Tough Guy

I try to commute by bicycle 2-3 days a week from Mount Joy to Lititz. A one-way trip of 16-18 miles takes about an hour (depending on the route and energy level and winds). I take as many back roads as possible to avoid cars and slowing down traffic (the direct route on state route 772 would be suicidal).

At least twice a week i encounter some new jackass who thinks its 'fun" to harass or threaten a cyclist. I ride to the right, keep my speed up, and do whatever it takes to avoid being an impediment to traffic.

Nevertheless, enough of them are driving with some inner rage that turns them to into homicidal jerks.

Yesterday morning I encountered one of these embarrassments to the gene pool on the quiet stretch of Auction road that runs through the tiny collection of houses known as "Junction." The speed limit here is 25. I was travelling 20.5 through the S curve just before town.

As soon as I exited the curve I could hear the truck coming up fast and close.

I moved over as far to the right as possible (even though there was NO oncoming traffic), and then mush-brain decides to pass me two feet from my left.

Two feet at 20+ MPH is CLOSE. There are rocks, potholes, broken glass, and sticks on the right side of all the roads.

As you can see in the following stills from the video I captured, he passes close (very close -- the mirror was within inches of my head) and then PULLS OVER TO THE RIGHT and applies his brakes.

The fish eye lens of the GoPro makes it appear a bit further than it actually was, but the roadway here is 17' wide. the centerline is 8.5' from the right edge. A Ford Pickup is 8.7' wide (104.9").

You'll see in the still below that the minimal IQ driver of this pickup truck is completely in the right lane:

Jackass PA Plate: ZBD-5414

So that leaves less than 8" from the side of his truck to the edge of the road surface.

Taken 7:12 AM, 11 May 2016 on Auction Road in Manheim Borough.

Less than 2' away. Clearly intentional.