How to best handle threatening behavior from the local teenagers?

Over the last half year, while cycling home at night the local kids
have been displaying threatening behavior on average about once a
month. So far this has been:

Wait until you are dead level, then quite suddenly jumping out into
the road, shouting and waving at the top of their voices - presumably
an attempt to make you fall off?

Shouting abuse - you fat/flash? b*stard and other profanities - a
reference to blinking cat-eyes?

As above, but also throwing a well aimed bottle at your head.

I think it's probably different kids in slightly different locations
each time. So far I've kept a non-confrontational approach and just
ignored it.

Do other people get the same problem, should I react/fight back,
report to police, or just continue to ignore? Maybe it would help to
look less conspicuous - remove hi-viz, hats and turn off lights before
the town centre?

Many thanks,

Duncan

"Duncan Smith" wrote in message
ps.com...
Over the last half year, while cycling home at night the local kids
have been displaying threatening behavior on average about once a
month. So far this has been:

Wait until you are dead level, then quite suddenly jumping out into
the road, shouting and waving at the top of their voices - presumably
an attempt to make you fall off?

Shouting abuse - you fat/flash? b*stard and other profanities - a
reference to blinking cat-eyes?

As above, but also throwing a well aimed bottle at your head.

I think it's probably different kids in slightly different locations
each time. So far I've kept a non-confrontational approach and just
ignored it.

Do other people get the same problem, should I react/fight back,
report to police, or just continue to ignore? Maybe it would help to
look less conspicuous - remove hi-viz, hats and turn off lights before
the town centre?

Many thanks,

Duncan


How annoying for you.

"Duncan Smith" wrote in message
ps.com

Do other people get the same problem, should I react/fight back,
report to police, or just continue to ignore?

I had a little **** who used to try it on near me. One night, he jumped out
in front of me, but early enough for me to take avoiding action. He didn't,
however, spot the sly crotch kick with the left foot as I shaved just past
him. I heard the 'oof!' looked back and saw him rolling.

He's been a lot more respectful since. After all, I only put my leg out to
steady myself.

Tim
--
Sent from Birmingham, UK... Check out www.nervouscyclist.org
'I find sometimes it's easy to be myself, but sometimes I find it's
better to be somebody else.' - Dave Matthews 'So Much To Say'
My 'reply to' address is valid, mail to the posting address is dumped

In article ,
says...
"Duncan Smith" wrote in message
ps.com

Do other people get the same problem, should I react/fight back,
report to police, or just continue to ignore?

I had a little **** who used to try it on near me. One night, he jumped out
in front of me, but early enough for me to take avoiding action. He didn't,
however, spot the sly crotch kick with the left foot as I shaved just past
him. I heard the 'oof!' looked back and saw him rolling.

He's been a lot more respectful since. After all, I only put my leg out to
steady myself.


Steering towards them instead of away and starting to crank it up
usually causes them to leap out of the way in terror and surprise. Its
the unexpected response that gets them.

--
Tony

" I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
Bertrand Russell

Duncan Smith wrote:

Over the last half year, while cycling home at night the local kids
have been displaying threatening behavior on average about once a
month.

.... throwing a well aimed bottle at your head.

They must be poorly aimed, I assume they have missed.

I think it's probably different kids in slightly different locations
each time. So far I've kept a non-confrontational approach and just
ignored it.

Do other people get the same problem, should I react/fight back,

Under no circumstances. NO, NO, NO! Sorry to shout, but that is a fast
route to escalating the situation. They are craving attention and if
you give it them they will only do something worse.

report to police,

Yes.

or just continue to ignore? Maybe it would help to
look less conspicuous - remove hi-viz, hats and turn off lights before
the town centre?

Perhaps avoid the town centre if you can.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Phil Cook said the following on 04/10/2007 21:58:

report to police,

Yes.

What do you think the police will do?

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

On Fri, 05 Oct 2007, Paul Boyd usenet.is.worse@plusnet wrote:
Phil Cook said the following on 04/10/2007 21:58:

report to police,

Yes.

What do you think the police will do?

Write to the local paper saying they take all allegations of criminal
activity very seriously.

Nothing else.

But I'd still report it - I've a touching faith in authority, no
matter how misguided.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Paul Boyd wrote:

Phil Cook said the following on 04/10/2007 21:58:

report to police,

Yes.

What do you think the police will do?

Nothing, unless you push it. Keep on reporting them and eventually the
police will do something if only to shut you up.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Phil Cook wrote:
Paul Boyd wrote:

Phil Cook said the following on 04/10/2007 21:58:

report to police,
Yes.
What do you think the police will do?

Nothing, unless you push it. Keep on reporting them and eventually the
police will do something if only to shut you up.


I agree. Also if you report 5 incidences of some idiot jumping out in
front of you, then you hit the sixth, you have some help with your
defence if the sixth person makes a complaint about you.

On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:02:42 +0000, Duncan Smith wrote:
Over the last half year, while cycling home at night the local kids
have been displaying threatening behavior on average about once a
month. So far this has been:

Wait until you are dead level, then quite suddenly jumping out into
the road, shouting and waving at the top of their voices - presumably
an attempt to make you fall off?

Shouting abuse - you fat/flash? b*stard and other profanities - a
reference to blinking cat-eyes?

I'm glad you're lucky enough to only get abuse once a month.

I've had all the usual crap. Like me you'll probably notice that people
will only do it if they're in a crowd they can hide behind or in a car
which can be driven away quickly.