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
hmmmm......can't remember
I once had a beer bottle thrown at me by an oncoming vehicle while I was out for a run. I should have understood the thrower was having a bad day.
(*snort*) :lol:
I bet it wasn't filled or chilled, either. Talk about insult to injury!!! :yikes:(*snort!snort!*) :rolling:
Beach Fanatic
Be very careful confronting an angry man!
I agree with audie...I am so afraid of someone pulling out a gun or knife if I even frown at them. I had a terrible and very traumatic experience from this....my fiance was murdered by our neighbor. This neighbor always yelled at us for parking in his space (no one had their own space) He yelled at the kids if they were playing ball in the yard, or skateboarding, or got too close to his car with their bike's, etc. etc. He had been reported more then once by many people. We were a few months away from our wedding and moving into a new house.
One night we were watching tv and he screamed outside that he was calling the police because the noise was too loud.:idontno: Then he threw something at our wall. My fiance got up and went to his door and told him there was no need as HE was calling the police. As he was walking back to our door the neighbor came over and argued more then pulled a huge handgun with hollow-point bullets and shot him between the eyes. My daughter and I stood at the front step and saw the whole horrible thing. The neighbor worked for the Post Office andtold the detective and police he had a "bad" day. He also had been drinking Jack Daniels since he got home from work.
No, of course it's not right for anyone to pull a gun out and start waving it at you or anyone. But I've learned the hard way it's best to let someone go on their way. I have tried to teach my children it's just not worth it to confront people like this. Best to try and get their tag number and description to report them. You just never know. I am just glad to hear ya'll are safe and will be out riding again.
I can't tell you how much I have said over and over, "If only we had called the police from our house", instead of going over and confronting him. Our neighbor was looking for a fight....he was a very angry man.
Of course it was this tragedy in my life that brought me to Grayton Beach almost 20 years ago. I came to heal on the beach and clear blue October Gulf waters.......and stayed!!!!
wow, i'm gone for one afternoon, and this thread has gone downhill faster than the john edwards thread.
as an aside, i find myself wondering a lot if the other drivers i see have guns, i have a fear of getting shot if i accidentally cut someone off, or turn in front of someone etc. the world is a scary place. i'm not sure which scares me more, guns or attitudes...
I agree with audie...I am so afraid of someone pulling out a gun or knife if I even frown at them. I had a terrible and very traumatic experience from this....my fiance was murdered by our neighbor. This neighbor always yelled at us for parking in his space (no one had their own space) He yelled at the kids if they were playing ball in the yard, or skateboarding, or got too close to his car with their bike's, etc. etc. He had been reported more then once by many people. We were a few months away from our wedding and moving into a new house.
One night we were watching tv and he screamed outside that he was calling the police because the noise was too loud.:idontno: Then he threw something at our wall. My fiance got up and went to his door and told him there was no need as HE was calling the police. As he was walking back to our door the neighbor came over and argued more then pulled a huge handgun with hollow-point bullets and shot him between the eyes. My daughter and I stood at the front step and saw the whole horrible thing. The neighbor worked for the Post Office andtold the detective and police he had a "bad" day. He also had been drinking Jack Daniels since he got home from work.
No, of course it's not right for anyone to pull a gun out and start waving it at you or anyone. But I've learned the hard way it's best to let someone go on their way. I have tried to teach my children it's just not worth it to confront people like this. Best to try and get their tag number and description to report them. You just never know. I am just glad to hear ya'll are safe and will be out riding again.
I can't tell you how much I have said over and over, "If only we had called the police from our house", instead of going over and confronting him. Our neighbor was looking for a fight....he was a very angry man.
Of course it was this tragedy in my life that brought me to Grayton Beach almost 20 years ago. I came to heal on the beach and clear blue October Gulf waters.......and stayed!!!!
Beach Crab
Peace
Thanks for sharing your tragedy with us, and I sincerely hope the healing continues and peace finds you daily. This is why it is so clearly important that we be determined in our efforts to preserve this place of peace, and turn in those who violate our calm waters...
Please all, be on the lookout for a small to mid-sized metallic orange chevy pick-up, late model. Call the Walton Co. Sheriffs if you see it. They have witness reports and probable cause to pull him over and arrest him.
Thanks for sharing your tragedy with us, and I sincerely hope the healing continues and peace finds you daily. This is why it is so clearly important that we be determined in our efforts to preserve this place of peace, and turn in those who violate our calm waters...
Please all, be on the lookout for a small to mid-sized metallic orange chevy pick-up, late model. Call the Walton Co. Sheriffs if you see it. They have witness reports and probable cause to pull him over and arrest him.
Beach Fanatic
:bang:
Florida Girl's comments are really making me so upset. I have had a lot of trauma in my life and these faulty arguments about trying to see the gun holders point of view are bringing it all back. I am so frustrated by it all that if I run into a low rent landlord in an expensive kayak it might make me snap. But if I do, I know that you will all forgive me because you understand my state of mind, the history of my trials and tribulations. Florida Girl especially will understand and defend me.
Florida Girl's comments are really making me so upset. I have had a lot of trauma in my life and these faulty arguments about trying to see the gun holders point of view are bringing it all back. I am so frustrated by it all that if I run into a low rent landlord in an expensive kayak it might make me snap. But if I do, I know that you will all forgive me because you understand my state of mind, the history of my trials and tribulations. Florida Girl especially will understand and defend me.
SoWal Insider
:bang:
Florida Girl's comments are really making me so upset. I have had a lot of trauma in my life and these faulty arguments about trying to see the gun holders point of view are bringing it all back. I am so frustrated by it all that if I run into a low rent landlord in an expensive kayak it might make me snap. But if I do, I know that you will all forgive me because you understand my state of mind, the history of my trials and tribulations. Florida Girl especially will understand and defend me.
:funn:
SoWal Expert
You know, there is one part of the information here that is not present. That of the driver of the truck. You don't know what was going on in his life at the time. I'm trying to give you understanding of the mindset of locals, but without actually having his statement creates a uncomplete discussion. Have you ever had trama in your life? He could have been facing some kind of distressing situation that was completely absorbing his thoughts, and you're hand gesture probably almost sent him over the edge. You're lucky he restrained himself when he did.I'd give you more negative rep, but I have to spread it around. :cry: I am embarrassed to live in the same town with someone who has such a mentality. I'm beginning to wonder what is so distressing in your life that you would have such thoughts.
Those walking trails and restaurants serving "healthy foods" are for people on vacation. Particularly in today's economic situation, local people cannot afford this kind of activity. When people have to work 2 or more jobs to make ends meet, who has time to enjoy a walking trail? Much less spend a small fortune for dinner!
By the way, your mindset isn't the mindset of most locals. Perhaps you need to look up the definition of local. Being a local vs being a native doesn't give you any more rights to pull a gun on someone. You don't even know whether the driver of the sparkly orange truck is a local. Seeing how I have never seen a sparkly orange truck in SoWal, I think there is a pretty good bet that the driver wasn't from here, or either they don't get out much.
SoWal Expert
... What I find difficult is the lack of concern for a fellow human being that may not be of your social status, or belief. I have friends that are legitimate American Indians also that do not like to see other people mistreated.
How do you know the social status of the driver of the truck? Do all jerks driving a sparkly orange truck who pull a gun, live in the bottom level of the social status? Your statement doesn't add up. You talk about the lack of concern for someone who would pull a gun, but you don't even acknowledge concern for the people whom encountered the gun wielding jerk. If you started reading your own advice, you might see the other side.
Beach Lover
Reading this thread has left me feeling like I've just had an arguement with my first wife...but now I need a shower.
Perhaps all but one are missing the point, "peace- through superior firepower" or "never bring a knife to a gunfight" or even "don't ride bikes on 30A or you deserve to have your life threatened".
Let's vote: Who likes tourists? :wave:
Perhaps all but one are missing the point, "peace- through superior firepower" or "never bring a knife to a gunfight" or even "don't ride bikes on 30A or you deserve to have your life threatened".
Let's vote: Who likes tourists? :wave:
SoWal Expert
Karma works, and it has a way of coming back and biting you in the @ss.
SoWal Expert
Good Gravy!
I don't even know where to begin............... :blink:
1) There is no reason to EVER pull a gun on someone.
2) It's sad that the behavior of road cyclists has caused such discord/frustration among local drivers that it escalated to an ridiculous and unsafe incident like this.
3) I am a local, work 2 jobs, have bills to pay, have bad days, and yet don't feel the need to pull a gun on people or constantly use my geographic location or bank account balance to justify my actions.
4) Given the description and location of the driver/incident, I predict the po-po will be chatting w/ the local quite soon.
That is all!
I don't even know where to begin............... :blink:
1) There is no reason to EVER pull a gun on someone.
2) It's sad that the behavior of road cyclists has caused such discord/frustration among local drivers that it escalated to an ridiculous and unsafe incident like this.
3) I am a local, work 2 jobs, have bills to pay, have bad days, and yet don't feel the need to pull a gun on people or constantly use my geographic location or bank account balance to justify my actions.
4) Given the description and location of the driver/incident, I predict the po-po will be chatting w/ the local quite soon.
That is all!
SoWal Expert
#2 confuses me. Most road cyclists don't exhibit unusual behavior. Typically, that is the drivers of the automobiles which have the bad behavior.
SoWal Expert
#2 confuses me. Most road cyclists don't exhibit unusual behavior. Typically, that is the drivers of the automobiles which have the bad behavior.
Thanks for demonstrating my point! Seriously though, the double standards for behavior and 'bikes rule and cars drool' attitude is what I was referring to. ;-)
There's a general lack of courtesy/manners on both sides. I doubt that this incident occurred because the driver had never encountered a rude cyclist.
I am not in ANY way condoning pulling a gun or reckless driving and rude behavior, but I'll certainly admit that my sympathy/outrage level was much lower than it should have been. I am SO tired of hearing the biatching about the big bad car drivers in a hurry to get somewhere (also known as driving the speed limit) and not following the rules of the road, when part of the stated justification for biking on the road is that the multi-use path is too slow and a bike rider actually stopping for a stop sign is noteworthy for its rarity. :roll:
Beach Fanatic
Wow! What a thread. So many positions shown.
Chalk me up as one of the 8,000+ folks who do not agree that there is any good reason to pull a gun.
What good reason could there be.
The ability to own and misuse a gun transcends income, race, religion, address, sex and color of your pickup. Some people drive beat up old vehicles so that they can make higher payments on something else like maybe a dream home. For all we know, this was the Fortune 500 guy considering a big development in Walton County who was stressing over the poor investment he made a year and a half ago.
FL girl, please try not to make it a them against us discussion. The worst thing North and South Walton needs is division.
South Walton very much needs North Walton and North Walton very much needs South Walton. And we all need the tourists or most of our incomes become directly or indirectly threatened.
Anyone disagree with these last statements
Chalk me up as one of the 8,000+ folks who do not agree that there is any good reason to pull a gun.
What good reason could there be.
- Late for work
- Really needed to go potty bad
- Gas pedal stuck
- House is on fire
- Blue light special in aisle 4
- :idontno:
The ability to own and misuse a gun transcends income, race, religion, address, sex and color of your pickup. Some people drive beat up old vehicles so that they can make higher payments on something else like maybe a dream home. For all we know, this was the Fortune 500 guy considering a big development in Walton County who was stressing over the poor investment he made a year and a half ago.
FL girl, please try not to make it a them against us discussion. The worst thing North and South Walton needs is division.
South Walton very much needs North Walton and North Walton very much needs South Walton. And we all need the tourists or most of our incomes become directly or indirectly threatened.
Anyone disagree with these last statements
SoWal Insider
Wow! What a thread. So many positions shown.I would agree that North Walton needs South Walton.
Chalk me up as one of the 8,000+ folks who do not agree that there is any good reason to pull a gun.
What good reason could there be.
Let's stop defending people who are overly-angry. I will not give a stupid name like road rage because that does nothing but give justification for making really poor decisions that some sleazy lawyer will use to keep someone out of jail that clearly should be locked away.
- Late for work
- Really needed to go potty bad
- Gas pedal stuck
- House is on fire
- Blue light special in aisle 4
- :idontno:
The ability to own and misuse a gun transcends income, race, religion, address, sex and color of your pickup. Some people drive beat up old vehicles so that they can make higher payments on something else like maybe a dream home. For all we know, this was the Fortune 500 guy considering a big development in Walton County who was stressing over the poor investment he made a year and a half ago.
FL girl, please try not to make it a them against us discussion. The worst thing North and South Walton needs is division.
South Walton very much needs North Walton and North Walton very much needs South Walton. And we all need the tourists or most of our incomes become directly or indirectly threatened.
Anyone disagree with these last statements
Meow
I would agree that North Walton needs South Walton.
:cool:...I have been waiting long enough for this!
Beach Fanatic
Put me in with the group that feels that there is no reason topull a gun on anybody unless you are protecting your loved ones or property. As a visitor, I am very conscious of bike riders on the road. I think that is one of the reasons people come down to this part of the world. You can see more and enjoy more and relax when you are on a bike. As with all kinds of people, there are good ones and bad ones just like with bikers and car drivers but to pull a gun??????
Beach Fanatic
At first I thought this was a case of a driver, who was running late for work, trying to figure out where in a pickup truck he could legally lock his gun up while at work, then, in a potential stoke of brilliance, he thought to just toss it out the window.
Then, on second thought, maybe he was trying out a new mosquito control technique that one of the mosquito board candidates might have proposed, where by in the early morning hours, in lieu of spraying insecticide over a given area, they would spray hot lead. (Note to self: with the size and aggressive nature of some of the mosquitoes in the area, high powered rifles may be better option).
Third, that he was multitasking while driving on 30A, as so many of them do, so he had one hand on the gearshift, one of the cell phone, one on his cigarette, one on his beer, and one on the radio knob and one on his gun, so when he tried to wave back at the bikers, it was his gun hand that was closest to the window.
Then, on second thought, maybe he was trying out a new mosquito control technique that one of the mosquito board candidates might have proposed, where by in the early morning hours, in lieu of spraying insecticide over a given area, they would spray hot lead. (Note to self: with the size and aggressive nature of some of the mosquitoes in the area, high powered rifles may be better option).
Third, that he was multitasking while driving on 30A, as so many of them do, so he had one hand on the gearshift, one of the cell phone, one on his cigarette, one on his beer, and one on the radio knob and one on his gun, so when he tried to wave back at the bikers, it was his gun hand that was closest to the window.
SoWal Insider
At first I thought this was a case of a driver, who was running late for work, trying to figure out where in a pickup truck he could legally lock his gun up while at work, then, in a potential stoke of brilliance, he thought to just toss it out the window.you remembered the mosquito control thread from hell!!!
Then, on second thought, maybe he was trying out a new mosquito control technique that one of the mosquito board candidates might have proposed, where by in the early morning hours, in lieu of spraying insecticide over a given area, they would spray hot lead. (Note to self: with the size and aggressive nature of some of the mosquitoes in the area, high powered rifles may be better option).
Third, that he was multitasking while driving on 30A, as so many of them do, so he had one hand on the gearshift, one of the cell phone, one on his cigarette, one on his beer, and one on the radio knob and one on his gun, so when he tried to wave back at the bikers, it was his gun hand that was closest to the window.
needs to get out more
you remembered the mosquito control thread from hell!!!
scarred for life from that one...
Beach Fanatic
I would agree that North Walton needs South Walton.
Why can't we just be Walton County?
Beach Fanatic
Why can't we just be Walton County?
Unfortunately because fair and balanced in Walton county is much like fair and balanced on Fox News.
SoWal Expert
Why can't we just be Walton County?
Unfortunately because fair and balanced in Walton county is much like fair and balanced on Fox News.
:popcorn::floor:
Hiya boys.:wave:
needs to get out more
Why can't we just be Walton County?
because we got the Victory Center...;-)
Funnkalicious
:wave:If you want to live in the zip, you have to live by the code.
got any pics?
Hi Kids!
I too rode my bike today and did notice the motorists were more aggressive. I had several close passes which usually doesn't bother me. One of them was a lady driving a Silver BMW X5 baring a SoWal sticker on the right side of the back window and a 30A Radio sticker on the left side. Was this you FL Girl. You sped up to pass me (I was rolling 22 at the time :cool:) only 100' before the intersection the Seagrove Market and 30A. Funny thing you tried to jump before your turn in the intersection and I ended up right beside you. You never know who you are going to run into in SoWal 😀.
I forgot to mention that the time was 9:30AM CST.
I also had a couple of meat heads on a maroon minivan yell at me. Actually they might have been cheering me on. I couldn't tell because one of my favorite songs was playing on my IPod :idontno:.
Now lets talk about the "Multi-use Path". Back in June one of my friends had rented one of our High Pointe units. She and her 12 year old daughter were tooling down the Multi-use Path when a motorists pulled across the path without looking and hit the 12 year old girl knocking her off her bike to the ground. The Popo was called my friend declined to press charges because she felt it could have happened to anybody. Kudos to her.
I too rode my bike today and did notice the motorists were more aggressive. I had several close passes which usually doesn't bother me. One of them was a lady driving a Silver BMW X5 baring a SoWal sticker on the right side of the back window and a 30A Radio sticker on the left side. Was this you FL Girl. You sped up to pass me (I was rolling 22 at the time :cool:) only 100' before the intersection the Seagrove Market and 30A. Funny thing you tried to jump before your turn in the intersection and I ended up right beside you. You never know who you are going to run into in SoWal 😀.
I forgot to mention that the time was 9:30AM CST.
I also had a couple of meat heads on a maroon minivan yell at me. Actually they might have been cheering me on. I couldn't tell because one of my favorite songs was playing on my IPod :idontno:.
Now lets talk about the "Multi-use Path". Back in June one of my friends had rented one of our High Pointe units. She and her 12 year old daughter were tooling down the Multi-use Path when a motorists pulled across the path without looking and hit the 12 year old girl knocking her off her bike to the ground. The Popo was called my friend declined to press charges because she felt it could have happened to anybody. Kudos to her.
Edited
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