Commuting - Called Crazy today by a lady.....

as I turned left onto a street, the lady in her fancy car going to work going across in the other direction, rolled down her window deliberately and quickly to call me: CRAZY, CRAZY!!!
I din't have time to say something as I was trying to focus on regaining my cruising speed.

What have you been called today in your way to work or before ?

Corsaire :)

That was no lady, that was my....uhhh...how's that go again?

I haven't been called anything on my way to work. At least not on my bike. On the subway is a different matter....

That's a compliment!

Certain deragatory words related to ones sexual preference.
A hole get off the road.
Then the occasional non insult "get off the road", "use the sidewalk", or "use a bike path"

I have finally learned to not even pay attention. Plus, my hearing in slightly dulled by my skull cap. The exceptions being when I am tired. Dang temper.

DataJunkie,
I'm really surprised that you get that here in Colorado. I've found it to be incredibly bike friendly with little to no angst from drivers.

Weird.

I was told "You are NOT a car" by the driver of a large SUV one day... right before she clipped me with her mirror.

in three years i've been bike commuting i've only got a few toots here in there (mainly on one busy stretch), and I'VE yelled at more drivers than vice versa.

the only time i've gotten yelled at, or aroused annoyance, is if I'VE done something stupid, which has happened, but rare.

i think it's luck of the draw, some people may get a lot of fists shaken at them, other's may not over the long haul, but i agree colorado is much more open to cyclists.

plus weather does have a factor, NO one expects to see us out on dark cold rainy mornings, but on nice warm summer days i've rolled up to lights with 3-4 other strangers on bikes, and cars just see us as part of the morning commute

I was told "You are NOT a car" by the driver of a large SUV one day... right before she clipped me with her mirror.

i'm not a vengeful person but in that would have hoped i had my u-lock over my handle bars for.....

I was called a "******** freak" once by a jock in college. except he said it with a boston accent.."retahded freak".

Maybe she was admiring your effort, in a bebop "crazy man, crazy!" kind of way.

Maybe she was warning you that she was crazy.

Either way, a smile, a wave and a friendly "Thanks, ma'am" would have been my immediate response. :)

The last time a guy yelled something at me, it was to "go ride that thing on the sidewalk" to which I replied, "go drive that thing on the freeway."

Just last week I had a frat boy yell at me, "NICE HELMET, F*G!"

I blew him a kiss.

(The helmet in question, but mine's gray) (http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Helmet/product_123888.shtml)

DataJunkie,
I'm really surprised that you get that here in Colorado. I've found it to be incredibly bike friendly with little to no angst from drivers.

Weird.

Well, it was in the suburbs. I have never had any issues in Denver proper.

The a'hole comment was in a different state. Maybe it doesn't count.
The strange thing is that when this happens, I'm not doing something stupid. I'm either waiting in a long line of cars, riding in a bike lane, or riding to the right of traffic with traffic. So, it's not me being an idiot that causes these issues. The gay comments have only happened a few times, all in thornton, and all by white people. Way too many rednecks in my area.
Now that it occurs to me, all these issues occur after work. Nothing in the morning. I think everyone is trying to wake up.

That being said, either nothing has happened in months or I am not paying attention anymore.

No one called me crazy, but last night i called a chic crazy after she almost hit me at a 4 way stop with her pickup. Dumb b**ch!

A few years ago, a guy yelled "nice shorts, f*g" at me... which wouldn't have been that funny except for the fact that he was driving a teal green Geo Tracker. (Not that there's anything wrong with that...)

One of my favorite books as a kid was titled "To He11 With Fishing"

A passage that I think applies to car/bike relations:
"Most fishermen think fish are colorblind. That is nothing compared to what the fish think of the fishermen."

I don't pay attention to what people yell out their windows at me, but at the office I've gotten the following:

"You're awefully brave..." last week

"More power to you" Last summer during a downpour as I mounted my bike to go home

"You are nuts" on a windy day with the high temp of 4 F

I wonder if this would work on all these people yelling crazy things at cyclists:


Dogs solution: Get a whippy old fishing pole. Use the narrower tip end of a 2 piece pole(about 2 ft. long). adhere velcro to 2 or 3 points along the pole and 2-3 points along the top tube of the bike. DO NOT wrap the pole with the velcro but attach with the velcro. When the dogs get near, detach said pole and give them a whack across the nose. This can be done while riding. Many tourers use this method. Very cheap, light and effective.

Dumb b**ch!

I yelled that at a woman, with bad consequences. I wish I had called her crazy, because it turned out, she was.

On the whole, most drivers I encounter are going too fast to fire off their latest, greatest insult. Lots of eye-rolling and hand gestures, tho.

Just yesterday, I admonished a taxi for passing a bus on campus (which is illegal... big signs on bus that say "No Passing on Campus"). The taxi had pulled into my lane and almost hit me head-on. I pointed to the sign on the back of the bus, and the cabbie yelled, "F*** YOU!!"

Been called "******", "F*g", and "Stupid Hippie". First two didn't bother me, since I know I'm not. The third one got to me, because the guy that yelled that had a steal your face sticker on his back window.

...rolled down her window deliberately and quickly to call me...
She wants you!
;)

Corsaire,

Sounded like she was projecting a bit, or maybe she knows you?

I had a group of gang bangers yelling at me from a mini-mart parking lot one time that I wasn't a car. Why is it when someone gets behind the wheel of a car they think they've been deputized by the local sherrif into some road rage posse?

I get mostly nice comments, actually. I always smile and acknowledge people, and that makes it harder for them to be nasty.

I've been called all kinds of things in traffic from good to bad, but what is making me laugh lately is, so many people at my work asking me, "Did you ride your bike into work today?"

I've been riding into work every day since I started over 20 years ago. How long do I have to do it before people stop asking?

My wife and I had a guy drive by and the passenger yelled out "nice ass" and proceeded to make a "humping" motion. We could never figure out which one of us he was talking to/about but we laughed about it the rest of the night till we got home.

Human nature is fascinating isn't it?

I loved it when a young female (20 years my junior) calls out "nice ass!" and then, on the same ride a young male calls out "***!"

In the summer, when windows are rolled down, I can much more effectively communicate with fellow road users.

Once in South Georgia I guy flicked his cigarette butt at me. It was a million to one shot. It went in one of my helmet vents and started burning my scalp. I thought I was being stung by a bee until I ripped off my helmet and the smoldering butt fell out. I don't know if he meant to do it, or if he was just one of those "the world in my ashtray" kind of smokers.

I've had plenty of other unpleasantries in the supposed hospitable south, including having beer, tobacco spit, and other trash thrown at me.

Never happend in San Diego, though. Most people here are friendly to bikes.

Most of the crazy comments I get are from coworkers and related to the weather. As in "Are you crazy? It's raining out there!" As in "Are you crazy? It's freezing out there!"

I've been riding into work every day since I started over 20 years ago. How long do I have to do it before people stop asking?

My car is a bright tangerine orange 1996 Mustang GT. It's been fixed up a little... it's a VERY noticeable and recognizable vehicle. Yesterday -- three months after I started bike commuting -- the lady who parked next to me EVERY DAY finally said, "Hey, where's your car been?"

*blink, blink*

*shaking head*

The usual assortment, similar to what's been reported here.

Back in high school I rode a lot, and at the time was even skinnier than I am now. I used to get a lot of wolf whistles from guys (I'm male, btw). It alternately made me laugh/freaked me out. Always wondered why I didn't get a similar response from women. :o

Here are a few comments I have had heard:
On a friday night around 9pm, car full of teenage girls slows and rolls down passenger side window "You want a beer?" and then throws an empty beer can at me and missed.

After I ride in to work a co-worker says "Do you want me to think you really enjoyed that?"

On a Monday morning about 5:30am a construction worker yells from the other side of the road "If you want to liiivvvvveee (drawn out live), get on the bikepath!" Which I respond "Go to hell!"

Last week when it rained in MN in January. Right before riding home a co-worker said "How are you going to get home without a raincoat?"

And finally, my favorite from my wife "You MUST be crazy to ride your bike to work in the winter!" Which I respond " Crazy enough to marry you, sweetheart."

Man people crack me up.
MN Dan

On a friday night around 9pm, car full of teenage girls slows and rolls down passenger side window "You want a beer?" and then throws an empty beer can at me and missed.
Teenagers in a car w/ empty beer cans...sounds like a car full of Darwin award winners.

Once in South Georgia I guy flicked his cigarette butt at me. It was a million to one shot. It went in one of my helmet vents and started burning my scalp. I thought I was being stung by a bee until I ripped off my helmet and the smoldering butt fell out. I don't know if he meant to do it, or if he was just one of those "the world in my ashtray" kind of smokers.

I've had plenty of other unpleasantries in the supposed hospitable south, including having beer, tobacco spit, and other trash thrown at me.

Never happend in San Diego, though. Most people here are friendly to bikes.

Generally San Diego is bike friendly. Especially in summer when all the Lance wanna-be types drag their rears out for a 2 mile ride on carbon fider in neon spandex.

There was that one time I was riding in La Jolla on my way south to PB. Some kids in a Honda Civic (lowered with that big "wing" in the back and 3 shades of primer) drove up yelling and then it happened. A beer bottle smacked my elbow hard and shot in front of my bike on the road breaking. I ran right over the glass and my front tire blew out. Bummed about the flat and the 2 inch cut on my tire but looking back on it, that was the best thing that could have happened after they threw that bottle. 2 blocks down was a stoplight and lots of traffic. If my tire had not blown out I would have caught up to them in traffic and after jumping half through the car window, I'd be throwing punches.

I'd like to point out the benefits of carrying a dollar bill or an oval piece cut out of a milk jug for patching tires. I got home on a piece 3" x 2" oval from a plastic milk jug and its still there a year later. I cut out a bunch and have them in the seat bag of all my bikes.

Once in South Georgia I guy flicked his cigarette butt at me. It was a million to one shot. It went in one of my helmet vents and started burning my scalp. I thought I was being stung by a bee until I ripped off my helmet and the smoldering butt fell out. I don't know if he meant to do it, or if he was just one of those "the world in my ashtray" kind of smokers.

I've had plenty of other unpleasantries in the supposed hospitable south, including having beer, tobacco spit, and other trash thrown at me.

Never happend in San Diego, though. Most people here are friendly to bikes.
I had a drunken women driver attempt to shoot the bird at me. Only problem was that she forgot that she was holding a cigerette! When the "bird" was half formed the cig dropped out of her hand and she began a frantic and doomed attempt to catch it. As her attention and words of contempt turned to the burning butt in her lap, I pedaled off laughing. Made my week.

I had a drunken women driver attempt to shoot the bird at me. Only problem was that she forgot that she was holding a cigerette! When the "bird" was half formed the cig dropped out of her hand and she began a frantic and doomed attempt to catch it. As her attention and words of contempt turned to the burning butt in her lap, I pedaled off laughing. Made my week.

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: That cracked me up...another Darwin candidate :D

I've been harrased once while on the bike. But I don't know if its because I was on the bike, or because the fact that I had uber gay white oversized glasses on.

The guy was tauning me with that air-kissing thing. I responded back by giving him one of my own.

I got yelled at by a car full of some high school kids, as they zoomed by. Then at the light up ahead I caught up with them and shocked them when I yelled something like, "booga! booga! booga!" at them. Ya gotta have fun.

I got blasted by an air horn from a car full of what looked like beer-bellied frat boys. I stood up on my pedals and they sped off. I caught up to them a mile away at a left-turn traffic light and yelled at them. The fat frat boy in the front was smirking the whole time while trying to hide the air horn in his lap. While I would love to punch the hell out of him, it's 3 against 1 and I'm in spandex and LOOK cleats.

as I turned left onto a street, the lady in her fancy car going to work going across in the other direction, rolled down her window deliberately and quickly to call me: CRAZY, CRAZY!!!

I was just wondering. Why does she think you're the one who's crazy?

I mean, she's paying at least 10 to 20 times as much to travel as you are, and she's much more likely to die from her sedentary travel habit than you are.

Who's the crazy one?

Sitting at a light in the thru lane, a big ole dump truck next to me in the right turn lane. Driver looks down and says, 'wouldn't you be safer on the bike path?'
I just smile and say 'Yep, I'm a f__k up, been trying to commit suicide by bike for over 30 years and ain't got it right yet'. Got a chuckle out of him.

I've had plenty of other unpleasantries in the supposed hospitable south, including having beer, tobacco spit, and other trash thrown at me.

Just this past weekend, I had a hunter in an old beat up explorer roll down his window and throw a perfectly good soda at me. He barely missed me. I hope he got thirsty.

Fat woman in a huge pickup: "You know you're not in a car, right?"
Me: "That's right, I'm on a motorcycle."
"So where's the motor?"
"You're talking to it, baby." Grin really big and ride off.

Chopper rider: "Brother, you got brass balls." From those boys, that's a high compliment. :)

Some guy at a self-serve station and convience store: "You're on a bike! What are you doing here?" I chew on a granola bar and slurp soda before ansewering, "I'm refilling my tank. What are YOU doing here?"

Lance wannabe dissing my ride, "What a piece of crap!" He wasn't laughing long as he tore off to smoke me. He endoed in the gutter.

Dude in a rice racer: "Outta the road, beoch!" "Right back at ya, punk!"

Group of teens at roadside: "Mr flash! Wazzup G!" Talking about my blinkies, I guess.

The coworkers all think I'm wacked, of course, but admire my condition and sheer guts.

I was told "You are NOT a car" by the driver of a large SUV one day...


. . . well, yeah. isn't that the point?

Who's the crazy one?

If you're different than me, you're crazy. Q.E.D.
No logic required (which is a good thing, she probably hasn't used those bits in years)

I rarely get the yelling. I have a short commute and usually ride wearing a coat and tie. Does my attire have anything to do with this?

Usually the only time I get yelled at is when I'm riding recreationally on weekends with other cyclists.

A few months ago a pick-up passed me and the passenger called out "That thing got a hemi?" I had no idea what a "hemi" was, so I mumbled something, but I caught up with him at the next intersection, so I asked. We proceeded to have an educational discussion in which I learned what a hemi was (a type of engine) and they hopefully learned more about bike commuting.

A lady called to me from an office building doorway asking, "Isn't it cold outside?"

I said, "Well yeah."

She shook her head and as she turned to go back inside said, "You must be crazy."

I replied, "Truly."

I don't know if its because... the fact that I had uber gay white oversized glasses on.


you say that like it's a bad thing. :(

For the most part people are courteous here, giving me the right of way when its mine and such. Ive been given it when its not my right of way, but meh. on the other hand, ive had things thrown at me, been run into the ditch by semi trucks, screamed at, been chased by vehicles and ive once had someone in a work truck stop and get out cause i yelled something duragatory to his buddy in the passenger seat when he threw a beer can and yelled "get a car or get off the road"...it was pretty funny...silly drivers hah

steve

I was in the left turn lane and there was a SUV in the opposing left hand turn lane.
Windows are down, looks like a mother and two kids occupy the SUV.
We make our left turns at about the same time.
The kid riding shotgun yells out, "I hope you die" and they all appeared to have a good laugh.

That's pretty damn low in my book but ride the was still great :)