FreeWheels

[william]

Some of you probably saw my Indymedia post (http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2005/12/61726.html) and already know but for those who don't, this past saturday night, as I was riding my bike home from a party in Manhattan, I was assaulted by at least two, possibly all four of the occupants of a car that a few moments earlier had dangerously passed between me and a line of parked cars. I was riding in the left lane of 1st avenue heading for the 59th street bridge, when a silver car breezed by me on the left hand side, nearly hitting me. As I often do when drivers endanger me, I caught up with the car and gave it a whack to the side-view mirror, knocking it out of place (although not damaging it). The car stopped in the left lane and, not perceiving any real danger, I stopped ahead of it to continue the confrontation. Whenever I've had these type of confrontations before I've always had time to distance myself if the driver actually got of of his car, usually they threaten for a while, buying me time. But this time these guys got out and didn't give me any time to get away or to grab my chain. Before I knew it I was on the ground. They got about seven or eight punches to my head, mostly on top or to the side and my forehead, none in my face. I managed to struggle away from them but by then they were almost back in their car and within ten seconds were gone. I yelled something and read the license place number but wasn't able to remember it. I got right up, back on my bike and rode up a block, considering going after them with my chain (they were stopped at a light) but though the better of it. I rode a block or two looking for a police car that I thought I had seen a few minutes earlier but couldn't find it. So I went back to the location of the attack and called 911 and reported that I had been assaulted. Two squad cars showed up right away and the officers I spoke to were awfully nice and sympathetic. They both said they also rode bikes and agreed that drivers were way too violent. That really shook my world. Anyway, other than a litle soreness in my jaw and a bruise on my forehead, I'm fine and not discouraged at all about biking in this city, even during the winter. Actually I learned a lot from the experience, about violence, self-defense and my own version of road-rage. I'll never let myself be so vulnerable again and from now on I'm either not going to stop to confront dangerous drivers or if I do, I won't get off my bike and will try to be ready to grab my chain if I have to.

[MT]

Tough stuff Will. I just wanted to say that I'm feeling for you, sharing your anger, frustrated by this all too unsurprising event. It makes me angry at the city, for perpetuating and feeding into the idea of cyclists as not deserving to be in the road. It makes me think of how brave people are, to bike all the time in New York, and brave without thinking about it. We do something that most people don't even concider, and would be terrified to 'have' to do. We do it, and by and large love it and enjoy it, and appreciate how it makes our lives better, even as we put up with the world's attempts to keep us off the streets.
I know I don't have to encourage you to keep riding, I know it would take a lot more than four assholes to keep you off the street, and hope next time I'll be around to get your back.

-MT

[twheeler]

glad you learned your lesson, william. i too agree that car drivers are needlessly ruthless and can be violent toward bikers, but that does not mean we need to behave as they do. responding in kind only escalates the situation and creates more ill will.