Advocacy & Safety - What do you do when someone honks at you?

From time to time, I get honked at even when I'm riding safely and legally. I think the car driver is just angered at losing a few seconds of his or her precious time stuck behind a "toy" riding on the street. This seems more common in cities and towns with fewer cyclists. It's easy to be a bully when you are encased in steel and the object of your aggression is some person poor, silly, or stupid enough to ride a bicycle on the street.

Getting honked at is often starting and can be very dangerous. I suppose that the best response is to just ignore it and not let it bother you. How many of you race to catch up with the driver at the next light to yell or explain our rights to the driver? Does it do much good? Do you just smile and wave? Any advice on how to handle this without making my blood boil???

Are you taking the lane or close the curb where it is unclear to the driver if they can safely pass you without overtaking?

I think the best thing is to ignore the honks. Ride like you know what you are doing and make sure you are equipped with mirror, helmet and bright tail lights. Your presence should be enough to convince motorists you are far more knowledgeable than they are .

I don't react at all. I prefer to think they are just letting me know they are about to overtake me. I don't find the honking of a horn on a public street/road startling at all, if I were seated at a booth in a restaurant, and some joker blew a car horn behind me, then the gloves are off! :)

some people honk as a precaution, which usually comes off rude. some people honk just because they are a-holes.

Depends on the honk. The quick beep-beeps may be ignored, or at best glanced at just to ensure that some dunderhead isn't driving out of control right at you. (this may actually be a long lost friend... talk to them later about honking at cyclists)

The longer honks should be responded to... give the driver a long "haven't seen you in a long time old friend" wave. Freaks them out. Remember to use all fingers in this wave... lest it be mistaken for some form of hand sign.

The really long annoying honks... well again, is the driver headed right at you with an out of control vehicle... if not, consider the "old friend" wave. I like to go one further on these too... provided the driver doesn't reek of pure hate... I tend to confront the motorist to find out if their horn is broken or what exactly their problem might be. Now this is dangerous, as road rage could be a factor, or they could just be stupid. In the latter case, I want to gently educate them, and for this I happen to carry cards that specify the laws of my state with regard to cyclists.

Now the only other honks I can recall are the "you are in my way" either at a right turn opportunity or while waiting at at a red light. The right turn situation of course should be clearly indicated by a signal, usually in the form of a blinking light on the vehicle. And of course I have already positioned myself in a way to permit right turning motorists the ability to go past me... so this driver is either a dunderhead or needs glasses. And the honker at a red light... indicating you should get out of their way... (so they can advance closer to the red?) clearly a dunderhead. Best to ignore them... obviously their shirt collar is too tight or something like that.

Oh, one more, the drive by close pass honker... they get "the long lost buddy" wave with me sitting right on their tail at the next light... gazing right at their rear view mirror.

Did I cover everything?

I make a Friendly wave and Yell:
I LOVE YOUR _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Fill in with your word.

Are you taking the lane or close the curb where it is unclear to the driver if they can safely pass you without overtaking?

I am riding as far to the right as reasonably practicable, which is the Calif. Vehicle Code standard. Sometimes that means taking the lane, but usually it means riding in the right quarter of the lane. Due to narrow lane widths, an overtaking car will almost always need to move slightly (but not completely) into the next lane over to pass.

I always assume they're honking out of appreciation for my incredible ass. I didn't realize how vibrant and well represented the homosexual population is here in my town.

I like to wave and smile at them. If I'm feeling a bit obnoxious I might even yell "I love you too" at them, especially if I think the honk was due to the driver being angry at my presence on the road.

If they honk and pass me, I just wave and say something like, "Hi, howya doing?" If they are behind me, I ignore the first honk. If they honk again, I turn my head and have a confused look on my face.

Once, a lady honked at me and as I turned to look back, she gave the shoulder shrug, hands up gesture. You know, the "What are you doing?" gesture. I just did the same thing back to her.

If they honk, pull up next to me and roll down the window and start yelling at me, I know I shouldn't, but I yell back. I can't help myself. I am working on it though. For example, the other day I was riding on a road to work. I take the lane on this road because it is too narrow to share the lane. I am on this road for about 8 blocks. A SUV decides to pass me, crossing over the double yellow about 50 feet from the one stop sign on the road. I start to think to myself, "This person isn't really trying to pass me this close to the stop sign?"

But, the SUV doesn't pass me, he decides to roll down the window to yell at me. The first thing that enters my mind is "What a good looking Husky." I am a dog lover and his Husky was in the front passenger seat. Well, he starts yelling asking why I am on the road. I couldn't help myself. I had to reply, "What? I am obeying the law, you are the one crossing the double yellow lines!" He continues to ride next to me to the stop sign, still on the other side of the double yellow. I ask him, "do you want to pull over to discuss the traffic laws?"

I am riding as far to the right as reasonably practicable, which is the Calif. Vehicle Code standard. Sometimes that means taking the lane, but usually it means riding in the right quarter of the lane. Due to narrow lane widths, an overtaking car will almost always need to move slightly (but not completely) into the next lane over to pass.

I would suggest riding in the right one third of the lane. Cars should overtake you by moving into the next lane. My guess is you are riding too far to the right so drivers don't know if they squeeze by or not until they are right behind you. By then they have lost their opportunity to overtake you and are mad because they are stuck behind you. So they honk.

Nothing, unless a second lane to the left is clear, in which case, I'll make a motion for them to pass.

-Kurt

If they're behind me, I press the oil slick button.


... actually.. I don't do anything, other than check to see if i'm in danger, then continue on my way.

I usually give a look and a wave to show that I see them. If they were honking to warn me, then it comes off as friendly. If they meant to be *******s, then it shows that I don't give a **** about how much they honk, I'm just going to dismiss them with a quick wave.

If they're behind me, I press the oil slick button.

Followed by microjamming their brakes and turbo boosting, eh?

-Kurt

I've been given two light beeps by people passing me, one honk when I was in a crosswalk (way back when I rode on the wrong-way MUP), and three honks from jerks on the other side of the road. Kinda ironic, because I'd imagine I'd get more honks from people who I'm actually holding up, but nobody has ever honked while following behind me.

and no, I can't really react in any way because by the time the honker has my attention he's probably already next to or behind me.

Unfortunately in Ohio there is an old recommendation to drivers to honk when passing a bike.
Usually its an older person passing when I hear that.Sort of humorous.
Anyone out there have an Ohio driving manual from the 60,s?

I lift my shirt. That's what they want, isn't it?

Unfortunately in Ohio there is an old recommendation to drivers to honk when passing a bike.
Usually its an older person passing when I hear that.Sort of humorous.
Anyone out there have an Ohio driving manual from the 60,s?Not just a bike. It's still the law that you are suppose to give an audible warning that you are about to pass another vehicle.
4511.27 Passing Other Vehicles - A driver must audibly signal before passing any other vehicle and then he or she may proceed to pass on the left. The vehicle being passed must give way after being signaled and must not increase speed.

Lately the rides have been smooth, but before that I got a few and as a new-be it was really bugging me, so as soon as it happens I would swerve or get really tense for a moment so I started responding with F... off or a finger.....but

One time the honk was like three seconds long and there was plenty of space for cars to pass, so when the car was passing me I sead F... off and when it passed I noticed there was a baby in the back seat with windows open and a young lady driving. Well, that kinda made me feel bad and it was a warning sign that probably I should control what I do when the honk happens.

Most of the honkers are just people thinking that you can't hear them coming so they are trying to be extra safe without knowing how it effects you and some people know exactly what they are doing.

Well, lately I have become a lot more calm while riding so I learned how to just ignore it as I'm more prepared for it. My next assignment is to give one extra finger and give them a peace sign.

Now there are good honks, specifically the ones when a hot chick passes you and then honks a couple of times, then I just smile.

:p
I always assume they're honking out of appreciation for my incredible ass. I didn't realize how vibrant and well represented the homosexual population is here in my town.



:pYou're sick (LOL)

When I was a lot younger and stupid, I would give them the one-finger-salute. I also was attacked and ran off the road a few times as well. Now, being a bit more mature (ahem), I usually just bite my tounge and ignore them, but watch them out of the corner of my eye, to be safe.

Now there are good honks, specifically the ones when a hot chick passes you and then honks a couple of times, then I just smile.

Those aren't "honks," those are beeps. as in "beep beep." :love:

I wave.

I usually remember to raise all my fingers. If the honk is particularly jarring, sometimes it's hard to coordinate raising all my my fingers, though. I find that the tallest one comes up the quickest, in cases like that.

I've never had the urge to flip someone off while riding. Then again, I don't get honks that often.

I think it's a good idea to practice a variety of responses to honkers, just to avoid getting bored through endless repetition.

Between one-fingered salutes and oil slick buttons, this thread actually has me laughing.

I love you guys.

*honk honk*

Between one-fingered salutes and oil slick buttons, this thread actually has me laughing.

I love you guys.

*honk honk*

But the "appreciation for my incredible ass" didn't? That almost got pizza sprayed on the keyboard!

It did make me laugh, I apologise for failing to quote it also... *sorry*

But at the same time, I am a 19 year old male college student, such humor is CONSTANTLY in my life...

I smile and wave. See the smilie in my signature line ... that's exactly what I do. :)

What do you do when someone honks at you?

Activate surveillance mode, engage Auto-Cruise, arm ejector pedals, and catapult yourself onto the hood of the offending vehicle like a crazed Critical Masser :p

-Kurt

On average, I think I get honked at about once a day (when I ride from my house to the city and back). That's about a 25 mile ride. It's usually a friendly "I'm right next to you and about to buzz by you at a really high speed" warning.

I guess if you're used to living in an agressive honking city/town, it shouldn't bother you. But I can see how it can bother those who grew up in a city/town where there's little to no honking.

I typically look around, double check, try to see who is honking, may be at me, may be at someone else, either way I want to be aware of everything around me. Typically I know the environment I'm in, and stay the course while double checking everything, typically they aren't even directed at me.


Or I can be like some people here and fly off my bike in a panic.

Reminds me of my friend Alfredo who was from South America would drive. I also saw the same behavior in Ecuador last summer. Car horns usage is the norm for all driving activities. They honk at everything all the time. It is odd to see coming from our culture of mostly honking when we are PO'd.

As for the topic, I've never been honked at and lord knows I've slowed enough traffic on winding uphill mountain climbs. Lucky so far I guess.

It did make me laugh, I apologise for failing to quote it also... *sorry

No problem, humor is a pretty personal thing. A while ago I asked about explaining why so many bicyclists wear spandex to coworkers who don't ride, and someone responded with "tell them it's like driving gloves for your ass". That comment makes me smile everytime I think about it, in the same sort of way. :lol:

I get surprised by honks. It's like someone sneaking up behind you and yelling GOTCHYA as they grrab your shoulders. I usually jump, but then I don't do anything else. I really wish those horns wern't so loud....

I always wave, it might be a friend.

With friends like that...


I always wave, it might be a friend.

Don't be too rash. Yes, most are unfriendly.. BUt, every once is awhile I get a friendly honk. But, almost always the friendly honks are after they pass; along with a friendly wave.

If you want to get some good practice for your `old friends wave' ... go on a Critical Mass ride, the bigger the better. And the `honk if you love bikes!' stickers are a nice touch as well.

Any advice on how to handle this without making my blood boil???

Turn up the volume on your mp3 player, Walkman/Discman or radio until the sound of horns are below the threshold of being offensive/startling. Also useful for drowning out gratuitous cycling advice from motorists and pedestrians.

Not applicable for those who enjoy listening to road noise or feel a great need to listen to it for cryptic warnings of imminent danger.

I have a stretch not far from my house where I always take the lane. Yesterday on the way home I got what sounded like a "hey move over" honk. I ignored it. Then I got a long "Hey I'm an *******" honk.

I held the lane and gave The Look.

They went around, raced up to the stop light not a hundred yards thence, and when I rolled up behind them I noticed the driver was eyeing me in the rear view mirror. I waved hello, ignoring my first inclination, I used all five fingers.

One thing we've missed is "returning the honk."

So someone gives you the long honk... how about simply laying on your Airzound to replicate the noise... sort of a call and response. Gee, I'd bet they get a kick out of that.

Interestingly, I've only gotten one honk and it was just a couple days ago from a friend who beeped shortly after they passed me. Given, I've only been riding about 3 months, but I've commuted nearly everyday 30+ miles.

I live in a generally polite town where I am the only cyclist on the road on any given day. I think people understand that "I'm out here huffing it, and they're in their heated living rooms on wheels".

I think motorists around here actually understand, dare I say.

nonetheless, they all think I'm mad when I pull up to college each day in spandex....

One thing we've missed is "returning the honk."

So someone gives you the long honk... how about simply laying on your Airzound to replicate the noise... sort of a call and response. Gee, I'd bet they get a kick out of that.

Does a retaliatory second obnoxious, ear piercing honk cancel out the first?

Does a retaliatory second obnoxious, ear piercing honk cancel out the first?

No it does not... it actually adds to the noise pollution. But apparently some motorists need a dose of their own medicine before they get the message.

After reading the draft ninja thread, I'd say that launching a snot rocket at their windshield would do the trick.

Cmon ppl, the only way to deal with this is STINK EYE.

I think this thread as a Poll would be interesting to see the numbers on.

I usually flip em off.

Most honks I get are from high school girls. This is understandable, because I am an attractive 20 year old man with a younger appearance. Usually I respond to these with a big smile, a wave, or both. Occasionally I get angry honks if I am taking a lane. I respond to these with an increase in speed, or pulling off to the side if there are multiple cars behind me.