Do you think im justified hitting a driver of a car that intentionally drove real close to me on my bike?

Question

Yesterday I was riding my bicycle with 8 other cyclist . we were in two groups. Cars that pass us usually give us a few feet if not more. a car passed me within a few inches! i caught up to the driver at a traffic light. He was verignorant with me. and one of the other cyclist. the light turned green and He started moving. Then I sucker punched him! What do you think? was I wrong to do this?

Answer 1

Lets see what happens. If he can figure out who you are, you can be in big trouble with the law and with a civil suit.

you are both idiots.  many states have a 30 inch or 3 foot law on distance  from a cyclist, you could have gotten his plate number and made life miserable for him for along time.

Now he has the upper hand and   you will be worried with every phone call, every knock on the door and every time you go get mail.

Monday is the first business day he can get a lawyer.  You might talk to one on a pro bono basis.

Yeah, your buddies will give you up when it comes to 'them or you'.

Answer 2

You sucker punched a guy. That is assault. He could have called have called the cops and told him a group of cyclists in that general area hit him.... it wouldn't be difficult for a couple cop cars in that area to spot cyclists. Furthermore, if the incident occurred at a traffic light, there is a chance the thing would have been caught on camera. Also, you sucker punched a guy driving a moving car (even if it wasn't moving fast).... that could have caused even more problems. What he did was stupid and an example of poor driving. But what you did was also stupid.

BTW, I am curious, when he drove that close to you, were there any other factors involved? were you going up a hill (so he didn't want to swerve in case there was oncoming traffic on the other side)? Was there visible oncoming traffic? Were you just past the top of a hill (so he wouldn't have seen you until he was almost on top of you)? I am not saying that he was justified in what he did, but if you are foolish enough to hit a driver in a moving vehicle as it is pulling through an intersection, I cannot help but wonder if you are leaving out parts to justify yourself.

Answer 3

hahaha  Nice

Answer 4

Hum...  Do two wrongs make a right?

Let me make a disclaimer before I answer this question.  Sixty miles into a ride on Friday, a driver passed me with just inches to spare.  There was no one in the oncoming lane and the driver could have easily given me more space.  Frankly there was no excuse for passing so close and endangering my life.  I bellowed with what little breath I had at the moment and may have tried to chase the car down if I'd had the energy!

I have chased down other drivers and spoken with them.  The thing is, you can't be confrontational and indignant.  Taking an attitude with a motorist is just going to confirm all of their worst misgivings about sharing the road with us.  If you are going to talk to a driver, you need to be calm and reasonable.  If you can't be calm and reasonable, don't approach the car.

Frankly, what you did was assault and you could be arrested.  Even worse, what do you think this might do to this guy's attitude towards cyclists next time he has to pass one?  I am afraid the next cyclist he meets may wind up dead.

I sincerely hope neither of you live in my town!

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Heres what I do. I cut the end rubber off my left hand grip and when I catch up to the driver at a stop light I lean the handle bar into the side of his car and when he takes off on the green I give him a nice scrape all down the side of his car. If the jackass stops and gets out to complain I just say, Hey that happened back when you passed me but almost ran me off the road. Then if the guy gives me more garbage then I sucker punch him. Then if the cops get involved say the guy got out of his car initiated a confrontation, and threatened you. You were defending yourself right?

Answer 6

if you didn't get caught, i think it was justified

Answer 7

To answer your question, yes you were wrong to do this. A sucker punch does not suffice, a proper beatdown via the group of cyclists would've been proper.

maybe that was too far, it was probably a 'heat of the moment' thing. But think of the bigger picture. What if this guy actual runs over the next cyclist he sees because you decided it was a good idea to punch him? Well, you don't know how many times i've thought of this deep down after getting nearly ran off the road.  Some self restraint would be good though!

Ride Safe!