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08-26-05, 02:10 PM
Okay, I've read some of the other road rage stories and I know that I handled yesterday's events poorly. So here's the scoop:
I was right around halfway through my 18 mile commute when this kid, (couldn't have been older than 25), slowly pulled along side of me, crowding me toward the curb and laid on his horn. I gave him the finger as he drove on past. He turned off at the next street and I thought it was over.
Apparently, he circled the block so he could take another run at me. This time, he had his window down and pulled along side cursing me out while honking and giving me the finger. I returned the salute and he gunned it up to the next side street, where he pulled in and got out of his car. He was standing there waiting as I approached the street.
I have to tell you I am NOT an intimidating figure, (5'11"/150lbs), but it's not like I could get away. I figured it was either face him now, or he could keep this up all the way to my house. The adrenaline was pumping and I thought, "Okay, it's go-time." I parked my bike on the sidewalk, dropped my helmet in the grass and started walking towards him. He waited until I was about five feet away, yelled "F*** you, man!" and jumped back into his car. He peeled out and yelled some other stuff at me as he disappeared into the neighborhood.
I guess he thought that if he got out of his car, I would ride on by while he hurled insults from the curb.
So, no harm done, but I may not be so lucky next time. I'm curious how some others would have handled this situation. Had he been behind me and honked, I would have just pointed to the next lane and never looked up, but his encroachment into my lane was a bit much. Where would you draw the line?
I was right around halfway through my 18 mile commute when this kid, (couldn't have been older than 25), slowly pulled along side of me, crowding me toward the curb and laid on his horn. I gave him the finger as he drove on past. He turned off at the next street and I thought it was over.
Apparently, he circled the block so he could take another run at me. This time, he had his window down and pulled along side cursing me out while honking and giving me the finger. I returned the salute and he gunned it up to the next side street, where he pulled in and got out of his car. He was standing there waiting as I approached the street.
I have to tell you I am NOT an intimidating figure, (5'11"/150lbs), but it's not like I could get away. I figured it was either face him now, or he could keep this up all the way to my house. The adrenaline was pumping and I thought, "Okay, it's go-time." I parked my bike on the sidewalk, dropped my helmet in the grass and started walking towards him. He waited until I was about five feet away, yelled "F*** you, man!" and jumped back into his car. He peeled out and yelled some other stuff at me as he disappeared into the neighborhood.
I guess he thought that if he got out of his car, I would ride on by while he hurled insults from the curb.
So, no harm done, but I may not be so lucky next time. I'm curious how some others would have handled this situation. Had he been behind me and honked, I would have just pointed to the next lane and never looked up, but his encroachment into my lane was a bit much. Where would you draw the line?