Bicyclist smash, police arrest

Go home, you're drunk!

If I'm angry and yelling at a driver, its most likely because they almost hit/killed me. Just my two cents.

Although I've had a few obscenity laced fits directed at drivers that have almost hit me, only to line up with them a few lights later and offer my sincere apologizes when waiting for the red. "Hey, I'm sorry for yelling at you back there, I was out of line. But you need to check your mirrors and blind spots before you pull across the bike lane to park."

Just one example I know but we aren't all assholes, just like all drivers aren't assholes. Plus I can't stand riding around in constrictive clothing, I prefer something comfortable and light fitting.

Virtually no bicyclists in Boston wear that shit. Seriously. We're mostly commuters and regular folks going to work, running errands, etc and dressed accordingly. If I go out to Concord on a Saturday in October, yes, I see the guys in spandex. But not in the city, not biking through JP or Brookline or Brighton. And I've said it before here, but the ones who seem angry to me are the ones driving cars, not riding bikes. I'm happy as a clam on my bike, except when some jackass on a car is trying, through carelessness, inattention or misplaced aggression, to kill me. Get it now?

Cyclist arrested (at 6:55 PM) is 61 years old. When police caught up with him, he was no longer wearing his helmet, red bandanna, and "neon" vest.

Yup, probably the guilty party. Lots of people try to hide their guilt when confronted. What's your excuse?

Driver reported the cyclist had first attempted verbal communication, though she found it indecipherable.

After prolonged periods in the cold, the jaw may not be very happy and it may make it difficult to speak clearly. Also, I'm fairly certain that her windows were rolled up. So, what's your point?

I'm not surprised by someone living in JP actively displaying an anti-car attitude.

Or...perhaps there's more to the story that what is reported here. But, being someone of your bias, you immediately assume it was because the rider is "anti-car", because everyone who might have a beef with a driver - any driver, anywhere - is axiomatically anti-car? Isn't that right Mark?

...is getting out of a car to run, period.

I suspect some of my success in staring down mouthy would-be assailants threatening me with bodily harm has been because nobody is going to believe a smallish female started a fight and no dumbass bully is going to live down getting his ass kicked by a small mature female, either.

There are a lot of cowards out there who get their thrills trying to bully others. Fortunately, most are all mouth and will shut up and flee when their tough guy act fails to produce a fear response and elicits defiant self-defense instead. They aren't looking for a real fight, just a dominance thrill.

But I have a long and rather ugly history of dealing with bullies.

Not that this is something that happens all the time, anyway. In fact, it has been at least three years since anybody got obnoxious enough to play this game with me. I suspect motorists have simply been learning their place.

In slippery conditions car drivers even choose alternatives to driving, like public transit. Perhaps that's something cyclists could also think about in snow choked streets.

You're upset with people exercising their rights as outlined by mass general law? I'm asking for it when I drive safely to the rule of the law? I'll drive as far to the right as is safe and you'll have to pass me safely, its the law.

Don't tell me to move over, don't buzz me to teach me a lesson because I'm "asking for it." Pass me safely and we'll be ok, got it?

Oh and I'll look out for car doors, thats why many of us ride in the middle of the lane, because drivers can't be bothered to follow the law on THEIR end and check their mirrors before opening the car door into traffic. Remember, its illegal to door a cyclist and you will be found at fault, not me.