Commuting - The engine rev as you are passed...

I injured my knee and have had to drive for a bit. It sucks, but I've come to realize that something that always annoys me may in fact just be the way people drive. I always hate when people slow to pass, and as soon as they can they rev their engine as they get along side me. Then I came upon a cyclist the other day. Wanting to be sure to give her her right to the road, I slowed behind her to wait for the oncoming car to pass. When it did and it was safe, I accellerated slowly and passed. As I was doing it I noticed that the lag in the downshift on my automatic transmission hit about the time I got along side the cyclist. I believe she may have interpreted my engine noise as me being annoyed and "flooring it" to get buy, but that was not in fact the case. Perhaps I've judged the drivers who have done this to me in the past too harshly....

I don't mind the engine rev, but if you only do it so you can right or left hook me or, get caught up from turning by crossing pedestrians or beat me to a red light, or buzz me, then I see it as a waste of gas and possibly endangering to me. If the engine downshifts as you pass and you have a clear road ahead and all green lights and pass me safely, I don't give it another thought.

Totally right. The engine rev is blameless with an open road ahead. When they fly by only to stop short at the red light 25 feet later, well, that's just funny. Although I notice that many drivers, having revved and flown by me, tend to just blow the red light. After all, they've gone to all that trouble....

Actually it is the revving behind me that bothers me. After they have passed, it is OK.

or when they pass me and go sloooooooowly next to me for like a quarter of mile

or when they pass me and go sloooooooowly next to me for like a quarter of mile

I had a new one this week. This car slooooooowly passes me--couldn't have been doing more than 1 mph faster than I was, and I was going uphill! I look over to see who's passing me so slowly, and it's a Driver's Education car. Ok, I can kinda understand that. But the lady driving passes me with about 8 inches to spare. Honestly, if I had wanted to, I could have easily grabbed the passenger-side mirror and had them tow me along, they were so slow and so close.

I turn left at the top of that hill, so I'm next to them at the light. She has her window open; I yell over, "You're supposed to give me 3 feet!" and hold my hands 3 feet apart. The driver and the instructor both nod and smile at me...and I realize neither of them speaks any English. :(

I usually take it as an invitation for a drag race. I don't always decline. :)

boy you cats must be slow. rarely do cars pass ME!:) :eek: :) :eek:

boy you cats must be slow. rarely do cars pass ME!:) :eek: :) :eek:

Yeah, but how fast are those cars going? (looking at your location).

I actually had a trio of guys on crotch-rocket motorcycles pass me once, and decided they'd poke fun at me by 'pedaling' with their legs as they raced by. I caught them at the next intersection.

What I notice is the different exhaust smell as the vehicle's mixture goes rich when they floor it to pass.

It stinks.

boy you cats must be slow. rarely do cars pass ME!:) :eek: :) :eek:

You must be fast. I see plenty of cars doing 35 to 40 in the city.

(traffic conditions must be the same everywhere, right?)

...the lag in the downshift on my automatic transmission hit about the time I got along side the cyclist. I believe she may have interpreted my engine noise as me being annoyed and "flooring it" to get buy, but that was not in fact the case. ....

Automatic?! You can pedal for yourself, but are too lazy to shift? What's with you? :rolleyes:

Automatic?! You can pedal for yourself, but are too lazy to shift? What's with you? :rolleyes:
I'm the same. I pedal for myself, but don't know how to drive anything but automatic. I tried to learn manual once. It didn't go so well.

There are reasons other that laziness not to do things. If I was driving a stick shift car, you probably wouldn't want to be on the same street, laziness aside.

I'm not all that bothered by hearing a car that's beside me, passing me, rev its engine. The annoying thing to me is when I hear an engine rev behind me, because it makes me feel like they might actually hit me since I can't see them. Of course, it's probably the quiet ones that don't do anything differently as they approach you (because they don't see you) who are gonna hit you. Doesn't change my gut reaction though. Maybe I should get a mirror to make myself feel better.

I'm that guy, from time to time, who will slow down, and then accelerate as I get alongside a biker. If he has a cool bike that I want to slow down to look at...

Yeah, the engine rev used to really annoy me, but a lot of things do. The heightened awareness you get on a bike has its drawbacks; every motion or noise seems like a slight if you forget to make yourself mellow.

I actually had a trio of guys on crotch-rocket motorcycles pass me once, and decided they'd poke fun at me by 'pedaling' with their legs as they raced by. I caught them at the next intersection.
That's actually really funny. And if it pisses you off, just remind yourself that your fuel costs far less than theirs.

I don't mind the revving because it means they had slowed down to give me enough room. I don't like it if they buzz by close or peel out though.

Never bothered me. Those that do it excessively shouldn't complain about gas prices though.

Not the same situation here, but something tells me this guy was trying to 'take me' ;)
PS - the stereo is from my bike

RightPass (http://www.optionnz.com/users/afs/060522-PM.7748rpass.avi) (540kb, save to local to see video, otherwise ya just get sound)

This was only the 2nd time I have ever been passed on the right when waiting left bias at intersection. Didn't bother me really. Was I too far to the left? You can see my position (the black line I drew in pic below)

Al

When I'm driving, I get really annoyed when I'm slowed by someone or something else. That's why I try to drive as little as possible. I'm probably a revver. I definitely rev the engine after speed bumps. I hate those things.

I definitely rev the engine after speed bumps. I hate those things.
Which is why I hate speed bumps.

Freaking moron neighbors petitioned city to put SBs in my hood on a 25mph streeet. Now everyone flys down road at 35mph, hit brakes hard, rolls over and the accelerates hard (gotta get back up to 35!) toward the next bump, focused only on the bumps and how to get over them as fast as possible while ignoring the potential children at play.

My hood is now far noiser and with more pollution, but no more safer than before.

Al

Automatic?! You can pedal for yourself, but are too lazy to shift? What's with you? :rolleyes:

Ever try to find a small truck with side airbags (requires all kind of upgrades) that has a manual transmission?

The car has 6 speed but the wife drives it most of the time (since it gets better mileage than the truck)

Feel better?

Yeah, but how fast are those cars going? (looking at your location).

I actually had a trio of guys on crotch-rocket motorcycles pass me once, and decided they'd poke fun at me by 'pedaling' with their legs as they raced by. I caught them at the next intersection.


Had that happen to a friend of mine out riding the other weekend.... we just thought it was funny. Had a good laugh as buddy on the Harley looked completely ridiculous. :)

I actually had a trio of guys on crotch-rocket motorcycles pass me once, and decided they'd poke fun at me by 'pedaling' with their legs as they raced by. I caught them at the next intersection.

Haha! You should have made fake engine noises and twisted your throttle next to them. :D