It's great because it allows us to crowd-source information about aggressive drivers in our local area...aggressive drivers is so impersonal. These aggressive drivers are better described as aggressive people, people that don't care for the life of another, people that want to kill or seriously injure someone just because they committed the mortal sin of riding a bicycle on the road.
The creator argues that these "hostile drivers are often serial offenders. When a driver "sends a message" by purposefully passing within several inches or by intentionally running you off the road they are committing a life-threatening assault and using their car as a potentially lethal weapon." Based on anecdotal evidence, I'd say he's correct. It's kind of like people that choose to drive drunk - it's never just one time.
Unless we, people that ride bikes, work together these 'people' will continue to do this. Working together in this case means reporting them whenever and wherever we can. Unfortunately, enforcing the 3-foot law is really hard - unless they actually hit you. Then it's pretty easy to prove they got closer than 3-feet - duh!
So when you experience the joy of a 'punish pass', getting run off the road, assault, having things thrown at you make sure you take the 60 seconds to log your encounter with the Close Call Database and the Maryland Incident Report database.
Now you're thinking "why should I report it twice?" Well the Close Call Database is great because you can see the reports within 60 miles of your 'home' location - some of the incidents will even be e-mailed to you. Now the Maryland Incident Report database is used by Maryland Advocacy organizations to track and advocate with local and state government. However, you can't see the reports that have been submitted. So take the time and help your fellow cyclists by reporting to Close Call Database AND your advocates by reporting to Bike Maryland Incident Report database.
You Shall Not Pass - While cycling down a local roadway on the shoulder the rider approached a line of traffic in the main travel lanes. The driver of the pick-up truck saw the rider coming and decided that he needed to drive on the shoulder to keep the person on the bike from passing.
Blind as a Bat - Driver pulled out in front of three riders. Two riders were running front strobes. One strobe was blasting at 700 lumen...and then the driver just grinned at the riders
Punish Pass - Cycling down Odenton Road the two cars passed me. The first car passed at a very safe distance. The second car passed came within 18 inches of the rider.
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