I've been honked at, yelled at, and buzzed more often in the past two months than I have in the ten years I've been cycling, and for the past week I have had a confrontation or yelling match nearly every day. Mostly the cagers have been telling me to get on the sidewalk, or on the parallel MUP. My response is generally along the lines of "I'm within my rights" or if I have more time, "The most dangerous intersection for cyclists in Seattle is on the Burke-Gilman; the road is much safer."

Has anyone else noticed some escalating tempers? Is there a battle raging on the streets? When am I going to get hit?

- i've gotten the 'get on the sidewalk' before...

- my response? i laugh loudly and madly, then scream, "Who loves you, baby?!!"

:-)

I have not noticed anything like that, but last Sunday was the first time I ever got as far north as the BG trail. I have not had any encounters like that in the south end.

Repeat after me: I am not going to get hit. The person who does hit me will rue the day!

East Hill

It will only get worse this weekend. I have had more run in with motorists on event rides than anytime else in that neck of the woods. What yer rear dude.
V

-- my response? i laugh loudly and madly, then scream, "Who loves you, baby?!!"

I used to do things a little more like that, and I still wave and grin to honkers as if they were a friend of mine saying "hi," but a few weeks ago, I was riding my tandem with a friend of mine, along with two other friends on singles, and somebody passed me within 6 inches while we were negotiating train tracks. Now, this road only goes to the beach (Golden Gardens) so we chased him down, met him in his parking lot and asked politely why he felt it necessary to endanger the lives of two to four people just to make it to the beach a few seconds earlier (funny that he felt delayed considering that one of the singles beat him to his parking spot). We had a civil conversation and I made him shake my hand. Since then, I've wanted to have a conversation with every driver who plainly doesn't know what's going on.

Anyhow, I really feel like there are a bunch of drivers out there who are getting fed up with cyclists being allowed on the road. Everybody who has yelled at me in the past week has told me to get on the sidewalk or use the bike path. I think something interesting is going to happen soon.

I've been honked at, yelled at, and buzzed more often in the past two months than I have in the ten years I've been cycling, and for the past week I have had a confrontation or yelling match nearly every day. Mostly the cagers have been telling me to get on the sidewalk, or on the parallel MUP. My response is generally along the lines of "I'm within my rights" or if I have more time, "The most dangerous intersection for cyclists in Seattle is on the Burke-Gilman; the road is much safer."

Has anyone else noticed some escalating tempers? Is there a battle raging on the streets? When am I going to get hit?

I feel your PAIN man.
I am haveing the same experience in Oregon City. My feeling is that it comes and goes in waves.
but it is consistantly there. I try to stay watchfull, because I have more to lose than they do. If they are oblivious thats one thing but if they are Malitious then I get scared.

About 15 years ago I used to commute by bike in the Portland Metro area allot. I can only recall one incident where I was yelled at by a very angry and for what ever reason out of control driver. What I do recall though is people where just oblivious to me. Pulling out in front of me when I had the right of way, turning across my lane of travel that kind of stuff. Since I have been riding again the last few years I have found on one hand people are much more courteous. Drivers will stop and wave me through intersections, Or just give me the space and right of way that is required. On the other hand though there are also seems be allot more angry drivers out there. I am sure part of it is just the law of averages more people on the road more chances for some one to be mad at the world or mad at the people on the bikes messing with there time schedule. Bottom line ride defensively look out for your self and your riding partners and any more when I run into angry drivers I smile, wave and wish them a nice day. Its not what I am saying under my breath though.

Flying Wheels this year was horrible for road rage, especially through Snohomish.

I was heckled by a few cars. One was a newish VW Jetta filled with girls who were at most 20 years old. They were swerving, blasting the horn and extending middle fingers out open windows. The hilarious part was they got stuck behind a red light with about 50 cyclists ahead of them. A few of the more militant riders started slapping the car and sprayed their water bottles.

I've had to restrain myself from physical confrontation a few times.

...... or on the parallel MUP. My response is generally along the lines of "I'm within my rights" or if I have more time, "The most dangerous intersection for cyclists in Seattle is on the Burke-Gilman; the road is much safer."

Has anyone else noticed some escalating tempers?

let me bet, you're riding the road down next to the B-G in Ballard or up by Gasworks? (I do too)

I've noticed escalating tempers in drivers for the last fifteen years in Seattle, its nothing endemic to this summer alone;


BUT I think ever increasing traffic congestion, gas prices, cost of living, and increasing numbers of bicyclists (There ARE an increasing number of bicyclists in Seattle) have contributed to the jackassmotorists' provincial misunderstanding of bicyclists' rights to the roads.

The mayor has pledged support to bicycling in Seattle; I think the city should do a continous public awareness campaign about bicycling in the city to help guide drivers to proper road decorum regarding bicyclists.

Will you get hit? probably not. will you continue to get harassed by JAM's? definetly. I get some harassment every week, usually.

let me bet, you're riding the road down next to the B-G in Ballard or up by Gasworks? (I do too)


In Ballard, yes. but through the middle of the city I ride on 36th, 50th, 65th, partially because I like the hills, partially because if I rode right next to the BG for my whole commute, I know it'd be alot worse.

I like CBC's attempts at public education, though ridiculously incomplete. I've shouted "Three feet!" at several cars who buzz or pass me too close. More is definitely necessary. I know they teach drivers how to handle cyclists in the drivers ed curriculum, as well as how to cycle safe, but as has been said many times, the populus needs some gentle reminders. I've been thinking of carrying a four pound sledge for my gentle reminder! I don't think I'd have to use it, just sling it over my back so any passing motorists will think twice.

Since I'm riding my bike more miles this year than ever before, I can't say for sure if I get more crap from drivers per mile ridden on the road or not. I certainly am hearing more crap per day on the road, tho. It gets rather tiresome. It doesn't matter whether you're on a MUP like the Gilman trail, a bike lane on the road, or legally taking a lane in traffic, it's not hard to find some dork with incorrect assumptions about traffic laws that has to share his/her views. I mostly ignore them. If I let myself get upset, I'm afraid you may see me in the news as the crazy bicyclist who pulled the motorist through his window and beat him to a pulp in the middle of the road.

I can say for certain that there is a heck of a lot more angst in the media than I can remember. The public feedback forums and letters to the editors on the news web sites are regularly filled with angry motorists lambasting bicycles. It doesn't help that radio personalities and even news anchors are regularly sharing their anti-bike views on the air. Just like in traffic, the people who whine the most are the ones that are the furthest from the truth on traffic laws.

Traffic of every kind is getting more crowded. I'm seeing more bikes on the road by a big margin than I have in nearly thirty years off and on of transportational cycling. With car traffic getting constantly worse, I can't believe more people aren't trying different ways of getting around. I guess it's easier to ***** and moan at everyone else and keep to their bad habits.

There are simply way too many unhappy people out there.

I have not noticed anything like that, but last Sunday was the first time I ever got as far north as the BG trail. I have not had any encounters like that in the south end.

Repeat after me: I am not going to get hit. The person who does hit me will rue the day!

East Hill
I wonder if we saw you? :D

We rode up from Redmond to north end of BG and just around the lake a little on north end before turning around.

I had my first "get off the road" incident a few weeks ago - so I can't complain. Most Seattle drivers seem pretty polite.

But it only takes one. A mechanic at recycled was cut off by an SUV (right hook) under the Viaduct. He ran into it and the three big guys in it jumped out and beat him up for their infraction.

I expect to see more of this stuff as gas prices continue to rise. It's a standard ******* reaction - when he feels pressure he goes and beats up somebody who looks weaks than him.

Be careful out there...

I wonder if we saw you? :D

We rode up from Redmond to north end of BG and just around the lake a little on north end before turning around.

It's possible! Let's see, I was riding a dusty rose Nishiki mixte, my husband was riding his whoppin' big blue Schwinn LeTour. There were three other women, one other guy in the group.

Don't know when the next trip to BG will be, but I've definitely got to get up there to visit the bicycle shops.

East Hill

Just wait until next month when they close down half the lanes on I-5, 24 hours a day, for a couple of weeks. I really think that is going to throw people over the boiling point. So many people are going to be heading to the surface streets where we commute, it's not going to be pretty.

Just wait until next month when they close down half the lanes on I-5, 24 hours a day, for a couple of weeks. I really think that is going to throw people over the boiling point. So many people are going to be heading to the surface streets where we commute, it's not going to be pretty.

I made that point to Mr. East Hill just last night--it makes me glad (for once) that I have such odd work hours. I'm also glad that I don't go north/south, because that's going to be a bear.

East Hill

BUT I think ever increasing traffic congestion, gas prices, cost of living, and increasing numbers of bicyclists (There ARE an increasing number of bicyclists in Seattle) have contributed to the jackassmotorists' provincial misunderstanding of bicyclists' rights to the roads.Maybe it's all the displaced Idahoans (rich Californians are driving them out ;)) - -the motor vehicle still reigns supreme over here.

I'm starting to think that every time a newspaper publishes a letter from somone who goes into the 'bikes don't belong on the road' mode, that a reminder also be published that gives the relevant state law that 'bikes DO belong on the road'. Think of it as an educational opportunity :) .

East Hill

Deadbabydownhill. soon...

Deadbabydownhill. soon...

No, only in Portland are those allowed :) .

East Hill

my office is at the end of denny so i use the bike lane on 2nd to wind my way up to dexter. i was at a light and a lady pulls up, and she says to me, "I'm a biker too but I couldn't ride down here. Do you feel safe riding around downtown?!" i replied honestly and said no. but that i hope enough people in cars ride bikes and will look out, otherwise i'm on my own.

maybe the cagers aren't all bad. we do only remember the JAMs and less the people that yield or give right of way when appropriate. i call myself fortunate to have only been honked at once (i caught him at a light and honked at him back :D), only yelled at a couple times, and never felt like a motorist did something that would warrant me chasing them down to pummel them to death.