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.
09-18-2012, 14:44
Sawin
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
He was honking his horn the entire 2 minute video.
09-18-2012, 14:45
DD977GM2
That driver needs a ticket. [Bang]
09-18-2012, 14:45
palepainter
You know, I have had a car beeping at me like that once. After about two minutes of honking, I pulled over and they drove up to tell me I had toilet paper hanging out of my shorts.... True story.
09-18-2012, 14:46
Teufelhund
What you missed without audio is the fact he's blowing his horn at them the whole time.
I actually gave him the benefit of the doubt to begin with, like maybe the rear cyclist forgot he had his dog tied to his bike or his back tire was on fire and this guy is just being a good samaritan by trying to let him know something is wrong. [Tooth]
09-18-2012, 14:49
Sawin
Quote:
Originally Posted by palepainter
You know, I have had a car beeping at me like that once. After about two minutes of honking, I pulled over and they drove up to tell me I had toilet paper hanging out of my shorts.... True story.
hahaha that's funny. They could have just as easily pulled up right next to you, dropped the window and had a nice little chat, but this guy was clearly just being a prick.
09-18-2012, 14:54
Aloha_Shooter
Yeah, great, he's honking his horn. That's not the same as exploding or needing anger management counseling. Frankly, the cyclists in question should have pulled off the road and let him pass which is probably why he was honking. There would have been no issue at all if they done that instead of slowing down and taking the time to video him.
Most of you and the cyclists think he was a prick for leaning on his horn. He clearly thought THEY were pricks for not pulling off and giving him a safe legal passing option. They were in a single no-passing lane intended for motorized vehicle traffic -- the fact they didn't have a bike lane is irrelevant since they chose that path.
09-18-2012, 14:57
00tec
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aloha_Shooter
Yeah, great, he's honking his horn. That's not the same as exploding or needing anger management counseling. Frankly, the cyclists in question should have pulled off the road and let him pass which is probably why he was honking. There would have been no issue at all if they done that instead of slowing down and taking the time to video him.
Most of you and the cyclists think he was a prick for leaning on his horn. He clearly thought THEY were pricks for not pulling off and giving him a safe legal passing option. They were in a single no-passing lane intended for motorized vehicle traffic -- the fact they didn't have a bike lane is irrelevant since they chose that path.
To advert confusion, Ford Explorer = Exploder.
09-18-2012, 14:59
soldier-of-the-apocalypse
what a dick
09-18-2012, 15:00
asmo
Its clear the driver was trying to rush poor little Jimmy to the hospital, after Jimmy had been bit by a deadly snake - and these mean bicyclists were just in the way trying to slow him down.... Jimmy died before they could make it to the ER.
...or was that an episode of 'Tales from the Crypt'.. I can't remember.
09-18-2012, 15:01
cofi
i cant stand the bikers in the springs i had one who must have been in the middle of a damn race with himself try to cross platte (40mph road) directly in front of me i had to stand on the bakes came maaaaybe 2 feet from hitting him and he gave me the finger
there always riding in the middle of the road doing 10 mph and look irritated when you pass.....try that shit in ny
09-18-2012, 15:06
MCarp71
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
This ^
09-18-2012, 15:21
henpecked
What happened BEFORE the video was started?
09-18-2012, 15:43
BushMasterBoy
Guy driving
Guy driving should have his license suspended. I bet if he was charged, most juries would nail him. Just for your info *277 is the hotline to the Colorado State Patrol. Link below...
Yeah, great, he's honking his horn. That's not the same as exploding or needing anger management counseling. Frankly, the cyclists in question should have pulled off the road and let him pass which is probably why he was honking. There would have been no issue at all if they done that instead of slowing down and taking the time to video him.
Most of you and the cyclists think he was a prick for leaning on his horn. He clearly thought THEY were pricks for not pulling off and giving him a safe legal passing option. They were in a single no-passing lane intended for motorized vehicle traffic -- the fact they didn't have a bike lane is irrelevant since they chose that path.
I don't ride a bike and hate the huge packs you get on the mountain roads sometimes. But screw that dumbass in the suv, they themselves obstructing traffic and being an obnoxious ass. There wasn't oncoming traffic to speak of and could have passed without even crossing the line. Somethings wrong with your head if you think that twat was justified.
09-18-2012, 16:08
SouthPaw
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
I really do not think I could have said it better myself. I am just a motorcyclist and I am sure there are people who hate me but nothing worse than sitting behind a spandex rainbow going up hill at 3mph. What the driver's intentions were are beyond me. Just being an ass clown on his way from a bad day at work maybe.
09-18-2012, 16:09
Wiggity
Lol that video was actually pretty funny. I effing hate bicyclists on 2 lane roads. I generally try to leave them in a big black cloud of diesel smoke every time I pass them with my truck.
09-18-2012, 16:25
merl
I bicycle alot and in sections I will take up a whole lane. Sometimes it is safer to do so. no shoulder to ride on and narrow lanes. If I dont take the lane I get people passing me with inches, when there are 2 lanes each way and they could easily pass in the other lane.
(as a rant, this section of road has 2 schools on it and bike lanes that end between 1/4 and 1/2 mile in each direction. It was relined to be 4 lanes instead of 2 bike lanes, a center turn lane and 1 lane each way.)
Riding on the sidewalk any any decent speed is asking for trouble. I don't mean from people pulling out, they usually look. I mean people turning right in front of you. This is often a case of lockup the wheel or slam into the side of the turning vehicle.
09-18-2012, 16:45
Aloha_Shooter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiggity
Lol that video was actually pretty funny. I effing hate bicyclists on 2 lane roads. I generally try to leave them in a big black cloud of diesel smoke every time I pass them with my truck.
I don't hate bicyclists, it's great that they're enjoying the outdoors. What I hate is the sense of entitlement from the video and a lot of these posts. They were on a two-lane road for motorized vehicles -- the only way he could have passed them without crossing the solid yellow line would have been to get so close to them that they probably would have kvetched about how close he passed.
Everyone's whining about him using his horn for two minutes when the cyclists could have pulled off the road for five seconds instead of going their merry and leisurely way while making a video of him. Note the title of this thread: "CRAZY driver harasses cyclists in Boulder" [emphasis added]; I'm still not seeing what he did as crazy and while he WAS harassing them with his horn, they could have ended that at any time by pulling off the road for a few seconds. If the cyclists are that prevalent and well known then Boulder should put in a dang bike lane.
09-18-2012, 16:49
colorider
Pull to the side , let the guy pass and move on with the ride. Simple fix but not nearly as dramatic as a YouTube video.
Bwahahahahahaaaa what an a$$clown... That guy needs a talking with.... I ride a pedal bike and several motorcycle as well.
I agree it's ridiculous when someone thinks they are "King of the road". Wether it's road bikes riding 2-3 wide, a string of motorcycles that assert themselves by hugging the center line towards oncoming traffic to show how tough they are, an 18 wheeler trying to control traffic since he's so massive or an 80 year old lady going 20 mph under the speed limit in a cadi.
Who cares pass when you can and move on life is too short to get pissed off unnecessarily.
Quite a few are being judgmental without having all the facts. What happened before the video was taken? Were the bikers running double abreast right until the driver got to them?
And as far as you "good bikers", you may wish to train the "bad bikers", as I have been stuck behind more than enough Lance Armstrong wannabe's riding double breasted, sometimes in packs, in Southern CO...Obeying the laws as stated in previous posts goes both ways.
09-18-2012, 18:48
MrPrena
Looks like Airforce or AF license plate.
09-18-2012, 18:58
Rucker61
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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)
Like many cyclists you encounter, especially those on the fancy bikes in the fancy clothes, I own both cars and bikes, and pay taxes on the former. For some history on where roads came from in the US, google the League of American Wheelmen.
09-18-2012, 19:04
Byte Stryke
I Completely support Bicyclists!
I think they should have to pay road usage taxes and Insurance, registration and be licensed to operate on motorways as well!
I am paying almost 2K a year in Taxes to drive 1.2 miles a day!
not counting the wonderful registration and highway usage taxes of over $1K/year
09-18-2012, 19:10
merl
Quote:
Originally Posted by <MADDOG>
And as far as you "good bikers", you may wish to train the "bad bikers", as I have been stuck behind more than enough Lance Armstrong wannabe's riding double breasted, sometimes in packs, in Southern CO...Obeying the laws as stated in previous posts goes both ways.
Heh, I've been stopped at stop signs waiting for a break in traffic (on a bike.) Had other cyclists just blow past me and the sign and stop traffic. Different types of folks, not much you can do.
Judging by the reactions I see at 4way stops the norm is to just blow through. There is always a pause by the cars as I approach and slow. (I do try to do a rolling/California stop though)
09-18-2012, 19:17
Ridge
Caltrops, problem solved
09-18-2012, 19:27
Sixgun
My 1st thought was maybe the cyclist drop something and the explorer wanted them to know about it. I would just stop and talk to the SOB and see wtf.
