How would you have handled this situation?

Hi everyone,

This is my first time adding a discussion on Chain Link forum. I read Chain Link everyday. I would love to read how you would have handled this situation. I should have been patient and realized the driver was clueless.

I started cycling to work a few months ago. I have noticed more people clueless of their surrounding as the cold kicked in. I primarily been using Lincoln, Wells, and Dearborn and noticed people double parking, drifting (due to texting) and just standing in the middle of the bike lane which is causing dangers to cyclists. I really hope this gets better.

Also is there a Strava group for chainlink members?

Here is my Strava profile
http://www.strava.com/athletes/2548995

http://youtu.be/EDng5AD0K6E

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on December 6, 2013 at 9:03am

If there was no collision, submit this and the video to Close Calls. http://cc.stevevance.net

If there was a collision, make a police report. 

Permalink Reply by Chris Mitchell on December 6, 2013 at 9:18am

You handled this better than I would have. Kudos to your self-control. I use Strava all the time and I like it better than MapMyRide.

Permalink Reply by Chris Mitchell on December 6, 2013 at 9:19am

Me too. Probably not the best strategy but OK until I get some irate Jacka$$

Renee Patten said:

I would have hit the back of their car with my hands at both times when they cut you off. Just my go-to when people are driving like idiots. 

Permalink Reply by CJ on December 6, 2013 at 9:43am

I would have bunny hopped him

Permalink Reply by Nancy L. Fagin on December 6, 2013 at 11:14am

Call the cops - say there's a reckless driver (drunk, drug impaired, heart attack), give the license number and then let them handle it.  One can't handle directly the drunks, drug impaired or drug related drivers - some can be really, really nasty with armaments.  Once it was a woman screaming out of her car window at me along Ashland (south of Division) - one didn't need a drug-o-meter to figure out how dangerous she was; I just couldn't pull my cellphone out and do a safety manveuer at the same time.

Years ago, I had a big, Ford Taurus station wagon (half car, half tank), some bad guys who were joy riding, thought they could rear end me several times. I gave them the "warrior's stare" and I think they realized they only banged up their own car.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on December 6, 2013 at 11:49am

How are the police supposed to find this driver?

Nancy L. Fagin said:

Call the cops - say there's a reckless driver (drunk, drug impaired, heart attack), give the license number and then let them handle it.  

Permalink Reply by Jose Fonseca on December 6, 2013 at 12:01pm

I put my GO PRO Hero on my helmet.

Christine said:

My question might be a bit off topic, but I'm curious. Do a lot of you use bike cameras to capture videos like this? Is it on your handlebar, your helmet, somewhere else? Brands, costs?

I should probably start a new thread on this.

Permalink Reply by Todd Nelson on December 6, 2013 at 12:17pm

As to how, by tag number if Jose got it on video or thought to record by reading it out loud for audio. Insist on filing a report, even if the police are not going to follow up. Make a record. If Chicago is going to invest in these lame bike facilities (too narrow and in the door zone), the police need to be willing to pursue motorist violations of these facilities. If not, then the planners need to know that they aren't working and cyclists need to be able to take the streets, controlling traffic lanes, like the drivers with the same rights and responsibilities that they are (if it weren't for a lame Chicago code that bicyclists are supposed to yield to all other traffic BS). Take the traffic lane, not the lame bike lame, unless you want to get cut off like Jose was.

All this stuff about hitting the car or getting into a confrontation on your own is counterproductive. Don't lower yourself to the level of a motorist like this one.

Todd Nelson

CyclingSavvy Instructor

Cary, IL


Alex Z said:

How are the police supposed to find this driver?

Nancy L. Fagin said:

Call the cops - say there's a reckless driver (drunk, drug impaired, heart attack), give the license number and then let them handle it.  

Permalink Reply by Todd Nelson on December 6, 2013 at 12:56pm

Then again, you know how you get when you're lost or frustrated about finding parking (assuming that you also drive a car)? You've already passed you destination and you wondering if you should just grab the next spot or circle the block again, but you've got someone riding your butt like there is no tomorrow? Frustrated enough to forget to signal before pulling over to park and to forget how to start a parallel park, pulling forward and left to back into the spot instead of turning your wheels to the right as you back in? Do you know that they're not teaching parallel parking in drivers ed anymore, at least not in high school? It's a lost art. 

So have a little compassion, maybe hold back and give the poor soul some room. Maybe you can stop and calmly offer some driving tips once they are parked.


Todd Nelson said:

Appears to be intentional. Can you capture the license plate number or remember it? When video recording, if lighting is not good for capturing license plates, it's a good idea to say the number for audio recording. You should report it. You have a bike lane, though not a good one. You should be able to pass a motorist who is apparently distracted, but then appears to be intentionally and dangerously obstructing your use of the bike lane, and then tries to block a proper pass on the left. Confronting would not have been a good idea.

 

Todd Nelson

CyclingSavvy Instructor

Cary, IL

Permalink Reply by norman kaeseberg on December 6, 2013 at 2:32pm

I definitely have stopped in situations like this, and usually stopping lots of traffic that has to stop because I'm blocking their lane. Point of reference is: when you get cut off like that I say it is education time-out, and not only for the Zanex-driver on text, but the others behind your back, doing all that honking and screaming. Screw them, this is street theatre with an educational experience back-up. You need to do a LOT of outstretched arm/finger - pointing (while screaming) to get the peds and backed-up'd cars interested in your rant. If not, it's pointless.

This isn't just theatre. It is Saving Lives Theatre. Forget the momentary hold-up yer making on Lincoln Avenue, They're sitting in their warm cars, playing tunes and mumbling, "What's that all about?". Their lives are anything but threatened.

We really have to make ourselves more visible every day - every way/ argument? Let's hear it. nk

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on December 6, 2013 at 7:15pm

I'm waiting for Google Glasses to become generally available, at a hopefully reasonable price. I can't see wearing a helmet mounted Go Pro Hero. Had you been hurt, that footage would be very useful when determining liability. Within a few years, we will all be wearing cameras in public to protect ourselves, and when integrated into a comprehensive system will become part of our brave new world surveillance society. Maybe a little scary, but I see that as a better alternative to packing heat, which will probably become just as ubiquitous and even more scary. I'll save you the effort of rolling out Ben Frankin's quote "those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither". Public surveillance is not an infringement upon liberty. 


Jose Fonseca said:

I put my GO PRO Hero on my helmet.

Christine said:

My question might be a bit off topic, but I'm curious. Do a lot of you use bike cameras to capture videos like this? Is it on your handlebar, your helmet, somewhere else? Brands, costs?

I should probably start a new thread on this.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on December 7, 2013 at 4:45am

One Nation Under Surveillance.

Joe Guzzardo said:

I'm waiting for Google Glasses to become generally available, at a hopefully reasonable price. I can't see wearing a helmet mounted Go Pro Hero. Had you been hurt, that footage would be very useful when determining liability. Within a few years, we will all be wearing cameras in public to protect ourselves, and when integrated into a comprehensive system will become part of our brave new world surveillance society. Maybe a little scary, but I see that as a better alternative to packing heat, which will probably become just as ubiquitous and even more scary. I'll save you the effort of rolling out Ben Frankin's quote "those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither". Public surveillance is not an infringement upon liberty. 


Jose Fonseca said:

I put my GO PRO Hero on my helmet.

Christine said:

My question might be a bit off topic, but I'm curious. Do a lot of you use bike cameras to capture videos like this? Is it on your handlebar, your helmet, somewhere else? Brands, costs?

I should probably start a new thread on this.

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