Ford F150 truck tormenting and trying to crash cyclists - Dowagiac MI

Your bicycle safety skills should make you take the lane to keep from being cut off especially in a no passing zone going to the crest of a hill. This driver was obviously impatient and did not like cyclists on his road. Unfortunately I was toward the front of the group and did not catch all of the dangerous and threatning driving on film. After he tried to run me off the road the first time I yelled into his window "please drive safe." Obviously he was not interested in safety as he buzzed me a second time. Yes I stayed in the middle of the lane the second time because I was preparing to be ran off the road again. I needed a few feet to my right just in case. I am thinking about calling the Dowagiac police 269-782-9743 to ask if this driver could be mandated to take a certified bicycle safety class from the League of American Bicyclists.

Silver Ford F150 Plate GPH53 8/16/11 6:50PM

Be safe out there.
PS. I will gladly take the bicycle safety class with this driver if it means he will attend.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• road rage
• bike
• bicycling
• dowagiac
• michigan
• MI

[grasslakecummins]

And their has to be officers out their performing traffic stops. Because people can't seem to follow simple rules of the road. Hell It only took a few days of in class instruction on everyday rules of the road for you to get lisenced. It's not a complicated task. But people seem to know how to screw it up and make the roads unsafe for everyone else. I would have rather been working a case trying to catch a murderer or drug dealer and get them off the street but no. I had to babysit grown adults

[atkimw]

@grasslakecummins We often forget driving is a privilege. We all do it, some more than others.

[grasslakecummins]

I am referring to respect. As if cyclists want respect they have to show it and vise versa. If drivers want respect they have to show it it takes both parties working together. What I'm getting at is that If you guys don't show motorists respect they will not respect you. And if motorists don't show respect then cyclists won't respect them.

[atkimw]

@grasslakecummins Thank you for all of the replies. You are part of the solution. Thank you for watching out for us cyclists. I wish I had a good way to handle and educate on the street (when something happens) but I know that rarely works right now. We'll get there first by classes then by culture shift. You are the positive part that will help encourage that culture shift.

[rosickyize]

@atkimw a traffic cop could teach me nothing, i've cycled practically my whole life, on all types of roads including 3 lane "A" roads ; )

[grasslakecummins]

Yes that is great idea atkimw I didn't even think about. Go on a ride along and I'm sure you change your opinion rosickyize.

[atkimw]

@rosickyize Come on now, don't put everyone in the same box. Some of my best friends are LEOs. The intelligence and intuition of a good cop would blow your mind. Officers are trained with safety in mind. The untrained public is often quick to judge what they do not understand. I suggest you ride with a cop. They like to have ride alongs. Best case, it would give you an appreciation of the job. Worst case, you could say I told you so.

[grasslakecummins]

Ooooo another person that hates police. Your such a big tough guy sitting behind that key board. I've got the perfect solution. Take all of the police off duty for one week and ill garuntee you that you will be begging for them back. Despite what you think just because I was a officer (before taxpayers decided they didn't need us) I do have my own opinions on things. I'm not a brainwashed monkey like some of you disrespectful citizens are

[rosickyize]

@grasslakecummins a traffic cop? sounds about right, ignorance in abudance

[atkimw]

@grasslakecummins I agree. My goal is to first educate drivers as to why cyclists appear to be all over the road. My belief is the reason does not include being disrespectful and discourteous. My second goal is to educate cyclists as to when and why they should be in the lane. Another class offered by the League of American Bicyclists is the motorists education class. I would love to get that in place but the culture of haters in this area would certainly prevent it from being successful.