"Road Rage" Bicyclist vs. City Bus Passenger

[PowerEngineer]

Don't get me wrong. I agree that even Portland (voted one of the most "bike friendly" cities in the country) can and should do more to encourage the use of bicycles, particularly for commuting. I also understand how dangerous it can be for cyclists mixed in with motorized traffic. All that said, however, this story in today's Oregonian just stuns me.

The Oregonian

Cliff Notes:
A year ago, a commuting cyclist decides to ride outside the bike lane (too much gravel) and then believes a city bus passes him too closely. He catches up to the bus in traffic, and stops in front of it to confront the bus driver. An older male passenger gets off the bus, talks to the cyclist, forces him and his bicycle back onto the sidewalk, and the bus proceeds on. Now the cyclist is suing!

On tonight's local news, they asked for the public's help in identifying the passenger (from the video clips of the incident) because the statute of limitations is about to run out on this "assault".

Give me a break!

If the driver of one car forcefully brings another car to a stop so that he can confront that driver concerning some perceived transgression, there's no question that the first driver will be the one arrested for "road rage". And if that first driver comes out second best as a result of the confrontation he forces, then we'll all be agreeing that he has found the trouble he was so obviously looking for.

A cyclist shouldn't exempted from our norms for roadway behavior just because his vehicle weighs less than a car (or bus).

:thumbsdown: on militant bicyclists like this guy! :thumbsdown:

 

[OdiN]

Well in this case he caught up to the bus - he didn't forcefully bring it to a stop.

 

[DivideBYZero]

OP doesn't ride a bike, obviously.

I have direct Bus/bike interaction experience. Bus drivers are -*expletive deleted*-'s.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Also, please note it's 'Cyclist', not 'Bicyclist', just because bicyclist is redundant. It's like saying 'I'm a Quaddriver'. Just say driver, I care not how many wheels you use to do it! 😉

 

[ramuman]

Not defending this guy but if you ride a bike on public roads and you get run of the road enough times by vehicles or otherwise aggresive people, then I can see how one can get pissed off over time. I live in a fairly cycle friendly place and still have to deal with this.

I would never make an issue of it with a driver, but cyclists get the low end of the road totem pole. The gravel noted is a particular issue since the bike portion is rarely totally clear. I sympathize, but the noneconomic portion of the lawsuit is out of hand.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
OP doesn't ride a bike, obviously.

I was thinking I might get a response like that... :roll:

While I don't ride much right now, I have been a bicycle commuter in the past. I fully appreciate the disadvantage that cyclists have when they mix with motorized traffic (as I tried to make clear in my OP). I myself have personally been "pissed off" by inconsiderate drivers.

Everyone feels unfairly treated by others (rightly or wrongly) from time to time. When we feel this way, we need to respond in appropriate ways. Percipitating a physical confrontation like this is not appropriate.

Instead of later being chagrined by his own rash behavior, this cyclist still seems to think he's entitled to act out as he did. 🙁

What's worse is that the news media seems to be supporting his skewed selfrighteousness. :Q

 

[Viper GTS]

The man appears to grab Albright's bike, swing at him and push him back onto the sidewalk. The man re-boards the bus, which leaves.

Sorry, but he crossed the line.

Was the cyclist in the wrong? Yes, probably.

Regardless, the bus passenger had no business getting involved in what was (to that point) a non violent confrontation.

Viper GTS

 

[Viper GTS]

Whoops...

 

[cirrhosis]

Wasn't there a thread a month or two ago about a cycling ATOTer and the heinous invasion of his personal riding space by a diabolical truck driver? Was that ever resolved or was it a case of spider?

 

[DivideBYZero]

How does a Cyclist 'forcefully' bring a Bus to a halt again? Pull a donut in front of the Bus? Cut the Bus up and ride recklessly? Wave a gloved fist with meanace? :roll:

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: cirrhosis
Wasn't there a thread a month or two ago about a cycling ATOTer and the heinous invasion of his personal riding space by a diabolical truck driver? Was that ever resolved or was it a case of spider?

It was me. It was a Bus. It's gone cold at the Police end. I keep meaning to follow it up myself.

 

[cirrhosis]

Damn, that's a shame.

 

[PingSpike]

Yeah, I don't think I'd turn that guy in even if I did know who he was. The guy didn't want to ride on the god damn bike path made for him? Thats like me driving my car on the sidewalk and then b|tching that people don't get out of my way.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: PowerEngineer

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
OP doesn't ride a bike, obviously.

I was thinking I might get a response like that... :roll:

While I don't ride much right now, I have been a bicycle commuter in the past. I fully appreciate the disadvantage that cyclists have when they mix with motorized traffic (as I tried to make clear in my OP). I myself have personally been "pissed off" by inconsiderate drivers.

Everyone feels unfairly treated by others (rightly or wrongly) from time to time. When we feel this way, we need to respond in appropriate ways. Percipitating a physical confrontation like this is not appropriate.

Instead of later being chagrined by his own rash behavior, this cyclist still seems to think he's entitled to act out as he did. 🙁

What's worse is that the news media seems to be supporting his skewed selfrighteousness. :Q

Just because you "commuted" when you were a kid or were in college doesn't make you a cyclist commuter, so don't use that as an excuse to pretend you know something about the issue. :| There wasn't a bike lane like you said in your Cliff's. THE SIDEWALK IS NOT A F'ING BIKELANE You are just trying to make it sound like the bike was in the wrong. If a bus runs your car off the road purposefully, you would be pretty pissed, too. It just happens too often with cyclists. Bikers legally ride the road, too. Get f'ing used to it.

And a bike cannot forcibly stop a bus. He probably pulled to the side of the bus to tell off to the driver when the driver came out and assaulted him. There is a huge difference between telling a guy he was in the wrong and physically assaulting someone and damaging their property. @$$h@t.

**EDIT**
I guess I am upset because I got run off the road with a bunch a cyclists this weekend on a residential ride where there was more than two lanes and we were only using one lane BTW. It was a White Camry with a family in it, too. Too many people think that the world owes them something or that they "OWN" whatever they use. I seriously think some of these people should be shot. You would think they would think of the implications if one of those guys had gotten killed, but no they just drive off.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Also, please note it's 'Cyclist', not 'Bicyclist', just because bicyclist is redundant. It's like saying 'I'm a Quaddriver'. Just say driver, I care not how many wheels you use to do it! 😉

How dare you discriminate against commuting unicyclists.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Yeah, I don't think I'd turn that guy in even if I did know who he was. The guy didn't want to ride on the god damn bike path made for him? Thats like me driving my car on the sidewalk and then b|tching that people don't get out of my way.

What if when you are driving your car you had to swerve out of your lane and into another due to an obstruction in your lane that you could not brake for? Would an affected driver in that lane be justified in driving aggresively against you? No.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: sm8000

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Also, please note it's 'Cyclist', not 'Bicyclist', just because bicyclist is redundant. It's like saying 'I'm a Quaddriver'. Just say driver, I care not how many wheels you use to do it! 😉

How dare you discriminate against commuting unicyclists.

I'm not! I'm being more inclusive than the dicriminatory terms you use state the exact number of wheels being used!! 😛

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Also, please note it's 'Cyclist', not 'Bicyclist', just because bicyclist is redundant. It's like saying 'I'm a Quaddriver'. Just say driver, I care not how many wheels you use to do it! 😉

:roll: What if he was on a unicycle or tricycle?

Guy was breaking the law by blocking traffic, so :thumbsup: for being forceably moved back to the bike lane. There must be something about squashing your crotch on a bike seat all day that makes all bicyclists feel like they own the roads.....maybe some vital artery is being pinched thereby depriving their brains of valuable chemicals or something.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: sm8000

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Also, please note it's 'Cyclist', not 'Bicyclist', just because bicyclist is redundant. It's like saying 'I'm a Quaddriver'. Just say driver, I care not how many wheels you use to do it! 😉

How dare you discriminate against commuting unicyclists.

I'm not! I'm being more inclusive than the dicriminatory terms you use state the exact number of wheels being used!! 😛

I myself ride a Tricycle 😉 😛 Just kidding.

Actually, some recumbants are tri's right. And there are Unicycle riders, but I believe they can legally ride the sidewalk. Not sure though.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Yeah, I don't think I'd turn that guy in even if I did know who he was. The guy didn't want to ride on the god damn bike path made for him? Thats like me driving my car on the sidewalk and then b|tching that people don't get out of my way.

Bike path or no bike path, Cyclists are legal residents of city streets. The issue in question is not that there was a confrontation, however the issue at hand is weather the man should be sued for getting off the bus and attempting to attack him. There is a video tape that shows that it would appear the man swung at him. I.E. there is grounds for and a high probability of a suit being won.


Guy on bus in the wrong.
Cyclist in the right (edit: not in the right for blocking traffic, however for riding on the road)

/thread

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Also, please note it's 'Cyclist', not 'Bicyclist', just because bicyclist is redundant. It's like saying 'I'm a Quaddriver'. Just say driver, I care not how many wheels you use to do it! 😉

:roll: What if he was on a unicycle or tricycle?

Guy was breaking the law by blocking traffic, so :thumbsup: for being forceably moved back to the bike lane. There must be something about squashing your crotch on a bike seat all day that makes all bicyclists feel like they own the roads.....maybe some vital artery is being pinched thereby depriving their brains of valuable chemicals or something.

Log off and take your head for a sh1t.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Also, please note it's 'Cyclist', not 'Bicyclist', just because bicyclist is redundant. It's like saying 'I'm a Quaddriver'. Just say driver, I care not how many wheels you use to do it! 😉

:roll: What if he was on a unicycle or tricycle?

Guy was breaking the law by blocking traffic, so :thumbsup: for being forceably moved back to the bike lane. There must be something about squashing your crotch on a bike seat all day that makes all bicyclists feel like they own the roads.....maybe some vital artery is being pinched thereby depriving their brains of valuable chemicals or something.

STFU.... THE SIDEWALK is not a BIKE LANE. Read the f'ing article. It is obvious the OP wants to skew the truth.

And he wasn't breaking the law.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Yeah, I don't think I'd turn that guy in even if I did know who he was. The guy didn't want to ride on the god damn bike path made for him? Thats like me driving my car on the sidewalk and then b|tching that people don't get out of my way.

What if when you are driving your car you had to swerve out of your lane and into another due to an obstruction in your lane that you could not brake for? Would an affected driver in that lane be justified in driving aggresively against you? No.

You can't just wildly swerve to move over for somebody who does that though, or you may end up hitting somebody else. I certainly wouldn't be pissed if I had to move over onto the lane divider and the other guy didn't move.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Yeah, I don't think I'd turn that guy in even if I did know who he was. The guy didn't want to ride on the god damn bike path made for him? Thats like me driving my car on the sidewalk and then b|tching that people don't get out of my way.

Paths are sometimes chock-full of gravel and glass and tires are expensive. The OP seemed to indicate this was the case.

 

[DVK916]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: PowerEngineer

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
OP doesn't ride a bike, obviously.

I was thinking I might get a response like that... :roll:

While I don't ride much right now, I have been a bicycle commuter in the past. I fully appreciate the disadvantage that cyclists have when they mix with motorized traffic (as I tried to make clear in my OP). I myself have personally been "pissed off" by inconsiderate drivers.

Everyone feels unfairly treated by others (rightly or wrongly) from time to time. When we feel this way, we need to respond in appropriate ways. Percipitating a physical confrontation like this is not appropriate.

Instead of later being chagrined by his own rash behavior, this cyclist still seems to think he's entitled to act out as he did. 🙁

What's worse is that the news media seems to be supporting his skewed selfrighteousness. :Q

Just because you "commuted" when you were a kid or were in college doesn't make you a cyclist commuter, so don't use that as an excuse to pretend you know something about the issue. :| There wasn't a bike lane like you said in your Cliff's. THE SIDEWALK IS NOT A F'ING BIKELANE You are just trying to make it sound like the bike was in the wrong. If a bus runs your car off the road purposefully, you would be pretty pissed, too. It just happens too often with cyclists. Bikers legally ride the road, too. Get f'ing used to it.

And a bike cannot forcibly stop a bus. He probably pulled to the side of the bus to tell off to the driver when the driver came out and assaulted him. There is a huge difference between telling a guy he was in the wrong and physically assaulting someone and damaging their property. @$$h@t.

**EDIT**
I guess I am upset because I got run off the road with a bunch a cyclists this weekend on a residential ride where there was more than two lanes and we were only using one lane BTW. It was a White Camry with a family in it, too. Too many people think that the world owes them something or that they "OWN" whatever they use. I seriously think some of these people should be shot. You would think they would think of the implications if one of those guys had gotten killed, but no they just drive off.

Learn to read. He got infront of the bus. The bus couldn't move.