Any Recourse for a Close Call?

I was enjoying an otherwise great ride up Green Bay this afternoon, when passing through Winnetka, a driver blew past me, fast and close.

I mean really close.

Like, "how the hell am I not in ditch right now?" close.

After he passed me, he continued speeding up Green Bay, less than a foot off the curb, 2 lanes to him(her)self.

Writing it off to dumb luck, I continued on, not wanting to let it ruin my ride. A mile or so later, there's the same car, parked in a shopping center. Same make/model/color/distinctive bumper sticker.

I roll into the parking lot, looking for a confrontation (I know, so much for writing it off); nobody is in the car or around. Resisting the temptation to dig a nice scratch in their fender, I instead snap a pic of the plate and take off. If this had happened 20 years ago, when I was playing rugby and bouncing downtown, I would have stuck around to see who gets to leave in an ambulance and who gets to leave in a squad car. Ah, maturity.

Anyhow, now that cooler heads have prevailed, how can I stick to this ass? Will Winnetka  PD laugh me out of the station with my after-the-fact photo and complaint? Is there an established method to report reckless drivers?

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Permalink Reply by Tom Z on October 12, 2014 at 12:17pm

If you are sure it is the vehicle and a description of the driver. You should talk to them. There is a 3 foot law isn't there?

Permalink Reply by Andy J on October 12, 2014 at 12:36pm
I'm 100% sure it's the vehicle, but no idea who was behind the wheel.

Even if I could identify the driver, what would be the best I could expect with no witnesses? Still he said she said.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 13, 2014 at 3:08am

Worth a try.
 
clp said:

Ha, ha!  That stupid, self-centered driver was rushing up Green Bay Road, jeopardizing cyclists and pedestrians of all ages....just to shop?

With your photos, I'd definitely drop by the Winnetka police dept.(410 Green Bay Rd).  They're already citing drivers on Green Bay, and maybe this car is well-known to them.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on October 13, 2014 at 3:30am

I may have put a note under his/her windshield wiper-

Dear motorist-

I was riding a few miles south of here and you nearly ran me off the road.  The road was wide open and you had no reason to be so close to me. Please remember that you need to give 3 feet of clearance to a bicycle rider per Illinois law. I saw your car parked here. Please pay attention so nobody is injured or killed next time. 

Thank you.

A bicycle rider an fellow human being

Permalink Reply by Andy J on October 13, 2014 at 3:37am

In hindsight, I should have dialed 911 while I was there, had the police come by and at least question the driver.

I still think it would have boiled down to he said, she said, but it would have least give the jerk something to think about. I'll contact Winnetka PD later today and see if what they say.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 13, 2014 at 3:46am

Good idea.

David Barish said:

I may have put a note under his/her windshield wiper-

Dear motorist-

I was riding a few miles south of here and you nearly ran me off the road.  The road was wide open and you had no reason to be so close to me. Please remember that you need to give 3 feet of clearance to a bicycle rider per Illinois law. I saw your car parked here. Please pay attention so nobody is injured or killed next time. 

Thank you.

A bicycle rider an fellow human being

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