TrainingPeaks Co-Founder Video Goes Viral, Raises Awareness
Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 2:40PM This past Sunday, TrainingPeaks co-founder Dirk Friel headed out on what should have been a nice Sunday morning ride with his teammate, Joe. Things turned ugly when, on a stretch of road in Longmont, CO, an older driver in an SUV pulled up behind the two cyclists and began blaring his horn. The SUV followed them for a full five minutes blasting his horn and refusing to pass, even impeding traffic behind him and despite the fact that Dirk and Joe both slowed down and waved him past. (The video also clearly shows the cyclists riding single file and on the right side of the white line). Fearing that the situation might escalate, both riders got out their iPhones and started taking video. When Dirk got home, he uploaded the video to YouTube.
By now, you may have already seen the video. It spread quickly through the local cycling community on Twitter, and someone handed it to media where it was picked up by both Denver 9NEWS and FOX31 Denver. After that, the video was shared on the CyclingNews Facebook page, and picked up by Outside Online and even CNN.
At TrainingPeaks, we are obviously glad Dirk and Joe are okay. On top of that though, we wanted to follow upon the story because we know it struck a chord with a lot of people, as this is not a new situation for cyclists. The video received hundreds of comments from cyclists and even runners, sharing similar experiences of being harassed by motorists.
We think that Dirk and Joe showed incredible restraint, and their reaction was a demonstration of the safest and best way to deal with a situation like this:
- Don't start a confrontation.
- Take down the license plate and gather any other evidence you can (in Dirk and Joe's case, this was video evidence).
- Report it afterwards to the authorities. In Colorado, the number to call from your mobile is *277. Be prepared to provide license plate number, location and direction of travel, description of vehicle and driver if possible, and description of harassing behavior.
Resolution
Dirk ended up reporting the incident to the Colorado State Patrol after another YouTube viewer commented that he'd had similar run-ins with the same driver. According to the Denver Post, the driver was cited yesterday by the CSP for two counts of harassment, impeding the flow of traffic, and improper use of a horn. On top of that, he had reporters and TV cameras knocking at his door the past couple days.
The video has gotten nearly 200,000 views as of today, and Dirk will be donating ad proceeds from views of the video to Bicycle Colorado. In the past few days, the clip was picked up not only by major cycling publications like CyclingNews and Bicycling, but by mainstream media including CNN and Denver nightly news broadcasts (Dirk was also contacted today by FOX News). This helped to raise widespread awareness about cyclists' rights to the road, education about the proper and safe way to deal with harassment, and discussions between cyclists and motorists alike about how to share the road peacefully. All in all, a positive outcome from a bad situation.
In Colorado, cyclists are considered motor vehicles that have the right to be on the road - of course this means they also have the responsibility to follow the same laws that apply to motor vehicles as well. Visit Bicycle Colorado's website to learn more about your rights, and reponsibilities, as a cyclist. Don't live in Colorado? Visit the League of American Bicyclists to find advocacy groups in your area, and learn how you can get involved in bike advocacy both in the US and internationally.
Are you and Athlete? Learn More About TrainingPeaks.
Reader Comments (24)
I would like to know what the man had to say for himself. What justification could there possibly be for... that?
I don't think that "cyclists are considered motor vehicles"... more like Bicycles are considered vehicles. What are Motorists considered? :-) Glad to hear this driver got called on his stupid and dangerous behavior!!!
I noticed a double solid line on the road. Would it have been legal for the vehicle to pass the bicyclists hence he would have to cross the center line? What should a person do in that case?
I must say both of you, Dirk and Joe showed considerable restraint in dealing with this idiot. I just finished tour du Canada this summer past and was lucky enough not to encounter anyone like that guy though there were a few drivers who passed too close. You guys behaved admirably. We were told not to give anyone the finger or anything beyond a friendly wave otherwise they would be angered to take it out on the next cyclist they saw as there were 31 of us. We were all sporting big "slow moving" vehicle triangles at the rear of our bikes and easily recognizable. If you're ever in Toronto or Ontario, Canada, check out tbn.ca or gcbt.org as those are 2 clubs I belong to. We have ridden in the U.S. with aabts.org and have gone to the horsey100 on the Memorial Day weekend in Kentucky, bgcycling.org and both of my Toronto clubs have ridden in the New York finger lakes, beautiful area. Or come to Quebec's grand tour, veloqc.ca or google Quebec cycling tours. You guys are cyclist we would be glad to ride with.
Fred Lee
I had a reverse situation happen to me on Logan Street sounth of Speer. I was driving north and two cyclists started to ride side by side in front of me when there was clearly space for them to ride single file along side. After a bit the one moved over, then the other and I rolled down my window and told them that I too am a cyclist and I know the "rules of the road" and that they should be riding single file. We came to a stop light where they placed themselves in front of me once again and rode as slow as possible just to taunt me. Honestly, I felt what it must be like to be an irrate motorist frustrated buy uneducated cyclists. But these cyclists were in full gear and looked to be "real" cyclists. The two of them (man and woman) were yucking it up knowing darn well what they were doing. I wish there was a way to report them!!!
Mrs O, How wide was the lane the cyclists were using?
If it was not wide enough for a Bicycle and another Vehicle to share safely, then there is no requirement to ride single file.
And yes it was wrong for the cyclists to taunt you like they did.
I'm an avid cyclist, recreational ski racer and like just about everyone else on the planet, a motorist. I've been hit by a car while riding my bike home from work, I've been shot in the bum with a b b gun by kids in a car (and a very good shot too BTW), yelled at, honked at, swerved, at and you name it. On just about every century ride I've been on there's been some sort of angry motorist. So I always give cyclists a wide birth when I'm driving. If you hit a cyclist in Washington state it's like hitting a pedestrian, at least that's what I was told by an insurance company when I was hit. (I had the right of way but I'm not sure it matters)
However, it is true that some/ many cyclists at least here aren't always doing their part to set good examples. I myself have had two cyclists take up the whole lane and taunt me when they could have ridden single file. I've seen club racers here and TT riders routinely ignor stop signs and blow through intersections when cars are present, and I hardly ever see a hand signal.
Our society has largely been built around the car. Most people never leave the house without getting in a car, and it's going to take a lot to change the mindset of many drivers who don't cycle. At the same time I don't think city streets and bike paths always make the best race courses for cyclists, just as I wouldn't throttle up my giant slalom skis on a crowded slope. Tour operators don't aways show good judgement either. On a recent trip to Glacier Park I saw a conflict between two older women on a bike tour and an SUV. Some honking and yelling. I felt sorry for the women and the motorist was out of line, but I thought the bike tour company put those riders in pretty bad place and time to ride a bike in all honesty.
I don't have all the answers but there's improvement that can be made on both sides of this issue.
I am so glad that our two friends are OK, and handled the situation that is a credit to our sport. In California, cyclists are considered the same as a motor vehicle, although I doubt many motorists, and some cyclists, know that. I have been fortunate to never have anything close to this happen to me, or any of the athletes I train. However, it is great to know a new way to handle the situation.
Be careful about blame. Can anyone here honestly say that they have not felt like the SUV driver at some point. Not in a cycling situation. At any point in their life.
It feels comfortable to be able to single out one individual for what we have all wanted to do in our hearts at some point. This is not to say that its acceptable. And its not to say that acting out that violence is any better than merely wanting to do it in your imagination.
It is to say that once we have cleaned up our own 'house' maybe then we can start going around judging others.
Its no use saying you are not to blame for the deaths of innocent people in war. You happily take all the sovereign benefits from the state that kills those people. Just because you didn't pull the trigger does not release you from judgement.
Isn't the real question: "what compels a normally sensible person to hate others". Not how should we punish him after the event. Root cause. What is it? Wouldn't it be great to discover that thing first?
Think about it, with honesty.
[flicks firewall switch on]
I am very happy to see someone can pull the bicycle seat out far enough to realize yes it is aggravating being taunted I am being taken to court for honking and telling them to get on the bike path after five minutes of riding behind cyclist who had a good 7ft of empty pavement to the right and still refused to to move no i do not hate cyclist I just wish people would give respect to get it.
I have to say I disagree. They should have pulled over, stopped, taken his license plate number, and let him go his merry way. This could have ended tragically. To keep yourself in obvious harms way while also filming the incident (talk about distracted cycling) is not the way to handle it. To not confront the guy, these cyclists get my kudos for that. I'm sure NO DOUBT that I would not have been as "kind." But to reiterate my point, they should have gotten out of this asshole's way and promptly reported him. I'm glad they lived to tell the tale. Others haven't been as fortunate. I would not encourage this type of reaction to someone who could become violent at the touch of the gas pedal. My 2 cents...
Robin, feeling frustrated and bullying people are two completely different things. If this driver had merely felt frustrated, he wouldn't be charged with three misdemeanors right now.
Guy...The road is clearly wide enough for them to have ridden single file along side of me. I know, for me, that's what I would have done. Like I said, I am a cyclist and know the rules of the road. I also hate the crazy club racers who think it's okay to go screaming by on recreational paths that are used by joggers, rollerbladers, and recreational cyclists. I got hit head on by one such cyclist. I was about to enter an underpass when this crazy cyclist was coming out from under it. He took a second to look back over his shoulder and swerved into me at over 20mph. I was only going about 12 at that point. He ruined my front wheel, displaced my shifters...not to mention the bruised ribs and mild concusion! He was taller than me and he hit me with his shoulder just below my helmet...his arm went into my chest. There was no excuse for such recklessness on his part.
And to Don...I too am a skier and have had my "run-ins" with out of control skiers as well as those who think it's time to do a downhill! For the most part, I'm good enough now to manuever around the idiots...but you never know. I know that sometimes they truly are "accidents"...but those cyclists who got in front of me were just being imbeciles! If they got hit by someone who "lost their temper"...I could understand the frustration.
I understand when there is no room, cyclists can ride as though they are "vehicles"...but come on, when you can ride single file, don't you think it's just the "right thing" to do. I have a "Share the Road" license plate...because I believe in sharing the road and being considerate as well! Unfortunately, not everyone is law abiding and mindful. Sad indeed!
Give me a break! It takes all of 2-5 seconds to pull out and go around, giving the cyclist some room and a safe ride. What an idiot! I commend the cyclist on how they handled it. Some people would have gotten nervous with that kind of harassment. Can't this kind of harassment fall under the road rage umbrella?
what a fking jackass.
I would love to see the driver being required to only using a bike for his transportation for 2 weeks, just so he can see what it's like to deal with rude drivers.
absolutely no excuse but I wonder if the old guy has dementia? From personal experience..they sometimes have trouble with decisions like this ( driving by) and depending on a million different factors they can be aggressive.
again, no excuse and he should not be on the road whatever the reason. Nice job filming and riding..
To Jeff:
Yes, it is legal in CO for a car to cross a double yellow line to pass cyclists as long as it is reasonably safe to do so. The SUV following these guys had no reason not to pass... Glad it never got worse than that.
You behaved admirably. I do some bike advocacy on the East Coast. Can I encourage you to coordinate with everyone else who has had a run in with this guy to send a letter to the CO Attorney General? If there are a list of names, and people can swear that they have been harrassed by this driver, you can (A) get more attention for this problem (B) get more serious charges. I'm not thinking he should be jailed, but if he has a pattern of behavior, he should NOT be allowed to drive ever again.
"I am being taken to court for honking and telling them to get on the bike path after five minutes of riding behind cyclist who had a good 7ft of empty pavement to the right and still refused to to move"
So you don't know the rules of the road. Maybe the court should have you retake Driver's Ed.
There is no bike path on that road. What you think is a bike path is the shoulder. It is not a bike lane.
There is no need for a cyclist to move right when a driver can easily overtake. A bicycle is a vehicle and cyclists have every right to use the full lane, especially when it is too narrow to share.
To Christa,
thankyou for answering my question..
I would always love to be on the side of cyclists, as I am a cyclist too as well as being a motor vehicle operator. Unfortunately there are more cyclists on the road that create a level of frustration for both motor vehicle operators and for those cyclists who are trying to eliminate this kind of behavior.
If we as cyclists could be more responsible for our own behavior, hopefully motor vehicle operators would learn to be more tolerant of us being on the road at the same time with them.
Someone has to make the a move to solve this ongoing issue. Both we as cyclists and we as motor vehicle operators need to look at what is in the mirror in the morning and then decide how we are going to behave with regard to the other vehicle operator we encouter on the road each day.
@ John B.
The problem is, legal cyclist behaviors that are purely intended to ensure cyclist safety (for example, riding in the middle of the lane) are interpreted by many motorists as 'frustrating'. If motorists would simply read the part of their driver's handbook devoted to cycling, much of this frustration would end, as they would come to realize that cyclists are merely trying to ensure survival on roads that motorists seem to think are their private domain.
This is not a matter of two groups behaving poorly - it's a matter of a group being victimized merely for trying to prevent motorists from KILLING THEM!
Yes, I didn't mean to suggest that this motorist had any reason to act the way he did. He could have easily done the right thing and given the riders a wide birth. His actions and anger say alot about him, and you have to wonder if he has good enough judment to enjoy the privelage of driving a car because if he ends up getting angry and hurting or killing a cyclist or another motorist for that matter everyone pays.
I won't try and make the greater point again that there are things both cyclists and motorists can do to avoid conflicts. People just need to show good judgement out on the road, and clearly this motorists has some issues.