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#21
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GaryG wrote:
So, I'm out on my regular training route this afternoon minding my own business. The area is rural, and the road is narrow, with a 45 mph speed limit. I ride this route a lot, and many of the locals know me and wave, but there's this one peckerwood redneck who doesn't like bikes on the road. No need for such words as in the last sentence... [snip] Anyway, I'm wondering if I did the right thing. My SO says that I should have just ignored him, and may have made the situation worse. But damnit, I'm a guy, and I've had friends hit and killed by cars, and I think it's OK to stand up for our rights on the road. What do you all think? Well, I can hardly blame you. Cyclist do need to stand up for their rights, or risk losing them. Glad you weren't hurt. |
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#22
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GaryG wrote:
"Leo Lichtman" wrote in message ... "GaryG" wrote: (clip) Unfortunately, I didn't get his license plate,(clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In my opinion, that is the only thing you did wrong. There is a fair chance you will see that truck again. Have a pen and pad handy. Yeah...damnit. I was kicking myself for that all the way home. I have an old voice recorder (digital, flash memory) that I'm thinking about carrying with me for this reason. |
#23
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Jeff Starr wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 10:34:30 -0500, "psycholist" wrote: "MJR" wrote in message groups.com... -- because it permits you to do ANYTHING. Stupidity will even rule over courage and love. (hence our current President). how all the liberals and democrats can do nothing constructive, cannot make a positive contribution to anything and have become completely obstructionist in their approach to everything. We have a president who is working very hard to tackle some very tough problems. I don't see any democrats doing anything but taking cowardly cheap shots like the one you've posted here. Get a spine! So, should I assume that this is how "all" republicans react to an unnecessary comment. You have just insulted all liberals and democrats, based on the statements of one, is this a demonstration of a republican taking the high road? The post psycholist was replying to insulted a majority of the voters in the US (implying stupidity on their part) while psycholist's "insult" was aimed at polititians (since I doubt he is suggesting that somehow the rank and file voter can somehow personally affect the changes, other than by electing those who will do so). So while psycholist's road may not be the very highest one possible, it's certainly a few switchbacks above the original poster (which didn't seem to register on your generalization-alert-meter). Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame |
#24
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AustinMN wrote:
GaryG wrote: What do you all think? You already know you should have gotten the person's plate number. I had just enough problems in Massachusetts that I memorized "MGL Chapter 85, section 11B Every person operating a bicycle upon a way, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, shall have the right to use all public ways in the Commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted." Then I would state that my operation was a right, and theirs was a privilege requiring a license. That _usually_ got them to leave in a huff. You might try memorizing the same, or caving a copy of your bike laws (with sections defining your rights highlighted) just to hand him and go on your way. Good stuff, Austin! |
#25
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jj wrote:
However at the point where the guy says he almost had a wreck it might have been best to say "I'm sorry that happened to you. I hope in the future we can share the road", and offered to shake his hand. You know - appeal to the 'man to man' spirit in him. I had a guy do a "brush-back drive-by" in a mini-van, and I caught him down the road (they never think that's gonna happen, do they?). The guy was getting out of the mini-van, and since no self-respecting male would drive one of those things unless he absolutely had to, I figured he had kids. I asked him "So do you like it when drivers do that to YOUR KIDS?" I saw the light bulb come on over his head... he seemed contrite when he offered me an apology. Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame |
#26
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Guys -- Crossfire's been cancelled. Give it a rest, or take it elsewhere.
Gary brought up an important topic: what's the best way to deal with being confronted and harassed by an aggressive driver? Matt O. Mark Hickey wrote: Jeff Starr wrote: On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 10:34:30 -0500, "psycholist" wrote: "MJR" wrote in message oups.com... -- because it permits you to do ANYTHING. Stupidity will even rule over courage and love. (hence our current President). how all the liberals and democrats can do nothing constructive, cannot make a positive contribution to anything and have become completely obstructionist in their approach to everything. We have a president who is working very hard to tackle some very tough problems. I don't see any democrats doing anything but taking cowardly cheap shots like the one you've posted here. Get a spine! So, should I assume that this is how "all" republicans react to an unnecessary comment. You have just insulted all liberals and democrats, based on the statements of one, is this a demonstration of a republican taking the high road? The post psycholist was replying to insulted a majority of the voters in the US (implying stupidity on their part) while psycholist's "insult" was aimed at polititians (since I doubt he is suggesting that somehow the rank and file voter can somehow personally affect the changes, other than by electing those who will do so). So while psycholist's road may not be the very highest one possible, it's certainly a few switchbacks above the original poster (which didn't seem to register on your generalization-alert-meter). Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame |
#27
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jj wrote: ... In the future (sure, get his license number), be alert and if you see him pull over and stop until he goes by - or even better turn off that street, and have no other reaction. This will rob him of his fun. I agree with getting his license number - although that's amazingly difficult to do in times of stress. (I need to add a pencil and paper to my handlebar bag.) But I can't imagine ceding my right to the road to such a jerk. Seems to me he'd be having fun with that. "Look, that biker gets off the road every time he sees me coming." What I did one time was try to make friends with the guy who wanted to harrass me. I rode up and got off the bike and apologized to -him-, and it really got him off guard. I like the idea of psychological jiu-jitsu - but what on earth did you apologize for? Riding a bike on a public road? I won't do that. My right - no, _our_ right to the road is literally sacred to me. If I were to use psychology on such a person, it might be by registering a) absolute confidence and b) amusement at his stupidity. And what I'd be saying wouldn't be "I apologize for being here," but "Your license number is XXXXX. Your vehicle is a red Ford pickup. You're about 5' 6". And in fifteen minutes, the sherrif is going to know all of those things. He already knows about my right to the road." Having said that, changing the atmosphere to a friendly one is _extremely_ valuable. Perhaps my script above needs to end with an offer to be friendly? Any ideas about that? Admittedly, it can be tough to pull all this off in the heat of the moment. And admittedly, I have very few occasions to practice it. But the reason for these discussions is so we can do the mental rehearsals, right? |
#28
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psycholist wrote:
It sounds to me like you mean to make every short, fat guy in your area an enemy of cyclists. Going toe-to-toe with a jerk who already nearly ran you off the road doesn't qualify you as the sharpest knife in the drawer. That's not to say I wouldn't have done the same thing were I in your shoes. But I'd probably have kicked myself afterward for my stupidity. There are some crazy folks out there. No point in provoking them. This idiot who shot up the Atlanta courthouse yesterday might very well be in my area this morning. It's been said he has people near here. I'd sure hate to flip him off for passing too close. I heard something interesting on the radio the other day. NPR interviewed the creator of Law and Order, who spent a lot of time with real cops for research. He talked about the common TV/movie scenario, when someone threatened by a gun challenges the gunman to "go ahead and shoot me." On TV the gunman realizes what an ass he's being and chickens out. But in real life, he pulls the trigger! Apparently this is exceedingly common. Witnesses often report such exchanges having taken place just before the gunshot was heard. Moral of the story: don't ever do this! Literally or figuratively... Realize you're dealing with someone who's already in "fight or flight" mode, and has chosen to fight. An aggressive response by you is likely to be met in kind. The real skill to have here is to be able to diffuse the situation, not "win" the argument. Matt O. |
#29
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On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 09:52:10 -0700, Mark Hickey
wrote: The post psycholist was replying to insulted a majority of the voters in the US (implying stupidity on their part) while psycholist's "insult" was aimed at polititians (since I doubt he is suggesting that somehow the rank and file voter can somehow personally affect the changes, other than by electing those who will do so). So while psycholist's road may not be the very highest one possible, it's certainly a few switchbacks above the original poster (which didn't seem to register on your generalization-alert-meter). Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame Yup, it's interesting that you are willing to make assumptions and interpret pycholist's comments to be the lesser of the two comments. As usual, you republicans can do no wrong, but us liberals is evil. Sorry Matt, I did comment on the topic, in my last post, but I just couldn't this time. I am done though, now that Hickey, has set me straight. Life is Good! Jeff |
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