On the Road Again

So really, why is it that Highland Park drivers want to run down cyclists?

Before it started raining, I got the bike that I "borrowed" from my dad out, tuned it up, got it adjusted, etc. and rode it to class. I took a wrong turn in a neighborhood and tried to find my way back to University. Now there was this silver box-ish car thing following me through most of the neighborhood. I was signalling, I was staying far to the right side of the road, and generally doing my best to not be an annoying bike rider.

Yet for some reason, after a few minutes, this middle aged women drove up beside me, rolled down her passenger side window, and squealed like an angry pig at me. I kid you not. No words. No human sound. Just "MWEEEAAAHH". This of course, scared the heebie-jeebies out of me, as I was busy checking to see if the parked car in front of me had a guy in it who might have opened the door and clothes-lined me into the curb. Being the skittish young man I am, I jumped at the sound, and very nearly fell into the curb anyway.

Luckily I re-caught my stride, angrily pedalled behind this woman right up to a drive way (where I believe she lives) and let out an angry "HEY-" but then cut short the next two words, and their accompanying sign language at the sight of an 8 year old girl across the street. I left it at that.

I have had several suggestions to call the police, and have an officer give the woman a talk about reckless endangerment etc. But the moment has passed. I figure I gave her a good scare too, which is enough. However I very well could've been taking a trip to the dentist after looking for my teeth somewhere in a Highland Park lawn. I guess I'm lucky though. At least I wasn't the guy who was run down by a former law professor.

So to all you Highland Park-ers out there: I'm bringing my cell phone with me. The next time somebody screams at me from a car because they think as a cyclist I just move too slow, and they don't have the good sense to just pass me, or WAIT: I'm calling the cops. And if they won't do anything about it, expect a few eggs on that nice shiny car of yours.


Great to be on the bike again :)