Whilst cycling, I have had crazy drivers do many things, but, being shot at with plastic bullets was a new experience. On Saturday afternoon I was finishing a 60 mile ride when I felt a stream of ‘bullets’ from a passing car. There were about 3 young men leaning firing plastic caps from toy guns and leaning out of the windows cheering each other (presumably for hitting the cyclist)
5 minutes later the same car again overtook and again the passengers took potshots. (they must have been hiding in a layby)
This time I made sure I memorised the numberplate; at least it is something useful to do. There’s not much you can do. Things like this don’t stop me cycling; but, I’m sure they would put off many people.
I didn’t get really mad, the second time I didn’t even say anything or gesticulate to the car. I thought they would get more pleasure, if I visually demonstrated my annoyance.
Nor did I report the incident to the police. Why waste 1 hour, when they wouldn’t do anything anyway?
BTW: The ‘bullets’ only left a stinging sensation.
Ironically, Just the other day, I wrote about defensive cycling
I hope you found their car and gave them a lesson.
You know the scene in Easy Rider where the rednecks shoot and kill the motorcylists with a shotgun, then laugh?
Same thing.
Reading about crap like this gets me worked up too. Scum like this should be whipped.
That’s disgusting. I don’t know what sort of person thinks that behaviour and attitudes like this are acceptable. They’re nothing more than barbaric thugs and sub-human hooligans. I’m very impressed that you managed to keep your cool. Even reading about incidents like this get me worked up.
Wow that is quite amazing. I am not quite sure what goes through the heads of people like this. The worst I have had is someone lean out a car and throw a plastic bottle at me – but it doesn’t quite compare.
Drivers in the UK are not very bicycle tolerant – at least not compared to mainlaind europe.
Hi. Please join the Bicycle to Work! LinkedIn networking group. Members pledge that they will try to ride their bicycle to work or on an errand at least once a week. Although the benefits should be obvious, let me outline them here.
Right now people in the industrialized world are facing two very grave problems: obesity and a growing scarcity of oil. Compounding this problem is the new food shortage brought about, in part, by the conversion of food cropland to bio-fuel crop production. Most people feel powerless to help, but there is one thing that we can do. Ride our bicycles to work.
If everyone would agree to ride their bikes to work one day per week we could cut oil consumption by as much as 10-15%. No one would argue that riding a bike burns more calories than driving the car. Although popular politically right now, most bio-fuels consume more energy than they produce. We would be much better to eat those bio-crops then use our own energy to transport us around.
So spread the word. Make it a movement! Bicycle to work one day a week and do your part to cut back obesity and the overuse of oil and precious cropland.
Just go to my profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylstevenson and you can click on the group to be included. While you are there, don’t forget to ask to link to my network of more than 7,000,000 like-minded professionals. I accept all invitations and look forward to meeting you.
Jeff