By Ryan Mallon, Road.CC
“The distance is less than a foot and would have brought down half the group at least”
This “Near Miss” came from South Carolina, where a motorist has been accused of repeatedly harassing cyclists, after he was caught on camera deliberately veering towards a group of riders and almost causing a crash in an apparent act of road rage.
The incident took place on Saturday (despite the cyclist’s camera being set to the wrong date) as the motorist passed a group of cyclists riding two-abreast on South Carolina’s SeeWee Road, around 20 miles north of Charleston, the most populous city in the US state.
A clip of the punishment pass, captured by Michael Bannister, has been viewed almost 150,000 times on social media since it was uploaded at the weekend, attracting hundreds of comments – including from other cyclists who claim to have experienced similar treatment by the same motorist.
In the video, two cyclists can be seen riding side-by-side as they lead a group ride on a wide straight section of the road. However, as the driver passes them, he suddenly swerves into their path, missing one rider’s front wheel by inches and forcing him to duck to the right to avoid a collision.
In his social media post, Bannister – who did indeed, as his clubmate exclaimed immediately after the incident, “get that on tape” – claimed that the same driver also targeted another group of cyclists from their club just down the road.
“On this morning’s winter ride while cruising SeeWee road at 21mph a driver harassed our group, and half a mile later harassed the faster group,” he wrote. “In addition to the ‘get off the road’ rhetoric we have all heard, this Rhodes Scholar assaulted us with the closest attack I have ever witnessed. The distance is less than a foot and would have brought down half the group at least.”
Bannister added that the deliberate close pass was reported to Charleston’s police force, noting that “myself and others in the group will push for charges. I implore any cyclist who puts some time on the road to invest in a camera,” he wrote. “After 43 years of riding I am at the point that I will forgo a day of seeing patients and its income to come to court and make sure you pay. This is beyond someone having a problem with bikers and their tight pants, and crosses into assault – I would say with a deadly weapon, but I’m not an attorney.”
Michael’s clip also prompted other South Carolina cyclists to come forward with their own experiences of what they believe is the same aggressive, close passing motorist.
In the comments under the video, Barbara Wiggins wrote: “This is the same Subaru Outback that harassed Rachel and I even when we were on the opposite side of the road. Now I have a front and rear camera to catch these guys. Glad you were able to grab the plate and report.”
“Although I can’t be certain that looks like the same car that has buzzed by us several times while on the Coastal Cyclist Seewee Outpost ride,” said Kent Sinclair. “Even if he is going the opposite direction he will always honk his horn and flip us off.”
“We got the same treatment from him,” added Brian Fancher: “That was not an isolated incident yesterday.”
However, rather inevitably (it is the internet, after all), the clip has also sparked a debate about whether the cyclists on the receiving end of the motorist’s aggression should have been riding single file. “When in a group guy at the back should be calling out for guys in front to go narrow,” said George Green in the comments. “Understand how to group ride properly and this driver rage s*** won’t be a thing!”
Luckily, Simon Greenwood (and a few others) were on hand to explain the safety benefits of riding two abreast. “Seems to be a lot of guys think the group should be single file on that road!” Simon said. “If the group were single file an overtaking vehicle would still have to cross the solid yellow line if they give the cyclists 1.5 metres minimum gap.
“Two abreast is safer on that road as it makes the car driver wait for a safe pass rather than squeeze through with cars going in the opposite direction.
“People who can’t cope with a cyclist really need to be banned from the road, then go on an advanced course and in this case an anger management course. It’s all in the Highway Code if you don’t believe me!”
Somehow, I don’t think that driver pays much attention to the Highway Code…
By Ryan Mallon, Road.CC
