Odd interaction with a road rager - Page 11 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

09-01-2004, 11:34 AM

On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 18:20:52 GMT, "NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Not to sound cold or unsympathetic to people who get injured on bicycles,
>but I resent that my life as a driver can be altered in a split second by a
>poorly trained or irresponsible cyclist. And, unfortunately, most of the
>cyclists in my community are exactly that. As I said earlier, this being a
>pretty bustling suburb, I see these guys, literally, every day. It wouldn't
>matter to me as much if dangerous bicycling was something that only popped
>up every once in a while.
>
>Anyway, my point in the original post was that I think we should understand
>that, among the many jerky, road-raging drivers out there, there are also
>lots of people like me who are wound just a little bit tight when we get
>behind the wheel and have to try to second-guess what the bicycles around us
>will do next. I can't assume any other cyclist is going to ride the way I
>do when I'm on the bike. And I can't assume that every bicyclist
>understands what it takes to operate a car.
>
>So when I'm driving and I see a cyclist do something that looks to be
>dangerous or stupid, chances are I might slip into a momentary rage, too. I
>might honk my horn or yell some kind of obscenity with my windows rolled all
>the way up. Then it goes away, and by that time, the cyclist may have
>caught up to me, as was the case with the guy who started this thread. And
>by this point, I may have lost my urge to confront him, knowing that nothing
>I can say or do will get through to him. That doesn't make me a baby or a
>wimp, and it doesn't, by any means, make him right.

Right, but in a way, you -know- to expect this behavior and are less
susceptible to it. It's certainly not 'right', but if you're surrounded by
dumb kids in bikes, then that's your milieu, and you are more-or-less
prepared, or should be. Not to sound preachy, but it's just another thing
you have to add to your mental checklist, and be thankful that you're more
attentive than most.

If it is that bad though, maybe the people in your suburb should get more
police patrols so they can look at the problem?

-B

09-01-2004, 12:54 PM

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<i7lZc.34664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv .net>...
>
> Sadly, I think the "other thing" that many people have going on in their
> lives is an underlying frustration with bicyclists who constantly ignore the
> rules of the road and are frequently a menace to drivers as they weave in
> and out of traffic, ride on the wrong side of the road, and blow through
> traffic lights.
>

It is true that unruly cyclist give everyone a bad name. But in this
case, the OP was not (at least did not say he was) breaking traffic
laws.

Peeling-out, unecessary horn-honking, aggressive lane changes are all
hallmarks of road-ragers especially if the cyclist does not impede the
travel of the car in any real way.

I don't think that road-ragers have a special thing for cyclists.
Slow, or temporarily stopped cars bring similar responses out of them.
The difference is that the cyclist is in a vastly more vulnerable
situation than a car.

As I said before, road-ragers have some personal conflict going on
that is unrelated to traffic. No one flys into a blood rage at a
stranger over trivial traffic issues unless something much deeper is
bugging them.

The typical advice that authorities give to potential victims of road
rage applies to cyclists too:

1) Don't provoke/escalate a confrontation by responding aggressively
2) Diffuse the situation by backing off, create distance, get out of
the way

09-01-2004, 12:54 PM

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<i7lZc.34664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv .net>...
>
> Sadly, I think the "other thing" that many people have going on in their
> lives is an underlying frustration with bicyclists who constantly ignore the
> rules of the road and are frequently a menace to drivers as they weave in
> and out of traffic, ride on the wrong side of the road, and blow through
> traffic lights.
>

It is true that unruly cyclist give everyone a bad name. But in this
case, the OP was not (at least did not say he was) breaking traffic
laws.

Peeling-out, unecessary horn-honking, aggressive lane changes are all
hallmarks of road-ragers especially if the cyclist does not impede the
travel of the car in any real way.

I don't think that road-ragers have a special thing for cyclists.
Slow, or temporarily stopped cars bring similar responses out of them.
The difference is that the cyclist is in a vastly more vulnerable
situation than a car.

As I said before, road-ragers have some personal conflict going on
that is unrelated to traffic. No one flys into a blood rage at a
stranger over trivial traffic issues unless something much deeper is
bugging them.

The typical advice that authorities give to potential victims of road
rage applies to cyclists too:

1) Don't provoke/escalate a confrontation by responding aggressively
2) Diffuse the situation by backing off, create distance, get out of
the way

09-01-2004, 12:54 PM

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<i7lZc.34664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv .net>...
>
> Sadly, I think the "other thing" that many people have going on in their
> lives is an underlying frustration with bicyclists who constantly ignore the
> rules of the road and are frequently a menace to drivers as they weave in
> and out of traffic, ride on the wrong side of the road, and blow through
> traffic lights.
>

It is true that unruly cyclist give everyone a bad name. But in this
case, the OP was not (at least did not say he was) breaking traffic
laws.

Peeling-out, unecessary horn-honking, aggressive lane changes are all
hallmarks of road-ragers especially if the cyclist does not impede the
travel of the car in any real way.

I don't think that road-ragers have a special thing for cyclists.
Slow, or temporarily stopped cars bring similar responses out of them.
The difference is that the cyclist is in a vastly more vulnerable
situation than a car.

As I said before, road-ragers have some personal conflict going on
that is unrelated to traffic. No one flys into a blood rage at a
stranger over trivial traffic issues unless something much deeper is
bugging them.

The typical advice that authorities give to potential victims of road
rage applies to cyclists too:

1) Don't provoke/escalate a confrontation by responding aggressively
2) Diffuse the situation by backing off, create distance, get out of
the way

09-01-2004, 12:54 PM

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<i7lZc.34664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv .net>...
>
> Sadly, I think the "other thing" that many people have going on in their
> lives is an underlying frustration with bicyclists who constantly ignore the
> rules of the road and are frequently a menace to drivers as they weave in
> and out of traffic, ride on the wrong side of the road, and blow through
> traffic lights.
>

It is true that unruly cyclist give everyone a bad name. But in this
case, the OP was not (at least did not say he was) breaking traffic
laws.

Peeling-out, unecessary horn-honking, aggressive lane changes are all
hallmarks of road-ragers especially if the cyclist does not impede the
travel of the car in any real way.

I don't think that road-ragers have a special thing for cyclists.
Slow, or temporarily stopped cars bring similar responses out of them.
The difference is that the cyclist is in a vastly more vulnerable
situation than a car.

As I said before, road-ragers have some personal conflict going on
that is unrelated to traffic. No one flys into a blood rage at a
stranger over trivial traffic issues unless something much deeper is
bugging them.

The typical advice that authorities give to potential victims of road
rage applies to cyclists too:

1) Don't provoke/escalate a confrontation by responding aggressively
2) Diffuse the situation by backing off, create distance, get out of
the way

09-01-2004, 01:54 PM

Truck driver is shot in face-off with cyclist

Monday, February 09, 2004
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Monroeville bicyclist has been jailed on charges that he tried to kill a
pickup truck driver during a road rage incident Saturday afternoon near the
entrance to Monroeville Park.

The driver, William J. Nicoletti, was shot once in the arm in the
confrontation.
No injuries were reported to the bike rider, Robert T. Urick.

Nicoletti, 51, told Monroeville police that he was driving along Tillbrook
Road when Urick, 41, who was riding the bicycle, made an obscene gesture as
the truck passed him.

Urick later told police that he reacted that way because Nicoletti had told
him to get off the road.
Nicoletti said that he turned his truck around and drove toward Urick, who
pulled a pistol, pointed it at him and stated that Nicoletti had "five
seconds to get out [of the truck] or he would shoot," according to an
affidavit that supports Urick's arrest.

Nicoletti said that Urick then reached inside the truck and shot him in the
arm.

As Urick rode away, Nicoletti said that he pursued him in the truck, ramming
the bicycle from behind, forcing it off the road.

The two men then fought briefly until Urick fled.
Nicoletti was treated at Mercy Hospital for a bullet wound of the arm.

Under questioning at county police headquarters, Urick denied having
possessed or fired a weapon. He admitted that he had fought with Nicoletti,
ending the fight only after Nicoletti submitted, the affidavit said.

Urick was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and
two weapons violations.
He was being held last night in the Allegheny County Jail on $100,000 bond,
pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. before District Justice
Walter Luniewski in Monroeville.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

(Jim McKinnon can be reached at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] or 412-263-1939.)

09-01-2004, 01:54 PM

Truck driver is shot in face-off with cyclist

Monday, February 09, 2004
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Monroeville bicyclist has been jailed on charges that he tried to kill a
pickup truck driver during a road rage incident Saturday afternoon near the
entrance to Monroeville Park.

The driver, William J. Nicoletti, was shot once in the arm in the
confrontation.
No injuries were reported to the bike rider, Robert T. Urick.

Nicoletti, 51, told Monroeville police that he was driving along Tillbrook
Road when Urick, 41, who was riding the bicycle, made an obscene gesture as
the truck passed him.

Urick later told police that he reacted that way because Nicoletti had told
him to get off the road.
Nicoletti said that he turned his truck around and drove toward Urick, who
pulled a pistol, pointed it at him and stated that Nicoletti had "five
seconds to get out [of the truck] or he would shoot," according to an
affidavit that supports Urick's arrest.

Nicoletti said that Urick then reached inside the truck and shot him in the
arm.

As Urick rode away, Nicoletti said that he pursued him in the truck, ramming
the bicycle from behind, forcing it off the road.

The two men then fought briefly until Urick fled.
Nicoletti was treated at Mercy Hospital for a bullet wound of the arm.

Under questioning at county police headquarters, Urick denied having
possessed or fired a weapon. He admitted that he had fought with Nicoletti,
ending the fight only after Nicoletti submitted, the affidavit said.

Urick was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and
two weapons violations.
He was being held last night in the Allegheny County Jail on $100,000 bond,
pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. before District Justice
Walter Luniewski in Monroeville.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

(Jim McKinnon can be reached at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] or 412-263-1939.)

09-01-2004, 01:54 PM

Truck driver is shot in face-off with cyclist

Monday, February 09, 2004
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Monroeville bicyclist has been jailed on charges that he tried to kill a
pickup truck driver during a road rage incident Saturday afternoon near the
entrance to Monroeville Park.

The driver, William J. Nicoletti, was shot once in the arm in the
confrontation.
No injuries were reported to the bike rider, Robert T. Urick.

Nicoletti, 51, told Monroeville police that he was driving along Tillbrook
Road when Urick, 41, who was riding the bicycle, made an obscene gesture as
the truck passed him.

Urick later told police that he reacted that way because Nicoletti had told
him to get off the road.
Nicoletti said that he turned his truck around and drove toward Urick, who
pulled a pistol, pointed it at him and stated that Nicoletti had "five
seconds to get out [of the truck] or he would shoot," according to an
affidavit that supports Urick's arrest.

Nicoletti said that Urick then reached inside the truck and shot him in the
arm.

As Urick rode away, Nicoletti said that he pursued him in the truck, ramming
the bicycle from behind, forcing it off the road.

The two men then fought briefly until Urick fled.
Nicoletti was treated at Mercy Hospital for a bullet wound of the arm.

Under questioning at county police headquarters, Urick denied having
possessed or fired a weapon. He admitted that he had fought with Nicoletti,
ending the fight only after Nicoletti submitted, the affidavit said.

Urick was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and
two weapons violations.
He was being held last night in the Allegheny County Jail on $100,000 bond,
pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. before District Justice
Walter Luniewski in Monroeville.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

(Jim McKinnon can be reached at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] or 412-263-1939.)

09-01-2004, 01:54 PM

Truck driver is shot in face-off with cyclist

Monday, February 09, 2004
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Monroeville bicyclist has been jailed on charges that he tried to kill a
pickup truck driver during a road rage incident Saturday afternoon near the
entrance to Monroeville Park.

The driver, William J. Nicoletti, was shot once in the arm in the
confrontation.
No injuries were reported to the bike rider, Robert T. Urick.

Nicoletti, 51, told Monroeville police that he was driving along Tillbrook
Road when Urick, 41, who was riding the bicycle, made an obscene gesture as
the truck passed him.

Urick later told police that he reacted that way because Nicoletti had told
him to get off the road.
Nicoletti said that he turned his truck around and drove toward Urick, who
pulled a pistol, pointed it at him and stated that Nicoletti had "five
seconds to get out [of the truck] or he would shoot," according to an
affidavit that supports Urick's arrest.

Nicoletti said that Urick then reached inside the truck and shot him in the
arm.

As Urick rode away, Nicoletti said that he pursued him in the truck, ramming
the bicycle from behind, forcing it off the road.

The two men then fought briefly until Urick fled.
Nicoletti was treated at Mercy Hospital for a bullet wound of the arm.

Under questioning at county police headquarters, Urick denied having
possessed or fired a weapon. He admitted that he had fought with Nicoletti,
ending the fight only after Nicoletti submitted, the affidavit said.

Urick was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and
two weapons violations.
He was being held last night in the Allegheny County Jail on $100,000 bond,
pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. before District Justice
Walter Luniewski in Monroeville.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

(Jim McKinnon can be reached at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] or 412-263-1939.)

09-01-2004, 02:21 PM

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<i7lZc.34664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv .net>...
> Sadly, I think the "other thing" that many people have going on in their
> lives is an underlying frustration with bicyclists who constantly ignore the
> rules of the road and are frequently a menace to drivers as they weave in
> and out of traffic, ride on the wrong side of the road, and blow through
> traffic lights.
>
> Most of my riding is done out here on the roads of Long Island, where nobody
> bothers to teach or learn the proper and safe way to ride a bicycle beyond
> the end of the driveway. As a result, I am constantly on edge while driving
> around town, waiting for yet another kid on a Mongoose to come flying off
> the corner on the left side of the road - or worse, an experienced adult
> rider with an expensive bike flying through a red light so as not to fall
> short of yesterday's time.
>
> It seems that most urban riders are much more aware of safe and legal riding
> techniques, but I've certainly seen a lot of oblivious peddlers in New York
> City. This pisses ME off -- and I'm a cyclist. I can't imagine how it irks
> a driver who only wishes he/she had a bicycle!

Don't let it get you so upset. Many parents don't have their
priorities straight and don't teach resposibility. They aren't
themselves responsible
and either is their progeny. Unfortunately we live in a fallen world.

One neighborhood boy thought it was cute to ride his bike in the other
lane towards an oncoming car like you see in movies with two cars
racing towards
each other.

That's the big reason that we have bicycle helmets now.

Be thankful for each ride where you come home.