[AFHokie]

@arlrider 96637 wrote:

I’ve about exhausted what I have in me for this thread. I’m sure Hokie will come back with some protracted writeup about how I can’t read, and how I was actually throwing pickles at the cop while telling him that I was the Pope and calling his mother a dog, but whatever, that’s fine. Thanks for listening.

This is my last post on the subject…about time I know.

I have tried to be polite. Based on facts YOU provided I used logic and deductive reasoning as the basis of my argument. I pointed out that you’re likely incorporating an observer bias which you apparently find unpleasant enough to respond with accusations of lies. They’re based on facts provided by you so if they’re lies, who’s lying? I tried to point out the perspective of a cop based on verifiable historical events, to which you bury the lead and say I’m accusing you of murder. In my opinion, you’ve displayed an inability to consider another point of view outside of your own. That’s your prerogative, but don’t pee on my noggin and expect me to believe you when you tell me it’s raining.

I listened to you. I agreed with you. My mom the dog agreed with you. That the cop could’ve done a better job and was rude to you. Where I and others disagreed with you was your statement the cop acted in a threatening manner towards you. If you haven’t figured out by now, I take accusations such as those rather seriously. I and others pointed that out and you went snarky. I made the mistake of indulging you. A mistake I will not make again.

Now stop throwing pickles at the cop. It’s undignified behavior for a Pope.

[AFHokie]

Interesting idea, but after going over a few pontoon bridges in the military, I wonder how much it’ll bob from the weight of a group of riders. Some could find that unnerving.

I also imagine places like the Hudson or even the Potomac, ice would be a concern during the winter. Does the Thames ever freeze over?

[AFHokie]

@arlrider 96584 wrote:

What on earth nonsense are you spouting off? How does what you claim I said at all contradict itself? Any why are you accusing me of lying? My statements are pretty clear to anyone with an elementary level of English reading comprehension. I said that I TRIED to take the photo discretely, but knew that if I was still seen, the officer might not take kindly to it. Why did I take the photo discreetly? Because I know officers don’t like being photographed. Because they try to bully people all the time for exercising their first amendment rights. See article after article and the ACLU. I didn’t want to invite that. So I TRIED to take the photo discreetly. However, even trying to take the photo discreetly it can still be discerned that one is taking a photo; barring use of a bike-mounted camera there is no way to avoid this. So that is what I said – I tried to be discreet, I knew that if he saw me he might not like it (because I was catching him doing something bad), he saw me, he got mad, I passed on my way. What is there for you to not understand?

Typical internet forum comment scum and drivel. Take the next step and insinuate that I was behaving similar to a murderer. Very well done. If he wanted to know why I took a photo, he should have asked me that, and maybe I would have told him. Instead he said, “Do you have a PROBLEM?”.

Calm down Francis.

The definition of contradiction:
1. a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another.
2. a person, thing, or situation in which inconsistent elements are present.
3. the statement of a position opposite to one already made.

Perhaps that will help you understand elementary level English comprehension. See #2.

I went out of my way to tell you I am not accusing you of lying because I sincerely don’t. I simply believe your statements biased due to your involvement in the altercation. If you want to take statements as fact when there’s an obvious chance of bias, that’s your problem.

Take a moment and try actually reading the article. I linked it because the point of the article is not the attack against the PA state police, but rather attacks against police are on the rise. These attacks often include planning and surveillance and at times target specific officers. Discreetly taking photos is surveillance.

You claim different and I believe you honestly think you did not, but I’d wager you rolled by the officer with a scowl on your face. How was it Dirt was able to go out the next day and have a completely different experience? A different officer, but still initially gruff…no different than yours. However, Dirt displayed niceties and built positive rapport with the officer. That’s how a results oriented person accomplishes a positive result.

Since you can’t seem to figure it out: EVERYONE AGREES WITH YOU; THE COP WAS RUDE! I take umbrage with the fact you can’t seem to wrap your noggin around the idea that perhaps you are not the innocent little cherub you seem to think you are and why on earth your action elicited such a response. A response you admit to expecting which I suspect showed on your face as you went by. Yep his response was out of line. NOBODY is debating that, but there are dozens of things you could’ve done differently to effect a positive outcome for yourself, the officer, and every other motorist/cyclist/pedestrian who passed after you. Instead you chose to come to an internet forum and tell everyone how you, an upstanding citizen caught the police acting inept and then he acted like a big meany towards you.

Rudeness does not equal brutality. To claim so degenerates a very real problem. In the future I suggest you fill out this form.

[AFHokie]

@baiskeli 96541 wrote:

And, of course, on my way home today I passed a guy on a bike carrying golf clubs on his back.

He don’t care ’bout no golf vs. bike controversy.

If I tried that, you could follow me by the trail of random clubs I’d drop along the path. Of course it wouldn’t likely be a long trail since I’m sure a club would find it’s way into my spokes.

[AFHokie]

@arlrider 96472 wrote:

I see nothing in the quoted posts above that supports this assertion that my accounts are conflicting. I took a picture from a distance and then rode/walked past the constriction in the sidewalk, at which time the officer made the statement which I quoted. I took the photo in a manner which was intended to be discreet (from chest level and glancing) but he obviously saw what I was doing and this was the basis for the comment.

Yes, I can say that. Because I knew that taking a photo could provoke a response and I did not want to do anything to further those chances. That’s why I took the photo from a distance and tried not to make a scene. Moreover, as stated upthread, the blockage of the sidewalk caused me to need to slow and dismount following a pedestrian, so I was focused on that.

And based on your thread posts, I get the impression that you like to insert “facts” that you have made up to support your arguments.

I have too, but when the officer starts with a loaded statement in an aggressive tone, then I see the odds stacked against me and do not wish to pursue discourse.

The “facts” are what YOU presented. Are you now saying you made them up? With only your side of the story I’m left to decipher what actually occurred. Sorry, but my days of taking a random individual’s word as unbiased are long gone.

In the first you claim you discreetly took the photo, made no statement, made no eye contact and insist you gave the officer no reason to interact with you. In the second you contradict this when you imply you fully expected an interaction with the officer as you passed him. Your statement above confirms you not only anticipated it, you expected it to be less than cordial.

Do I think you’re lying? No, but because of the “fact” you are a participant, I consider anything you say regarding the officer slanted favorably toward yourself. The truth exists somewhere in the middle. Your snide comment just adds to my point.

Something you may want to consider when photographing police. Officers have been targeted for attacks in the past. Considering the manner in which you took the photo, I find it reasonable he wanted to know why you photographed him.

[AFHokie]

@arlrider 96362 wrote:

I would just like to make it clear that I made no statement to this officer, nor did I even make eye contact. The photo was taken at a distance where I could have been photographing any number of things. Yet he seemed to know exactly what was up. It’s almost like he knew he was doing something wrong…

I’m a results-driven person and I haven’t seen any positive results.

@arlrider 96428 wrote:

He did not ask “what are you doing?”. He asked “Do you have a PROBLEM?” (emphasis his) while stepping forward towards the sidewalk where i was trying to ride. It was not asked while I was taking the photo but later while I was riding by (the photo was taken from far away). When a man with a gun asks me if I have a problem while starting to move towards me, I consider that akin to picking a fight, and yes I find it threatening.

And @jnva, I too was glad to see the new placement today. I hope that’s a result of a policy, not just one officer that was smarter or more motivated than others have been in the past.

You give two conflicting accounts. In the first, you’re minding your own business and out of nowhere the officer comes at you with hostile intent. In the second, your statement gives the impression that you’re giving either, him, his car, or both the stink eye (which he catches) to which he then asks you what’s the problem.

For the record, I’m not defending him. Again, if you’re quoting him exactly, I think he was rude. Personally, I think he should’ve parked the car in the grass where he was standing and he should be standing where the car was, but I wasn’t there and I’m not an ACPD member. I don’t know the department’s training and policies. There are a number of reasons as to why he parked his car there and some could be legitimate. That said, it’s not like he left six inches between his car and a wall; the guy ahead of you appears to make it around without incident.

Should he have negatively interacted with you? No, of course not, but how about taking a hard look at how you approached him? Can you honestly say that you did not give him a look of contempt or disgust as you went by? Based on the tone of your posts, I’m not certain you can honestly say you did not.

Based on your thread posts I get the impression that no matter what, every cop starts out in a hole with you for no reason other than the fact they’re a police officer.

[AFHokie]

@peterw_diy 96411 wrote:

Seriously? Where have you been that you haven’t heard of LEOs improperly harassing individuals for taking pictures? Did you miss the story of Maryland arresting someone and confiscating gear for videorecording an on-duty state trooper? How about the credentialed WaPo reporter arrested for “trespassing” in a McDonalds after videorecording police?

Fair or not, LEOs have a reputation for highly disliking being photographed, and reacting as if they were, to use the FBI Director’s language, “beyond the law.”

@rcannon100 96446 wrote:

It’s well established First Amendment law. It’s called “chilling speech.” Peterw_diy references some of the precedent. And yes, it is quite illegal. Simply stated, LE can take no action to discourage you from exercising your First Amendment rights. The penalties for doing so are substantial. ACLU Information on photography and police.

As an amateur photographer, I know it’s not just LEO’s who dislike being photographed. I’ve also been around enough to know it’s legal in VA & MD. I’m also smart enough to know I will not debate 1st amendment rights on a bike forum.

[AFHokie]

@arlrider 96287 wrote:

Today after I took this photo, from a distance and saying nothing, the officer scowled at me as I rode by and yelled “Do you have a problem?!”. I did not say anything or respond. So, this is where we’re at – cyclists being punished for being the victims of collisions, then threatened for documenting wastes of County resources.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6758[/ATTACH]

How exactly did the officer threaten you? I’ll agree he was rude, but I fail to see how yelling “do you have a problem” constitutes an implied or explicit threat.

[AFHokie]

I realize I’m ‘poking the bear’ but:

Why chase down a person who’s doing laps? Just stop and wait; they’re coming around again…

[AFHokie]

I’d be pretty upset if someone bumped me like that and would’ve like tossed a few expletives myself, but I agree with TwoWheels in that you could’ve handled it much better. I’m not saying I’d have done any better, but I think the best thing you could’ve done is slowed down or stopped until you’re emotions cooled and let the group pass. When I first moved to the DC area, the best piece of advice I received was ‘don’t take driving personally’. I find I often repeat that advice to myself while I’m on my bike as well.

Now about the pack… It’s visually clear to anyone he’s not riding with them; not kitted up, not on a road bike, etc so the members of that pack should’ve given him a wide berth. A group of riders used to the jostling/bumping that occurs in a race does not excuse hers or the entire group’s behavior. Race car drivers are used to driving at high speeds inches apart with occasional contact. However, what do you think would be the response if a group of professional drivers did that to a random car on the highway? His situation was exactly the same.

Lastly, the group running the stop sign in your second video…at the beginning there was a van trying to make a left turn; by failing to stop the group cut him off. How’s the group any different than a car making the right without coming to a full stop? They did an excellent job reenforcing the ‘cyclists are assholes’ stereotype.

[AFHokie]

Does this whole incident remind anyone else about the BBC Top Gear episode when James May and Jeremy Clarkson spent a day cycling about London? Their conclusion was regardless of whether you were driving, cycling, or walking; buses are the most dangerous vehicle on the road.

[AFHokie]

@Steve O 95475 wrote:

The problem here is actually bigger and different. This was discussed earlier this summer on the Arlington Infrastructure thread.

This intersection needs a bike traffic signal.

With the amount of pedestrian and cyclist traffic crossing the Pike and the amount of vehicular traffic on the Pike, what it really needs is some sort of overpass or tunnel.

[AFHokie]

I have a lot of gear from years of camping and from years in the field while in the military, but I’ve been looking at wet weather/winter clothing and trying to figure out what will work for cycling. The cycling specific jackets I’ve looked at have not impressed me.

Even in cold weather it’s a given I’ll sweat, so any jacket I’d want must have pit zips for ventilation. Any true waterproof jacket will cause you to sweat with any amount of physical activity. If saturated Gore-Tex will loose the ability to repel water, but based on my experiences I think Gore-Tex is the best option.

I currently have a Gore-Tex North Face rain jacket that’s worked well while hiking/walking, but it is not long enough to completely cover my back while riding. Additionally, the hood blocks my vision too much and doesn’t fit very well over a bike helmet. I already ordered a Gore helmet cover…curious as to how well that’ll block the rain from running down my head through the vents.

Let’s also not forget preferably a jacket that’s hi-viz.

I don’t have much faith in any rain pants. The only truly waterproof pants I’ve ever owned were my ski pants and those are entirely too bulky (and too hot) to wear on a bike. Right now my assumption is to wear thermal tights that will block the wind and hopefully, they’ll have some similarity to wool or neoprene and still keep me warm even when wet. So far what I’ve found online doesn’t leave me hopeful unless I’m willing to spend.

Based on previous outdoor experiences I want a dedicated winter shoe. I’m looking at Lake Cycling or 45NRTH Wölvhammer but they’re pricey.

[AFHokie]

Thank you all for the info. The plan is to take the WOD to Leesburg, then up to the ferry and come back down the C&O. I hope to do the ride in the next week or two.

[AFHokie]

Isn’t that a two lane road? i.e. one lane for each direction of travel? Even if you weren’t there, the truck had the right of way before the bus since it was first in line. I’m assuming because you were there, the truck backed off to keep from sandwiching you between him and the bus. Unless the truck initially indicated a left turn and changed his mind? I didn’t see a turn signal indicating a left from the truck.

That’s not the first vehicle I’ve watched use a right turn lane to get ‘beat’ another vehicle waiting to go straight through an intersection, but it’s the first time I’ve seen a bus try it. Usually, it’s cabs or other cars.

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