General Cycling Discussion - I hate people in cars!!!

So im riding around today and I was crossing an intersection. Some dumb Beotch stops at the stop sign...sees me coming and then squirts across the intersection almost killing me. I take my hands off the bar and give her an exasperated look which she returns like i did something wrong. So I flick her off and she freaks the f out, stops her car and tries to run me over backing up. At that point I just laughed at her and jumped up on the curb.

If that was a man I think I would have had to laya serious beating on him. Alas I just had to call her some names and go on my merry way.

I wish people would respect the rights of bikers but I think its a lost cause. Sorry about my rant but I had to vent about these nut cases we share the road with..

peace out all:fight:

I know how you feel. But I think a ride without cars would be boring!

I had a guy in a prickup truck get frustrated over getting held up a few extra seconds waiting for an opportunity to pass me on a two lane road. I got a long congratulatory honk from him congratulating me for being ahead of him.

I retuned his gesture with the universal 'Your number one in my book" finger sign.

I think that, in the future, I'll start blowing kisses at these guys. I'm thinking that will rattle them more than the usual response.

Knemo, in situations like this, I always find it easier (and considerably less stressful) to just write down their number and call the cops. Even if you don't get to lay charges (I don't often get to out here because I tend to avoid "accidents"), you might get them to give her a lecture about her driving, which is probably more likely to make her change her behaviour than shouting obscenities.

As far as laughing at her goes, that really is a good response. To once again quote the greatest song lyrics of 2003:

"If I was tough enough, I'd knock your arse to the floor, but I'm not, so I'll just laugh and make a run for the door".

Originally posted by knemo77
If that was a man I think I would have had to laya serious beating on him. Alas I just had to call her some names and go on my merry way.

Hey, these are liberated times. You shouldn't let mere gender affect how you treat someone.

Equal rights. Equal risks.

Originally posted by yikes
I know how you feel. But I think a ride without cars would be boring!

True, true :D

Sometimes the rush of riding in traffic, and the occasional bad driver put me in a state where adrenalin takes over and I "rage ride". Luckily cycling is a great outlet for my rage and after a few minutes of raging I'll relax into a normal cadence, and feel great.

Received a new Velo catologue in the mail today.. Somewhat, round about related to this thread.
A jersey I have to have..
A white jersey, with a suv in the middle of the jersey. With the cross out( circle with a line through it) emblem over the vehicle. Just says "Bike to Work."
Gotta have it. That will tick them off.

Originally posted by cyclezealot
Received a new Velo catologue in the mail today.. Somewhat, round about related to this thread.
A jersey I have to have..
A white jersey, with a suv in the middle of the jersey. With the cross out( circle with a line through it) emblem over the vehicle. Just says "Bike to Work."
Gotta have it. That will tick them off. I want one. I Want One. I WANT ONE DAMMIT ARGGHH *wrestles cyclezealot off his bike and steals shirt* lol

Brendon

I find there is no reason to flip off motorists. After all, they're driving a 2000 pound tank and you're on a cycle. Not much of a contest if they become enraged. I'll yell at them if I think they're about to do something stupid (or in the act of doing something stupid) but I never use any obscenity. Plus, my mom would smack me over the head for such behaviour.

I also want one of those shirts, tho I've never once worn a jersey.

It's amazing how stupid people in cars can be (of course bikers aren't stupid when they are in the car!). We frequently ride through a heavy tourist area on our tandem & I swear that when tourists are on vacation they figure the rules don't apply to them. They start to go through a crosswalk, stop & chat in the middle, turn around & go back, and always walk as slow as possible, etc. If the cars are stuck in traffic, and we bike by on the right they get really PO'd that they were passed by a bike. If we pass them a few times (stop & go), they get really mad. Then they rev the engines - they think that's cool apparently. Some of them will try to block the bike lane with their cars. There's lots of rude comments too. We had a woman the other day about 500' behind us (by herself in a big SUV), we signalled left & moved into the left lane to take a left turn. She sped up and came up on us really fast & blared her horn at us. No idea why. She was going straight in the other lane! Then she tried to run us off the road. Then there are the ones that just won't go by. They sit right behind us & won't go around! What's up with that?

On the other hand, many people are very good at intersections & will let us go through on the bike first.

Originally posted by mlwschultz
Then there are the ones that just won't go by. They sit right behind us & won't go around! What's up with that?



Our development is off a main road where there are always cyclists riding and I frequently WILL NOT PASS them depending on where they are in a lane, the speed limit is 40 but reality is more like 50. I consider it a courtesy to stay behind a cyclist until such time as speed, traffic and road conditions allow. I realize part of your post is venting but am looking to see if I am doing the wrong thing by giving the bike the road and following behind and shielding the biker from traffic which is ridiculous at times?? I find myself doing the same thing all the time, on some of the hills we have down to the valley where cyclists are heading. I hold the lane and allow them whatever they want in front to enjoy the down-hill all the way. I can't communicate "Heh, I cycle too, enjoy the ride I can be patient in my vehicle", but are my good intentions offensive to the cyclist in front?

Originally posted by Ohio Trekker
I can't communicate "Heh, I cycle too, enjoy the ride I can be patient in my vehicle", but are my good intentions offensive to the cyclist in front?


Not offensive, but in my case, I've been followed by cars for a long time, then at the exact moment they shouldn't pass, BAM, here they come around. I just get kind of twitchy when someone hangs back.

I was wrapping up a ride on Sunday. My friend tells me there is a car coming up from behind. I turn and look as does he. I speed up and get in front. The car passes and as it gets beside me he honks. I become instantly angered and show him my nice finger he then returns the favor and shakes his fist. So I motion for him to stop and he does I get right up to his window and lecture him at the top of my lungs. He of course sounds half drunk and has a cigartette dangling out of his mouth. Once he understands that just because I have on Lycra doesn't mean I am going to put up with his sh*t he changes his tune. He says he was trying to be courteous and let us know he was passing. I never find a horn courteous especially right next to me. Perhaps he was telling the truth, but he is still stupid. I think now I will better bottle my rage until it is truly warranted. We reluctantly appologized and he drove on. He then came to a four way stop. He pulled into the very middle of the intersection and stopped. He was looking around confused. He was also lost. We passed him and then he passed us again. I am sure I was in the wrong, but I bet he won't honk at a cyclist again soon.

Given the number of people that drive cars in this country - including most of the ones on this board, at some time or other - that's a lot of hate!

You can maybe take a little solace in the fact that she probably would have done the same thing if you were in a car. People like that HAVE to be first and if she thought you were going slow enough in a car, she would have squirted out in front of you just the same.

We can all rant at how much better and smarter we are because we ride bikes, follow all the rules (we NEVER make traffic mistakes) and all the other stuff I see people write about. Just remember, everyone has their little gripes. Motorcyclists have many of the same ones aired here. Small cars vs SUVs. One of my particular favorites is, because I choose to drive a large pickup, many of the smaller cars will tailgate me... or "draft" me to let me pay for their gas at the risk of them winding up under my truck if I have to hit the brakes quickly.

Unfortunately, there's stupid and inconsiderate people out there no matter what. We're just a lot more exposed on our 18 or so pounds of (CroMoly, Al, Ti) vs the several tons of steel and plastic of a typical car. We just have to be more defensive and anticipate the stupidity and even the honest mistakes.

Rant away, but making such sweeping generalizations only lumps you in with the group you're disparaging because I'm sure you don't hate ALL people in cars....

Well said, skiahh.

Ohio Trekker - Absolutely nothing wrong with giving the bike room & hanging back until it's safe for you to pass, giving the bike sufficient room for safety. It's the ones that have a clear road and just won't go around you that's frustrating. They sit off your back point & just ride real close. Maybe they just enjoy the lycra - I don't know. I always appreciate a courteous driver. It's the ones that aren't that cause the problems. Respect goes both ways.

That's a relief, I thought I might be doing something wrong. On a down-hill I typically just hold back completey, and tend to back off a little and wait to see to see if the cyclist is going to take off or "ride the brakes". We have some pretty serious and hilly curves that scare a lot of the un-intiated "tourists" so break clutchers are not unusual. On the flat if I can move to the passing or other lane fine, if not I wait. I have noticed a couple of riders getting twitchy as mentioned earlier, but you can usually tell they are twitchy by their repeated and rapid glances back to see what your up to, in those cases I fall back so they know I'm not waiting to blind side them, until its clear and than high-tail it past them.

For the most part you can tell a confident rider by how they are riding, or how they are checking the rear, while at the same time, I can usually tell the rec-rider who is merely passing by on the way to the trail trying to get away from traffic as fast as they can.

Should be a universal signal to let other cyclists know that I may be in my van, BUT I cycle too and am being courteous not waiting to mow you down. Horn doesn't work, and to me there is nothing worse than anyone using a horn on the road short of running me off the edge. Flashing lights doesn't work it has passing or negative connotations. Maybe if I mount a bike rack on the front and keep a bike on it when I'm driving it would make the point.

I do drive a full-size conversion van, so I am conscientious about the size of the thing anyway, as well as the fact that it can be very disconcerting to have something that size behind you, or passing by fast sucking you off the bike.

Originally posted by Ohio Trekker
I can't communicate "Heh, I cycle too, enjoy the ride I can be patient in my vehicle", but are my good intentions offensive to the cyclist in front?

as has already been posted i would say should be quite OK, assuming you're not tailgating the cyclists or whatever.

i guess there may be some cyclists who then feel guilty for "holding up" you or other, but shouldn't be a problem.


Should be a universal signal to let other cyclists know that I may be in my van, BUT I cycle too and am being courteous not waiting to mow you down... Maybe if I mount a bike rack on the front and keep a bike on it when I'm driving it would make the point.
well, bike rack might work, although if you're behind they might not notice it until you pass.

on the other hand, i don't know how many times i have been cut off or seen something dangerous from a motorist WITH a BIKE RACK! and i think "how can a cyclist be so inconsiderate?" but i'm sure most drivers with bike racks are courteous - it's just i notice if they are also cyclists!

He says he was trying to be courteous and let us know he was passing. I never find a horn courteous especially right next to me. Perhaps he was telling the truth, but he is still stupid

yeah, honking the horn to be "courteous" and let the cyclist know you are there used to REALLY annoy me. but this is common practice in Italy so i've gotten a little used to it.

the main problem is that
a) it is LOUD - much louder than a motorist sitting in a closed vehicle thinks - and especially when the car is behing the cyclist and the horn is aimed right at him
b) it comes across as "get the heck out of my way" and can often mean that, so it is hard from a honk alone to know.

i guess IF someone uses the "honk to warn and be courteous" they should honk a quarter-mile or so BEFORE reaching the cyclist. and then pass nicely/safely and wave or something...

I guess I've been reasonably lucky through the years. I've been cycling here in Atlanta for a bit over forty years. I've never been involved in a serious road rage incident. About every three months or so someone will pass too closely with their horn blaring, and about twice a year someone will shout something from a car. A few months ago a guy who was miffed that I was blocking him from
making a right on red where the lane was too narrow for me to shift to the left actually got out of his car and advanced on me, but I managed to calm him down withI a combination of smiling and firm insistance.

This may sound like quite a few hassles, but I cycle daily on busy roads in heavy traffic. Hundreds of motorists a day interact with me and properly and smoothly pass me when needed. While the motoring public may need some education about the rights and responsibilities of cyclists (as do most cyclists) I seem to get along fine with a large percentage of the drivers here.

knemo77

I'm soory you had trouble down in Richmond. Maybe the few bad drivers I see around here are tourists from there.

I would have waved and smilled. If she stopped to confront I would have said something like. "I know at my age you pretty ones never see me."

This all works better than all that hoistle stuff. And every time I read of some bicyclest giving the finger to an SUV I'm reminded of a picture a friend had in his office; It was of a mouse giving the finger to an attacking eagle - the caption was "The last gester of deficance".

Joe

I've had my share of 'stupid driver' incidents, some in which I had to give extra effort not to go off the deep end in retaliation. Only my opinion, but ranting, 1-finger salutes, etc. accomplishes nothing but solidifying the noncyclists' misguided notion that bikes have no right to be on the road. Who knows, flipping off the right driver might endanger the next cyclist they encounter. We cyclists shouldn't provide easy ammo to the bike-hating contingent.

Apologies to those who consider this approach to be to passive, but my opinion is that earning/keeping respect is more difficult than losing it!

I try my best to not respond to the idiots.Once on awhile they are such jerks, they get the better of me. Particularily the young H.S. punks who have actually hit me with flying objects.
But about my new jersey, with the circle with the diagonal stipe calling for eliminating cars.
I left the catalogue at work. Retrived it.. From Voler. "Velowear.com' .....I ordered my 'stamp out cars jersey.' Red and white.. Hope the large car is big enough to be seen by motorists.. It was a car and not an suv, as I had thought. But still a great jersey. It will be one of my favorites..

It's not just cyclists that get a hard deal on the roads. Only this afternoon I was walking in town, just stepped onto a zebra crossing (on which peds have right of way), with a car about 20 yards away. I would have been most of the way across if he'd slowed and stopped, but he kept going - as did I. He missed me by about a foot. I threw my hands up in the air and glared at him with a look of 'what the f...?' on my face, but he barely noticed me. I know he knew I was there, I think he was trying to pretend I wasn't.

But cyclists (well, people riding bikes) make mistakes too. A week ago or so, I was crossing a street at a set of lights, and this chick, maybe mid thirties, rode up along the street on a POS ladies MTB hybrid type thing. I thought, she's gonna run that red light, stupid b*tch. But she didn't. She turned onto the pavement, missing me by inches, only to ride fifteen yards on the pavement around the bend she would've ridden round on the street, back onto the same street at the next set of crossing lights. I felt like chasing her down and giving her what for, but she'd probably try and have me arrested for aggrevated assualt or somehting.

Originally posted by nathank
yeah, honking the horn to be "courteous" and let the cyclist know you are there used to REALLY annoy me. but this is common practice in Italy so i've gotten a little used to it.


There's honking and there's honking. A short sharp toot from a reasonable distance is quite acceptable, and quite sufficient to do the job - if one hold that a 'job' is actually required. After all, I'm already riding as far to the outside of the lane as practical considerations allow me to in 99% of cases anyway. However, the honks that really bother me (and that seem to happen a lot around here) are the ones where some jerk waits until the last minute and literally leans on the horn with their entire lard-butt. When this happens, I usually make an effort to piss them off even more.

Originally posted by Jonny B
But cyclists (well, people riding bikes) make mistakes too.

This is still not justification for "road rage", or as the non-PC folk call it, "being a dickhead". We all make mistakes (yes, even me!). This whole idea that one cyclist making a mistake or doing something stupid justifies road rage against cyclists as a whole is just a load of codswallop. Just imagine if I decided that one driver error (I see plenty of those) was justification for me to take out my rage on every driver I see...

I have been honked at and cussed at by the people who drive cars while I ride my bicycle, but I have found that it is much worse if you are riding a motorcycle. I have came close to being hit by people who say that they did't see me, and others who try and force me off of the road. I have had two speeding tickets because of this. Someone who turns towards me trying to run me off of the road gets way too close so I speed up to get ahead then a cop comes outta nowhere and stops me, not the driver of the car. I have even been rearended on my bike. A car ran into me while I was waitin at the lights and when the cops got there they said it was my fault. I didn't see how considering that the light was red, but I guess cops go after teens more.

It seems to me society is falliing apart and much of the tme we witness this maddness on the bike or car.
Today, two non-bike incidents of road maddness happened to both of us, wife and myself.
Nothing unusual, but while both in the car and going home from dinner, a speed crazed male driver passed us on the right in a road where two lanes were merging into one. Forced us into the far left lane, luckily no traffic was approaching.
My wife tells me, This morining, as she was driving to school, she experienced another wacko.... On a dark road, some idiot must have thought he was in England, driving in the left lane. As she approached, a pick up with brights on, blinding her. was speeding in the wrong lane.. It was like he was playing 'chicken.'
As he got close, he moved into the right lane. Then, He Stopped in the middle of the road. Looked at her like some maniac who had just escaped from the mental ward and cursed at her. She stopped in the middle of the road, fearing a head on.... There was no other escape, except drive upon someone's lawn. She was blinded and could not get a liscense plate number. It was just a white Ford large size pick up. He sped away. Should have been reported. No description. No witness'. These kinds of things seem to happen a couple times a year. I have similiar stories from others.
Just another unexplained story of some road psycho. Hate those people.

Originally posted by cyclezealot
It seems to me society is falliing apart and much of the tme we witness this maddness on the bike or car.
Today, two non-bike incidents of road maddness happened to both of us, wife and myself.
Nothing unusual, but while both in the car and going home from dinner, a speed crazed male driver passed us on the right in a road where two lanes were merging into one. Forced us into the far left lane, luckily no traffic was approaching.
My wife tells me, This morining, as she was driving to school, she experienced another wacko.... On a dark road, some idiot must have thought he was in England, driving in the left lane. As she approached, a pick up with brights on, blinding her. was speeding in the wrong lane.. It was like he was playing 'chicken.'
As he got close, he moved into the right lane. Then, He Stopped in the middle of the road. Looked at her like some maniac who had just escaped from the mental ward and cursed at her. She stopped in the middle of the road, fearing a head on.... There was no other escape, except drive upon someone's lawn. She was blinded and could not get a liscense plate number. It was just a white Ford large size pick up. He sped away. Should have been reported. No description. No witness'. These kinds of things seem to happen a couple times a year. I have similiar stories from others.
Just another unexplained story of some road psycho. Hate those people.

These people are messed. How did they ever get their driver licences?

Originally posted by mindbogger
These people are messed. How did they ever get their driver licences?

Because they are handed out way too liberally, and because nobody is ever re-tested.

Originally posted by Chris L
This is still not justification for "road rage", or as the non-PC folk call it, "being a dickhead". We all make mistakes (yes, even me!). This whole idea that one cyclist making a mistake or doing something stupid justifies road rage against cyclists as a whole is just a load of codswallop. Just imagine if I decided that one driver error (I see plenty of those) was justification for me to take out my rage on every driver I see...

Are you accusing me of implying the above, or are you just furthering my arguement? I'm a little confused, but I certainley never meant that one person's mistake should result in the prosecution of all.

This road rage thing is nothing new, I think it is just getting worse as the roads become more competitive with ever increasing traffic volume. That small patch of concrete up ahead has my name on it and dam it, no one else has rights to it. I take it first is the mostorist motto.
A favorite movie scene forever in my memory witnessing this obsession as proof positive.
One of my favorite scenes- "Fried Green Tomotoes." Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates. Bates in one of her ever present roles of some dominating bit+h. That is the average motorist.
I love the scene where the Cadillac smashes into the compact, when the eqully bitc+ful punkess usurps the parking space.
"I have more insurance." Great line. That has happened to us in parking lots. Did you not want to do that? I did, and we have our heads half way screwed on.
A violent act motoring is! What the movie is probably 11 years old? I do believe movies reflect the modern culture.

Originally posted by Jonny B
Are you accusing me of implying the above, or are you just furthering my arguement? I'm a little confused, but I certainley never meant that one person's mistake should result in the prosecution of all.

I may well have misinterpreted your argument. Either way, I agree 100%. However, I've also read a lot of comments around here trying to suggest that cyclists bring this road rage on themselves.

your trouble with cars is shared by all of us in the cycling world im sure. I travel some heavily cycled roads daily and they are quite narrow. I see how ignorant motorists can be by passing and not giving the cyclist much room. Most riders pull to the side and let traffic pass when they see how close they follow or how impatient they become. I drive truck and at over 100 ft in length and 2 trailers whipping around behind me, I wont pass until I can move completely in the other lane to do so safely. I wont put the cyclist at risk due to being in a hurry. I will remain at a safe distance and honk when im ready to pass and wave as i go by. There has been several riders killed in the last couple years by trucks and i wont add to the number. Even the wind flow from around the truck can suck the cyclist in toward the trailers as i go by. I hope my honking to let them know im coming around doesnt startle them. I do it out of respect to them to let them know that their safety is also MY concern.

I no longer ride on the roads around here except where necessary - too many incidents with hostile drivers. Most places i can get to riding on the sidewalks.

"Why do they hate us?" Gee, i can't imagine, America.

hey headn4thehills!

good to see a trucker with a great attitude - actually i believe most trucker are REALLY good drivers as well as courteous, so it's not really unexpected, but nice nonetheless.

and yes, the "wind" can almost blow a cyclist off the road - as i know from personal experience when a big rig passed me at mabye 80mph with about 1ft to the side! and i never heard him!

Bikists to blame for autorage? I imagine some are, can't say i've ever seen that myself. What i have observed is that the autoist offenders are practically always under-40 no-collar white males without females in the vehicle, & usually with one or more other young males of the same description.
You know, the same people who like Rush Limbaugh.

Hate is a strong word. I disrespect them. If a driver gives me room, or allows me to pass they will always get a wave and a warm smile, if I pull a bonehead manouver where they almost hit me, they will get a apology. But if they try to hit me, they ignite the need to defend myself and I will follow through, I'm very defensive and respectful of cars all at the same time, I give them room and most of them give me respect in return, there are some that think that bikes aren't allowed on the road, and they try to smash you off, they get my middle finger and my pen copying down their licence number. I always carry a pen and a piece of paper.

I've handed in license #s myself, but i don't know if anything comes of it. I know i can't get the police to tell me one way or another. I now ride in peace on the sidewalks & will never go back on the streets.