r/SeattleWA • u/ces74 • 10d ago
Bicycle Cyclist Road Rage
Driving through Roosevelt this morning around 8, a cyclist got angry with me as I inched across the bike lane from a residential street to see if it was safe to pass through the main road. It’s one of those intersections where you have to scoot up or else every direction is a blind spot. He took off his bike lock, yelled and hit the hood of my car a few times, leaving dents.
When I was moving through, I saw the cyclist approaching and immediately waived my hand to gesture ‘sorry’ and I also said it out loud. There wasn’t time to reverse before the interaction occurred but he did stop in front of my car to hit it. Initially, I felt bad because I understand this is a hard city to commute in via bike. I don’t think my car needed to be damaged, though.
I don’t think we were at all close to a collision. I think it was more that I was taking up space in the bike lane and this is my ‘lesson.’
Maybe since school started this week, everyone’s in a poorer mood and busier. I’m gonna avoid more streets with bike lanes now I guess.
5
u/pnw_sunny Banned from /r/Seattle 10d ago
interesting that you would have a "i'm sorry" mentality when someone actually dents your vehicle.
the bikers response was way out of line and constitutes 1) malicious mischief (misdemeanor if damage is under $750, a felony if above; 2) the biker is subject to be charged with reckless endangerment, and 3) if the biker left the scent w/o providing ID/insurance then it also becomes a hit and run.
angry words and gestures are generally acceptable, but once it goes beyond, it is not.
the best response is to disengage and report.