Advocacy & Safety - grumpy morning drivers, grumpier morning cyclists

this morning a friend of mine and i were riding to work on the side of the road, where we always ride to work in the morning. for some reason, for the first like, thousand yards of this road we ride on, there is no bike lane (this is a road that leads from a busy commuter train station to a large university...). so instead of riding on the sidewalk, we ride on the also non-existant shoulder, i.e. in the actual car lane. so today, this lady in one of those god awful porche suvs pulls up behind us and LAYS on her horn. apparanlty we are taking up more of the lane than she is ok with, and feels the need to follow us closely, yelling and honking.

as grumpy as she is, we're grumpier. WE AERE RIDING OUR BIKES TO WORK FOR CRAP'S SAKE! we totally slow to a snail's pace and take up the ENTIRE lane, and flip her off and yell at her. and a couple other people do, too. she follows us for about a quarter of a mile, and then eventually cuts off a bunch of other bicyclists so she can make a right-hand turn down a side street.

alright. this would seem totally ridiculous and horribly mean on our part, except that there are TWO CAR LANES GOING IN EACH DIRECTON!!! and no one was in the other one! why the hell did she not pass us?! my friend said it was because she probably did not get her double tall latte this morning. and i said, that no, it was probably because she didn't get her double tall non fat latte this morning.

ok. that was just me letting off some steam. hope your rides were all less eventful!

ok. that was just me letting off some steam. hope your rides were all less eventful!

Not really. I just slipped on a puddle of water while cornering. Result: A bunch of road rash...

Next time just turn around, smile and wave. There's nothing like a little kindness to make aggressive people feel more like the pieces of **** they actually are.

so whats wrong with a double tall non fat latte?

i usually invite them to wholeheartedly enjoy each time they have to pay for gas. especially suv's. especially porsche suv's. which clearly are being used to go off-roading. my, such a good use of technology.

I just ahd to call teh cops on some hicks that were threatening me. Funny, they stoped the minute I called 911.
I can't wait to get the hell out of Indiana. Never thought I'd want to be in Ohio, but those new bike laws lead me to believe that I'm less likely to die.

alright. this would seem totally ridiculous and horribly mean on our part, except that there are TWO CAR LANES GOING IN EACH DIRECTON!!! and no one was in the other one! why the hell did she not pass us?!

Yeah this sort of totally brainless action always gets me down deep. Multiple lanes on an empty road and some motorist, that has to put out no more effort than moving a wrist and pushing a pedal, gets all bent out of shape because you are in "their lane."

I am beginning to think that when this happens to me next time, (and it will) I will casually signal and change lanes to the next lane to the left... as apparently the idiot motorist doesn't understand that whole concept.

Ha ha good one Gene! I'd love to see that!

The problem is an overactive sense of self-importance based on some kind of belief that "since I have more money than you do I'm more important than you are."

The problem is an overactive sense of self-importance based on some kind of belief that "since I have more money than you do I'm more important than you are."


well, duh, obviously. people with money are just better than us!

it all might make more sense if i add that this occured in palo alto, and that we were riding to/at stanford. i get treated like a non-person here every day, bike riding or not!

This stuff does happen I'm afraid. Yesterday, I was berated by a driver approaching from the opposite direction, waiting in the centre lane to turn left. Apparently, being in the left lane myself upon approaching a left turn, I was in the way and instructed to get out of it. Funny, there could have been any other random traffic "in the way" for him.

Remember though, this stuff is not only reserved for cyclists, many of these incidents are directed at other motorists. Mostly, I believe it is a sign of a lack of patience and courtesy that is all too common.

Anyway, I wish everyone a safe ride home & good weekend :)

Ed

it all might make more sense if i add that this occured in palo alto, and that we were riding to/at stanford. i get treated like a non-person here every day, bike riding or not!

Well that does make sense - I commute every day from Portola Valley over to Mountain View and know exactly where you mean. Don't you know you're not supposed to get in the way of people from Palo Alto? ;)

ok. that was just me letting off some steam. hope your rides were all less eventful!

Hey, sooner or later all decent people get their fill of the malignant selfishness the nasty ones are always dishing out and they snap. Glad you could vent and I'm glad the miserable excuse for a human being didn't physically hurt you.

I just ahd to call teh cops on some hicks that were threatening me. Funny, they stoped the minute I called 911.
I can't wait to get the hell out of Indiana. Never thought I'd want to be in Ohio, but those new bike laws lead me to believe that I'm less likely to die.

Sorry, but I do have to say that I hate driving in Ohio! I don't dislike Ohio, just the drivers! LOL I can't count how many times I was cut off, flipped off and cursed off! I mean, is 80 in a 65 not fast enough?! Seriously, 80 in a 65 and people were still passing me and upset I was that slow! I used to have to drive through Ohio to get to Pa while stationed in Oklahoma. Just had to vent that off some. I am now in Va so haven't had to make a ny trips in Ohio. Good luck with the bike riding there! :)

Last weekend, I was crossing from PA to Washington's Crossing, NJ on Route 532 using the narrow 2-lane bridge that crosses the river there. Drivers have no choice but to move very slowly, since the bridge is barely wide enough for two cars crossing in opposite directions to pass each other. Cyclists are prohibited from riding across the bridge and have to walk their cycles using the foot path - that annoys me a little, but, really, I'm ok with it - it breaks up a nice 24-mile jaunt for me, and the scenery is beautiful.

Anyhow, after you cross into NJ, you can take the bike path in either direction, or you can turn onto Route 29 and ride the road (which I usually choose). The intersection is controlled by a traffic light. Last Sunday, as I was making my left turn onto Rt 29 - I am sitting in the middle of my lane waiting first for the light to turn green, and then for oncoming traffic to clear (just as any car would have to wait), and as it finally clears and I start moving, some guy in his SUV behind me starts honking his horn. When I complete the turn and move to the right, he pulls up along side and shouts out his right window (past the two kids sitting next to him) that I should "get the F*** out of his way." There is a cop stopped at the light eastbound on 29 and he observes and hears this whole business. I tell the cop that I think the guy deserves to be pulled over, but the cop just laughs and says "for what."

The whole affair left a sour taste in my mouth that lasted for a couple of miles. There is absolutely no better or safer way to make this turn. The place is teaming with all manner of traffic - foot traffic, bike traffic, motorcycles, cars, and plenty of park rangers, local and state cops. No one can move at a fast speed - most people wouldn't want to speed through there. After the guy passed me, he had to continue at a slow pace for at least a half mile because traffic in front of him was also moving along slowly away from the intersection. I don't really get his beef and the officer's attitude was truly depressing.

Caruso

Riding 29? Man, you do have a death wish don't you? :eek:

I just ahd to call teh cops on some hicks that were threatening me. Funny, they stoped the minute I called 911.
I can't wait to get the hell out of Indiana. Never thought I'd want to be in Ohio, but those new bike laws lead me to believe that I'm less likely to die.

I hope you have a job lined up here in ohio. If not you could be in for a really long haul finding one when you get here.

With that said when and where about you planing on moving here?

And yeh the new law will help some but there will always be idiot drivers so its going to be another 10 years or so before we see a big difference in behavior.

<snip>trips in Ohio. Good luck with the bike riding there! :)

Its not that bad theres some really bad areas but also really great ones to.

Anyhow, after you cross into NJ, you can take the bike path in either direction, or you can turn onto Route 29 and ride the road (which I usually choose). The intersection is controlled by a traffic light. Last Sunday, as I was making my left turn onto Rt 29 - I am sitting in the middle of my lane waiting first for the light to turn green, and then for oncoming traffic to clear (just as any car would have to wait), and as it finally clears and I start moving, some guy in his SUV behind me starts honking his horn. When I complete the turn and move to the right, he pulls up along side and shouts out his right window (past the two kids sitting next to him) that I should "get the F*** out of his way." There is a cop stopped at the light eastbound on 29 and he observes and hears this whole business. I tell the cop that I think the guy deserves to be pulled over, but the cop just laughs and says "for what."

The whole affair left a sour taste in my mouth that lasted for a couple of miles. There is absolutely no better or safer way to make this turn. The place is teaming with all manner of traffic - foot traffic, bike traffic, motorcycles, cars, and plenty of park rangers, local and state cops. No one can move at a fast speed - most people wouldn't want to speed through there. After the guy passed me, he had to continue at a slow pace for at least a half mile because traffic in front of him was also moving along slowly away from the intersection. I don't really get his beef and the officer's attitude was truly depressing.

Caruso


What you next step should have been was break out the cell phone and reported the cop for not doing his job including name badge number and car number. My advice make friends with people in city hall first :)

the rude driver (and cop) in this story mirrors americans "stuck in a car, screwed at the pump, pissed at the traffic, and lovin' it" ethos so, so common nowadays.

It's like an empowerment of impotence when a ****** gets behind the wheel of a car- anyone seen the new hummer3 adds? about exercising your inner bully or child or whatever, it is juvenile and infantile- it shows 'wimpy' americans frustrated in other segments of their lives blowing off angst by buying a hummer.

what a sad state of affairs america has driven itself into...its almost as if, for 2/3rds of the last 24 years, the white house and the presidents administration is being run by former oil execs....

the rude driver (and cop) in this story mirrors americans "stuck in a car, screwed at the pump, pissed at the traffic, and lovin' it" ethos so, so common nowadays.

It's like an empowerment of impotence when a ****** gets behind the wheel of a car- anyone seen the new hummer3 adds? about exercising your inner bully or child or whatever, it is juvenile and infantile- it shows 'wimpy' americans frustrated in other segments of their lives blowing off angst by buying a hummer.

what a sad state of affairs america has driven itself into...its almost as if, for 2/3rds of the last 24 years, the white house and the presidents administration is being run by former oil execs....

The sad thing is people buy in to the big oil companies speil about how we get 90% of our oil from iraq or what ever their excuse is. In fact and there was a chart posted here once that showed the real numbers. Most of the oil we get not produced in the us comes from canada. Note not through canada from canada. The oil companies have always gouged us for the last 50 years. Gas stations have watered down their gas or diluted it in other ways for years some times they get caught other times they don't. Isnt really a hard thing to do. Take say 100 gallons out of the "regular" gas tank put it in the highest grade tank.

I hope you have a job lined up here in ohio. If not you could be in for a really long haul finding one when you get here.

With that said when and where about you planing on moving here?

And yeh the new law will help some but there will always be idiot drivers so its going to be another 10 years or so before we see a big difference in behavior.
Actually, I'm riding across the country.
So far I've ridden in here from WA and Indiana is by far the worst in attidues toward bikes.
Thankfully, I'll be in Ohio tommorow. Hopefully it'll be better. If I had one more day in this state I'd be hitting the airport.

Ha ha good one Gene! I'd love to see that!

The problem is an overactive sense of self-importance based on some kind of belief that "since I have more money than you do I'm more important than you are."

How in haddes would they know? You could have enough money to rival Bill Gates III and ride a bike, because you want to help the environment, and get a little excercise. Unlikely that the SUV person could tell the difference between a Trek Madonne 5.2 SSLx and a gas pipe special from X-mart.

Not only poor people ride bikes.

Actually, I'm riding across the country.
So far I've ridden in here from WA and Indiana is by far the worst in attidues toward bikes.
Thankfully, I'll be in Ohio tommorow. Hopefully it'll be better. If I had one more day in this state I'd be hitting the airport.


Heh well im down here in barberton little south of akron (10 ish miles). If you end up in this area and will be heading south check out the tow path trail. Its quite rideable on a road bike and lots of good scenery along it. In clinton is a small museum right off the side of the topath dealing with the canal it self.

The driver was in a Porsche SUV-thing, a Cayenne, or whatever, and honked and yelled at you because she had to wait five seconds to turn right? My guess is that she's a spoiled b**ch, pathologically self-centered, and that she treats everyone she encounters that way. Don't feel so special. Just be glad you're not her husband, poor bastard, or the hapless barista who has to make her coffee drink.

How in haddes would they know? You could have enough money to rival Bill Gates III and ride a bike, because you want to help the environment, and get a little excercise. Unlikely that the SUV person could tell the difference between a Trek Madonne 5.2 SSLx and a gas pipe special from X-mart.

Not only poor people ride bikes.

True, but the perceptions of motorists is generally based on comparing one another by their "rides." Hence the Hummer, which loudly proclaims "I am so rich I bought this very useless vehicle that sucks lots of gas."

If all cars and trucks really were just basic transportation... then there would not be an annual "fashion show" known as The New Car Show. Honestly, what is so new that every year a "flashier" version has to be shown. ("oh, well we added two cup holders... ")

Of course cyclists do fall to this too... What really is the difference between a Trek Maldone 5.2 SSLx and a Maldone 5.5... sheesh.

Ferdinand Porsche must be rolling over in his grave, now that the company that bears his name is manufacturing bloated hillbilly lorries.

Paul

How in haddes would they know? You could have enough money to rival Bill Gates III and ride a bike, because you want to help the environment, and get a little excercise. Unlikely that the SUV person could tell the difference between a Trek Madonne 5.2 SSLx and a gas pipe special from X-mart.

Not only poor people ride bikes.


Lol i had a bike made from gas pipe. Well ok it wasn't really. It was made to look like it was though. It was realy made from good quality steel tubing.

Id say it was right around 24 25 pounds and was a road bike Buddy of mine made it as a joke. But ill tell you i got allot of people coming up to me back then asking about it. No idea where its at now probably stuck in some ones barn basement of garage. Kind of wishi had never sold it. It didn't have no fancy crank just a standard old 1 piece plane steel double chain rings 5 speed free wheel and clamp down tube shifters.

Ferdinand Porsche must be rolling over in his grave, now that the company that bears his name is manufacturing bloated hillbilly lorries.

Paul

Otherwise known as rolling colostomy bags. Insults vehicle and driver simultaneously. :)

The driver was in a Porsche SUV-thing, a Cayenne, or whatever, and honked and yelled at you because she had to wait five seconds to turn right? My guess is that she's a spoiled b**ch, pathologically self-centered, and that she treats everyone she encounters that way. Don't feel so special. Just be glad you're not her husband, poor bastard, or the hapless barista who has to make her coffee drink.


god damn it. just when i was starting to feel special...

anyway. if you only knew what kind of town palo alto is, you'd shudder at how spot-on you are in your description. it makes me sick.

Unlikely that the SUV person could tell the difference between a Trek Madonne 5.2 SSLx and a gas pipe special from X-mart.

Not only poor people ride bikes.
That's right; only snobbish bike riders would let that distinction determine which bicyclist should be the target of their grumpiness.

Actually, I'm riding across the country.
So far I've ridden in here from WA and Indiana is by far the worst in attidues toward bikes.
Thankfully, I'll be in Ohio tommorow. Hopefully it'll be better. If I had one more day in this state I'd be hitting the airport.

You should be through by this time, hope you had no problems...drivers here suck as much or more than anywhere else, and hardly anyone knows about the laws concerning bicycles, let alone the changes that were just made. Good luck on the tour. :)