Good ones today
 

Two actually.

As well as a long commute, I ride each day to buy lunch, about 1 mile each way. I am lazy and do not always bother to wear a helmet for this. Yes I know helmet at all times etc. etc. but please leave it at that OK? Today I had two encounters. This is normally a predictable and easy trip.

1. Driver clearly unaware of surroundings, staring at cellphone until last minute as they approach from the right to turn on to the road on which I'm travelling. As I pass I cannot resist motioning that they put down the hansdset. The driver catches up and then gives me earache about not wearing a helmet. When I ask politely that they not use the phone the response is more frantic motioning that I can only interpret as something about helmets. OK. That is just a denial response in my book.

2. Approaching an intersection at which I need to make a left turn (left turn lane and two regular lanes). Traffic was approaching from behind so I signal and watch, there is time so I move out to the first lane. The driver of the truck in this lane continues to bear down on my position, at which point its incertain if he's about to plough into me from behind. At this I hesitate, which delays my move to the next lane. eventually this is clear and I get there at the last minute.
Mr angry truck driver then tells me that I'm going to get killed, my response is that I am, with people like him on the road. This then gets a predictable 1 fingered response from him.

Luckily, after that, the sandwich and raisin scone turned out to be really nice....


Ed

Wearing your helmet would not have made a difference, but the extra 10 seconds or so it would take to put it on might have meant you didn't encounter either of these folks. . .

Mostly -- and there are genuine socio- and psychopaths in this world -- I think your take on the initial driver is the typical case. They scare themselves so badly at what they could've done, that they project fear on the bicyclist as anger.

True, especially about the 10 seconds part :)!

Mind you, as I always say, "If you missed that idiot, there will be another one along in a minute".

It's obvious that most non-cyclists have no clue about how cyclists should be acting on the roadway, so when they see a bike out in the middle of the road in fast traffic, of course they think that's dangerous and the cyclist is going to get him/herself killed. And when they don't know how to react (because they don't really understand what you're doing), they get mad at you for placing them in the situation in the first place, especially when they figure that if they hit you, they'll get blamed for something that they consider your own stupidity for being there.

And yes, most non-cyclists consider wearing a helmet the first and only rule of bike safety. <sigh>

And yes, most non-cyclists consider wearing a helmet the first and only rule of bike safety. <sigh>

My #1 Rule: Survive to ride again tomorrow.

I know there are laws and notions of what makes for safe biking, but I consider that my #1 rule supercedes 'em all. . .

Glad the scone worked out; I find that baked goods often provide solace. Probably too much so, in fact.