Road Rage Story on Fox

Todd Keller's story of being intentionally by a driver who then yelled profanities at him before fleeing the scene (AKA: the douchbag trifecta) was on FOX news last week along with some safety advice and perhaps the last interview with Eric Gilliland in his WABA Executive Director role. Maybe the added attention will increase the chances of catching the guy.

Comments

[Liz]

Really impressive how the tenor of news about bicyclists has changed over the last several years. This was surprisingly sympathetic toward bicyclists, and reasonably clear in the message to drivers that they need to share roads (safely).

[SJE]

Any news from MPD or DDOT on catching the Jetta driver? You have multiple witnesses, and a partial number plate. There cannot be that many who fit the description.

[Chris]

Good job representing for all of us, Todd Keller! BRAVO!

[Jonathan Krall]

Thanks for posting this. I agree with Liz on the improvement in media coverage. Even WTOP had a balanced article on sharing the road: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1933856

[John]

I agree, Bravo Todd Keller. And also to Eric G.

It is interesting that the bulet points say that bicyclists should stay to the right of "traffic". This wording suggests that bicyclists are still not legitimate traffic but some sort of interlopers. But for this minor point, FOX 5 gets high marks for this report.

[SJE]

Great piece. One other minor gripe: while talking about 1st St they show busy, multilane streets. You get the impression that the cyclist was on such a street. Where the accident occured is a single lane each way, with houses etc on each side (at least according to what I have seen), with a 25mph speed limit.
I think that drivers would feel more sympathetic to the cyclist if they knew that he was riding on a residential street, and not "blocking traffic" on N. Capitol, for example.

[Beltway Greg]

One thing is for sure, whenever there's a clash between bikes and cars the cyclist is always correct because everyone who rides a bike has been given a special gift by a the gods especially the three who were riding on Rock Creek Park after dark in the rain. Take the Metro.

[Ron Alford]

Wonderful sentiment Greg! If more drivers take the metro, we'll all have more room to enjoy the the parks in our city.

[SJE]

Greg: Did they have lights? If not, I'm completely with you - people riding in the dark, in the rain, without lights are a hazard to themselves and everyone else.

[washcycle]

Greg, you're right. Riding a bike is an inalienable right endowed by our creator, unlike driving which is a privilege given by the state.

[Max]

Huh?? There were three gods riding in Rock Creek Park at night while it was raining? You sure you didn't have too many at happy hour Greg?

"Take the Metro" almost sounds like some sort of order or something.

Yes, Greg, you take the Metro!

[bikermark]

Nice trolling Greg. +1.

[SJE]

I'm imaginging three Gods riding up RCP: don't their robes get caught in the chain? Did they ride because the chariot was in the shop?

[O2]

Greg wasn't suggesting that cyclists were gods. But I guess that's how you chose to interpret it. Big surprise.

[Beltway Greg]

Here's the point I'm always trying to make.
a. As a long time runner, 24 marathons first in 1977, I'm currently 48, I'm on your side.
b. But as a citizen I see many bike riders exchange the attitude they had behind the wheel, which was probably bad, for one that's just as self-centered when they're on two.
c. On a bike you only have one chance and most of the drivers could give a damn so ignoring traffic laws and common sense will get you killed or maimed just like the dude decked out in full biking regalia who blew through the intersection of Conn. and Calvert yesterday. (Red light) He almost died but at least he was aware of his indiscretion and smiled and waved apparently relieved he was still alive.

[Eric_W.]

What an argument!

Making the victim the transgressor!

What does a guy in "full biking regalia" (whatever that is) have to do with this case of road rage?

[washcycle]

Greg, what does dangerous cycling behavior have to do with this news story about a cyclist who by all accounts was neither breaking the law or biking dangerously? And how does your first comment on here support your point (which is actually three points, the first of which is kind of irrelevant, the second of which is downright insulting and contradicts your first point and the third of which rambles on eventually contradicting itself - "If you bike dangerously you'll die just like the guy I saw who biked dangerously and didn't even get hurt.")?

[Beltway Greg]

Here are my points:

a. on the roads cyclists generally get one chance to do it right. Fender bender = life ender.

b. Bike riders aren't gods imbued with some type of higher powers. They make mistakes. This web site seems to miss that.

c. You have quotations marks but didn't quote me directly.

d. Full biking regalia means he had the red stretch biking shorts and team jersey filled with ads for obscure European companies though he himself was not sponsored or a professional rider.

[washcycle]

a. This point, by itself, is somewhat meaningless. But if you are implying that cyclists have a greater incentive to be safe, I agree. I think this is the main reason that, on average, cyclists operate their vehicle in a safer manner than drivers do. Blaming cyclists for unsafe roads is like blaming the catcher for giving up a home run. He was involved, but he wasn't the primary person.

b. I often point out when cyclists behave badly. This was not one of those cases.

c. I was trying to distinguish that this was not my point but yours. I don't think anyone thinks I was actually quoting you. It doesn't remove the fact that your point was 100% stupid.

d. We know what full biking regalia is. We just don't know how it is important.

e. You can't really be this stupid? This is a character you're playing, right?

[Beltway Greg]

Eric W. asked about full biking regalia and yes I'm really this stupid (actually it can get much worse) but if my stupidity
causes one person to remain alive because they fully understand the dangers on the roads then it is a mantle I wear proudly.
As Forrest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does" so consider the force and the source.

[washcycle]

Eric W. asked about full biking regalia

He did. In a parenthetical question that was part of a larger question as to what it had to do with the price of tea in Portland. A question you've never answered.

if my stupidity causes one person to remain alive because they fully understand the dangers on the roads then it is a mantle I wear proudly.

I'm confident it won't.

[Beltway Greg]

Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon?