Sometimes being a bike commuter in America sucks. No one driving really gives a shit about you. To them you are just another obstacle slowing their progress towards another 5 dollar cup of Starbucks, which they will drive their raised up chromed out SUV 2 miles to get. Its even worse when you are road bike commuter, as society in general here views men in tight shorts as slightly below mimes & Trekies who dress up as Klingons. So ridding, to work on my road bike, in full roadie kit Im occasionally rudely beeped at by passing cars (yes I know your there, asshole & yes Im in your way so deal with it), or shouted obscenities at by young school children on busses. But never before today had I actually been assaulted with a moving object. I got hit with a spitball & I remember it well. A slow driving purple Scion, an extremely subtle feeling of impact, & the kid in the back seat turning around & staring at me as they drove away. At first I didn't know what happened. It wasn't until I got home and took of the helmet and got a good look at the spit ball, now dry logged onto the side of it. At first I was angry, insulted, & pissed of at the world in general. But when you think about it, its actually kind of impressive. This kid from a moving vehicle hit another moving target & got the spit ball to stick. I bet the little bastard couldn't do it again if he tried.
5 comments:
I gotta say, I would give the kid props for hitting a moving object from a moving object with such an inaccurate projectile - and making it stick.
And come on, it's just a kid. Had it been a drunk guy in a pickup throwing a beer bottle, then yeah, I'd be pissed too.
yah, its just the principal of it though and the blatant disrespect and come on man, haven't we learned anything from reality tv?
No, I understand - spitting on someone really is the most incredible sign of disrespect. Had it been an adult, I think it would have been legal for you to beat them to death with a pump (in Texas, anyways). But a kid - eh. Maybe just yelling at the parents?
they were more like teenagers 17, 18, myabe even 20
...seems harmless in one sense & almost humorous in another...
...BUT, it says something strong about (A) the kids parents & (B) what little disregard people have for cyclist...
...ultimately the kid who gets away w/ it, just maybe grows up to become that drunk who wings the beer bottle at you...
...happened to a friend years ago at probably 40mph (cyclist speed on descent) & i guarantee you, pissed is only part of the equation...you get hit in the face & you're seriously frickin' injured...
...anyway, that kinda shit gets to be over the top but unfortunately that's what cycling is becoming...
...some people like to challenge you w/ their cars because they're offended by the last cyclist they saw run a stop sign or whatever else pissed them off...
...ok, that's my vitriol spew...
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