So, on my commute this morning I was riding 30th between University and Upas going about 20 traveling south when I heard a horn behind me. It's a class 3 lane, but I still tend to ride to the right anyway. I checked over my shoulder and saw a white pickup truck, moved a bit more to the right, heard a honk again; and was passed by the dually with his passenger mirror almost brushing my shoulder.

He proceeded to flip me off, and I returned the gesture in kind. What happened next shocked me, but I think I attribute this to being new at this game; he proceeded to slow and block the lane and cuss me out for riding in the road. I tried to tell him that it was a shared lane and I had as much right of way as he did. Though, he wasn't having it. The thing that really startled me was the aggression that he was showing and subsequently him stopping the truck which caused me to seek refuge on the curb with a few parked cars and trees between us. After I slowed for a moment he bolted off.

I should have noted the license plate. The truck won't be too hard to recognize for me in the future, and if I see it I am going to note the plate and possibly make a police report.

What would you do in this situation?



I think that if I would have stopped or dismounted he would have come out of his vehicle.

I had a psycho like that, curiously enough also in a white SUV, tailgating and honking at me in the slow eastbound lane on El Cajon Blvd in College Area just a few days ago. I stayed right over the sharrow (no way I'd get into the doorzone and endanger myself for idiots like that.. There are other cars on the road that were already looking at us because of all his idiotic honking, so I knew I had witnesses) and gave him a long over-the-shoulder look. Dude kept it up another full block, so I aimed the camera behind at him and took a few shots. That was when he dropped back and turned off. :P

Cowardly bullies are like that. You can do everything right, and they will still try to bully you because they know they're in a car and you are the vulnerable one. I wouldn't flip anyone off, but I will definitely take evidence. Most of the time these folks shy away the moment they realize that evidence was being taken and could be passed on to the cops.

I have taken to smiling and waving and giving a thumbs up... Of course, it doesn't resolve anything, but getting frustrated about it was just making me an unhappy person (and that is not why I ride my bike). I would never stop for someone like that, just like I would not stop for a similar road-rager if driving. If someone is behind me honking on a 2 lane road, I become extra careful about holding the lane; they have plenty of space to pass, and I don't want to invite them to try to share a lane with me.

I keep considering a helmet camera. I am really bad at memorizing plates and things, and every time I hear about another collision I feel like it might be good to keep recordings.

You can always call 911 to report a drunk driver. He is swerving in the road and shouting; for all you know it might be true. The cops tend to follow up on that sort of thing in a hurry. You don't even need to tell them you were on a bike when you witnessed it, just that you saw a driver acting irrationally, and you are worried about someone's safety. All of that is true, if a little disingenuous.

White late '80s GM model Dually. Faded paint with slight rust. Regular cab (IIRC).
Driver was a mid-late 30s latino. Looked to be a bit shorter in height.
Happened approximately 7:13 AM on 30th between North Park Ave and Upas.

I'm going to keep my eye out for sure. Next time I'll stop and 911 it.

Don't see too many Duallys up here, if ever.

I forgot to welcome you to the site Jay, thanks for starting a discussion
I appreciate you both for registering a report at close call database Jay and Michell, the unfortunate incidents may now have a positive outcome
:-)

JayOtheMountains:What would you do in this situation?

Knock off one of his sideview mirrors. and book it through the side streets. jk

I would personally stop and explain why I ride the way I do. If he is too obstinate for reasoning then I would say good day and ride off.

I dont run into many issues in North Park. My abuse comes downtown. I've encountered incidents of assholery on 5th, Market and Broadway(all multiple lane roads). Each time a bunch of honks and an aggressive pass. Each time I met the person at then next red light. One guy was reasonable. The other two were psychopaths. Both nuts were in 40k+ cars.

Uggghh! Ms Crackybutt would do better to shake her finger at her own group, seems like. :oP I hope there was enough goodies at the end of the ride to wrest her crack out of your eyes, tho. :o)

Some cyclists are really quite rude indeed. Or... some people are incurably rude no matter what they're driving/riding. I was leading a group up Via de la Valle toward Stud Loop this morning when a large group came roaring past us... squeezing by between us and cars (road shoulder there is no wider than 6 inches!)... and they gave no warning whatsoever while at it. It was lucky I use helmet mirror and saw the lead guy suddenly turning up just a bit behind me (he was screened by my 2nd rider until the last couple of seconds), so I wasn't startled and didn't swerve. :oP

Don't know why, but there seems a herd mentality with these large group where once the first guy passes anything the rest of the group must also pass... even when there is no longer any decent gap/room traffic-wise. They just must squeeze pass now even if that puts other cyclists at risk for swerving off the pavement and cars at risk of head-on collision on shoulderless narrow two-laner with blind curves...