Help, need some feedback and opinions on this one. Now I dont want to start a thread on this subject, as it doesnt follow the guidelines that Dale has setup, but I do believe that everyone on this list has had experiences with irresponsible drivers to one degree or another in their years of cycling. So with that in mind I hope Dale will overlook this posting even though it has nothing to do with vintage bikes, but us as cyclists.
I will keep this brief and with that in mind leave out many of the details, like description of the truck and such.
My wife and I were 1.5 miles from the end of our 25-mile ride yesterday when a pickup passed us and blew his horn and yelled out something. He must have turned around in the town we started in and came back. When he spotted me he came left of center across a double yellow line and ran me off the road. In seeing his intentions I hit the brakes and locked up my rear wheel leaving a flat spot on the tire so it is now useless. I got off my bike and the truck slowed down almost to a stop, still in my lane, and then must have spotted my wife just coming around the turn about 200 yards behind me and then hit the gas and got in his lane and went on. When we got home I called the State Police and gave them as much information about the truck as possible and told them I wanted to press charges and find out his insurance carrier and let them know about this incident with one of their policy holders. In talking to a friend on the mountain today I related what happened and he asked what the truck looked like and he said it sounded like one of the young guys that work on the mountain for one of the condo associations. So with that I went to our Public Safety department and talked to on of the officers. Darrel told me the same thing that it sounded like this fellow that worked for the Summit condo association. I told Darrel that I wanted to press charges if it was this fellow and I wanted the charges to be assault with a deadly weapon. He felt that would be appropriate considering what took place. My wife is concerned about the possible repercussion, but it doesnt bother me in the least. My question to the list is what would you do in this situation? I might add that this isnt the first time this kid has had a complaint against him for his driving, but none this serious, but not too far off. I feel if proper action isnt taken he will end up killing someone.
Please lets keep this off list and respond to my e-mail address only.
Oh, by the way, I was riding the Tommasini.
Mark, still a little shaken, Poore
Slatyfork, W VA