[dc-critmass-list] Some *good* biking news!

[Richard Gardner]

Good for you.

On the Bike Touring List (phred), there has been a similar discussion of bad
drivers. One of the best solutions mentioned was to wear a blue or Black
T-shirt with "POLITE" on the back in big white letters - then they'll give
you a wide berth when they pass because they're not reading all that
closely - and you're not exactly impersonating the police.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie Eisenhardt" <Julie at NLIHC.org>
To: "'Washington DC Critical Mass E-Mailing List'"
<dc-critmass-list at lists.mutualaid.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 11:12 AM
Subject: [dc-critmass-list] Some *good* biking news!


> Indulge me for a minute as I share a personal bike-commuting triumph from
> Monday night's rush hour...
>
> I was traveling East on Mass Ave and just before getting to North Capitol
> Street, there were cars parked on the right, a line of buses dead stopped
on
> the left, and an SUV in the middle lane clearly about to try to pass me.
> So, I took my lane (it was clear if he tried to pass me someone would be
> hurt) and he lays on his horn.  He runs a red light to pass me, but then,
> like an idiot, gets stuck at the next red light at 1st St NE and Mass.  I
> pull up to his window, tell him the law, he has to give me 3 feet, etc.
and
> he swears at me.  (remember, this is a big land rover with Virginia
> plates... grrr...)  Anyway, I go around him and run a light to the next
> light, where a Capitol Police officer is in his car watching this go down.
> I tell him to watch for this SUV who is passing me illegally.  Next thing
I
> know, the SUV tears around me, clipping me within 1 foot.  The cop takes
off
> after him, pulling him over on the 200 block of Mass Ave NE.
>
> As I pass the two sitting in the curb lane, I yell into the police car:
> "Passing a bicycle too close!"  The officer nods.
> I yell into the open SUV window:
> "Have a nice day and thanks for respecting bikers!"
>
> Now, I don't know whether he just got a warning or got a ticket, but I
> consider this a great triumph.  I put up this this sort of nonsense every
> day, but yesterday, BAM!  Justice!
>
> j
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