Look out for beligerant, possibly violent runner on Custis

[huskerdont]

6:30 a.m. on 12/9 on the Custis Trail near Lee Highway a runner came at me as if to knock me off my bike. I managed to safely go onto the side of trail and dismount, and the runner ran up to me, pointing his light in my face and screaming that I had to turn my light off. (I do try to turn the light away from oncoming users, and don’t feel I had my light on him until he was coming at me, btw). He was either trying to figure out how to punch me with my helmet on, or he was pretending to punch me, but eventually I got my bike between us as a shield and he ran off. I did not report to police b/c I didn’t feel I had any real information to report, but watch out for this person. White male, about 6 feet, maybe 170 pounds.

Topic

[Tania]

This is a big concern of mine (I’m fairly small) when biking to/from work. Awesome.

…and thank you for getting Don’t Want to Know if You’re Lonely stuck in my head.

[83b]

After a few frightening interactions with young people in my neighborhood, I started keeping this pepper spray strapped to my bike. Thankfully I’ve never had to use it, but my experiences and stories like this make me glad it’s there.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

I have stem-mounted pepper spray as well. I really wanted rocket launchers, but they are too heavy for my commute, I think.

[huskerdont]

@Tania 129502 wrote:

thank you for getting Don’t Want to Know if You’re Lonely stuck in my head.

This is a good thing though, yes?

Pepper spray suggested by others doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Frankly, the guy seemed crazy, with spittle flying from his mouth while he screamed, and it has occurred to me that he might reappear one morning armed. Most cyclists have lights that time of morning, so it’s a bit of a concern for all. Hopefully he was just having a bad day and won’t repeat.

[Guus]

@huskerdont 129506 wrote:

This is a good thing though, yes?

Pepper spray suggested by others doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Frankly, the guy seemed crazy, with spittle flying from his mouth while he screamed, and it has occurred to me that he might reappear one morning armed. Most cyclists have lights that time of morning, so it’s a bit of a concern for all. Hopefully he was just having a bad day and won’t repeat.

I’m sorry that this happened to you. I run on Custis around that time, I was probably 15 minutes away from Custis/Key yesterday morning.

Don’t let this incident get to you.

[jabberwocky]

Should really have been reported. Police wouldn’t have been able to do anything most likely, but it would be very helpful if he repeats or does assault someone in the future.

[bentbike33]

I think I may have encountered this guy too in the same general area. He was not close enough to me during his tirade for me to feel threatened, however. He should do the world a favor and take up jogging on a treadmill if he’s not going to take his meds.

[Rootchopper]

There’s a walker who I have passed near Daingerfield Island on the Mount Vernon Trail who gets really upset when I ring my bell. He turns and yells at me as I pass. 2x this week

[rcannon100]

Might need a crazy thread

I meant to mention there was – what appeared to be a homeless woman – down at Trollheim – who was leaving her bags out in the middle of the path – in the dark. When asked to move them – she started screaming. I mean I have no idea – but what was running through my mind is that she was leaving those bags in the middle of the path in a dark spot on purpose in order to cause a crash.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

@Rootchopper 129518 wrote:

There’s a walker who I have passed near Daingerfield Island on the Mount Vernon Trail who gets really upset when I ring my bell. He turns and yells at me as I pass. 2x this week

You can print out and highlight the section of virginia state law that says a cyclist must give an audible warning before passing a pedestrian next time you see him.

“A person riding a bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.”

http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-904/

[TwoWheelsDC]

Helmet headbutt.

[huskerdont]

@Guus 129512 wrote:

Don’t let this incident get to you.

20+ years of riding the trail and this is the first incident of its kind, so no worries other than I am more on my guard through there now just in case. Most runners are cool and can understandably get a bit spooked by a cyclist now and then, but as a runner myself, I know that’s when I’m most relaxed, so this guy seems to be looking for trouble.

[baiskeli]

And while we’re at it, you could print out the law that says you have to have a light on your bike.

http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter10/section46.2-1015/

[DrP]

@rcannon100 129524 wrote:

Might need a crazy thread

I meant to mention there was – what appeared to be a homeless woman – down at Trollheim – who was leaving her bags out in the middle of the path – in the dark. When asked to move them – she started screaming. I mean I have no idea – but what was running through my mind is that she was leaving those bags in the middle of the path in a dark spot on purpose in order to cause a crash.

I went passed her the other night. She was moving bags around (could have been the slow transport of them) when I rang my bell and she yelled something unintelligible (at last to someone biking past) but moved to the railing. I was wondering what she was doing, but the bridge seemed to be the wrong place for whatever it was.

If we are doing a crazy thread.. there is a white bearded jogger heading north on the MVT that I pass between the 14th St Bridge and Gravelly Point whom I often hear yell or loudly mutter “{different expletive each time} cyclists.” I always call out a cheery hello when I pass (heading south). Some days he grumbles again.

[83b]

There’s a woman on East Capitol who sings a little ditty to scofflaw cyclists. I’ll be waiting at a red light, smugly basking in my own self-righteousness. She’ll be next to me at her bus stop, basking in her own eccentricity and vegan shoes. And every time a cyclist comes through and runs the light she’ll sing out something like “Oh look at you, aren’t you: above the law; a very important person; a special snowflake; etc.”

I’ve tried adding accompaniment with my Crane bell, but sadly I lack the rhythm necessary for percussion instruments.

[Author]

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