Police identify a suspect in Hummer road rage case
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on February 13th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Portland Police Bureau detectives say they’ve identified a suspect in the case of a road rage incident that took place in Northwest Portland just over two weeks ago.
The victim — who claims he was nearly run down, threatened with a baseball bat and then punched in the face by a man in a Hummer SUV — picked the suspect out of a photo line-up last week.
A spokesperson for the Police Bureau said this morning that,
“With the help of the victim and other witnesses, including alert BikePortland readers, we’ve identified a suspect in the case, but have not made an arrest yet. We believe he may live out-of-state. The investigation is ongoing.”
The Hummer was being driven without license plates or tags and the suspect is being charged with Assault IV which is a Class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
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February 13th, 2008 12:50
Heh. This guy works in Downtown Vancouver. Saw him the day after the original posting doing a U-turn on Washington (a one-way) and 12th to park, then getting out of his hummer.
Wondered if it was him.
Stay classy, douchebag.
February 13th, 2008 12:59
Alert Bikeportland readers?
Sweet!
February 13th, 2008 13:05
Suuuweeeeet!
February 13th, 2008 13:08
Cool. I saw a not-quite-the-same-blue-color H3 yesterday on my lunch ride and was wondering if there'd ever be any followup on this case.
February 13th, 2008 13:21
Now if we could just take ALL the Hummer drivers out there off the streets...
February 13th, 2008 13:42
Jammers,
Don't be so intolerant of people different from yourself.
February 13th, 2008 13:44
seriously! like that red hummer downtown the other day that was towed because it was blocking the street car with it's huge ass.
so, is it a requirement to be inbred in order to purchase these cars?
February 13th, 2008 13:49
go forth and beat thy hummers into plow bikes....bike shares.....um.....something useful
February 13th, 2008 13:51
I was pleasently surprised to see that this has been followed up on.
February 13th, 2008 13:56
Thank you for the update!
February 13th, 2008 14:05
Thank you, PPB, for a job well done!
February 13th, 2008 14:20
You're sure a judgmental lot, aren't you? Hypocrites. I'm not excusing anyone's behavior, if this dude threatened, or hurt, some one, then I hope there is justice. But, even in jest, it's simply not okay to stereotype anyone for any reason. I, as a cyclist, absolutely do not fit the usual stereotypes of a cyclist. However, I do take a lot of garbage directed at those stereotypes.
Many of you have voiced your outrage at the name of my blog. You don't like getting lumped in with elements in the cycling community you don't like. Why then, turn around and do it to other people? Just doesn't make any sense. Well, unless you are a hypocrite. Nanner.
Make sure your own house is clean...! Sigh.
February 13th, 2008 14:22
Vance,
you are speaking logically and objectively.
Which is why these people will never understand you.
February 13th, 2008 14:28
Are they not identifying him publically yet?
Bjorn
February 13th, 2008 14:28
Thanks for the follow-up Jonathan, I'm curious to see what happens next.
February 13th, 2008 14:52
Vance, quit stereotyping hypocrites. Let me guess, this guy is short, bald, and dresses in dockers to go with his big shiny watch. He had a bad day a couple weeks ago because he didn't make quota for the third straight week, so he was alittle pissed when he realized he had to put his Hummer payment on one of his credit cards...so there!
February 13th, 2008 14:52
GO VANCE! We cant all get along until we ALL drop the predjudices and stereotypes.
February 13th, 2008 14:54
@Vance
"But, even in jest, it's simply not okay to stereotype anyone for any reason."
I disagree entirely.
February 13th, 2008 15:01
All issues of the usefulness of social stereotyping aside, it tickles me that Bikeportland readers are given credit for tracking this guy down. I love to think of us as a cohesive and powerful enough group of folks that we can get dudes like this off the street.
February 13th, 2008 15:20
stereotypes to some people are just traits and habits that have been proved time and again in one person's experience to be true.
February 13th, 2008 15:34
I see very few stereotypes in the comments here, and the ones I do see seem in jest.
No, mostly just a lot of relief and satisfaction that someone who would threaten to run over and hit another with a baseball bat might just get his due.
February 13th, 2008 15:39
Vance? Steroetypes?
From your blog: "So when you wear your individual blend of retro-repro-retro, ride your little fixie, get your asian tattoos, and join your little groups..."
And there's more...
Pot, meet kettle.
February 13th, 2008 15:39
Except for Vance's...but he may be in the middle of cleaning his own house- so he's forgiven!
February 13th, 2008 15:45
Big SUV's aren't just a matter of style. All those folks driving light trucks who ought to be driving cars, mean extra dead Americans. How many? Take a look at this study for some (fairly) hard numbers on just the impact (sigh) on pedestrians:
http://tinyurl.com/yw6vk3
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16081753?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus
Just in 2002, if those light trucks had
all been sedans (some of them presumably really needed to be LT's),
somewhere between 515 and 676 (95% confidence) people wouldn't have died
in the US. So no, there's lots of folks who can't just "get along" with SUV's ...
February 13th, 2008 17:24
Hope he is brought to justice regardless of his choice in vehicle.
February 13th, 2008 17:31
this guys choice of vehicle had nothign to do with the fact he got out of the car with a baseball bat...sorry folks.
he could have easily stepped out of a '94 Honda, '83 pickup, or (gasp) electric hybrid...uncontrollable anger is uncontrollable anger..its hardly defined by your choice of automobile.
I've seen plenty of a-holes in all types of vehicles to think otherwise..
February 13th, 2008 17:55
Vance is more judgmental than even I. (yes, I am not afraid to dig at even myself)
This is apparent in most everything he writes.
On another note:
Hummer + Vancouver Driver = Screams of living in my neighborhood.
I saw two Hummers out here that fit the description just in one short outing this afternoon. I appear to live in Hummerville.
February 13th, 2008 18:03
Vance would like to continue the myth that there's a conflict between SUV drivers and all cyclists...
heck, ever big George Hincapie drives an SUV...so much for little things like facts..
http://www.caraudiomag.com/features/cae_0711_infinity_qx56_george_hincapie_wicked_cas/photo_01.html
February 13th, 2008 18:40
Congratulations to the victim for successfully photo id'ing this nut case. I'd love to see Portland sock it to this malignant driver for the whole $4000 bucks. That's probably three or four hummer payments. A year out of his usual idiotic routine would be well assigned too, but incarceration in a nice jail or prison is too good for him.
February 13th, 2008 20:19
Please do not respond to the troll, or any of his sock puppet aliases. Stay on topic, and he'll get tired and go back to his own super-popular blog. Where he can write his own comments.
February 13th, 2008 20:29
My bike safety blog has left this story alone, for the simple reason that this was not an incident between a bike and motor vehicle, it was an assault that was escalated and continued by the motor vehicle operator even after the cyclist tried to leave the scene. I'm glad the assailant has been caught, has he been charged yet?
February 13th, 2008 20:33
But I'll say this:
Hummers are grossly inefficient, oversized, under-capable vehicles that have one purpose - to satisfy the egos of selfish, narcissistic people who are oblivious of their footprint in this world. It's not surprising that people of a certain personality often drive them. Is it stereotyping when it's true?
February 13th, 2008 20:38
Hope the perp will be charged with something that will affect his driver's license, if he in fact threatened anyone from the safety of his cage. Assault could be pled down to minimum time (if any) and a fine, but no revocation or suspension of license. In most places, reckless driving--while less sexy than assault--means mandatory suspension and fine.
February 13th, 2008 20:45
peejay,
You were saying . . .
http://www.alternet.org/story/14839/
February 13th, 2008 21:46
...maybe a little good cop bad cop, minus the good cop, and give the bad cop a baseball bat. Then maybe he would feel like he made the victim feel.
Lock 'em up.
February 13th, 2008 21:48
So, trying to run someone over with a car isn't assault with a deadly weapon!? I had a friend that was involved in a "scuffle" in a bar and happened to have a beer bottle in his hand, with beer in it, and he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. I don't know of too many people killed by a bottle, but I do know of several killed by in and out of cars. WTF???
February 13th, 2008 21:54
If one is driving a Hummer, they at least egocentric and oblivious to anything but his own fucked up desire to drive an expensive, obese, gas guzzling piece of shit. This is not a stereotype, but rather a rational logical conclusion. There is no other explanation for anyone driving one of these things in a city on paved roads when gas is over $3.00 a gallon.
February 13th, 2008 22:06
TonyT, that article is so dated! If anything, SUV's bring out the "asshole" in some people's personality, even more than they did six years ago, in 2002, the year that article was posted.
I agree with the writer's point that "..image..." is one of the over-riding motivations for certain mentally imbalanced people getting one of those big pieces of junk. More specifically, intimidation potential targeted towards relatively vulnerable road users is one of the key motivating factors for getting obnoxious SUV's like the Hummer, Tahoe, Expedition, etc.
Just imagine how much differently the nutcase baseball bat wielding Hummer driver might have behaved if he was obliged to drive around in a dinky little Chevy Sprint, or an old Yugo.
Just how prevalent the psychological intimidation factor appeal of big rolling hunks of junk in our culture has become, is driven home to me when I see the Beaverton Happy Days(may have the name slightly wrong...you get the idea, right?) Parade in August. The Beav Police can't resist proudly riding the parade in their black mariah in full stormtrooper gear. This is supposed to consistent with the upbeat tone of a family oriented summer community parade?
Notable excerpts from the article, "Bumper Mentality" By Stephanie Mencimer, Washington Monthly. Posted December 20, 2002 on AlterNet.org.
"I have a hunch that government officials' justification for buying SUVs is mostly a ruse for their real motivation, which is the same as any other SUV owner's: image. Officials can safely load up their fleets with leather-seated SUVs, whereas using taxpayer dollars to buy themselves, say, a fleet of BMW coupes would get them crucified (even though Detroit considers SUVs luxury vehicles and designs them accordingly). Police departments may claim that they need an SUV to accommodate SWAT teams or canine units, but there is no reason that Sparky the drug dog wouldn't be just as comfortable in the back of a nice safe Chevy Astrovan."
"Ironically, SUVs are particularly dangerous for children, whose safety is often the rationale for buying them in the first place. Because these beasts are so big and hard to see around (and often equipped with dark-tinted glass that's illegal in cars), SUV drivers have a troubling tendency to run over their own kids. Just recently, in October, a wealthy Long Island doctor made headlines after he ran over and killed his 2-year-old in the driveway with his BMW X5. He told police he thought he'd hit the curb."
"Have you ever wondered why sport utility vehicle drivers seem like such assholes? Surely it's no coincidence that Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, tours Washington in one of the biggest SUVs on the market, the Cadillac Escalade, or that Jesse Ventura loves the Lincoln Navigator.
Well, according to New York Times reporter Keith Bradsher's new book, "High and Mighty," the connection between the two isn't a coincidence. Unlike any other vehicle before it, the SUV is the car of choice for the nation's most self-centered people; and the bigger the SUV, the more of a jerk its driver is likely to be.
According to market research conducted by the country's leading automakers, Bradsher reports, SUV buyers tend to be "insecure and vain. They are frequently nervous about their marriages and uncomfortable about parenthood. They often lack confidence in their driving skills. Above all, they are apt to be self-centered and self-absorbed, with little interest in their neighbors and communities. They are more restless, more sybaritic, and less social than most Americans are. They tend to like fine restaurants a lot more than off-road driving, seldom go to church and have limited interest in doing volunteer work to help others."
He says, too, that SUV drivers generally don't care about anyone else's kids but their own, are very concerned with how other people see them rather than with what's practical, and they tend to want to control or have control over the people around them. David Bostwick, Chrysler's market research director, tells Bradsher, "If you have a sport utility, you can have the smoked windows, put the children in the back and pretend you're still single."."
"Ask a typical SUV driver why he drives such a formidable vehicle, and he'll invariably insist that it's for safety reasons -- the kids, you know -- not because he's too vain to get behind the wheel of a sissy Ford Windstar. Automakers themselves know otherwise -- their own market research tells them so."
February 13th, 2008 22:27
wsbob,
That's the good thing about the truth.
It ages very well.
February 13th, 2008 22:31
well said tonyt and wsbob
February 13th, 2008 22:32
wsbob, I hate to break it to ya here fella, but women comprise the majority of SUV owners, not men. This link is to a 5 year old article, and states that at the time, women were 45% of the whole truck market; and expected to make gains over the following years.
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/forwomenonly/a/aa092202b_2.htm?iam=metaresults&terms=why+women+are+buying+suv%22s
Whether it's making fun of faggy little poser emo-kids on brakeless junk, or picking on an under-endowed bald guy in a Hummer, you are still being an ass. At least that is the roe I've been given to hoe, why should you get off the bigot hook?
February 13th, 2008 22:34
woops, ROW. I don't even know, can we use an tag, J?
February 13th, 2008 22:56
Wow Vance. You are just a thoroughly and completely unpleasant person.
February 13th, 2008 23:31
Give it up, tonyt - Vance doesn't care what any of our personal opinions of him are, and he's not going to change so that we think better of him.
In that respect, he has mine.
As for his arguments, opinions, etc - well, let's just say we disagree heavily.
The SUV-driver stereotype exists because that behavior is so prevalent. The fact that maybe half or more of the drivers are women is largely irrelevant - in my experience they are just as unobservant and ignorant of their surroundings as the men and just as secure in their perceived invulnerability. The only difference I have seen is that the men tend to be more aggressive. The aggressive drivers are nowhere near as dangerous or as numerous as the inattentive ones, and much more predictable.
Most of the SUV drivers are like every average motorist, but as always the bad bananas really ruin the bunch.
February 13th, 2008 23:40
I own a SUV, Yeah its a V6. OOOh yeah. It gets 34 on the freeway. Yet unfortunatly it sits in my driveway 5 days a week. I take it out to roll with my with my 2 year old, to the north end of forest park on saturdays to walk our 2 huskys. ( I have them pull me on my skateboard most week days). I take this rig off road in the summer,and winter, to go camping, Mt bike riding, (the wee one likes sleding now, a little luxury)
Oh yeah. I ride every,every,every day..
Do I fit wsbobs' profile?
?????????
February 14th, 2008 07:44
Now that we have a clear picture of the typical SUV owner/driver...Place a cell phone in their collective left hand and a grande latte in their right. That is my battlefield. (Ooooh...Pat Benatar reference on Valentine's? I rock!)
February 14th, 2008 08:03
Yea I'm with Beefa...I have a V6 SUV also. Works well when I go snowboarding/mountain biking...and it gets infinity miles per gallon when I am bike commuting :) The dog likes having the whole back area when I have to take him places too.
Even though I don't totally agree fully with the SUV stereotyping, I must admit just about every hummer driver I have ever met has been a bit of a douche.
February 14th, 2008 09:12
Stereotyping is a dangerous activity to engage in my two-wheeled friends. Your selective perceptions will soon search for evidence to support your biases. Its a pretty inaccurate and unfair way to deal with other people. If it isn't caused by ignorance, then its often the result of immaturity or lack of life experiences.
People have SUV's and trucks for all sorts of reasons, for example. Someday you might have one too. I did a job recently in central Oregon and I needed to rent a large pickup truck for several months. I actually used it to haul tons of materials to and from the jobsite. When I drove by did you know who I was and what I was doing or did you simply judge and hate? Or to put it another way, did you lose control of your emotions?
Your job is not to figure out whether or not people are justified in using their SUV's or pickup trucks or whether they are simply egotistical maniacs. You unfortunately perhaps, will never be able to acquire all the information you need to know to make that discrimination. Moreover it's not your 'job' to go about judging people based on your beliefs (contrary to our tabloid addictions). I can guaranttee you're going to make a lot of errors doing that and waste a significant amount of time.
"But if you want money for people with minds that hate...;" OK, not Pat Benatar, but at least its a little more music.
February 14th, 2008 09:25
Dear overworked moderator-
When personal insults or comments containing vile language are posted, they are deleted. I hope that comment #41 comes into consideration for deletion for dropping the "F" word, which many continue to feel is homophobic, insulting, and divisive. Negatively associating homosexuality with weakness is just as bigoted and offensive as using the "N" word, and it will neither strengthen or weaken the poster's argument to drop that language.
Thanks.
February 14th, 2008 09:32
1st - Regardless of what he was driving, I'm glad they seem to be getting to the bottom of this assault.
2nd, while I don't own an SUV, I've been on several climbs or backpacking trips where I was sure glad I knew someone who did, so I appreciate their real uses. But a Hummer averages under 10 mpg and I just find that kind of conspicuous consumption, like heating a 4000 sq/ft McMansion, kind of disturbing. Call it stereotyping if you will, but in that way, driving a Hummer and wielding a baseball bat both speak to a selfisness and diregard to the well-being of others that's hard for me to understand.
February 14th, 2008 09:40
I have ridden in a Hummer. Not a fan of SUVs, but I can see an SUV if, one, you need a big rig for your work, or love to off road. How many Hummers does one see with dirt on them. Few !!! They also have a worse suspensen than my Scion Xb.
I think one should have to be an "in country" veteran to own one. I would bet few war vets would want too. For my steriotyping, I would think most Hummers are owned by those who wish to appear brave and bad ass. A real bad ass would not need one, or want one. A real "warrier" would come home from the war with owning a Hummer the last thing on thir mind.
February 14th, 2008 10:12
I look forward to learning the whole story of this altercation. I like hearing about deserving "road-ragers" getting their due.
Every forum has a "Vance". Get used to it. He's just filling a niche. Just like I am now. We all want to be heard and provoke others to act. It's fun. It feels empowering. It's a nice way to kill some time.
Yay bikeportland.
February 14th, 2008 10:19
beefa: Care to fill us in on which V6 SUV gets 34mpg highway?
According to fueleconomy.gov not even most small cars get 34mpg highway..
February 14th, 2008 10:41
Ugh, this comments section gave me a headache.
Stereotypes are not rules, as such it goes without saying that there are simply more than an abundance of exceptions to them. Obviously those of you defending your big vehicle habit belong there.
When you apply stereotypes mentally, you don't assume someone's behavior fits your noted pattern, you simply pre-suppose they might. Which, for whatever it's worth I think the distinction has merit.
So for instance, we might say someone who drives a Hummer is probably a douche and not necessarily. I mean, the manager guy fromt he show Renegade drove one and he was a cool Native American guy with crazy Eagle feather earrings so he gets a pass right?
Atleast in my experience that's how people apply stereotypes, generally they're not as applicable as biases, you usually get more of a chance to prove you're not a member of the typeset before the label is applied.
I understand the purpose of Sport utility vehicles. You folks are using them for their very purpose. SPORT and UTILITY. I snowboard, hunt and spend a great deal of time outdoors and can understand this. Good on ya. The stereotype is in regards to replacing minivans with behemoth's for offroading. The negative stereotype is actually a positive thing as it discourages this sort of nonsensical behaviour.
Vance, if you're curious why so many people are hating on you, it's because you're attempting via your labels on your blog to make us all some sort of crowd that you're speaking for.
The problem lies within your speaking, it's disjointed and ugly, lacking synnergy and any kind of common view. Frankly, it's a bit pointless and egotistical as well.
You're not fulfilling any role with your blog other than emptying your brain into the web, with little of interest to share. All the while you're claiming it's everyone else's voice, and direly seeking attention to it by polluting the comments sections of other people's blogs who have real viewership.
I don't think anyone's really impressed or appreciates it, if we did we would all be reading your blog as opposed to Jonathan's.
That said, I'm glad the blue mammoth driving wad has been identified and facing whatever justice the world sees fit for him. Perhaps our victim can now rest more easily at night.
February 14th, 2008 12:23
Just a side note on the "image" one presents when driving a big SUV.
Listening to one story or another on OPB reported that Prius drivers report "image" as the number one reason for the purchase.
February 14th, 2008 12:51
So here's an image for you all to ponder why you stereotype a SUV driver. I ride to work 3 days a week, wait for red lights, stop at stop signs, you know I OBEY THE LAWS. Than I get yelled at by drivers because idiot messengers run the red lights, stop signs, and weave all over in traffic. Then today one of "them" has the nerve to yell at me for crossing a cross walk, on a walk signal, as he runs the red light. Sorry for being in your way! Hmmm, thanks for helping the rest of us try to turn things around in this cit, you know, earn the repsect of PPB, motorists, etc. Maybe the hummer driving douche bag has had this happen to him one to many times and that's why he reacted the way he did. That doesn't give him the right to do what he did, but the next time one of you messengers almost hits me in a cross walk as you run a red light, scream at me to get out of your way, and my reaction is to respond by freaking out and my arms fly up and you find yourself on the ground because of it, don't scream at me like today. Remember, I HAVE RIGHT OF WAY!
February 14th, 2008 12:52
I treat Hummers like they were deadly weapons in the hands of deranged maniacs. But then I treat all motor vehicles like they were deadly weapons in the hands of deranged maniacs.
It has been my experience that drivers of SUVs tend to be more hostile right as the price of gas goes up, and to cool off a bit when prices ease off a bit, or if the price stays stable for a couple of months.
Opus
February 14th, 2008 15:26
The owner of this vehicle is a BAD GUY! Many people in Clark County would attest to this. When his name is released shortly, please show no mercy, he has his punishment and much more coming to him. I hope the Court makes an example out of Him. Beware he will Lie and use every avenue he can to get out of it. This has nothing to do with bikes or SUV's (lets not loose focus)He is Just a lunatic who thinks he is above the law. Keep the pressure on this one!!!Make him get what he deserves!!!
February 14th, 2008 15:40
Homer:
"What kinda mileage ya get in that thing?"
Ranier Wolfcastle:
"One highway, zero city."
February 14th, 2008 16:25
"Care to fill us in on which V6 SUV gets 34mpg highway?"
The Toyota Highlander hybrid averages about 34 mpg; not sure of the city-highway breakdown.
February 14th, 2008 18:19
John:
While my truck technically gets 27 on the freeway. I try to employ some of these techniques to get the most out of my rig. You would be surprised by the how well it works.
I admit to being a little flippant.
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/120880/article.html
February 14th, 2008 19:25
#49: second that motion. Mouth in gear, emotions in high gear, brain parked in bike lane.
A bigoted insult embedded in a lecture on stereotypes isn't just ironic, it's inexcusable in a public forum.
So, what was this article about again? Oh yeah, the possibility of justice for a victim of a violent crime. Who just happens to be a cyclist.
February 14th, 2008 19:32
re; Beefa #45, I never authored an SUV driver profile of my own. It should be noted that regarding the obnoxious SUV driver's vehicle of choice, nobody's talking about the dinky little SUV's that get 34 mpg. Read "...obnoxious SUV's like the Hummer, Tahoe, Expedition, etc." You're welcome to offer proof that those monoliths get 34 mpg.
I wish it were just my life being threatened by these big hunks of junk. That, I could deal with. When the problem is so huge and affects so many people that a writer can describe the problem 4 years ago, and the problem continues to exist in the face of a seriously escalating gas supply crisis, something is very wrong. When ownership of such a vehicle exacerbates unbalanced behavioral tendencies within some of the people that drive such vehicles, this becomes a problem that needs to be addressed.
February 14th, 2008 20:38
Wsbob:
I have reread #38 I didnot catch the quotation marks the first time, (I was a little tippsy ;) ). Yet you, I am sure you could imagine my frustration of these off handed stereotypes.
I'm not about to go into #56s' comment. same mentality, different circumstance.
February 14th, 2008 22:30
It would be interesting bit of perversity if this WA driver were to lose his license due to an OR incident and yet turn around and cross the river and be able to get a fresh OR license due to the current lack of local ID needed for OR DMV certification.
February 14th, 2008 22:59
GLV: The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is rated at 27mpg city / 25mpg highway, for a combined rating of 26mpg. Of course that is the 2008 which is not quite as good as the 2007 2WD which was rated 28city / 25highway or the 2007 4WD which was rated 27city / 25highway.
That is not anywhere close to "averages 34mpg".
My Jeep Liberty CRD is rated at 19mpg city and 24mpg highway. The city rating is dead on, but the highway rating is a bit low. I usually get 26 to 28 highway driving conservatively.
So even giving the Highlander Hybrid the benefit of the same leeway I get with my CRS, we are talking best case about 29mpg highway which is still much less that "averaging 34".
February 14th, 2008 23:05
Excerpt from http://fuh2.com
* The H2 is the ultimate poseur vehicle. It has the chassis of a Chevy Tahoe and a body that looks like the original Hummer; i.e. it's a Chevy Tahoe in disguise.
* The H2 is a gas guzzler. Because it has a gross vehicle weight rating over 8500 lbs, the US government does not require it to meet federal fuel efficiency regulations. Hummer isn't even required to publish its fuel economy (owners indicate that they get around 10 mpg for normal use). So while our brothers and sisters are off in the Middle East risking their lives to secure America's fossil fuel future, H2 drivers are pissing away our "spoils of victory" during each trip to the grocery store.
* The H2 is a polluter. Based on G.M.'s optimistic claim that it gets13 mpg, an H2 will produce 3.4 metric tons of carbon emissions in a typical year, nearly double that of G.M.'s Chevrolet Malibu sedan.
* The H2 is a death machine. You'd better hope that you don't collide with an H2 in your economy car. You can kiss your ass goodbye thanks to the H2's massive weight and raised bumpers. Too bad you couldn't afford an urban assault vehicle of your own. Or could you...?
* The H2 is a tax loophole. Under the current tax laws, business owners can deduct nearly half the cost of their H2s. If you are in the highest tax bracket, that's a tax savings of nearly $10,000! The government rewards you more savings for buying an H2 than you'd get for buying an electric car.
February 15th, 2008 13:37
On the "yes hummers suck" reply it is obvious they are a hater. WHO cares what the mileage is that they get. Your not paying for the gas. My truck doesn't get great mileage but so what I can afford it. I pay around 200.00 a month in fuel. SO WHAT. Shut up and ride you bike, Just stay out of my way
February 15th, 2008 14:26
WHO cares what mileage they get?
Well, it boils down to the very perspective that's so disgusting to some of us of the mentality that "if I can afford it I should be able to waste resources how ever I damn well please."
Frankly, anybody who brandishes this attitude with some sort of honor as if it's something to be proud of makes me sick. You're stuck in stages of development that remind me of children.
I use less specifically so that there is more for those who for economic purposes could not use before now can.
I don't need the greatest resource expense to prove my self worth, so I use as little as possible and try and put my scheckles where they count.
Beer, ammunition and soup cans.
:)
Also, I could easily afford a Hummer, and drive one everywhere I wanted. I choose to bike because I'm a conscious person of my toll on the planet, and the life I would deprive others from if I demanded more.
Do as you please, and I'll live my way. Enjoy the ride.
February 15th, 2008 18:02
Point of order: the H2 has a Suburban chassis, the Tahoe chassis is under the H3.
And I would be shocked if the H2 got anywhere near its published 13 MPG highway because it is as aerodynamic as a sideways brick.
Which is neither here nor there in regards to my question, has the SOB been charged yet?
Opus
February 15th, 2008 20:53
Judgemental? I tell people their cars are powered by dead babies. You know the old EXXON slogan: "Put
a dead baby in your tank." You don't harvest them
yourself. The oil companies and the politicians hire
thugs to kill them for you! I am fifty -six years old and the more I observe people the more I love dogs!
February 15th, 2008 21:33
Clkay #68,
I hate hummers!? Uh... yeah!
http://fuh2.com/submissions.php
If you drove such a vehicle during WWII you'd have been considered a traitor.
http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwexmss/images/March2007OffCampus/book-WWII-Hitler.jpg
Nowadays you are considered a patriot for being a glutton. Just not in my book.
February 15th, 2008 22:26
No sweat Beefa. I just looked at my comment #38 again, and noticed that I forgot to put the colon after the author attribution for the following excerpts I reposted and contained within quotation marks. That simple error created confusion I'm usually careful to avoid.
February 15th, 2008 23:53
I'm with #36, Road Rager above. This crime if it happened as described, is a serious public safety issue due to the obvious mental instability of the criminal. I doubt it is a misdemeanor to try to run someone down with a vehicle, chase them in the vehicle, and then try to kill them with a bat, even if a cyclist did spit on their hummer. That is attempted murder. I doubt attempted murder is a misdemeanor.
I've had incidents almost this bad on more than one occasion with assholes drivng big pickups and SUV's. Usually while driving my small car - not while riding my bike.
Many of the SUV driver stereotypes described above are, sadly, true in too many cases. One particular type of SUV that I can warn about are the gawdy, shiny ones with lots of chrome and with those very tall wheels with the low profile tires. It is not uncommon to see those being driven in a very unsafe manner that would have the drivers license taken away if the cops saw it.
I'm glad the cops have bothered to find this criminal (assuming he's the one) but I'm a tad disappointed that it took them so long. If I would have been the criminal I'd be disappointed too - I'd have figured I got away by this time!!!
February 16th, 2008 08:23
Torfinn,
I am glad you choose to conserve, you are saving it for me to use. You should go buy a hummer to help the economy GM lost billions of dollars last year and could use your help. Now I don't think the fuel companies need anymore help as they make far to much money, and I usually don't think anyone makes to much money. People have the right to buy and ride or drive anything they want to so why flame someone for driving a big vehicle. That is just the freedom that we have in america. All of my toys use fuel and allot of it. 1 day of riding snowmobiles burns up a $100.00 in fuel at todays price. So please help me by continuing to ride you bike so I have enough fuel to play on the weekends.
February 16th, 2008 13:18
Gee Clay, you're certainly not a gigantic ass trying to get people excited.
I think the running theme here is: Are these kinds of people just assholes with issues who can't drive properly or are we making unfair generalizations?
I vote: mostly assholes. You seem to be supporting this argument.
On a side note, Ferrari's get pretty rough gas mileage but the people behind the wheel tend to drive them for recreation and seem to be able to control their vehicle. The problem with hummer/other giganto trucks is that they take up two parking spaces (even when they don't need to), don't check their blind spots, are all over the road and flip out if you react to their insane idea of 'driving'. Also, they're so often used as daily driving vehicles which is all the more insane.
And as for freedom, sure people have the freedom to be assholes and do all the stupid shit they want -- but don't be shocked when normal, reasonable thinking people smack their forehead and wonder aloud, "What's going through that dipshit's mind to buy that car and drive like that in this day and age?"
February 16th, 2008 13:20
ps: I'm sure somewhere on planet earth there is an expertly trained, Mother Theresa driving an H2 who can parallel park , uses just one space, and needs to tow a large boat on the weekend... but GENERALLY SPEAKING my observation is hummers = trouble.
February 16th, 2008 14:13
If women "own" more SUVs as Vance claims, it is because men are the primary "deciders" of which vehicle the family will purchase. What woman in her right mind would choose an ugly-ass SUV or Hummer?
February 16th, 2008 22:48
Snowmobiles are almost the worst gas powered thing on the planet, besides lawn mowers.
I can't wait to laugh my way through the day they are kicked out of the national parks.
I worked at a girl scout camp in Wyoming,(lived there year round) where they used to cut fences, ride through camp, break bottles and ruin stuff.
I would just quietly call the local sheriff, who hung out on the mt most days. He loved to protect the girl scout property.
If he wasn't on the mt, I would just leave presents on their trucks for when they got back...
Stinky presents....Or flat tires, depending on my mood....(not ruined, just open the valve and let the air out.)
A flat tire leaves more time for the police to make it up the mt. to bust them.
Snowmobiles should either be heavily regulated, or outlawed.
February 16th, 2008 23:08
Sorry, I know that was off topic, but due to the silliness of Clay's remarks, I felt it was ok to comment on snowmobiles.
February 17th, 2008 07:51
Helen (78),
Don't be silly, there are environmentaly wasteful women out there with bad taste in cars. I worked with a woman who loved having a truck she needed a step laddr to get into.
Stupid knows no gender
February 17th, 2008 10:40
helen,
It has also been shown time and time again that women are the primary decision makers when it comes to household expenditures.
In fact there are studies showing women drive the vehicle decisions in a household and choose SUV's for 'safety'. I am assuming not for the safety of the rest of us, but for their brood.
But thanks for adding some more half thought out generalizations to the mix! i assume you are voting for Hillary too?
February 17th, 2008 11:17
"In fact there are studies showing women drive the vehicle decisions in a household and choose SUV's for 'safety'." Steve #82
I could see where women might choose a 4-wheel drive SUV for additional safety in transporting the kids. Question I would have though, is how many women are choosing the Hummer for that purpose? Steve, if the studies you mention offer that information, please post it here for us all to see.
My own Mother has a couple grandkids to haul around from time to time, plus the neighbors grandkids, elderly people and what have you. Couldn't get her to consider a small SUV, let alone one of those big stupid bling-mobile Hummers.
February 17th, 2008 11:51
"go forth and beat thy hummers into plow bikes....bike shares.....um.....something useful"
Paperweights?
February 17th, 2008 12:11
take the top off and make a raised bed?
February 17th, 2008 20:21
Guys: Neither sex is immune to irrationality or general weirdness. They both make the same mistakes for the same dumb reasons - though sometimes for different dumb reasons.
Plenty of women drive big SUVs because they 'like to sit up high'. Lots of men drive them for similar reasons.
Years ago I was a VW salesman (extremely briefly) and the insane justifications people would have for getting their new Touregs never ceased to amaze me.
"You have a golden retriever? Oh, then yeah, I guess you would want the leather, rear heated seats..."