure be glad the camera was rolling. The only thing I would have suggested these guys do better, was to continue to motion to him to pass them... what else can they do? Maybe drop a handful of nails? ha
09-18-2012, 14:32
Teufelhund
Wow, I didn't know bicycles aren't allowed on the sidewalks. Even riding my bike around my neighborhood, I always stay on the sidewalk. Is that to keep peds from getting run over, or to keep cyclists from hitting a car that's backing out (almost did that a few times), or what?
09-18-2012, 14:32
Gunner
Read the you tube comments
09-18-2012, 14:34
BigBear
I "dislike" bicyclists (not really, but sometimes they are a pain... especially when I'm running late... HAHAHA) and think if they use the road they ought to go the speed limit, obey traffic lights, pay registration, etc. However, that driver was a complete jerk, he ought to be fined for harassment and other driving endangerments...
I'm just jealous that I don't look that good in spandex and can't find a bike to support my weight, HAHAHA.
09-18-2012, 14:34
Ronin13
I'm no fan of cyclists not "sharing the road" (again that argument of to drive a car we pay taxes for the roads but bikes don't) but this guy in the video is just an asshat. Those guys were courteous and one of them even waved him by... he wasn't honking to get past them, he was just trying to be a douche- mission accomplished. Hope Boulder county or PD finds him and gives him a lovely court date.
09-18-2012, 14:39
Aloha_Shooter
I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here but I don't see the driver acting crazy -- maybe I'm missing something because my computer here at work doesn't have speakers but just how do you call him Mr. Exploder and say he needs anger management counseling?
He's staying a safe distance behind the cyclists, not encroaching. The problem here is that he doesn't have a legal option to pass them on that road without getting so close that they could claim he was encroaching.
The fact of the matter here is that while the cyclists were over to the right as much as they could be, they were on a road that doesn't offer a wide vehicle any safe means of passing them without cutting it close by them or breaking the solid yellow line. On a road like that, pull the hell over (i.e., off the dang road) and let him pass.
09-18-2012, 14:43
Sawin
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teufelhund
Wow, I didn't know bicycles aren't allowed on the sidewalks. Even riding my bike around my neighborhood, I always stay on the sidewalk. Is that to keep peds from getting run over, or to keep cyclists from hitting a car that's backing out (almost did that a few times), or what?
According to all the cycling laws I've read personally, a bicycle is considered an equal to any other vehicle, and the "driver" is granted all the rights, and restricted by all the laws, that car-drivers must adhere to. I actually know a gentleman who was pulled over on his bike in a school zone because he was "speeding", another who was ticketed for failing to stop at a stop sign. If you're riding around in your residential neighborhood, I'm sure you'll be fine, but you're supposed to give pedestrians the right-of-way, just as if they were in a crosswalk.... ie. you have to stop. I know it's stupid, but "them's the laws", to the best of my knowledge.
Yes, the risk of you actually running in to the side of a car that's backing out, is of course escalated then too, so maybe the laws are based mostly on "safety", I'm not sure.
