cussing out a motorist [Archive]

Alekhine

03-20-07, 10:57 PM

Yeah, I don't say anything and it's not about him (and it's almost always a him) being a motorist, but just an arsehole who happens to be in a car.

Weather changes. People don't. So yelling or griping or sardonically heaving one-liners at one of these morons is an exercise in futility, I reckon. Take the high road in most circumstances. There are exceptions to this, such as showing up a pompous jerk in argumentative conversation, but random motorists who act like jerks? Let them be what they are. They can only figure that question out on their own.

This isn't to say that I've always restrained myself, by the way, but I always do now. I remember once yelling at a jerk who was speeding towards a red light ahead and buzzed and cussed me on his way to it. It just seemed so pointless to me to see someone racing towards a red light in a car, only to hit the brakes hard when he got to it, much less yell at a cyclist that "slowed him down" on his way to a full stop. People are strange.

pj7

03-20-07, 11:16 PM

Usually, when someone does something to me that would warrant me getting angry, it is usually a remark screamed out the window by some young punk in a car full of kids that has the word ****** in it. So if I catch them at a stoplight, I'll start rubbing my nipples and licking their window... something, anything to get people looking at them and get them embarassed.
And let me tell you, nothing embarasses teenage boys more than a 300lb man in tights rubbing his nipples and licking the windows!

donnamb

03-20-07, 11:40 PM

And let me tell you, nothing embarasses teenage boys more than a 300lb man in tights rubbing his nipples and licking the windows!
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Oh, just when I thought my day was a complete disaster, you write something witty that completely cracks me up. Thank you. :)

huerro

03-20-07, 11:54 PM

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=279167

bragi

03-21-07, 12:56 AM

I'm a very patient man -I teach middle school- so, in most situations, if a motorist does something obnoxious, I let it pass without too much of a spike in blood pressure. However, the gloves tend to come off if a motorist questions my right to be on the road. I don't know why, but in those very few situations when a jerk in a pickup has told me to get off the road, I haven't been able to avoid complete rage; I knock on windows, use the middle finger, and offer my honest opinion of the quality of his ancestry. On one occasion, much to my shame, when a woman yelled at me to get on the sidewalk where I belonged, I quickly suggested that she lose weight; her husband leapt from the car, and I only manged to avoid a fight by brandishing my u-lock. (Actually, it was kind of funny, even at the time...)

Cyclaholic

03-21-07, 01:56 AM

And let me tell you, nothing embarasses teenage boys more than a 300lb man in tights rubbing his nipples and licking the windows!

:eek: I will be sending you the hypnotherapist's bills to erase that image from my head!

pj7

03-21-07, 02:02 AM

:eek: I will be sending you the hypnotherapist's bills to erase that image from my head!
And I'll be sending you a photo to burn the image in your mind, forever instilled!!
And if I'm really lucky, I'll get that neon speedo that Sacha baren Cohen (sp?) wore in Barat... oooooh baby.

wahoonc

03-21-07, 03:52 AM

If I have a persistent problem with a particular motorist I will call the police with location, description and tag number. I will also mention the fact they are driving erratically and might be on something:rolleyes: :D It has resulted in more than one driver being pulled over:p You don't have to mention the fact you are on a bicycle, I just tell them I observed the car in traffic. And given the current statistics that nearly 1/3 of the drivers on the road are impaired in one way or another the odds are pretty decent that they may well be. I have never seen a good outcome from a public shouting match...in fact a lot of them seem to end in a shooting...:(

Aaron:)

bike2math

03-21-07, 04:26 AM

smile and wave. Then enjoy the ensuing fireworks as they go gabonkers realizing you are refusing to join them in the little hell that is middle americas angerfest'07

Eli_Damon

03-21-07, 04:29 AM

There have only been two time when I managed to catch up an abusive or reckless driver who passed me. The first time, I got into a shouting match with an abusive driver which was very unsatisfying. The second time was when someone passed me with less than six inches of clearance and I simply knocked on their rear window, shouted "Too Close!", and then ignored them until the light turned green.

oneredstar

03-21-07, 07:15 AM

I have only cussed out a few motorist while on my bike, usually they are surprised that I caught up with them. I usualyy just says what needs to be said, a little venting is usually a good thing for me. My attitude has changed a little on this though. Last year, while my girlfriend and I were walking through a crosswalk, a guy swerved to hit us. I gave him the finger. he then stopped his car in the middle of the road, left his wife and small child in the car and came after me. He backed down when he saw that I wasn't moving, but the whole incident made me look at the confrontation thing a little differently. I certainly do not want to get my ass kicked any time soon.

I think each situation needs to be evaluated, and I am sure my temper will get the better of me when a motorist cuts me off, or hits me, or something like that.

ModoVincere

03-21-07, 07:20 AM

Cyclaholic

03-21-07, 07:38 AM

And I'll be sending you a photo to burn the image in your mind, forever instilled!!
And if I'm really lucky, I'll get that neon speedo that Sacha baren Cohen (sp?) wore in Barat... oooooh baby.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

LandLuger

03-21-07, 07:39 AM

Cussing out a motorist is probably the worst thing you can do if you want to convert someone to a car free or car lite lifestyle.

Why would a motorist even consider the lifestyle if it causes one to exude so much venom and anger?

edit: not saying I haven't cussed a few out and flipped a few birds in my time, but I am seeing that is not the way to convert people.

Yep. But let's be honest about convertng the typical cager; if the Georgians are anything like the Mississippians they will stop driving when it comes to a dilemma of putting food in their mouth or fuel in the pickup, and only then after all the local game has been hunted to extinction.

DogBoy

03-21-07, 07:40 AM

smile and wave. Then enjoy the ensuing fireworks as they go gabonkers realizing you are refusing to join them in the little hell that is middle americas angerfest'07

This is what I do, but on the inside I contemplate flattening all 4 of their tires...

I've only had two incidents that really made me struggle to follow the smile and wave route. The first one was in winter, right after a snowfall. I was riding in the right tire-track, and a woman in a minivan comes up behind, starts honking, rolls down her window and starts yelling, then comes up beside me and tries to run me off the road. She then guns it, hits the roundabout, and promptly loses control of her vehicle, spinning out into the ditch. As I rode by, I smiled and waved, and asked her if she'd like me to call someone to help get her out of the ditch. She flipped me off, and I said.."okay then, have a nice day."

Incident #2 was in a school zone. There is a traffic island that narrows the lane significantly for about 75 yards. I always take the lane here, but its a 15 mph zone when I'm going through it, and often traffic is backed up due to crossing guards stopping traffic to let the kids go through. On this particular day, it was after the school rush, and the crossing guards were just leaving. I took the lane, and the black mercedes behind me started honking. I ignored him, and the next thing I hear is engine rev, and the sound of a car running up on the curb/sidewalk to pass me on the right. I stopped to let him buy, but he got to the light 100 yards up the road just in time for the red. I rode up next to him, and smiled politely at his wife and gave him the big cheesy "all is right in the world" smile. He refused to look at me, the wife gave the "I'm sorry" wave, and then started speaking in elevated tones toward him as the light turned green and they headed out.

All the other incidents I've had with cars typically I never see them again.

dynodonn

03-21-07, 07:49 AM

Cussing out a motorist is probably the worst thing you can do if you want to convert someone to a car free or car lite lifestyle.

Why would a motorist even consider the lifestyle if it causes one to exude so much venom and anger?

edit: not saying I haven't cussed a few out and flipped a few birds in my time, but I am seeing that is not the way to convert people.

I too have found out that yelling at motorist usually accomplishes very little results, whenever I find myself frustrated with a motorist's actions, a few added MPH for a mile or two or a couple of short steep hills, most generally resolves that problem.

gwd

03-21-07, 09:12 AM

smile and wave.

Platy

03-21-07, 10:35 AM

The freedom to cuss out people without consequences is a big part of car culture.

Every kind of person is out there on the road with us. That would include the gentle souls who have killed in anger with their bare hands, folks who are hopped up in any number of ways, the frankly insane, the recently paroled, the armed, the suicidal, ordinary people who are simply having the worst day of their lives, etc.

I know the depths of savagery I am capable of when I fly off into a rage. I'm sure everyone else is the same way. Smile & wave, yep, that's the best policy I think.

gwd

03-21-07, 11:04 AM

The freedom to cuss out people without consequences is a big part of car culture.

Not exercising that freedom makes bike culture more pleasant. Commuting day in and day out without getting aggravated at other people eventually has a positive influence on your attitude. Even when I was very car lite, I'd expose myself to the hostility every few months but after a few years of car free I don't get so upset at car drivers. I get scared sometimes when they act dangerously. Like so many things about car free this mental improvement is under rated. This morning on my way to work several car people did things that would have been extremely irritating if I had been in a car because they pulled manuevers that would impede my movement. On a bike, no problem, just pedal around them. Whatever fractional second delay it caused me was overwhelmed by the feeling of empowerment and thank fullness that I'm not jammed up in a car. I think the positive attitude seeps into you gradually after you get rid of the car so people who try car free for a few months or only in good weather don't get to the point of rarely wanting to cuss out anyone for their driving behaviour.

ranger39000

03-21-07, 11:38 AM

It all depends on whether it looks like I can take em or not. I have re-accosted in such a manner and they usually stand down. But then again, I havn't screwed this up yet and come across "Bubba"

Roody

03-21-07, 12:34 PM

I'm pretty impulsive so my responses range from ignoring them to a nuclear offensive. Usually I stand on my pedals, do a little happy dance and yell, "I love you too babe!"

But actually the negative behavior from cagers is pretty rare in my area. Maybe 10,000 cagers are polite for every one who isn't.

jchou701

03-21-07, 03:53 PM

interesting responses, but hey, sometimes you just can't but to blow up on someone.

and yes, i HATE IT when a car passes me by with only a few inches between the car and i

fat_bike_nut

03-21-07, 04:00 PM

CaptainCool

03-21-07, 05:37 PM

smile and wave. Then enjoy the ensuing fireworks as they go gabonkers realizing you are refusing to join them in the little hell that is middle americas angerfest'07
I did this for the first time today. It's fun. Even better that her Volvo seat was getting all wet with the window rolled down in the rain like that.

LandLuger

03-21-07, 07:01 PM

I did this for the first time today. It's fun. Even better that her Volvo seat was getting all wet with the window rolled down in the rain like that.

Is it just me or do the Volvo drivers seem to be the worst drivers?

CaptainCool

03-21-07, 08:21 PM

Is it just me or do the Volvo drivers seem to be the worst drivers?
I submit that Jeep Cherokees are far worse. Fortunately I haven't run into many of those in this city.

I remember my uncle complaining about bikers on country roads in Minnesota. Rahhh they're slow, blocking traffic, think they're in the Tour with their tight pants and yellow helmets, and I weigh three tons. Then I thought, wait a minute, this guy drives a Jeep Cherokee.

Wogsterca

03-21-07, 09:32 PM

Is it just me or do the Volvo drivers seem to be the worst drivers?

You don't drive a Volvo, you aim it:D .

ChipSeal

03-22-07, 06:25 AM

I do the smile and wave, and I have a plan in case I can catch them at the next light.

The law in Texas is on the cyclists side. (I live dangerously: I ride in traffic in the greater Dallas area... with skin tight shorts!:D ) So if i catch up to them, I have this message that I try to get across; "In Texas, bikes and cars have the same laws, the same rights, and the same roads."

I avoid being rude or obnoxious. If they care to engage in a discussion I will do it in a calm manner.
Often they have demanded that I "Get on the sidewalk!" If I can, I ask them why they don't drive on the sidewalk. Any answer they give applies equally to bicycles.

This is far less emotionally satisfying than scratching their paint or cursing them out, but it does have the possibility of moving them from a hostile mind set toward cyclists to at least a neutral one. It just might make the road a bit safer for the next cyclist this bloke overtakes. The former behavior has no chance of improving things.

Key to this strategy is my determination to follow this plan before I set out on my ride. If I wait till the heat of the moment to decide what I will do... well, I'm a red blooded American male!:rolleyes:

Tailwinds!

ModoVincere

03-22-07, 07:09 AM

I submit that Jeep Cherokees are far worse. Fortunately I haven't run into many of those in this city.

I remember my uncle complaining about bikers on country roads in Minnesota. Rahhh they're slow, blocking traffic, think they're in the Tour with their tight pants and yellow helmets, and I weigh three tons. Then I thought, wait a minute, this guy drives a Jeep Cherokee.

Agree whole heartedly on this one. I don't know what it is about Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee drivers, but they are the biggest JAM's on the road as far as I can tell. I have far more close calls from these than any other auto on the road, and there really aren't that many of them on the road to begin with.

digger

03-22-07, 09:14 AM

Agree whole heartedly on this one. I don't know what it is about Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee drivers, but they are the biggest JAM's on the road as far as I can tell. I have far more close calls from these than any other auto on the road, and there really aren't that many of them on the road to begin with.

Seems to me it is always white panel vans....and large pick-ups.....and older model cars.....and mini-vans....and ricers.....

kjohnnytarr

03-22-07, 09:21 AM

I submit that Jeep Cherokees are far worse. Fortunately I haven't run into many of those in this city.

I remember my uncle complaining about bikers on country roads in Minnesota. Rahhh they're slow, blocking traffic, think they're in the Tour with their tight pants and yellow helmets, and I weigh three tons. Then I thought, wait a minute, this guy drives a Jeep Cherokee.

Seriously! My roomie drives a Jeep Cherokee, and he drives freaking scary!

I've only ridden with him twice, when I stupidly let him talk me into coming to restaurants out on the sprawled part of town, when there are nicer, cheaper restaurants within walking distance downtown, without the wait... I guess some people just never learn.

NotAsFat

03-22-07, 09:48 AM

smile and wave. Then enjoy the ensuing fireworks as they go gabonkers realizing you are refusing to join them in the little hell that is middle americas angerfest'07
Middle America's angerfest??? And Roody jumps my $hit for pigeonholing liberals?
Where is that scourge of stereotypers when we need him? :D

Seriously, b2m, do you really think anger is a purely Middle American phenomenon? Are you under the impression that New Yorkers are unfailingly courteous and polite? :D Enhance your calm, dude.

DogBoy

03-22-07, 03:20 PM

... Enhance your calm ...

That movie sucked.

adamoshkosh

03-23-07, 11:39 AM

living in wisconsin in the winter, my blaze orange mittens are the only things that have kept me from being hit by an ignorant red neck in an SUV more than a few times in the past 4 months. i must admit, the mitten comes off in exchange for a one fingered salute. nothing is more infuriating than a driver who thinks their 5mpg vehicle equates divine right of way

Wogsterca

03-23-07, 11:58 AM

Hello jchou,

would your username be a reference to Jay Chou? :D

Anyway...yeah, I tend to cuss out motorists sometimes too. The last time I did it, I got an earful of Vietnamese obscenities as I rolled past the big SUV that cut in front of me. I don't understand Vietnamese, but judging by the anger in the driver's voice, I'm guessing he called me a F****in A-hole. Or something along those lines.

Now, I just point and laugh whenever they get angry and mash the accelerator pedal. Makes them even angrier when they fly past me, only to have to stop at the stop light ahead (which makes me :roflmao: at them even more).

Even better is when they need to pull into a gas station, and the price is up again.

I had one time, I was driving a small car, guy flies past me, in a big old bondo bucket, IIRC it had originally been one of those Buick station wagons, the ones that needed Premium gas, and got about 3MPG with a tail wind. I'm tootling along, on my way to a client for work, so I was doing about 5 under, I refused to get a speeding ticket on the clock. Then I see the same car in the next gas station:) , 5 minutes later, he goes flying past me again, later, same car, next gas station, :D, third time, goes flying past again, next gas station there he is :lol:. Yup, flies past again, next gas station, by this time I am :roflmao: Unfortunately I needed to turn off shortly there after, and never saw him again.....

ranger39000

03-26-07, 06:07 AM

Actually NotAsFat, my girl took me to her native Brooklyn for a vaca last June, and the yorkers were some of the kindest and freindly people i've met (I've been all over the world). People r sayin it's cause of 9/11, but who knows. We were street level (n below) the whole time. Just thought I'd straighten that out fer my New Yorker.............Love your sig, starve a terrorist

lyeinyoureye

03-26-07, 08:36 AM

my question: how do YOU cuss them out when u roll back up on them at a red light after they had honked at you and cut you off?

I try not to piss people operating lethal weapons off. :D

Roody

03-26-07, 08:45 AM

Middle America's angerfest??? And Roody jumps my $hit for pigeonholing liberals?
Where is that scourge of stereotypers when we need him? :D

Seriously, b2m, do you really think anger is a purely Middle American phenomenon? Are you under the impression that New Yorkers are unfailingly courteous and polite? :D Enhance your calm, dude.
In general I think that politeness (Sir and Ma'am) increase as you go south and west, but actual generosity and charity levels stay pretty constant. I think I already posted that people in my Middle American city are not particularly angry toward cyclists, so I'm not buying into that stereotype.

As for the stereotype of New Yorkers.... I spent time in NYC years ago when I was hitch-hiking, really down and out. I remember that New Yorkers were kind and fairly generous, but not very polite. (I'm sure you could relate, NotAsFat. ;) )

New York is a big tourist town with way more visitors than Orlando, for example. Maybe the natives get a little fatigued by the constant questions and bad manners of some of the visiting rubes.

They also have a tremendous problem with traffic congestion. Even though this is obviously caused by too many cars, they still take out their gridlock frustration on the nearest cyclist sometimes.

LandLuger

03-26-07, 10:25 AM

In general I think that politeness (Sir and Ma'am) increase as you go south and west, but actual generosity and charity levels stay pretty constant. I think I already posted that people in my Middle American city are not particularly angry toward cyclists, so I'm not buying into that stereotype.

Sorry. I'm going to have to hold up the honor of the home state by correcting your missconception.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/103443

The "religious, far-rightwing" states as you think of them, lead the nation in giving. A modern day example of the "widows mite." Luke 21:1-4

I-Like-To-Bike

03-26-07, 12:00 PM

Middle America's angerfest??? And Roody jumps my $hit for pigeonholing liberals?
Where is that scourge of stereotypers when we need him? :D
Stereotyping and generalizing on the CarFree list again? Strictly dog bites man story. But per your request:
http://www.majordickwinters.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/eusa_naughty.gif

Roody

03-26-07, 12:07 PM

Sorry. I'm going to have to hold up the honor of the home state by correcting your missconception.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/103443

The "religious, far-rightwing" states as you think of them, lead the nation in giving. A modern day example of the "widows mite." Luke 21:1-4
Interesting. I'm not at all surprised to see that wealth and generosity are negatively correlated. That fits in with my personal experiences. Also, one reason that some people are wealthier is because they don't give away as much of their money. (I doubt if they're happier, since giving is the source of much happiness.)

Personally I doubt if religion has much to do with it. Religious people may give more money, but a lot of it goes to evangelical outreach and quasi-political propaganda, and doesn't really benefit anybody in an earthly sense.

I was sorry to see my own state of Michigan in the bottom 10. You can check out the Generosity Index for your own state here. (http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/cfp/db/generosity.php?year=2005)

fat_bike_nut

03-26-07, 01:39 PM

I don't think religion has anything to do with it at all. I'm an atheist, and I try to give as much as I can.

pityr

03-26-07, 01:52 PM

I find that by not yelling and getting angry, I am able to enjoy my ride more. I try to just let it go, give a smile and a wave, and not get worked up about it.

I have been known to ask "what would jesus do?" to a few JAMs with jesus fishes on thier cars.

LandLuger

03-26-07, 02:36 PM

. . .I have been known to ask "what would jesus do?" to a few JAMs with jesus fishes on thier cars.

:roflmao: Sad, but true.

Artkansas

03-26-07, 02:49 PM

Last motorist that I was able to catch up with after a hassle, was a police officer. She ordered me onto the sidewalk initially. I knew this was bogus. After fussing for a minute when she left, I decided to get her badge number. Traffic was so thick that catching up was easy. She refused to give me her badge number and I copied her license number.

When I got to work, I called the police and managed to get to the Sergeant of the Bicycle Patrol. He later called me back to let me know that the officer had been duly lectured.