tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post3047892119032838865..comments2023-08-18T11:40:19.852-06:00Comments on Los Alamos and Santa Fe Bikes: Road rage incident on NM-4 during lunchtime rideScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10105951751896463667noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-51603159987546380622011-06-15T17:48:05.512-06:002011-06-15T17:48:05.512-06:00Hey Khal,
That incident was three or four years a...Hey Khal,<br /><br />That incident was three or four years ago by now by my best recollection.<br /><br />I recently spoke to someone who had a similar incident and he said the cops were much more responsive and concerned. That makes me feel a little better.<br /><br />--JimboJimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13391927383206223790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-3892811754689198752011-06-14T19:55:38.346-06:002011-06-14T19:55:38.346-06:00Seriously, a little consideration and politeness g...Seriously, a little consideration and politeness goes such a long way...<br /><br />I'm as prone to be hotheaded as anybody, but I find that really it depends a lot on how I feel I'm being treated.<br /><br />When others are polite to me -- e.g. a car driver stops and patiently waits for me to cross when he really didn't have to -- it makes me <i>want</i> to do likewise the next time I'm in such a situation ... and when I do, I feel good for having done so.<br /><br />When I've have such good experiences in a certain area, I'm much more prone to generally relax and be forgiving and deferential, and the resulting feeling of general mutual civility is really very nice.<br /><br />Unfortunately this rarely seems to happen in the U.S. (in my experience, at least)...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12341201158832109978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-49590378523131297962011-06-14T08:30:04.400-06:002011-06-14T08:30:04.400-06:00Jimbo, how long ago was that incident? Someone we ...Jimbo, how long ago was that incident? Someone we both know is curious.Khalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11866897914538110672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-68520385736737078352011-06-13T22:20:25.934-06:002011-06-13T22:20:25.934-06:00I am horrified to learn that this garbage happens ...I am horrified to learn that this garbage happens in your neck of the woods as well. I have had one nasty incident happen in the past. I had one altercation a couple of weeks ago (or so) and I have decided that I am going to not confront such persons, verbally or otherwise. <br /><br />But I have called the police in the past and I will call the police if I am harassed. I may also use a video camera mounted atop my handlebar and/or helmet and use it to document such perpetrators.<br /><br />Be safe out there!<br /><br />Peace :)GreenComotionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11272116464292908327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-16418504792594480192011-06-13T14:54:17.789-06:002011-06-13T14:54:17.789-06:00Jimbo
Assault is not the same as a traffic infrac...Jimbo<br /><br />Assault is not the same as a traffic infraction. Assault is a misdemeanor or worse. Just like a spouse calling the cops when his/her loving soulmate pulls a gun or knife on him/her in the privacy of the family castle. One calls the cops after the fact when one is safety away from the presence of one's "loved one". The cops come to the scene.<br /><br />In the case of a traffic violation, my understanding is that a summons can't be issued on the basis of a citizen call to the police but even then, a citizen can go to municipal court and file a traffic complaint. <br /><br />In the case of a criminal attack rather than a traffic infraction (and both your case and Clay's sound like a criminal attack to me, but my opinion is not caselaw), I think the comment "nothing can be done anyway" is plain wrong. I've emailed Chief Torpy to elaborate on this.<br /><br />Fortunately these incidents are rare although I know from the email traffic that the lunchtime rides out on NM-4 seem to occasionally rub some motorists the wrong way and sometimes people get spun up.<br /><br />I've been fortunate. Riding to work and out in the country around BombTown for ten years and had one pretty bad incident. That one was in part my fault for contributing to it getting out of control rather than following my own advice (hey, I'm Sicilian). Even that one ended with a handshake instead of bruises and handcuffs. Another time I followed my own advice and managed to play peacemaker between two men in cars who jumped out of their cars to take out their pent up frustrations on each other's faces. They shook hands.<br /><br />There is hope. There is always hope.Khalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11866897914538110672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-34922272400830890052011-06-13T14:35:10.103-06:002011-06-13T14:35:10.103-06:00I'm agreeing, but calling the cops afterward i...I'm agreeing, but calling the cops afterward isn't going to help either. I was in a similar incident a couple of years ago. Like Clay, I avoid cars as much as possible and am about as non-aggressive on a bike as could be imagined. After a motorist tried to murder me twice, sped off, and then turned around for one more shot at killing me in cold blood, I hopped up on the sidewalk, rode across some grass and got the heck away from the lunatic.<br /><br />I called the police once I was safely away. The dispatcher was immediately accusatory and informed me that bicyclists most often are in the wrong in these incidents. Furthermore, since no officer was around to witness the incident, there was nothing that could be done anyway. She then ended the conversation by telling me that I might be better off from now on if I rode on the sidewalk.<br /><br />No matter how much we want to plead to the contrary, it is very clear that in this country the deck and public perception is badly stacked against cyclists. Each road ride is gambling with death. That's just the way it is. Until murder of cyclists by a motor vehicle becomes a criminal offense in the nation (it currently is not), this will continue across over and over again. This is why I avoid the streets at all costs.<br /><br />--JimboJimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13391927383206223790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-16931725723919542302011-06-13T14:32:37.953-06:002011-06-13T14:32:37.953-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jimbohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13391927383206223790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955311294411328562.post-30595615843496695672011-06-12T17:46:18.186-06:002011-06-12T17:46:18.186-06:00Khal: You got that right: remain calm, get to a sa...Khal: You got that right: remain calm, get to a safe place, and call 911 at once. <br /><br />Email or re-posting this message does nothing to change the specific driver problem(s).danchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09656663165658142443noreply@blogger.com