Houston Bikers Being Harassed By an Idiot in a Honda Civic?

• Texas Transportation Code §545.242 allows standing/parking a bike on a sidewalk; it is up to the municipality if bikes can ride on sidewalks. For example, San Antonio prohibits it in ordinance §19-286.

• And video of the idiot in the act is good.

• and full auto .45 works well on cars so what?

• It is not illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk in Houston, except in what is designated as a "business district." 

• Old people suck.  They do stuff like: 1) don't know how to drive a car as though they're actually trying to get somewhere 2) don't know how to use modern technology (i.e facebook) properly and/or without embarrassing themselves 3) think that a person's appearance (i.e. haircut, tattoos, etc.) is a direct reflection of competence/motivation 4) think that handwritten thank you cards are still a thing. Just ignore them.  They're obsolete.

• I bike too, but maybe your bikes are TOO FRIGGIN' LOUD!

• LEARN - not lean. Whoops! Chewing mr. grammar nazi's ass and make a simple typo. Sheesh!

• Are you directing that comment at me? Because if you are, I've had plenty o' book learnin'! I am a degreed professional (BA - Texas A&M). I simply use whatever grammar I would like to in any given situation. I thought this situation called for a casual approach. Not to make light of the situation, but I was trying to be a little funny, and maybe that was lost on you for some reason... Especially seeing as how you cannot even differentiate the "Your" from You're". That is one of the first things you lean not to confuse in English class FFS!  I believe you meant "You're defending your life, right?" That would have been the correct sentence. If YOU'RE going to be a grammar nazi, I might suggest that you go back for a lil more skoolin' - simpleton!

• So CHL people can't be affable?  My, the preconceptions (also known as stereotypes) we use...

• You should do seminars and stuff.

• It's pretty simple. Cyclists, learn to ride. Drivers, avoid us the same way you avoid all the other cars on the road. Everyone shut up. Hope the Civic dude gets his ass beat real bad.

• Cyclist friends - get a Flip camera  and use a handlebar mount to hook it up to record your ride. This might help you catch the person who is doing this on camera. I hope he's brought to justice before he kills someone!

• So, keep your head, get the license plate number, get out of his range, and report him.  Let's get this guy.  

• It is this way in many towns-because otherwise the entitled bicycle riders would whizz past on the sidewalks going too fast to stop, and too fast for someone not on a bike to get out of the way-and each year there ARE deaths from these accidents where a pedestrain is hit by a cyclist. Not hundreds but enough. You want me to jump out of the way so you can safely zip past with my friend in a wheelchair? What about a parent with a small kid who is holding their hand or better yet, an older person being assisted, you are saying you deserve to fly by on your bike and if those 'just rude' people won't move they are in your way? Fuck you. People like corey are the assholes here and no different from the entitled jerk off in the car with his soda. They both think its the OTHER guy that should get out of their way.  note to the trolls, you are supposed to WALK your bike on the PEDESTRIAN sidewalks, not ride. while it might be cool in the burbs, in places with a lot of people using the sidewalk(as it is here is SF) its extremely not cool and unsafe. I have lost count of how many pedestrian/cycle accidents I have seen not in the street but on the sidewalk because the cyclist treats the sidewalk like the street. That doesn't mean all riders are douche bags but anyone who thinks its all 'the other guy' IS one of those guys.

• My son had a back Honda Civic run him of the road and try run him over.  Bystander took a picture as they ran away once other riders confronted them.  The passenger was blond.    If the press is interested in publishing let me know. 

• This is why some cyclist have CHL's...

• I hear people complain about bicyclists breaking traffic laws, but I don't buy it. About the dumbest thing a bicyclist can do is ride up between two cars at a red light. I'll give them that much. But most bicycle riders stop at intersections; it's too friggin dangerous to run a stop sign in this town. In fact, it's dangerous enough to simply ride and abide by the law. I commute by bike when the weather permits, and while it's not a long ride, it has often been a scary five blocks. I used to do what I could to stay out of the way of drivers. I'd do what most bicyclists do; I'd move over to let cars pass, often putting myself in the gutter or even riding up on a sidewalk (illegally) just because these maniacs can't be trusted to respect my right to ride. But I don't do it anymore. When I'm in the lane, I own it. I drive right down the middle of it, and I don't care how many cars are behind me with their horns blaring. If I'm stuck off near the curb, I have to dodge trash cans, parked cars, and god knows what else. It's too dangerous, and bike lanes offer little respite.  The truth is that Houston drivers think they own the streets. There is a far greater problem of drivers refusing to respect bike riders than the other way around.

• go drown your sorrows with a $12 drink at Anvil

• Jeez... What pedestrian pissed in your Lance Armstrong-boxed Wheaties? I'm just making a point that I've been clipped by jerks cutting to close to me when passing me (from behind on most occasions, so I guess I'm supposed to be occasionally walking backwards or looking behind me constantly in case there's a cyclist coming on quick... because apparently, pedestrians are all staggering tubby morons). I'm not applying blanket condemnation of all cyclists. Seems that if car people declare war on bike people, bike people declare war on walking people. Perhaps I should be on the look out for a black Huffy. I know I don't want bike rider food thrown at my face.

• i ride a bike...almost everyday. i obey the rules of the road and such. i dont have a problem if someone runs a stop sign, give them a ticket, same as a car. i dont run stop signs. i will stop and balance on the bike then go, even if there are no cars. i agree cyclist should obey the laws of the road but its a few people here and there the ruin it for everyone. so, some jackass runs a stop sign, every cyclist gets labeled for running stop signs or red lights. motorist give the cyclist some slack and cyclist obey the rules of the road. everybody be happy!

• My apologies to those too oblivious of their surroundings to actually provide half of a sidewalk, when measured in width my bike is is about a foot wide sidewalks are normally 5 feet wide. There is plenty of space providing you're paying attention and not just ambling and when I see people on the sidewalk I go around them on the street, GOD FORBID COURTESY ISN'T DEAD..

• And as to the paintball gun incident I mentioned earlier, we weren't even on the road! The group of us was pulled off into an unused driveway to eat some food. What was being shot at supposed to be a consequence of?

• Actually, pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks, and only under certain conditions are cyclists allowed upon them. That's why they're called sideWALKS. And why would one move to the left? You'd likely collide with an oncoming cyclist that shouldn't be there. http://www.houstonbikeways.org/general-bikeway-questions/can-i-ride-my-bike-on-the-sidewalk.htm

• Not every cyclist disregards rules of the road. But every cyclist <i>does</i> have to deal with people like you who assume all cyclists are assholes and drive too close or throw things at us or otherwise try to get us off the roads we have a right too. I was almost hit by a city of Houston bus when I was riding legally and Metro didn't give a shit when I tried to report it. Tell me, why was I supposed to be prepared to deal with that "consequence"?

• Geez I hope not, they're usually fairly affable people.

• Move to the left then, it's not rocket science. Everyone has a right to the sidewalk.

• Not in Houston, other cities it is, you may want to check your facts.

• Questions their grammar and then goes off as a gun nut.... Not exactly what I'd deem very intellectual in the problem solving department, but very typical gun happy Texan knee jerk..

• the point is if cyclists want to be treated as vehicles, it can't only be part of the time. you can't behave as any other vehicle on the road, in traffic, etc., and then CHOOSE to run stop signs or ride on the sidewalk out of sheer convenience. you can't have it both ways. or if you choose to have it both ways, be prepared to deal with the consequences.

• this whole story sounds just about as credible as Shilcutt's ruhsed, unfounded report on The Modular being harassed by HPD for parking violations. Are there any police reports?

• I don't think Joe is trying to "justify" the behavior of the driver, I think he's trying to convey that there are assholes on both sides of the fence.

• Fortunately, I have not had an encounter with this guy.

•  I can't count the number of times I've been clipped and almost run over by cyclists on sidewalks.

• It's not okay for you to assault cyclists with a paintball gun, but that doesn't seem to stop you. You don't seem to care much about what is "okay" to do.

• Some cyclists are annoying and arrogant but they shouldn't be harmed in any way. I just wish they would avoid high traffic areas and rush hour. And if your body doesn't resemble Lance Armstrong please wear sweatpants.

• For shimmying up between lanes, sure. Shimmying up on the right side is legal, and is, in fact, the law. The law states that riders must ride as near to the right as practicable. You may not like having to safely pass the bike again, but that's a responsibility.

• And many drivers speed or roll through stop signs or run red lights or turn or change lanes without signaling or tailgate. And many pedestrians jay walk or enter the road without paying attention. There are dumbasses in all modes of transportation yet it seems it's only cyclists who "deserve" getting harrased or killed by motorists.

• I'm with you to a certain extent, but your comparison is dumb. How many people get hit with bikes and die every year? A car is exponentially more dangerous. And riding on the sidewalk is illegal, as far as I know, but sometimes it's the only remotely safe option.

• would it be OK for me to grab 50 of my friends in cars at 7:00 am on a Sunday morning and ride through The Heights as a group, completely ignoring traffic signs and lights? these huge groups of Lance Armstrong (jerk!) wannabees do it all the time.

• no, but many cyclists feel entitled. they wish to be labeled as vehicles when it's convenient for them, but then continually ignore stop signs, traffic lights and other basic rules of the road. someone on this post even mentioned resorting to riding his bike on the sidewalks to avoid trouble – illegal!

• YOU'RE making a mistake to correct someone's grammar when YOUR own is not up to par. Also, shooting people is not always the solution, despite the myths about our state.

• This is why I encourage people to attend school... I do understand and am completely appalled by this incident, but please use at least a hint of proper grammar. On top of what NRA4Life says, get a CHL and shoot his ass next time. Your defending your life right?

• I don't get this reasoning. So because a cyclist doesn't follow all the rules of the road, it's okay for a motorist to harass them, threaten to run them over, etc?

• I hope you aren't saying this justifies the behavior of the driver in the story.

• "Houston Bikers Being Harassed By an Idiot in a Honda Civic?"   When I read that I thought "wow, the Bandidos are gonna have a field day with this..."   Maybe it should be changed to "Houston cyclists" or Bicycle riders or somethin'?   Anyway, ya'll could handle the problem like a biker... Tie a bandana onto a heavy lock. Stick the lock in your back pocket with the bandana hangin' out. If Mr. Civic starts messing with you, just grab the bandana and yank the lock out. Give the lock a good fling right into the middle of the windshield - problem solved. Or just carry a piece, and when he tries to run you off the road (i.e. - you have been assaulted) BLAP! BLAP! BLAP!   The cops will just give you the runaround, or tell you he has to be caught in the act for them to get involved. I don't ever rely on someone else to protect ME.   Just my $.02.

• Obviously this guy has a screw loose, but bikers please take note that the law states that you have both the rights and responsibilities as a motorized vehicle. If you shimmy up to the front of the line at red light between the line of cars that just respectfully passed you and the curb (illegal!) it is unlikely you will receive such consideration again in the blocks ahead. Let's ALL be safe!

• ^+1

•  Right...cyclist also have to adhere to the same rules as cars.  I can say that the majority of cyclist DONOT follow the same rules of the road as a car...stop signs, traffic lights, signals...the list goes on.  And before any cycle kooks brand me as a hater, I also bike, road and mountain and hate  the people that can't follow simple rules.

• Maybe if cyclists obeyed the rules of the road and state laws... nah... forget it. 

• Sounds like it's time for some u-lock justice. The cops won't do crap about this.

• Why do you do that?

• Ashton Kutcher?

• I've found that a lot of people are ignorant of the laws protecting the rights of cyclists, which is why we hear "Get off the road!" so often. I once had an elderly woman pull up next to me while riding Downtown on a Sunday and shout "You should be ashamed of yourself!" Yes, cyclists are allowed to ride on ALL surface streets, the <a href="http://bicycleaustin.info/laws/tx-bike.html#general">same streets cars use</a>. See section 551.101: Rights and Duties "A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle..."

• Yeah that's what some idiots in Montana thought while we were biking through that state too. Unfortunately for them they all had horrible aim and the next time we saw them (about 10 minutes later) they were on the knees on the side of the road with their hands behind their heads being arrested. So you have fun with that plan.

• got any witnesses?

• sweet!

• fully automatic paint-ball guns work well against bikers, too. and I'm totally down with anyone harassing tools at Onion Creek

• This makes me want to go bike around the Heights and bait this A-Hole, Charles Bronson style, But its raining and all...

• Working on it. There may be a lead.

• Soon it will be revealed that this guy's parent/spouse/kid was run down and killed by a drunk cyclist while he was supposed to be watching them. Now he's channeling his rage and guilt into wreaking havoc on the dastardly cycling community. That's tonight, on "Law & Order."

• A honda Civic drove by onion creek and threw a half full coke can at me and a group I was with sitting on the porch the day of the Houston Marathon.

• Someone has to get their plates. None of this chasing down business, they need to get the plates.

• Report him to the authorities and ask to press charges, of course.

• Someone is assualting you from their car and you're going to do what when you catch up to them on your bike? 

• I am a driver, not a rider and for the life of me can't understand why some people are so against cyclists.

• Same thing happened to my friend on West Dallas, same car.  Couldn't discern if it was water, dip spit, or what, someone needs to catch a license plate... Drivers have been so bad lately, I've resorted to the sidewalks when I ride..

• yeah, believe it or not I know of a lot of people that ride packing their CHL and a nice little compact.

• https://txapps.texas.gov/txapp/txdps/chl/ Welcome to Concealed Handgun Licensing

• Vehicular assault? Good thing I aways ride with my dog, Charco .44.

TotalComments: 69