This morning at 6:30am I was riding my bike with three friends down 30-a heading west. There were absolutely no cars on the road and we were passing through WaterSound where they have the medians in the middle of the road. A mid-sized pick-up truck honked and then violently swerved around us passing us very closely.
My friend gestured for the driver to come back and talk with us. There was no reason for his aggression so early in the morning. The driver of the metallic orange pickup truck hit his breaks and pulled a black handgun out of his drivers side window and started waving it at us. He then sped away.
I immediately called 911 and we met with two very nice Walton County Police Officers and filed a complaint. The officers were very nice and took the situation very serious and said they have all officers in the area looking for the car.
If anyone sees a mid-sized metallic orange pickup truck with a male driver, please notify the police.
In all of my years riding I have been yelled at, honked at, spit at, had things thrown at me, been run off the road into a ditch, been intentionally hit with a car's mirror, had a Harley sneak up on me and rev his engine to scare me and then laugh at me, two weeks ago had a driver laugh and cheer when we had a cyclist crash...but I have NEVER EVER had a gun pulled on me for riding a bicycle on a Sunday morning.
I am from the west coast and stilll learning about Southern culture...I am still trying to figure out this whole aggression thing towards cyclists...but I am sure this was not a friendly southern gesture.
I could be wrong...maybe it was his way of cheering in awe as he witnessed a life changing athletic performance by some local cyclists. Or maybe it was his way of showing support for our cyclist in Bejing and his reaction at Sammy Sanchez from Spain winning Olympic Gold in the Men's Cycling Road Race yesterday over Americans Levi Leipheimer, George Hincape and Christian Vandevelde! Maybe he was saying, "I am with you brother and I solute you and your athletic acheivements on this beautiful Sunday morning...ride safe and I will lead the way!"
Replies
380
Beach Fanatic
Actually more so than last year and I have yet to be bitten. Anymore assinine theories you'd like to throw out there?
I guess it depends on where you go. I've seen a lot of dogflies, and mosquitos.
Beach ComberAuthor
ciclismo, do we need to start a letter-writing campaign to get the gov't to file charges and send him to court?
I don't know what is going on with the case. We filed charges about two weeks ago and have not heard anything...other than the excellent article in the newspaper. I need to follow up with the sherifs dept.
This person is still driving around and apparently has some other very bad habits with driving that I prefer not to mention on this board.
Its pretty crazy. I think it scares me more than the gun thing. The whole situation sucks all the way around...especially since we know the guy.
Beach Fanatic
What bothers me is how I see a lot of cyclists that do not obey the traffic laws. I will give respect and pass only when necessary only to come up to a stop sign and have the cyclist come up alongside of me and go right through the stop sign. What's the deal there?
Beach Fanatic
I don't know what is going on with the case. We filed charges about two weeks ago and have not heard anything...other than the excellent article in the newspaper. I need to follow up with the sherifs dept.
This person is still driving around and apparently has some other very bad habits with driving that I prefer not to mention on this board.
Its pretty crazy. I think it scares me more than the gun thing. The whole situation sucks all the way around...especially since we know the guy.
So are you going to out the perp or what? I know of a truck which matches the description given and am very interested if it's the same one and if the driver is capable of this.
I'll PM you mine if you PM me yours. 😀
Beach Fanatic
What bothers me is how I see a lot of cyclists that do not obey the traffic laws. I will give respect and pass only when necessary only to come up to a stop sign and have the cyclist come up alongside of me and go right through the stop sign. What's the deal there?
The deal there is more faith in man's laws than God's physics. :shock:
Beach Fanatic
Does the vehicle in question have a Georgia tag?:idontno:
Beach Fanatic
So, what would you do if you knew the truck driver's name? Black ball him? Fortunately, mob rule isn't legal.
Beach Fanatic
Pretty sure the driver was arrested. At least that's what the grapevine told me...
Beach Fanatic
So, what would you do if you knew the truck driver's name? Black ball him? Fortunately, mob rule isn't legal.
Since my suspicions have been confirmed and I now know who it is I will not be giving my business to his place of employment for one thing.
Mob rule isn't legal and fortunately neither is a lone lunatic waving guns in the sky.
Beach Fanatic
Since my suspicions have been confirmed and I now know who it is I will not be giving my business to his place of employment for one thing.
Mob rule isn't legal and fortunately neither is a lone lunatic waving guns in the sky.
Isn't that a little bit harsh? There are other people that work there that don't deserve to have their livelihood threatened because of the actions of one person. Especially going into this time of year when we need to support each other in order to survive.
Beach Fanatic
Isn't that a little bit harsh? There are other people that work there that don't deserve to have their livelihood threatened because of the actions of one person. Especially going into this time of year when we need to support each other in order to survive.
That's a legitimate POV. However, I'm not campaigning for a boycott or anything of the sort. I just personally don't feel comfortable dealing with him anymore.
If there is concern for the livelihood of the other workers, perhaps their manager should have been more concerned of the livelihood of a cyclist before pointing a gun at them? :idontno:
This problem could be solved with two words from the Trump.
Beach Fanatic
i don't think there is anything wrong with wanting cyclists to either ride on the bike path or at the very least, ride in the bike lane, that is only on one side of 30a, which makes no sense to me at all. some of us actually work regular jobs down here and need to get to work. i am always curteous to the cyclists but also expect some consideration. as you know, the ability to pass on 30a is almost non-existent. we can all live together if there is consideration and thoughtfulness on both sides.
Beach Fanatic
By the way, I don't know if you guys go outside much, but the dogflies have been bad lately, whatever happened to the dogfly plane?
Hopefully, it's grounded forever!!!!!
SoWal Insider
After all this rain, I hope to be seeing the orange truck soon.
:roll:
:roll:
Beach Fanatic
Hopefully, it's grounded forever!!!!!
I sure hope you actually live here full time, I'd hate to actually have to go through life before the dog fly plane again, without you!
Beach Lover
Not true about the child, I do however have a noise ordinance concerning load music/parties, and I don't allow tenants to grow pot in the yard!
:funn:
Yes, we were quite the party animals.
Beach Fanatic
By the way, I don't know if you guys go outside much, but the dogflies have been bad lately, whatever happened to the dogfly plane?
SWMD axed the plane in the budget for a variety of reasons; funds, age of plane and upkeep, and public imput.
I for one, would like to have the plane back.....dog flies and yellow flies are the worst!!!
SWGB
I thought the dog fly plane was a state program that got the axe due to budget cuts. :idontno:
I'd hope a candidate running for mosquito commissioner would know which insects they were trying to rid the world of.
I'd hope a candidate running for mosquito commissioner would know which insects they were trying to rid the world of.
Beach Fanatic
I think the SWMD pays into the fund for the plane...or used to.
SWGB
I think the SWMD pays into the fund for the plane...or used to.
I don't doubt that, I just wanted to point out that it was primarily a state program and voting for her wouldn't magically bring it back. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
This is true.
Beach Comber
Dog Fly Plane
In 2007, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to do away with the Dog Fly Plane. The motion was made by Commissioner Meadows and seconded by Commissioner Larry Jones. They informed the state of Florida that although the dog fly program was a Free Service to Walton County they did not wish to have a plane fly over our beaches due to its age and the chemicals.
The Department of Agriculture who controls the dog fly plane decided to eliminate this program in their 2008 budget. The age of the plane was over 60 years old and the state did not show any interest in buying a newer model consequently it was getting too expensive to operate.
At no time has the South Walton Mosquito Control budgeted or participated in funding this program. This program was funded 100% by our taxes collected by the state.
Due to the fact that Walton County decided to do without the services provided by the state in 2007, if Walton County wishes to have any kind of dog fly service performed it will have to fund it 100% on its own. These funds will not come out of the South Walton Mosquito Control budget since dog fly's are not covered under the statute, which governs the mosquito control.
If you experience problems with dog fly?s contact your county commissioner.
Commissioner John J. Magee
South Walton Mosquito Control
SWMD axed the plane in the budget for a variety of reasons; funds, age of plane and upkeep, and public imput.
I for one, would like to have the plane back.....dog flies and yellow flies are the worst!!!
In 2007, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to do away with the Dog Fly Plane. The motion was made by Commissioner Meadows and seconded by Commissioner Larry Jones. They informed the state of Florida that although the dog fly program was a Free Service to Walton County they did not wish to have a plane fly over our beaches due to its age and the chemicals.
The Department of Agriculture who controls the dog fly plane decided to eliminate this program in their 2008 budget. The age of the plane was over 60 years old and the state did not show any interest in buying a newer model consequently it was getting too expensive to operate.
At no time has the South Walton Mosquito Control budgeted or participated in funding this program. This program was funded 100% by our taxes collected by the state.
Due to the fact that Walton County decided to do without the services provided by the state in 2007, if Walton County wishes to have any kind of dog fly service performed it will have to fund it 100% on its own. These funds will not come out of the South Walton Mosquito Control budget since dog fly's are not covered under the statute, which governs the mosquito control.
If you experience problems with dog fly?s contact your county commissioner.
Commissioner John J. Magee
South Walton Mosquito Control
Knowledge and Experience Is Everything
RE-ELECT
JOHN MAGEE
SOUTH WALTON MOSQUITO CONTROL SEAT 1
RE-ELECT
JOHN MAGEE
SOUTH WALTON MOSQUITO CONTROL SEAT 1
Beach Fanatic
You do live in this county right?😀:floor::funn::lol:
Beach Comber
You do live in this county right?😀:floor::funn::lol:
Yes since 1982 (26 years) in South Walton. And prod of it!
Beach Fanatic
Right on! Ya might know the Miss's she is alway trying to hunt down mosquito fish for people. She would be the resident Fish Dr. in Walton Co.
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