Chased by Car, Filmed, Followed
Thread started by
bikechase at 07.2.08 - 1:31 pm
My girlfriend was chased in broad daylight today by three guys wearing "foamdome" ball caps driving a White Jetta. She was chased through Beverly Hills/West Hollywood for quite a distance. She tried to race away, the she noticed that they were filming the chase with a video camera. This was unprovoked-- no disagreement, they didn't ask to film.
Then, they showed up at her workplace in West Hollywood and filmed (video and still) her bike behind a fence where it was being kept.
She did not provoke the perpetrators in any way. She was biking lawfully doing an errand for work.
I am putting this out as a warning to riders. If this has happened to you, let me know. Of course, when I get more identifying information about the perpetrators (and I will), I will post it. Thanks.
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I wasn't chased, but the other day my gf and I were filmed by someone in a car while we were biking.
Is this a new trend?
kyber07.2.08 - 1:35 pm
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actually, I was chased on the way home from CRANK MOB...but i was not filmed...i was in DTLA on 4th and hill riding towrd china town (alone) when a car full of jerk dudes pulled up in a little black POS started yelling foul things i ended up riding back up to my work on 3rd and grand and i had to saty there for like 20 minutes til they left...if i didn't work down here i wouldn't have known what to do...it was 130am...i don't know anyone down here
MOM_RIDAZ42007.2.08 - 1:44 pm
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last year i was chased on 7th street heading towards downtown by an SUV full of rowdy young dudes. i didn't see them coming at first and they actually sped up behind me, one of them leaned out the window of the passenger side and SMACKED MY ASS. then they chased me for a couple blocks.
I was really, *REALLY* mad.
*REALLY*
i tried to chase them back and well, it didn't work. and i was still mad and felt really violated, icky and creepy.
ingipet07.2.08 - 1:57 pm
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that stuff is annoyyyyying... i always debate whether I should carry a baseball or a camera in my bottle cage holder. .. .
neverclever07.2.08 - 2:02 pm
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ingipet: woord! that shit is fucked up!
soso07.2.08 - 2:05 pm
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Ride a bicycle on public streets long enough and EVERYONE gets smacked in the ass at some point. Some people are just dickheads, and there's enough of them that we will all encounter one on occasion. To be fair, I've been chased, followed, yelled at, and threatened in cars and on motorcycles, too. It isn't just bicycles. You just feel more threatened because you are more exposed.
A little bag on your handlebars that is full of large gauge steel ball bearings makes for an effective deterrent (or provocation, depending upon the caliber of asshole in question). The bags climbers use for their chalk work really well.
ideasculptor07.2.08 - 2:08 pm
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This is indeed creepy.
The other day on Bicychillers this a-hole in a minivan totally got all aggro on us (for no apparent reason, he was just pulled over by the side of the road, stopped, as we rode by), honking and swerving out towards us. Lee got pissed and threw his U-Lock at the minivan. Not necessarily the coolest thing to do, but the guy was acting super recklessly and we were all pissed.
The funny thing is that then the guy tried to take pictures of our faces with his camera phone. WTF? I mean, what is he going to do with those photos? How dumb can you get? ("Officer, these random people who you are never going to be able to identify were riding their bikes ON THE STREET, and then they got angry when I tried to hit them with my motor vehicle!") We just took photos of his crappy minivan/plates in return -- which can, of course, actually be identified from the photos.
Minivan FAILS.
theroyalacademy07.2.08 - 2:23 pm
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don't tell anybody but i bought a magnet on the end of a heavy duty collapsible metal rod that will work just like a baton... without the legal issues of carrying a weapon. even has a pocket clip.
indigis07.2.08 - 2:25 pm
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'tis true... ride a bicycle on public streets long enough and EVERYONE gets: smacked in the ass/thrown shit by/shouted at/chased by/doored/almost run down by/actually run down by/etc., etc.
but i'm always fearful denting perpetrator's car or something will result in my ass capped.
soso07.2.08 - 2:29 pm
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some dude also carries rocks in his water bottle to pelt with...
soso07.2.08 - 2:32 pm
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people think that bikes are to be on the sidewalk...do they not read the dirver handbook...or the v.code....
I carry a u-lock...they back off real quick now
MOM_RIDAZ42007.2.08 - 2:36 pm
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I can't believe how much response already. Thanks people.
I get into small "disagreements" with other drivers, get chased, things thrown at me, all of the time (can't wait to get my ass slapped-- hasn't happened yet).
This is different for two reasons-- a) getting filmed and b) getting followed to your destination. This is where it stops being aggressive (which riders deal with daily) and starts being creepy.
bikechase07.2.08 - 2:37 pm
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Always show the U-lock to the perpetrators, then swing it around in a circle like you are going to hit something with it.
It always works. The perps run, drive off or back off.
You never really have to dent a car or crack open a skull.
skd07.2.08 - 2:45 pm
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yep..i havn't had to dent a car...just freak em' out
MOM_RIDAZ42007.2.08 - 2:48 pm
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that IS unnerving.... put that bright ass orange handled U-LOCK right there in your back pocket driverside and make that thing visible. I like Agent Orange's pepper spray approach.
Roadblock07.2.08 - 2:55 pm
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maybe they were filming a documentary on urban cyclists?
tfunk40807.2.08 - 2:56 pm
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Uh, if it was legit they would've talked to the person. This sounds like creepyville to me. Fucking Youtube, made stalkers into "filmmakers."
theroyalacademy07.2.08 - 2:58 pm
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I totally agree with you royal academy.
The sad part is that these dumbasses will probably post the video to youtube and some people will find it amusing.
kyber07.2.08 - 3:03 pm
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yeah dude. following with a camera is creeps-ville. did they even try to talk with her at all?
i think i'm going with Agent Orange as well....time for me to bust out the key-chain pepper spray....pretty sure they sell 'em at AUTOZONE.
ingipet07.2.08 - 3:06 pm
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That is horrible as are other accounts of chasing on this thread. That is intolerable, grrrrr. Makes me feel like I should be carrying my U-lock even when I don't intend to lock up.
GarySe7en07.2.08 - 4:04 pm
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G7, I do.
Hell on the last CRANK MOB I carried it without even having my keys on me (of course that was by accident).
Yeah, before LACM last week I had a bus driver threaten to kill me, for riding in the lane, on a two lane stretch of wilshire, it was so infuriating, that when I told mikeywally what heppened he was about to turn the bus off from the outside when it showed up (there's a kill switch over the battery on the exterior of the rear, curb side corner of the bus). We talked him down, but still, public employees shouldn't be THREATENING the public.
FuzzBeast07.2.08 - 4:09 pm
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@skd, "Always show the U-lock to the perpetrators, then swing it around in a circle like you are going to hit something with it.
It always works. The perps run, drive off or back off.
You never really have to dent a car or crack open a skull."
i dont know if this is a joke or not, but it is not smart. if you whip out your u-lock you better damn well be prepared to bash a skull and bust windows. if your arent prepared to get into that type of shit, be smart and just pull off in a well lit public area.
mikeywally07.2.08 - 4:11 pm
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@bikechase, can't wait to meet you in real life. do you have another handle on ridazz?
mikeywally07.2.08 - 4:12 pm
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mikeywally:
yeah seriously i was going to ask so what do i do AFTER i'm done crying wolf?
soso07.2.08 - 4:31 pm
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wouldn't it be funny (or insert your own word here) if all this bike activism and increase in riders have spawned and underground of drivers who are dedicated to"taking back the streets" by harassing the bike population and purposefully making life difficult for us all?
oh, and they interact with one another thru their own forums and also have nightly/weekly/monthly drives(rides).
jchungerford07.2.08 - 4:44 pm
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@mikeywally,
at Crankmob an MTA guy in a SUV tried to run us down at WIndward Circle. Jerking the SUV forward into the crowd of bikes. I shoved the U-Lock in his face and told him if he intends to use his car as a deadly weapon against us, that we are prepared to defend ourselves. He freaked out and drove away. If he had hit some bikes, i would have broke his windshield.
skd07.2.08 - 4:56 pm
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I was on my commute home from Burbank when I was cut off and almost hit by a guy pulling over in a hurry to park on a neighborhood street. I went around on the left and gave the guy a look and by the next intersection he was next to me swerving, swearing, shaking his fist and trying to run me off the road. The best part is HE LIVES THERE! I see his truck parked there all the time. As soon as this job ends and I'm no longer in that neighborhood I have some sweet plans for this bastard's pretty truck.
frumble07.2.08 - 6:07 pm
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I just try to remember the little shits vehicle for future reference.
That way if I'm in the rig and I see them on the freeway, I'll roll up behind them real quick and flip the Jakes on at the last minute!!
18 wheels of Ass-Whip!!!!!!!!
bentstrider07.3.08 - 2:14 am
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I was riding between Sunset and Beverly Glen on this side street call Charring Cross Rd. one night. This stretch hummer limo full of these long haired blond guys with all this make on was following me. I was scared because I know these Trans Sexual can make themselves look so pretty, but they can be so vicious at the same time. They came by and at the speed I was riding and started CatCalling me. It was weird because they knew my name, they kept saying "hey Sexy". They made lewd comments about my legs and my bottom.
The Hummer cut me off and made me get off my bike. A few of these guys jumped out of the limo, and started to paw me.
They told me there was a party at the playboy mansion that I was invited to, but I wasn't buying that. All of these guys looked just like they came out of the pages of a Victoria Secrets catalog. I mean perfect bodies, hair and teeth. One of them tried to talk nice to me and asked me if I wanted to go on a date with him.
I just can't believe how you can't ride in peace around LA.
YUCKY!
sexy07.3.08 - 2:39 am
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"Makes me feel like I should be carrying my U-lock even when I don't intend to lock up. "
I do that.
Roadblock07.3.08 - 2:45 am
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I was followed but not with a camera...
It was while I was going up Overland from palms, to veteran and sm.
He was in a bmw.... and yelling at me.
Booooooooo negative weirdos!!!
Coe coe buttaa07.3.08 - 4:04 am
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Apologies for my simple solution which I understand is not effective if you are diminutive in stature or bearing or are not prone to confrontation. But I find that the best way not to be chased is not to run, but instead turn and face your pursuer. It's worked for me.
Agent Orange07.3.08 - 7:34 am
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when i'm confronted while riding i rarely do what i should do. rather, i react impulsively. and that is usually confrontational... which is surprising because off the bike, i'm extremely non-confrontational. i will stupidly chase after cars, scream guilt laden obscenities at drivers, and ride extra slow in front to annoy them.
as posted above, i agree that you don't want to brandish a weapon (ulock) unless you are prepared to use it immediately. i've yet to get close to a situation where i'd use my baton... that would have to be an extreme condition where someone was actively attacking me, not simply acting stupidly or driving unsafely.
indigis07.3.08 - 9:20 am
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wow sexy, and you didn't get video of that???
you could have made some serious cash dude. that's sounds like quite the beat down....
;)
ingipet07.3.08 - 6:46 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!