severely assaulted while ebiking

[chessir]

Hey De Vries my Guy.

You are very bright. This guy was so incredibly fast and professional he essentially simultaneously swiped my LifePO4 bag bungied on the rear rack and pounded my face and head while I was in tangles with my bike. I have still not examined my bike but I fear significant damage since I practically had to carry the bike and battery home about 1.5 blocks. Everything I've said is verifiable especially with respect to loosing my wallet etc. He could easily catch up if you're ebiking locally on a sparsely used sidewalk and need to make a sharp 90 degree turn.Correct me if I'm wrong but the public has access to the police reports should you wish the details .Now I see how youth sex crime victims can suffer for many decades before they get their day in court with so many people maliciously casting doubt on their veracity and not even asking for report details. Heeelp

[Chalo]

What's that guy on the soapbox going on about?

[deVries]

I read it he's also Illiterate

I see your point Chalo, and the writing is confusing too. He is an immigrant (edit: and naturalized citizen) from Holland/Netherlands, so he may have come here as an adult with not the best writing skills. Though Dutch people are well educated, usually with English being perhaps the most common 2nd language.

Got your other point though, and I was going to quote what you did too. It was just too confusing for me to quote it reliably.

[deVries]

deVries, I believe Chessirs not asking for any advice. Future avoidance tactics aren't part of his agenda.

Well, you may very likely be correct, since he has not commented about it yet.

For anyone interested about avoiding dangerous situations on a bicycle or ebike, then I suggest following these ideas in this post linked below. It's the best ideas I know of that seems to work from my experience.

Avoiding Road Rage & Being Attacked While eBiking or Cycling

[chessir]

DeVries,

That's really vicious and according to you nobody really becomes a citizen here. With those statements you are alienating a very high percentage of current citizens and destroy the international ambitions of this thread. I cry for my cats whom I love and adore and I pray with all my heart someone will adopt them. Enfin

[Chalo]

I read it he's also Illiterate

I see your point Chalo, and the writing is confusing too. He is an immigrant from Holland/Netherlands, so he may have come here as an adult with not the best writing skills. Though Dutch people are well educated, usually with English being perhaps the common 2nd language.

English isn't his first language? That gets him off the hook for weird writing quirks, as far as I am concerned. Our language is far too big and unwieldy to expect a non-native to use it authoritatively.

A foreigner in the USA should just acknowledge that the relationship between American whites and, well, just about all other Americans is complicated, deep, ugly, and has been so for a very, very long time. It's not your fault, so just stay out of it and be cool.

Chalo

[John in CR]

Yeah, but what the hell do cats have to do with anything?

I'm starting to the we have a Reid Welch replacement. I just hope we don't get bombarded with the old black and white movie clips.

[The fingers]

Assaults being common, all advice is appreciated here; in 25+ years of commuting I have not learned everything yet, but keep learning and get going!

[deVries]

DeVries,

That's really vicious and according to you nobody really becomes a citizen here. With those statements you are alienating a very high percentage of current citizens and destroy the international ambitions of this thread.

Now, you lost me, and I can't follow what you have assumed about me, quoting you: "according to you nobody really becomes a citizen here".

Hmm, I don't mean to imply that at all. I was once married to a beautiful French woman, and English is not her/their 1st language. I had to help her with technical writing. If by me using the word "immigrant" you think that means you aren't a citizen here, then you assign the wrong meaning I'm giving referring to you that way. Almost all Americans are immigrants in their family heritage. Sorry, I didn't think I was insulting or demeaning you; you are a naturalized citizen. Nothing wrong with that.

But I don't think I can add much more on this topic, as I think you need to move past what happened and avoid it from happening again. What other better strategy is there instead??? Heeelp yourself avoid these violent situations from happening again is the best thing you can do at this point in time, imo.

Avoiding Road Rage & Being Attacked While eBiking or Cycling

[knoxie]

This makes my blood boil sorry to hear this my friend but sadly is does go on, I am a big guy 6'3 and 200lbs and fit but it still doesnt deter them, I have had them slow down and drive besides me, hurl abuse then try and push me off the bike? I dont get it? there are some evil bastards about, However I have never had any trouble whilst wearing my Gopro camera, I am no push over though and everyone I have approached so far back down when I stop and get off the bike, car drivers especially.

My bike is great at getting out of trouble though and I would use it if I felt my safety would be compromised by 1 or more people, I am brave but not stupid.

The video posted below happened during the riots we had here in London last year (Great advert for the Olympics eh) the fella on the motorbike was trying to get out of town when he was pounced on, he broke his ankle during the attack, he was also carrying money under the seat which he lost, he needed Lukes bike didnt he!! anyway the person involved has been given a 5 year jail sentence for the attack.

I hope your experience doesnt put you off ebiking though, not everyone is out to get you

[Jeremy Harris]

It's a good point about the international nature of this forum, and that not everyone posting on this thread is either American or has English as their first language.

This (Canadian owned) forum is truly international, and that's reflected in the posts here. So far I think I've noted people from Canada, Costa Rica, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia as well as America replying to this thread. Given the very international nature of this place can I make a plea (once again) for people to be a bit more specific about where in the world they happen to be, and in a case like this, how their culture, laws etc might differ from those of many of the other countries represented here and might therefore better inform others of the context of the issue.

Even just adding your country to your personal details that show on the right of each post helps, especially as many of us aren't wholly familiar with place names in every country in the world represented in this forum, and don't always have the time or inclination to Google Earth place names to try and find out where the poster is talking about.

[dnmun]

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[dogman]

I believe it happened. No matter what he was doing, he didn't deserve that. But he's got to cure his vulnerability himself somehow. I agree the cops will be of little help. I see he rides an Izip, so you don't have to be Jesse Owens to catch him. And you can't take a corner but so fast. But speed is not entirely the answer either. The guy assaulting folks on the bike trail in Albuquerque was popping up from a bush and giving riders going 25 mph a shove, then taking their wallets from the back pockets of riding jerseys. He was targeting the very fit guys, then incapacitating them with a high speed crash.

Hopefully, he's at least carrying the wallet now in a pocket with a button. I learned it the hard way, but at least got the wallet back since I saw where I dropped it. Mine eased out of the back pocket while flying in a hot air balloon. I radioed the chase crew, who went and picked it up for me. Another time I lost a wallet, and had to replace everything. No problem with a US birth certificate. I got the credit cards shut off in time. I was lucky.

There are plenty of drug crazed doofuses here where I live. So far, it's been a pretty safe place to live despite that except for the cowboy vs hippie years back in the 70's. Tons of us here are poor or very low middle class, but most of the violence is the usual stuff, two teens from different gangs fighting, or a wife shooting the husband. Once in a while though there is a good one, a few years ago the cops had to shoot down a hyped up meth head running down the street at noon waving a katana. More typical is the guy they caught taking a dump in somebodies car. The guy was so stoned he thought he was leaving a message to his girlfreind, but it wasn't her car. Mostly, that high is harmless till they try to drive.

The USA is pretty bad and violent at times, and our culture does encourage it. But you want to see violent, take a good hard look at Juarez Mexico for the last few years. (just 40 miles from my driveway) I just thank god we have real police. You think cops here are bad? Take a look at the Juarez police force.


Back when I was getting chased a lot, I was a target primarily for being on a bike, but the attacks were not broad daylight stuff. I was fool enough to be diddy bopping around at midnight. Later, I used to get the same shit driving home from work at 1 am. My choice of vehicle helped me then. I just started shoving cars that were harassing me off the road with my 65 international pickup. And soon as I turned 18 and could own a gun, the shotgun visible on the rack ended that shit permanently.

[deVries]

I believe it happened. No matter what he was doing, he didn't deserve that. But he's got to cure his vulnerability himself somehow. I agree the cops will be of little help.

Edit: Found another 3rd assault that it could be...

The crime appears to be real. Here, it's probably one of these three incidents:

Assault 06/18/2012 18:42:00 400 Block E BOWMAN ST 1200009204 OTHER ASSLT/SIMPLE
South Bend Police Department

Assault 06/18/2012 02:36:00 600 Block N EDDY ST 1200009160 OTHER ASSLT/INTIMIDATION
South Bend Police Department

(It's not likely this one, since "hit/run" should be another vehicle doing the hit & run.)
Traffic 06/18/2012 13:48:00 1700 Block S FELLOWS ST 1200009186 OVT/HIT & RUN
South Bend Police Department

A police report was made, but unless someone can ID the 3 people involved, then it's not likely anything will happen to catch the attacker. That's why my high-rez video idea is the best for catching the perp. The attacker was on foot with two "friends" walking on to an apt complex, so he is likely living nearby too. Video ID would get a prosecution.

Have good rear-view mirrors on each side of your handlebars if you want to see both sides approaching.

I think, in general, you're far more likely to be attacked by the car as the weapon, but I've seen a driver get out and rant like "a nutcase" just to harass & intimidate for no possible reason at all except your cycling on a bicycle. Passengers in the truck-bed attack too by throwing missiles like full coke cans.

You have to ride like you're a real target for attack & abuse or negligence. Cell phones & texting are probably much more deadly in numbers than the violent person selecting you as the target to hit & run.

[John in CR]

Prosecution??? Justice needs to be served up in the form of a severe beating of the punk as well as his 2 accomplice friends. Harold was right though it's not just Chessir who needs to man up. Any kind of intentional movement of a motorist toward a cyclist, e powered or not, is assault with a deadly weapon, so stand up for yourself and make these idiot drivers understand that it's unacceptable. Down here I'm lucky and everyone shares the road quite well, so I have yet to feel assaulted. I've only had to deal out tongue lashings with chain in hand to drivers passing closer than I feel is a minimum safe distance, attempting to pass when it isn't safe to do so, or following too closely after I tell them to back off. I've seen some of these motorists weeks and months afterward around other cyclists as well as myself and my message seems to work. I can only imagine my reaction if someone intentionally moved their car in my direction while on one of my bikes, but it certainly wouldn't be whining about it afterward to you guys or waste my time going to the police about it.

Most drivers are simply oblivious to the risk they pose to cyclists, and give no thought to how exposed those on bikes are. Normal people don't want to kill or hurt anyone, so all it takes is explaining to them how unacceptable some things are along with the potential risk their actions pose. The more we stand up for ourselves, the sooner the ridiculousness you guys mention will cease. Instead of just a big party ride, this is a message should be a clear goal Critical Mass events put forth.

For those not willing to be on the front lines standing up to driver aggression, you can still be helpful. How about looking into getting motorists/cyclist interactions, and inherent risks involved included in specific course material in drivers' ed classes, as well as inclusion in drivers' license tests?

John

[dnmun]

.

[deVries]

if there is a police report why can't he just post it up?

No one just gives you a copy of your police report. I think you have to go down to the county courthouse with the file/case # to maybe get a copy??? I don't even know if that police report is "public information" until a warrant is issued or some further step is taken in the process or investigation??? I wonder if he has access to the detailed report anytime soon???

the three days of ranting is just too much.

His 1st post was yesterday early AM, and he stopped posting less than 24-hrs later.

[Miles]

I think, in general, you're far more likely to be attacked by the car as the weapon, but I've seen a driver get out and rant like "a nutcase" just to harass & intimidate for no possible reason at all except your cycling on a bicycle. Passengers in the truck-bed attack too by throwing missiles like full coke cans.

I witnessed the driver of a double-decker bus, stopping his bus full of passengers in the middle of Picadilly Circus to chase a cyclist down the road. He caught up and kicked him off his bike, breaking his arm.......

[mdd0127]

I think, in general, you're far more likely to be attacked by the car as the weapon, but I've seen a driver get out and rant like "a nutcase" just to harass & intimidate for no possible reason at all except your cycling on a bicycle. Passengers in the truck-bed attack too by throwing missiles like full coke cans.

I witnessed the driver of a double-decker bus, stopping his bus full of passengers in the middle of Picadilly Circus to chase a cyclist down the road. He caught up and kicked him off his bike, breaking his arm.......

I hope you reported him to his boss and the authorities. I wouldn't have let him back on the bus at all. There are enough people in the world. There isn't room for people that assault other people that haven't caused harm to anyone......even if the cyclist pissed him off for good reason. If the cyclist had pulled a knife on him and came at him, by all means, the driver should have broken his arm.

[Miles]

I think, in general, you're far more likely to be attacked by the car as the weapon, but I've seen a driver get out and rant like "a nutcase" just to harass & intimidate for no possible reason at all except your cycling on a bicycle. Passengers in the truck-bed attack too by throwing missiles like full coke cans.

I witnessed the driver of a double-decker bus, stopping his bus full of passengers in the middle of Picadilly Circus to chase a cyclist down the road. He caught up and kicked him off his bike, breaking his arm.......

I hope you reported him to his boss and the authorities. I wouldn't have let him back on the bus at all. There are enough people in the world. There isn't room for people that assault other people that haven't caused harm to anyone......even if the cyclist pissed him off for good reason. If the cyclist had pulled a knife on him and came at him, by all means, the driver should have broken his arm.

I didn't see what started it. Most likely the cyclist just shouted at the bus driver for cutting him up. There were hundreds of witnesses - one took the keys of the bus so he couldn't drive off. This happened ten years ago.

More recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWeHNjKTpog

[Jeremy Harris]

I didn't see what started it. Most likely the cyclist just shouted at the bus driver for cutting him up. There were hundreds of witnesses - one took the keys of the bus so he couldn't drive off. This happened ten years ago.

More recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWeHNjKTpog

Happens all the time with buses, and lorries, in my experience. The drivers of these things seem to often forget to look in their near side mirror, or just don't care, and cut up cyclists when turning left (in the UK, where we drive on the left). Most cyclists are very aware of the problem, as it happens so frequently as to be almost normal behaviour. Bloody dangerous, being the filling in a bus sandwich, though...............

[Rodney64]

My experience with harassment has been mainly with cars where the person in the passengers seat yells out the window when they pass.

It still gives you a fright though.

If it physical or psychological this type of harassment still affects you and are always looking over your shoulder.

[John in CR]

Riding the same speed as traffic cures all these problems, and other than the bad practice of running red lights, drivers don't get enraged because the ecyclist doesn't slow them down. They're left with only the jealousy that we move so much more quickly through heavy traffic.

I've even found that once they see me around a new area that bus drivers are more courteous to me on my ebikes than they are to cars. I think that's because not only don't I impede their progress by going slow, but I also show courtesy to them by giving them wide birth which allows them to start claiming a new lane when they need to change lanes for an upcoming turn or bus stop.

Of course maybe they just like to let me pass so they can watch the fat gringo on a little bike accelerate away so quickly. There's 3 old guys that spend much of every day at shady spot near one of the red lights. They've seen it so many times that they start laughing and egging on every motorcycle or sporty looking car that pulls up next to me at the light. They just love to watch me slaughter each unsuspecting victim.

John

[dogman]

Gotta be nice to do your riding in paradise. I wouldn't ride in the center of a huge city myself. I commuted on very good routes, mostly bike paths or roads with generous bike lanes. Near the campus traffic, I sneak by on the back streets. They still try to kill you every time the bike path crosses a street though.

[Harold in CR]

In CR, there are so many motorcycles, I think the general car drivers are somewhat used to having them all around, which does make it easier for John to get and receive courtesy. There are still a few that think they should be first.

On my first visit down here, my buddy was driving his Land Cruiser. We went from his side street, out on the main drag, headed for Panama roughly. Came to a stop light. While waiting, a moron pulls out from a side street, and tries to wedge his car in behind ours. There was NEVER any space for him to go, so, he sits out in the oncoming lane, honking his horn. This was nearly a solid session on the horn. My buddy says, this guy is wanting to get educated.

After 30 seconds or more of this. Ken shuts off the engine, gets out, and walks back toward the guy. As he gets to the front of the car, he slams his fist down on the hood, as hard as he can, and continues this all the way to the drivers window, beating and pounding on the hood and roof, putting some serious dents in them. He gets to the drivers window, and is screaming at the guy to get out. The guy is laying over in the seat, scared shitless and Ken is beating up the roof.

I was wondering what I had gotten into. Finally, as traffic starts to move, Ken gets back in the Land Cruiser, and says, some guys just have to learn, as he starts up and we move along.

This is NO shit. I have more stories about this guy.