Commuting - Paranoid or perceptive?

I always have this feeling when i'm commuting that every person driving a car around me is annoyed and wants me off the road. Does anyone else get that? Am I just paranoid or is that really the general feeling of most motorists?

It all depends on where you live, as to the reaction of drivers. I get the impression that most drivers are envious and amazed that we are fit and dedicated enough to ride to work when it's 0ºC/32F. They probably think we are quite mad, but then wish they had the energy to do it. The only people that resent us are smokers, in my view.

Whenever I stop at lights I see a lot of drivers checking out my equipment.:D

CHEERS.

Mark

People are very polite around here. I'm sure they are occasionally annoyed, when they are in a hurry. But generally, I think they just accept me as an unavoidable road hazard, like a speed bump or trash can being blown across the road by the wind. :) No point getting POed at a speed bump.

I can tell when I have a fellow bicyclist following me in their car. They wait to pass and give extra room.

Originally posted by transient
I always have this feeling when i'm commuting that every person driving a car around me is annoyed and wants me off the road. Does anyone else get that? Am I just paranoid or is that really the general feeling of most motorists?

I used to get that feeling once, but then I stopped caring about what others think. I must say that across every facet of life, it's probably the best decision I ever made.

Yeah, I really do have to learn to care less about other people possibly being annoyed with me.

Btw, Dutchy, I take it you ride in spandex? :D

I'm pretty sure that most people are neither angry nor mad at the bicyclist; a few stick out and make the rest look bad. Most are probably rather indifferent about bicyclists, until they interact with you. I've found that a smile and a head shake go a long way to relieving any tension present. Remember, most of those drivers were bicyclists at one point in their careers. For some, it may be so far back they've forgotten, but a smile really does help.

John

I'm surprised that these SUV-driving-cell-phone-talking-smokers have attention span enough to notice cyclers driving on the same road with them? (referring to another thread :))

Nah, the only one that's out to get ya is that long bed 4-door F350 diesel dually 4X4 about 18 inches off your wheel.

I find the school busses to be the worst, they hire the worst drivers in the world, if they're not running you over, they're just about touching your elbow or smoking you off the road with exhaust. I have no trouble with any other type of vehicle, the truck drivers, the suv drivers or the cars, but the school busses are bad, they cut me off and turn in front of me and just act as if I'm not even there. The confusing thing is, they should be the safest drivers on the road, they are responsible for our children that could be on that bus. I just have a problem understanding that.

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Originally posted by RainmanP
Nah, the only one that's out to get ya is that long bed 4-door F350 diesel dually 4X4 about 18 inches off your wheel.

Unfortunately, this demographic constitutes about 75% of the traffic where I live! :D

We had a club ride last evening. Nine riders on 8 bikes (one was a tandem) pedaled a hilly 18-mile loop on paved secondary roads. We rode at various paces and got pretty spread out on the route. The sun was low on the horizon, but not quite fully set, by the time we finished.

At the ride's end, we hung around and jaw-boned for a while. Everyone...everyone commented on how friendly the motorists were. All of them passed politely. I would estimate that 50% of them waved as they went by. Even the ones who blew their horns were being friendly. It was almost twilight zoney.

Maybe it's because our rides begin and end in a small town (population 2500) with a good bike shop that people have a good feeling about cyclists. Maybe it is because the traffic volume on our route is so low. Maybe it is just that country people are good people. Maybe we rode into another dimension. I don't know. Whatever it is, I wish I could bottle and sell it. I wish all of my encounters with cars were that pleasant.

I'm always on the defensive when I ride in traffic. There are plenty of road raging jerks out there. Rides like last night's make me think that maybe they are a minority.

I sometimes sense some tension. It seems as though the driver is not real sure what I may do and I am not certain what it is they have planned. Normally though, encounters are uneventful. Seems at times as though there is a little nervousness.

Carl

1) It's not are you paranoid, are you paranoid enough.

2) School buss drivers seemed only a little worse than other buss drivers when I lived where there were busses. Has this changed?

3) I used to smoke and ride (not at the same time) and the other day I was talking to a cyclest while he rolled one and lit it.

4) There is a selfish road rage type that is the problem not the general population.

Joe
:beer:

Mmm, I suppose it is just a part of the population that really gets annoyed. I think it will make it easier to ride in traffic when I get my third-eye mirror.

Originally posted by joeprim

4) There is a selfish road rage type that is the problem not the general population.

And, it is quite likely they are equally uncivil in most of their dealings with other people. Cut in line. Talk in theaters. 20 items in a 10 item express line. Littering, etc., etc., etc.

Carl