Road rage incident in Richmond Heights

[NOTE: An update to this story was posted 12/23/2003.]

A man in a blue van became enraged and assaulted a cyclist in Richmond Heights, threatening him with two screwdrivers, spitting at him, throwing a two-liter soft drink bottle at him, and finally stealing his bike bag.

The cyclist was not physically injured. The bag was found a few blocks away with most contents still intact.

The supposed reason for the assault was that the van driver had to wait behind the cyclist for a few seconds at a red light.

Richmond Heights police talked with the driver immediately after the incident and have now brought him to the police station for an interview and to be identified in a line-up. The man has a record of traffic violations. But since he has no previous criminal record, police have released him again, though they are contemplating charges for assault and theft.

Missouri has a very poor reputation as a place where motorists often intimidate cyclists and rarely face any consequences for their actions. Richmond Heights police may be moving in the right direction in this case by bringing charges of assault and theft. But it is difficult to understand why a man who is clearly a continuing danger to cyclists and other road users is allowed to remain on the streets while charges are contemplated.

Research and common sense suggest that when authorities ignore or minimize attacks on cyclists, such attacks are encouraged. This is no small matter, because one of the main factors discouraging people from riding more is harassment and intimidation by motorists.

At a time when public health authorities across the country are encouraging citizens to walk and bicycle more, it is clearly in the public interest for authorities to take strong action against drivers who intimidate and harass cyclists.

At a time when Missouri has received national attention for its poor record of motorist harassment of bicyclists, it is time for police to make a difference by taking strong, decisive, and well-publicized action in this clear-cut case of assault and intimidation.


The public--motorists and bicyclists alike--need to know that such behavior will not be tolerated on our streets.

The cyclist's account of this incident is here, here, and here (subscribers only).