Commuting - Road rage--on a bike

Have you ever fell into "road rage" while riding your bike to work? Naw, I didn't think so.

;)

This morning, I did something I am ashamed of. I thought a motorist had honked at me (you know, the kind of honk where they wait until you are right next to them and...HONK!!!) Maybe he wasn't honking at me at all. But I passed him as he waited at the light (maybe I should have waited) and when he passed me he was too close.

I got mad and blew my whistle at him, a no-no when I'm mad, and pointed at him (some people think I am a bike-cop, go figure) and he pulls over--right into me! :rolleyes: Good thing he had one of those flippy side-view mirrors that give way, because his mirror hit me (but it didn't hurt.)

I rode a few more yards, then pulled over and jumped off my bike and ran back to where he was stopped, blocking traffic, still thinking I might be some kind of cop. I ran up to his window (pumped with anger-induced/cycling-fed adrenaline) and pointed at him (he was behind a dark window that he kept rolled up, I guess he wasn't quite sure now what the heck I was, maybe not a cop after all) and I quoted his license number as if it was his name, and said, "HKJ 923, YOU HIT ME! YOU'RE IN TROUBLE!" As if I could really do anything about it!

So, not only have I accidentally pulled over a vehicle, but the next thing is what I'm really ashamed of. I punched his window!

:eek:

Now I feel like a total idiot!! Everyone was watching, because they had to stop for him. I'm sure they all recognize me as I always take the same route, and I depend on everyone's friendly cooperation day by day. I hope they don't think I'm an insane lunatic, now!

Apologies to all of you for being a poor cycling ambassador...

and I depend on everyone's friendly cooperation day by day.

This mantra a repeat over and over to myself in my commute -- but, man, some times I am just boiling over with anger at how close some idiots pass me and I have yelled at a few; I just hope that those who see me regularly get the impression that I am generally a respectful rider and give me the benefit of the doubt if they see me yelling at someone. Yelling the license plate number is a good idea.

LittleBigman, this guy struck you with a potentially lethal machine. I suggest that you report him to the real cops. If not for yourself, do it for the next cyclist that this guy may strike down. The next time, the cyclist may not be as lucky as you.

Last Thursday I had a car that honked at me at least 4 times while coming up behind me on a 3 lane street at 7AM with no traffic other then them and me. I tapped on the window and indicated they need not honk at me 4 times as I have a right to be on the street also. I in no way was slowing them down or in there way. We did exchange some heated words and for a minute I considered dragging them from there car and beating them to a pulp but my higher power let me know I needed to let it go. So I did and went about my day.

When somebody passes me unsafely and I have the opportunity to I always make a point to let them know how close they came to injuring or even killing me (mainly it is bus drivers) When it comes to the horn honking and taunts I just let go (unless I have had a bad day) I just take exception with anyone who anytime jeopardizes my well being.

I used to react and throw a few obscene gestures the drivers way. Now I just blow them a kiss, and give them a big wink and a smile. I find it bemuses them up and relaxes me!

Yeah, been there done that. Only I took on this bus driver, oh god was I out of hand with him. I could see the fear in the eyes of the passengers as I ranted and raved outside the bus, I kicked the door I called him names, I dared him to get off the bus and meet me in the street. And it didn't just end at the bus stop, no, I took it to almost every stop he made on Lake street. I was a mad dog foaming at the mouth. That man he cut me off, and then pulled the squeeze play with me, and then honked at our next encounter.

I even called the bus company and waited to talk to the recording machine to give them a piece of my mind about their organization's way of dealing with those of us on alternative forms of transportation. I gave them the bus number, time of the ocurrance and hung up. It was such a bad experience that I refuse to ride Lake street any more than I have to.

I ran across a web site about commuting that cleared this up for me. "Don't think like a car driver." The author went on to explain, that cars drive from point a to point b in the most direct route. As a cycling commuter that is not always the safest or sanest way to travel. For me just a few blocks notrth of Lake street there is a residential street with less traffic and four way stop signs, no buses and not a lot of traffic. I make better time and have less agrivation if I take that to my lower Minneapolis destinations. This is also the reason I pick riding and extra 5 miles, when I could cutr the commute to work to 18 miles, if I wanted to ride through a heavily trafficked route to get to work. I use it in time crunches, but I prefer to take the bike trail. I see more wild life and the change of seasons. Our lakes have almost all iced over, soon there will be thse small communities of "ice houses" out on the lakes. I think we are the only state where people drive vehicles and haul living quaters out on the frozen tundra.

Naisme-

Those Minneapolis bus drivers can smell an outsider. He was just trying to make sure you stayed on your side of the river. ;)

Actually, I used to live in Uptown and had more than one scrape with public transportation in that area.

Off topic: We were in the Cities for Thanksgiving and the wind was horrendous! I see what you were complaining about in previous posts.

Our lakes have almost all iced over...<snip>

Can you say SHORT CUT! :D

Olay, I'll ask it, the one question on everyone's mind.....did the window break? Totally justified from your account. This is where you need the cell phone and call the police.....while the car is still stopped. Great pickup on the plate number as this is the only way the police would be able to track if things got uglier.

Dave

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Have you ever fell into "road rage" while riding your bike to work? Naw, I didn't think so.

So, not only have I accidentally pulled over a vehicle, but the next thing is what I'm really ashamed of. I punched his window!

I got mad and blew my whistle at him, a no-no when I'm mad, and pointed at him (some people think I am a bike-cop, go figure) and he pulls over--right into me! :rolleyes: Good thing he had one of those flippy side-view mirrors that give way, because his mirror hit me (but it didn't hurt.)


That's when you take down his number and call the real cops (as was suggested here already). After nine years living here, I've long given up on the idea of trying to talk to drivers or reason with them in anyway. Being only 62kg, I'm unlikely to intimidate anyone into complying, so if I feel a situation warrants action, I generally let the police take care of it. Either that, or I just ignore it and go about my business. The way I see it, my time is far to valuable to be wasted on semi-evolved motoring primates.


I hope they don't think I'm an insane lunatic, now!

That actually mightn't be such a bad thing. In fact, there are times when I seriously consider doing things to make people think I'm an insane lunatic. Who knows? If they don't know in their own mind what you are capable of, they might just keep their distance next time around...


Apologies to all of you for being a poor cycling ambassador...

Personally I think the only person you should be apologising to is yourself for getting stressed out over a piece of intellectual trailer trash. I wouldn't worry about being an "ambassador" in situations like this. I will again repeat, that if drivers can't tell the difference between law-abiding cyclists and window-pounding cyclists, than I, for one, do not want their "respect".

That's when you take down his number and call the real cops (as was suggested here already).

I've noted it before, but it bears repeating: you obviously live where people are willing to pay enough taxes to get good public services.

Okay, I'll ask it, the one question on everyone's mind.....did the window break?

No.

I'm still freaked out that I was so pumped that I punched his window!

I personally have had it with cyclists who think that there is some gain in scaring the car driving public into thinking that we are insane and that they should stay away from us.

Get real, they are frigin innumerable. They can make laws to keep us on the sidewalks and use training wheels if they got a hair up their collective lower digestive track!

I want other potential cyclists to get out of their cars and onto their bikes. So I want them to think that we are the cool sane ones.

Lastly, remember that they are comendeering a leathal weapon. We know that we own the road as much as they do, but many of them don't. Those who don't share the road are like the guys sitting on their porch with the shotgun, yelling," Get off a my propperty!"

No that can't be lastly, because I have to temper my raving. I usally throw the kiss or blithely wave to the honkers. If they are realy rude, I have caught up to them and yelled "if you love George Bush, and you love Bin Laden, and you want to pollute, go ahead! BUT SHARE THE ROAD!" And yes, occasonaly I get off my bike in front of a car... Hey, I'm human!

If you wanna feel real dumb throw your helmet at them (I missed) and then you get to dismount, scurry into the street, and fetch your plastic hat. The other drivers were hugely amused. :o The knucklehead in the black Civic never even knew I was beaked.

I've noted it before, but it bears repeating: you obviously live where people are willing to pay enough taxes to get good public services.

We all face choices about where we live. Maybe you could take that one up with your local political member.

If you wanna feel real dumb throw your helmet at them (I missed) and then you get to dismount, scurry into the street, and fetch your plastic hat. The other drivers were hugely amused. :o The knucklehead in the black Civic never even knew I was beaked.

:roflmao:

I'm going to remember this the next time I feel the urge to vent at some oblivious lackwit. Better to believe oneself superior than to disprove it with one's actions. Fortunately thus far I've had only two occasions wherein I wanted to hammer someone, but admittedly the urge to mete out spontaneous justice is a potent one.

Originally Posted by Chevy
If you wanna feel real dumb throw your helmet at them (I missed) and then you get to dismount, scurry into the street, and fetch your plastic hat. The other drivers were hugely amused. The knucklehead in the black Civic never even knew I was beaked.

----keep the helmet on, if you get into a boxing match- move your head when your protagonist is gonna punch you in the face- he'll bust his hand- only good w\ the bmx-inline style.

Don't apologize for being angry at an automobile who you feel threatened you.

You are on a bike and vulnerable even to inadvertant moves by even a small automobile.

If you've done something that makes more cars notice you on the road, that's to your advantage and to every cyclist's advantage.

It was such a bad experience that I refuse to ride Lake street any more than I have to.

I ran across a web site about commuting that cleared this up for me. "Don't think like a car driver." The author went on to explain, that cars drive from point a to point b in the most direct route. As a cycling commuter that is not always the safest or sanest way to travel. For me just a few blocks north of Lake street there is a residential street with less traffic and four way stop signs, no buses and not a lot of traffic. I make better time and have less agravation if I take that to my lower Minneapolis destinations. This is also the reason I pick riding an extra 5 miles, when I could cut the commute to work to 18 miles, if I wanted to ride through a heavily trafficked route to get to work.

The problem with your solution is that you should be able to ride your bike safely on all of those arterial streets, just like the motorists, especially if you want to access any of the commercial destinations along the arterials, or if you have to go a long distance out of your way otherwise just to feel safe. I admit to favoring a more residential route these days, for many of the same reasons as you do; however:

"Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every road, just as do all other users. Nothing more is expected. Nothing less is acceptable."

As far as bus drivers go, they can be both dangerous and insufferable. The three things I hate the most about busses are: (1) sucking their diesel exhaust while I'm riding (or any other time, for that matter), (2) having to share the curb lane with them, while they cut in and out to make stops, and (3) the engine's in the back, so you can't hear them coming up on you...

I make it a point on ocassion to go out and ride the arterials 'recreationally'; in fact, we've periodically held an arterial ride in Portland on the weekend, where we ride in groups of two and three, taking the lane on arterial streets with signs on our bikes stating: "Bicycles Allowed Full Lane", and citing the section of the state statute (ORS 814.430(2)(c)).

you should be able to ride your bike safely on all of those arterial streets, just like the motorists,"Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every road, just as do all other users. Nothing more is expected. Nothing less is acceptable."

bus drivers can be both dangerous and insufferable. having to share the curb lane with them, while they cut in and out to make stops
(ORS 814.430(2)(c)).


Cars barrel down the center of a lane, taking the corridor that they are in as theirs. That is, unless there is someone else in their lane, in front of them. Then, the speedsters slow down and wait for it to be safe to pass. I've learned to ride 1/3 of the way toward the next lane. The drivers rarely whiz by, inches from me like they did when I tried to give them as much spaces as they are used to hogging. I do move over and let them pass if they slow down. The rare honker has a long slow ride behind me! Actually, I get no more rudeness than when I gave the giant metal polluters more space.

Cars barrel down the center of a lane, taking the corridor that they are in as theirs. That is, unless there is someone else in their lane, in front of them. Then, the speedsters slow down and wait for it to be safe to pass. I've learned to ride 1/3 of the way toward the next lane. The drivers rarely whiz by, inches from me like they did when I tried to give them as much spaces as they are used to hogging. I do move over and let them pass if they slow down. The rare honker has a long slow ride behind me! Actually, I get no more rudeness than when I gave the giant metal polluters more space.

I've noticed this phenomenon myself. Of course, you still get the occasional lunatic who tries to squeeze by regardless (like that cabbie in Brisbane on Saturday), but by riding well into the lane, you've at least allowed yourself a little space to back off into if necessary.

The problem with your solution is that you should be able to ride your bike safely on all of those arterial streets, just like the motorists, especially if you want to access any of the commercial destinations along the arterials, or if you have to go a long distance out of your way otherwise just to feel safe. I admit to favoring a more residential route these days, for many of the same reasons as you do; however:

"Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every road, just as do all other users. Nothing more is expected. Nothing less is acceptable."

As far as bus drivers go, they can be both dangerous and insufferable. The three things I hate the most about busses are: (1) sucking their diesel exhaust while I'm riding (or any other time, for that matter), (2) having to share the curb lane with them, while they cut in and out to make stops, and (3) the engine's in the back, so you can't hear them coming up on you...

I make it a point on ocassion to go out and ride the arterials 'recreationally'; in fact, we've periodically held an arterial ride in Portland on the weekend, where we ride in groups of two and three, taking the lane on arterial streets with signs on our bikes stating: "Bicycles Allowed Full Lane", and citing the section of the state statute (ORS 814.430(2)(c)).
I fully agree with your quotation that cyclists should expect safe accommodation on every road.

I admit I've altered my route to avoid very busy roads, but have encountered assinine behaviour from motorists on my "safer" bike routes as well.

I have to conclude from my own anecdotal experience that the status quo (i.e., cars rule the road) will continue to stand as long as cyclists timidly hug the curb to let auto traffic by, whether it be the blissfully ignorant cell-phone talker, or the intentionally malicious homicidal maniac (I've encountered both on the roads).

I think like everyone, I try to keep my temper under control and not let drivers piss me off. But I too have let loose on drivers. A few weeks ago I was riding up Broad St here in Philly and I got honked at, nothing new. Next thing I know a green minivan flies by, hits my bag and elbow. Luckily his mirrors were the type that bend inward which I think saved me from flying off my bike. He doesn't stop or slow down. I can't believe it. I've been hit before, on accident only though, and the drivers have stopped. This guy didn't care and just kept going to the next red light. In all his rush to pass me I easily caught up to him at the next light, but now I was fuming and in my temper induced rage I got off my bike and stood in front of his car. I was so angry and suprised that all I good yell was "You hit me!" over and over. He didn't care.

T

I've been hit before, on accident only though, and the drivers have stopped. This guy didn't care and just kept going to the next red light. In all his rush to pass me I easily caught up to him at the next light, but now I was fuming and in my temper induced rage I got off my bike and stood in front of his car. I was so angry and suprised that all I good yell was "You hit me!" over and over. He didn't care.

T

He might not have cared, but I bet other people watching did. Its good that you pointed out to the world that cylists won't tollerate jerks driving deadly weapons. Next time, yell out "Is there a witness to what [ liscence plate #] did?" Who knows, the transgressor might care about that!

By the way, welcome to the forum!

Years ago I was riding in Springfield Ma. A young driver pulled out from a stop sign sending me over the hood of his car. He got out of the car and ran around to the side of the car as I was laying on the ground. He was screaming about how I had damaged his car. As I started to get up off the ground he kicked me connecting with my hip. Up until this point I was dazed, but this sent me over the top.

So it self defense I was forced to do the same thing. But I connected with his...ummm softer tissues. Needless to say he went down. I took his car keys, collected my bike and road into a near by park. After sitting and thinking about it I called the police to report what had happened. One of the officers came to the park and took me to the police station to file a report.

The police had towed the car as it was sitting in the middle of a main street blocking traffic, but the driver was no place to be found. They ran the plate on the car and called the owner at work. He said he had left the car at home, they asked the owner to come down to the station. When he arrived, it turned out he was not the driver. He was in his forties and the driver was much younger. Turns out it was his 16 year old son, he had taken the car for a joy ride. His son was at home with an Ice bag on his swollen.... when the police picked him up.

The father wrote me a check that more then covered the bike many, many times over. The son went to court and was fined $500 and 300 hours of community service.
Sadly (or not) the son learned nothing and three weeks latter was shot by police trying to rob a liquor store.

Living in Hawaii, your temper needs to be moreso in check, due to the many convertables, and open windows year long. The other day I was riding though my Housing area on a purely stress buster ride, and a local driving his jeep lets loose with his horn inches from me. He was saying "hi" to a "friend" down a side street. I said loadly to myslef "man that's what the horn is for to say hi. Real smart". He stopped and stepped out of the jeep man he had to be at least 400lbs. good thing I can ride faster than he could rin and fit though small gaps in between fences than he could.

I now just try to mutter to myself.