[PSA] Reporting aggressive / dangerous drivers

[un_designer]

TL;DR: Car just crossed double yellow line to illegally and dangerously cut me off. Remember to take down license plate number/info, and report.
--

Ok, now the long version.

I was riding about 30bmph aka 25mph in a 25mph zone street. This car behind me suddenly accelerates, crosses the double-yellow line, and then dangerously cuts me off with very little room. I gave the driver a long press of the horn.

You can probably guess what happened next: the car got stuck at the next light. I pulled up right behind the car, gave another long press of the horn, and pulled over to get a closer look at the driver with the intent of telling the person what a crummy thing that was. As it turns out, the car was going in the same direction as I am and turned left.

So now she speeds up again, in another 25mph zone, and gets stuck at the next major intersection where you can't turn right on a red. About a minute later I pull up, whip out my phone, and take a picture of her license plate. I also happen to have a photographic memory of cars

When I got home, I went online and googled the hotline number for bicyclists (I know... read on) to report dangerous drivers. The info below is specific to Colorado, but I'm guessing that most states would have something similar:

• Get the vehicle's license plate number. Stop and write it down. The more descriptive info you have the better.
• Anyone, not just bicyclist, can and should report dangerously aggressive drivers.
• From your cell phone, dial *277, or from a landline dial 303-239-4501

More info here:
http://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?pageId=731Bicycle

According to the State Patrol website, they enter this information into an aggressive driver database and send a warning letter after receiving three complaints. If the State Patrol receives additional complaints they send a trooper to make personal contact with the registered owner of the vehicle to take appropriate enforcement action.

[michelle_7728]

Yeah, in my car I go the speed limit (or maybe 3 over), but on my Buddy I go 10-15 (indicated) over, so that I'm always going at least 5-10 (actual) over...depending on road conditions and how fast others are going, of course. What ever keeping up with traffic makes me do.

Even then, sometimes I get some jerk behind me that feels I'm not going fast enough...but then they probably would be driving the same even if I were in my car. Going around you on the double yellow lines though, that's a bit much!

It can get really frustrating. Glad you are okay and she didn't slam on her brakes in front of you or something. People can be such creeps...

[TVB]

That's a lot like what happened to me today. Asshole didn't even fully cross the double-yellow (probably because it was a blind curve!), and nearly brushed my elbow. But I didn't catch up with them, and all I saw was that it was an Illinois plate on some white SUVish thing. So no police report, and no chance to politely inquire, "So were you trying to kill me, or did you just not care if you killed me?" Fortunately, a few minutes later I met a couple of kids riding two-up on a Metro and they smiled and beeped at me even before I waved, so I avoided descending into hate-all-humans mode.

[michelle_7728]

That's a lot like what happened to me today. Asshole didn't even fully cross the double-yellow (probably because it was a blind curve!), and nearly brushed my elbow. But I didn't catch up with them, and all I saw was that it was an Illinois plate on some white SUVish thing. So no police report, and no chance to politely inquire, "So were you trying to kill me, or did you just not care if you killed me?" Fortunately, a few minutes later I met a couple of kids riding two-up on a Metro and they smiled and beeped at me even before I waved, so I avoided descending into hate-all-humans mode.

Wow! I'm glad you are okay! That would have been a scary experience.

[skully93]

Thanks for the info, since that sort of thing happens to me ALL the time, probably on the same streets and in the same areas.

Have you tried that new 5 star burgers yet? I'm itching for an excuse for some of us downtowners to get together.

[un_designer]

Yeah, in my car I go the speed limit (or maybe 3 over), but on my Buddy I go 10-15 (indicated) over, so that I'm always going at least 5-10 (actual) over...depending on road conditions and how fast others are going, of course. What ever keeping up with traffic makes me do.

Even then, sometimes I get some jerk behind me that feels I'm not going fast enough...but then they probably would be driving the same even if I were in my car. Going around you on the double yellow lines though, that's a bit much!

It can get really frustrating. Glad you are okay and she didn't slam on her brakes in front of you or something. People can be such creeps...

yea. idk what her problem was. that street is a slow in road that I chose in purpose because of the new tire i just put on my Buddy last week. the funny thing is that even if i weren't there she wouldn't have made the light anyway. it was kind of pointless because there were a bunch of other cars at the stopped light already LOL. i thought it was funny how she sped up after turning left only to get stuck again at the next light, where a right turn on red is strictly prohibited.

[un_designer]

Thanks for the info, since that sort of thing happens to me ALL the time, probably on the same streets and in the same areas.

Have you tried that new 5 star burgers yet? I'm itching for an excuse for some of us downtowners to get together.

nope i have not. also i never ride the scooter dt anyway since it's a 125cc so i can't park on the sidewalk. do you know if any of the parking garages will just let scooters park? i've never had a reason to park dt ever since it's faster on my bicycle.

[rsrider]

Don't report me, bro!