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
Oh yea, keep up the good job!
Beach Comber
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.
Fantastic, as you know we provide mosquitofish free to the public. The last thing that we like to do is use chemicals, anything that we can do as prevented maintenance is better for the environment and our district.
Beach ComberAuthor
So, what would you do if you knew the truck driver's name? Black ball him? Fortunately, mob rule isn't legal.
I actually recommended community service putting up "share the road signs" on 30a and some time riding a bike on the bike path and on 30a...just to get a feel for it.
Who knows maybe he could be the next US Masters National Champion. Stranger things have happened. 😀
Oh...and losing his right to carry a gun. That is my wish list.
hmmmm......can't remember
I'm confused about the use of the phrase "black ball" here. Is Mr. Orange Truck trying to join a fraternity?
Beach Fanatic
I actually recommended community service putting up "share the road signs" on 30a and some time riding a bike on the bike path and on 30a...just to get a feel for it.
Who knows maybe he could be the next US Masters National Champion. Stranger things have happened. 😀
Oh...and losing his right to carry a gun. That is my wish list.
First of all, I don't know anyone personally that actually watches Pro Cycling. Next, the law as I knew it was:
"(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, or substandard-width lane, that makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For the purposes of this subsection, a "substandard-width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
(6) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast may not impede traffic when traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and shall ride within a single lane. "
When it changed, I don't know, so what "Share the road" actually means is a mystery, as are quite a few catch phrases somebody dreams up. Laws are made by people, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Unfortunately, they are passed often times and nobody knows about it. Laws can be changed if needed.
Edited
SoWal Expert
"Share the road" means that we need to remember the lessons of kindegarten and have some manners.
OR............... that a driver w/o a license (illegal) shouldn't be threatening people w/ a firearm (also illegal) for riding a bicycle on the road (legal). :wave:
Even if they're having a bad day!
OR............... that a driver w/o a license (illegal) shouldn't be threatening people w/ a firearm (also illegal) for riding a bicycle on the road (legal). :wave:
Even if they're having a bad day!
Beach Fanatic
"(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway"
I though we were "Sharing the road"!
I though we were "Sharing the road"!
SoWal Expert
We are - that says the bikers can't hog the whole lane either! :roll:
SoWal Expert
According to this week's issue of the Beach Breeze/DeF Herald, the "man in the orange truck" has been charged with reckless exhibition of a firearm", a first class misdemeanor.
According to the article, the warrant was supposed to be served over Labor Day weekend.
The article does name him, but I will let someone else post his name. Don't want to piss off a nut with a gun.;-)
According to the article, the warrant was supposed to be served over Labor Day weekend.
The article does name him, but I will let someone else post his name. Don't want to piss off a nut with a gun.;-)
SoWal Insider
From the news site,
Gun-waving motorist charged
By LEAH STRATMANN
A Walton County judge has signed a warrant against Gregory Alan Dickson of Santa Rosa Beach stemming from an incident on Aug. 10 when Dickson allegedly brandished a gun at cyclists biking along CR-30A. The incident occurred early in the morning and Craig Baronowski said he and other members of a cycling team […]
Read full post...
Gun-waving motorist charged
By LEAH STRATMANN
A Walton County judge has signed a warrant against Gregory Alan Dickson of Santa Rosa Beach stemming from an incident on Aug. 10 when Dickson allegedly brandished a gun at cyclists biking along CR-30A. The incident occurred early in the morning and Craig Baronowski said he and other members of a cycling team […]
Read full post...
SoWal Insider
Hmmmm, that article says nothing about what kind of day he was having or what "distressing situation" might be at play when he acted like an idiot with his gun. Go figure.
Moderator
"(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway"
I though we were "Sharing the road"!
"Close as practiable" to a person in a car may mean something totally different to the cyclist. A person in a car cannot see all of the debris on the side of the road that cyclist have to deal with. Sometimes "close as practicable" means six inches from the edge. Sometimes it may mean three feet. Broken bottles, debris, and even small rocks make short work of road bike tires that are inflated to 125 psi.
A little tollerance is all we're asking. Is that too much?
SWGB
"(5)(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway"
I though we were "Sharing the road"!
Where are you getting that they aren't sharing the road? Are you interpreting this to mean that they should get off the road?
SoWal Insider
OMG, I can not believe that this thread is still alive...:blink:
Beach Fanatic
like a bad hurricane.............
Beach Fanatic
OMG, I can not believe that this thread is still alive...:blink:
I think we need to put FloridaGirl and SoWalGayBoi in that cage thing they had in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome", call in Tina Turner to referee it, and let them go at it. :funn:
Beach Fanatic
I can see it now. SoWal Celebrity Death Match. In this corner: SWGB in the way too tight red tights and cape. In that corner: Florida girl wearing nothing but bad attitude. No time limit. Chainsaws optional.
hmmmm......can't remember
I can see it now. SoWal Celebrity Death Match. In this corner: SWGB in the way too tight red tights and cape. In that corner: Florida girl wearing nothing but bad attitude. No time limit. Chainsaws optional.
Thank you. Now I'm going to go poke out my mind's eye.
SoWal Insider
I think we need to put FloridaGirl and SoWalGayBoi in that cage thing they had in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome", call in Tina Turner to referee it, and let them go at it. :funn:
I can see it now. SoWal Celebrity Death Match. In this corner: SWGB in the way too tight red tights and cape. In that corner: Florida girl wearing nothing but bad attitude. No time limit. Chainsaws optional.]]
:floor:
Beach Fanatic
I'll do a drive by on my bike at 9 miles an hour and take you out with my 75mm snow cone!!!! View attachment 10061
View attachment 10062
View attachment 10062
Moderator
I think we need to put FloridaGirl and SoWalGayBoi in that cage thing they had in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome", call in Tina Turner to referee it, and let them go at it. :funn:
IN THIS CORNER, WEIGHING IT AT...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuRde4VxH4I"]YouTube - 2 men enter 1 man leaves[/ame]
SWGB
I can see it now. SoWal Celebrity Death Match. In this corner: SWGB in the way too tight red tights and cape. In that corner: Florida girl wearing nothing but bad attitude. No time limit. Chainsaws optional.
I would never fight a woman!
In that get up, it's got to at least have sequins. ;-)
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
OMG, I can not believe that this thread is still alive...:blink:My thoughts exactly!
SoWal Expert
It is still alive (and it should be) because it is local news that was in the Walton Sun yet again this week, in addition to it having a good bit of "local color", like one of the posters running for public office and making the really interesting comments on this situation. Biking and the use of roads and the trail are big news here.
Beach Fanatic
I think we need to put FloridaGirl and SoWalGayBoi in that cage thing they had in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome", call in Tina Turner to referee it, and let them go at it. :funn:
That would be interesting! :floor::floor:
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