93 replies to this topic

[live2beoutside]

Having moved to the area in June and having just recently found this site, I have two incidents I'd like to share:

1.  Last August - while in my CAR - I was traveling south on Woodlawn and stopped for a red light at Manchester.  When the light changed to green, I proceeded.  As I entered the intersection, I saw a cyclist traveling East on Manchester run the red light.  No stop & go, no slowing at all, just blew through it.  By the time I realized he wasn't stopping, I was just past half-way across the intersection and I realized I was going to t-bone him so I hammered the brakes.  About the same time, he finally realized I was about to hit him and he tried to cut behind me.  He JUST made it but not before I literally saw the whites of his eyes as he approached the passenger side door.  Hopefully he learned to at least slow and look before blowing through any more stoplights.

2.  Riding west through Edwardsville, IL where Vandialia merges with St Louis St. on my way to work about three weeks ago. Around 6:15 am, still dark (yes my bike is covered with lights - front and rear - and reflective striping).  I noticed a car approaching on St. Louis St. (St. Louis angles into Vandalia at a 45 degree angle).  I realized that he wasn't slowing, was show no signs of stopping for the stop sign (I had right-of-way), and that if I didn't do something, it was going to be a TIE at the intersection (definitely ugly for the biker - me).  I cut to my left into the left turn lane as the car passed me on my right.  When I dropped back in behind him, the sudden appearance of my headlight in his rearview mirror seemed to totally freak him out and he slammed on his brakes.  I managed to get back into the left turn lane and pass him on the left.  It took him about 300 yards to regain his composure befor passing me again.  Hopefully he learned a lesson in awareness and how easy it can be to hit somebody when you're not paying attention.  I know I did.

[Mike S.]

Earth City

Oh some Puritan Springs Water delivery (big truck) guy, trainee in the cab, gave me some lip about, "get off the road!" then, when I questioned him about it, he threatened me:

"If you don't get off the road by the time I get off work, I'm going to get out of this truck and beat your ass."

So, I followed him to his wharehouse to complain to the management and..

it turns out he IS the branch manager so I, instead, reported it to the St. Louis County Police (wha'd'ja think, I'd just give up? If there's one thing I don't do, its give up.  Probably be a lot better off if I did once in a while.) who, I must say, are very professional in following up on it.  

Mike
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

[The Man]

Mike S., on Oct 27 2008, 06:52 PM, said:

Earth City

Oh some Puritan Springs Water delivery (big truck) guy, trainee in the cab, gave me some lip about, "get off the road!" then, when I questioned him about it, he threatened me:

"If you don't get off the road by the time I get off work, I'm going to get out of this truck and beat your ass."

So, I followed him to his wharehouse to complain to the management and..

it turns out he IS the branch manager so I, instead, reported it to the St. Louis County Police (wha'd'ja think, I'd just give up? If there's one thing I don't do, its give up.  Probably be a lot better off if I did once in a while.) who, I must say, are very professional in following up on it.  

Mike
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

You should still call the company and climb the ladder above him. I caught a cab company with the "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll get right on that" excuse after one of their cabbies ran a stop sign and nearly killed me (he also called me a f--king f@ggot in front of about a dozen pedestrian who were all looking on in complete horror). Turns out someone along the line will realize the amount of liability that opens them up to.

[spike]

Puritan Springs Water
800-292-2992


1709 N. Kickapoo Street
Lincoln, Illinois 62656-1366
Tel: 217-732-3292  3539 Rider Trail South
St. Louis, Missouri 63045-1127
Tel: 314-298-8899  

The Man, on Oct 27 2008, 06:33 PM, said:

Mike S., on Oct 27 2008, 06:52 PM, said:

Earth City

Oh some Puritan Springs Water delivery (big truck) guy, trainee in the cab, gave me some lip about, "get off the road!" then, when I questioned him about it, he threatened me:

"If you don't get off the road by the time I get off work, I'm going to get out of this truck and beat your ass."

So, I followed him to his wharehouse to complain to the management and..

it turns out he IS the branch manager so I, instead, reported it to the St. Louis County Police (wha'd'ja think, I'd just give up? If there's one thing I don't do, its give up.  Probably be a lot better off if I did once in a while.) who, I must say, are very professional in following up on it.  

Mike
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

You should still call the company and climb the ladder above him. I caught a cab company with the "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll get right on that" excuse after one of their cabbies ran a stop sign and nearly killed me (he also called me a f--king f@ggot in front of about a dozen pedestrian who were all looking on in complete horror). Turns out someone along the line will realize the amount of liability that opens them up to.

[Mike S.]

The Man, on Oct 27 2008, 06:33 PM, said:

You should still call the company and climb the ladder above him. I caught a cab company with the "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll get right on that" excuse after one of their cabbies ran a stop sign and nearly killed me (he also called me a f--king f@ggot in front of about a dozen pedestrian who were all looking on in complete horror). Turns out someone along the line will realize the amount of liability that opens them up to.

----------

I think the guy may actually have been telling the truth when he said he is The Manager and that there is no larger corporate HQ.  

I did write in to their CS feedback and someone wrote back to me but that's as far as I am willing to go.  I don't want to cross the line to harassment of them.  

I think StL County Police are above any Puritan Springs corporate office.  

Not all PD's are as highly respected by me but I put the StL County PD in the same category as the MSHP and CHP.

[ThatCyclingGuy]

http://saddlepundit....se-to-home.html

[illinihand]

Today on my way to the Tuesday night crits I was traveling south on Kings Highway.  I had to cross traffic from the right of the road to the left so I checked behind me for cars, signaled when there was on one too close and moved to the left lane and accelerated to the left turn lane too Christy.  About 20 feet before I made it to the left turn lane a car started blaring their horn at me.  That didn't bother me as this happens to us all from time to time in the STL area.  What did bother me was when the "gentleman" in the car with a mouth full of gold teeth and a big blunt in his hand started yelling at me telling me he was going to hit me and calling me a nigger.  (I am white :-/ I was a little confused) At that point I let out a big F you.  I know that I should not have done this as it wasn't going to help anything, it was more a reflex than anything.  At this point the "gentleman" in the car slammed on his breaks in front of me and put his car in park.  I came around him on the right where one of his passengers was trying to hit me with his door.  Once in front of them he peeled out and started to chase me.  I sprinted to the nearest sidewalk and bunny hoped up it.  At this point I got more swears shot my way as well as calling me a coward, SO WHAT YOU ARE CHASING ME WITH A CAR!  They did give up once I hit the sidewalk but I did give me quite a rush and I was watching my back the rest of the way to the race today.  So look out for an old stile (late 90's) blue mustang with a charming man with a gold grill driving around south Kings Highway.  He doesn't seem to like bike riders.

[campiello zen]

illinihand, on Jun 30 2009, 11:16 PM, said:

Today on my way to the Tuesday night crits I was traveling south on Kings Highway.  I had to cross traffic from the right of the road to the left so I checked behind me for cars, signaled when there was on one too close and moved to the left lane and accelerated to the left turn lane too Christy.  About 20 feet before I made it to the left turn lane a car started blaring their horn at me.  That didn't bother me as this happens to us all from time to time in the STL area.  What did bother me was when the "gentleman" in the car with a mouth full of gold teeth and a big blunt in his hand started yelling at me telling me he was going to hit me and calling me a nigger.  (I am white :-/ I was a little confused) At that point I let out a big F you.  I know that I should not have done this as it wasn't going to help anything, it was more a reflex than anything.  At this point the "gentleman" in the car slammed on his breaks in front of me and put his car in park.  I came around him on the right where one of his passengers was trying to hit me with his door.  Once in front of them he peeled out and started to chase me.  I sprinted to the nearest sidewalk and bunny hoped up it.  At this point I got more swears shot my way as well as calling me a coward, SO WHAT YOU ARE CHASING ME WITH A CAR!  They did give up once I hit the sidewalk but I did give me quite a rush and I was watching my back the rest of the way to the race today.  So look out for an old stile (late 90's) blue mustang with a charming man with a gold grill driving around south Kings Highway.  He doesn't seem to like bike riders.

Thanks--that idiot is in what I consider to be my territory. There's a friendly fire station on that corner, so if you want to reduce the adrenaline thrill you can always count on the local firefighters.  Looks like I'll have to rehang my sneakers on a nearby telephone line.

[JerryW]

http://www.bnd.com/b...ory/879552.html

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009
Red Bud bicyclist killed when hit by car
BY MARIA BARAN - News-Democrat

A bicyclist from Red Bud was killed Monday afternoon after he was struck by a car in front of the Monroe County Courthouse.

Jimmy N. Mullins, 27, whose last known address was 106 W. South Second St., died when he rode his bicycle into traffic and was struck by a 1998 Pontiac Bonneville, said Chief Jim Trantham.

The accident happened about 4:25 p.m. on Market Street in front of the courthouse.

Mullins had been performing tricks on a 20-inch Mongoose BMX bike on the lawn of the courthouse when he rode out at a high rate of speed in front of a parked sports utility vehicle and into traffic, Trantham said.

No charges will be filed against the driver, a Missouri man who was in town on a fishing trip. He was not injured.

"It was clearly not the driver's fault," Trantham said. "He could not avoid the bicycle, the way the bicyclist came out."

Mullins flipped over the car and suffered "severe head and face trauma," Trantham said. He was transported to Red Bud Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"You put a 3,000-pound car against a 150-pound body, it doesn't take much speed," he said.

A representative from Welge-Pechacek Funeral Homes in Red Bud said Mullins' remains were being transported to Missouri and that no local services are planned.

Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2460.

[Diogenes]

So -
Posting this here is to illustrate imprudent riding, or ... ?

[JudoJohn]

live2beoutside, on Oct 14 2008, 10:09 PM, said:

Having moved to the area in June and having just recently found this site, I have two incidents I'd like to share:

1.  Last August - while in my CAR - I was traveling south on Woodlawn and stopped for a red light at Manchester.  When the light changed to green, I proceeded.  As I entered the intersection, I saw a cyclist traveling East on Manchester run the red light.  No stop & go, no slowing at all, just blew through it.  By the time I realized he wasn't stopping, I was just past half-way across the intersection and I realized I was going to t-bone him so I hammered the brakes.  About the same time, he finally realized I was about to hit him and he tried to cut behind me.  He JUST made it but not before I literally saw the whites of his eyes as he approached the passenger side door.  Hopefully he learned to at least slow and look before blowing through any more stoplights.

2.  Riding west through Edwardsville, IL where Vandialia merges with St Louis St. on my way to work about three weeks ago. Around 6:15 am, still dark (yes my bike is covered with lights - front and rear - and reflective striping).  I noticed a car approaching on St. Louis St. (St. Louis angles into Vandalia at a 45 degree angle).  I realized that he wasn't slowing, was show no signs of stopping for the stop sign (I had right-of-way), and that if I didn't do something, it was going to be a TIE at the intersection (definitely ugly for the biker - me).  I cut to my left into the left turn lane as the car passed me on my right.  When I dropped back in behind him, the sudden appearance of my headlight in his rearview mirror seemed to totally freak him out and he slammed on his brakes.  I managed to get back into the left turn lane and pass him on the left.  It took him about 300 yards to regain his composure befor passing me again.  Hopefully he learned a lesson in awareness and how easy it can be to hit somebody when you're not paying attention.  I know I did.

I am not a lawyer, but I think that is assault.  So, if you have another encoounter, and someone threatens to "kick your ass", press charges.  Just my 2c.

[pylondesigner]

Got egged tonight by a few high school boys on Wildhorse Creek Road.  Got a vehicle description, plates and number of occupants.  Called 911 and met the chesterfield PD at the BP gas station at the corner of Wildhorse and 109.  They ran the plates got a match and were going to pay a visit to the young gentleman this evening.  Thought I'd call it in because of the other water ballooning incident on Marshall.  One of these times someone may go down and a lot more problems could happen.

Be careful, stay alert and learn to memorize license plates   

Cyclists +1

[wesboyce]

On Saturday, I was riding south on Telegraph where it crosses the Meramac River bridge near Arnold.  Note: I was on the shoulder several feet off the road.  About 50 yards before I was on the actual bridge, an early 2000s black Pontiac Grand Am GT flew by me yelling and threw a cup full of soda at me.  It missed me aside from a few drops.  I tried looking ahead to get a license plate number, but I couldn't read it.  While they were speeding away, a guy was literally hanging out the back window flipping me off.  Since there are no stops very close to that location, chasing them was not an option.  Also, with the lack of details I had, I did not report to the cops.  Should I?  I'd be glad to if someone thinks it would be worthwhile.

While this situation is certainly not nearly as bad as some that have been posted on here, it could have been worse.  I would love to think I could control my bike if I was hit with something thrown out of a car going 40-50mph, but I haven't experienced it so I don't know for sure.  If someone was on the actual bridge and got hit with something, they could very realistically lose control and go over the side.  I don't know why people like that surprise me anymore!

[jmayer4420]

In the body every entry should have the following information:

    * Date  9-02-09
    * Location - west bound Midland at the off ramp to Ashby
    * Factual description of incident - riding west bound at 6:35pm can of soda (7up) thrown at me hitting my bike at the rear wheel, the car exited cutting me off I sprinted ahead and was able to get the license number BLACK CHEVROLET IMPALA 2000-2003 LIC # SCO-T5E
    * Names of involved parties :BLACK CHEV IMPALA LIC SCO T5E
    * Physical Damages - a sticky bike
    * Injuries - none to report

Additional information that could also be helpful:

    * Police report number overland police responded but say there is nothing to prosecute because no damage was done and no one was injured. Also since I did not see who was in the car, they are not going to pursue because "the car is not from the area we dont know who was driving it." I asked if I threw something at a car if I would get in trouble the office did not have a response.
    * Legal actions taken or underway- overland police are "documenting the incident.
  Can anyone help me with getting more info from this plate #.
happy riding,
   jim mayer

[campiello zen]

About 2:30 p.m., I was biking northeast on Southwest Ave., just before Kingshighway, was nearly sideswiped by small silver car license plates MO KC5 T3E.  I shouted "Hey!," and I was given the one-finger salute. I returned it, and the driver slammed on his brakes; then, as the light turned green, he apparently changed his mind and sped away.