Commuting - Tapping on cars blocking lanes?

I sometimes give cars a friendly little knock or tap with my hand or knuckle on cars (with people in them) that block bike lanes, crosswalks, and sidewalks. For example, a construction crew sitting in their cars waiting completely blocked a sidewalk which forces biker riders to jump curbs so I gave them a tap just to let them know that people use these lanes and spread the awareness. A Fed ex delivery driver did the same sort of thing while waiting for traffic (I understand this one much more), but he pulled up right as I was coming along. Tap tap. while I was riding away a couple of older gentlemen began yelling at me to come their way as if they were angry about me doing this. I was going along pretty good and didn't bother to see what they had to say but now I wish I did. Anyways I was wondering what you guys thought about bikers doing this. Good idea or bad idea? These are in places where I'd rather not take the lane (I've been run off the road in these areas before).

Bad idea if you value your safety. I'm just about positive that no driver would interpret you "tapping" their vehicle as "friendly."

I think yer asking for trouble. Might as well just bust off a side mirror, the reaction is going to be about the same.

If you went back you'd only find their foot in your @$$.
I wouldn't think of that as friendly in any way, and I'm sure on the inside you know how it will be construed. Nobody is looking to hear your little kind lecture about what jerks they are.

I'd be pissed too if someone knocked my car.

HTFU

Nope, I wouldn't touch another persons vehicle. Once I banged on the hood of some moron who pulled out right in front of me once with a phone glued to his ear and not paying the least bit of attention to his surroundings. Scared the crap out of him but I think he got the message :)

I would give a tap or knock... most people may yell or be verbal but that's about it. I don't think many would take physical action.

My girlfriend ranted/chewed out this police officer parked on the only bike lane on UTK's campus. They seem to park there a lot and it's very dangerous as the bike lane leads down a one way street. So if the lane is blocked a cyclist has to go into the oncoming traffic lane.

Anyways since then we haven't seen any police cars parked in the bike lane. They actually park on the other side of the road now.

When people drift into the bike lane or block intersections, etc. my personal summertime favourite is a big sweaty glove print on the passenger window.

I've done it... rarely when they are parked, but several times when people have pulled out in front of me right into my lane, I'll give them a nice tap as I ride by. It's mostly for the shock value, as nothing startles a driver more than a loud noise, and the last thing they then expect is a bike to be in their lane going faster than them. Makes a good point too, as it almost always results in either an apology or the shocked "i never considered this as a possibility" face. I'm always careful where I do this though. Never in the rougher parts of town. There you just mind your own business and get on your way.

I don't do it very often, but if I bother to do it at all it is a major slap so I am absolutely certain the driver will not only hear it, but be startled by it. I also don't frankly care if they get upset about it.

I popped a guy's side view and yelled "use this or next time it or comes with me" that decided to pull in front of me as a teenager.
Road ragers are a unique breed, best to not feed their insanity unless you're wanting some action.
My wife rough on cagers when riding, she flies the bird at anyone that honks, and cusses like a sailor if they do something stupid. Haven't seen her hit a car yet, don't think she's that ballsy. I of course am a perfect gentleman (lies.)

i tapped the door an escalade once. he was blocking the bike/right turn lane during peak hours. the driver became very angry and drove up to me and started cursing. once i saw him, i rode on the sidewalk, just to be safe. but yes, do this at your own risk.

Asking for trouble in my book. its not your job to go around being nanny biker bike police. thats how i'd interpret it and likely tell you to F off if i was in the car.

Commuting is simply avoiding obstacles on a bike, one after another, until you arrive at your destination. just get used to it i guess.

nope I don't touch the cars sitting in the clearly marked Bike Only lane. I do ring my bell and tell them to move it. I don't care what they think about my comment to move. I naively hope they will be more considerate next time they are on that part of the road. right.

I yell. I have more problems with two Starbucks I pass in the mornings than anything else on my route. The cagers always seem to think leaving their door open while they talk on the phone and drink their coffee is perfectly acceptable. Sure, that's just an extra wide door lane just for Starbucks people....

I've slapped a few, but I try to keep it to the extra special cases.

People in DC flip if you touch their babies. I'd only do it if they actually did something dangerous,and were hemmed in by traffic so that I wouldn't get run over afterwards.

I dunno. There are situations where I might do this -- like, if someone really seemed unaware of where they were or something -- but generally, they know damn well where they are and won't take kindly to a reminder. You don't really think that UPS drivers aren't aware that they're blocking traffic, do you?

Besides, if I tapped the window of every vehicle that blocks a bike lane, travel lane or crosswalk, I'd have bleeding knuckles by the time I got halfway through my commute...it's a fact of life around here. Drivers have to go around them and I do too, it's generally less hassle for me than it is for someone in a car.

Tapping on cars seems like a good way to startle or tick off a driver. Don't do it.


How would you feel if they gave you a "friendly" nudge with their bumper?

Don't touch any of my stuff. If I've done something to endanger your life please let me know because I try hard not to and if I messed up I want to hear it, but don't touch my stuff.

The only time I have smacked a car is when they have passed way too close. Generally I don't mess with people's stuff otherwise. I don't want them to touch my bike, why should I touch their vehicles unnecessarily?

Just make sure that when you do so, you say loudly, "I'm ridin' here!"

If the car is at right angles to your direction of travel... I.E. across your way, such as blocking a BL or such, I would tap. Sure the driver may become angry... but there is no way for them to rotate their car in a manner to then threaten you.

And face it, they are being rude and you are forced to deal with that rudeness.

I think the funniest thing I ever saw was when a motorcycle cop did the tap tap for motorists using a BL as their shortcut. The cop just tapped on the windows and motioned the car out of the BL. (he had parked his motorcycle back on a wide sidewalk and just walked along moving the cars out of the BL.) I was in the BL approaching and cars right in front of me saw the situation and moved over back out of the BL before they got to the cop. It was one of those "Hurray" moments for me.

While the BL here are not overly wide, it is amazing how motorists will pack in and make "an extra lane" when they think it serves them... yet, have such a hard time moving over to share a lane with cyclists at times. :rolleyes:

Just make sure then when you do so, you say loudly, "I'm ridin' here!"

good one!

Don't touch any of my stuff. If I've done something to endanger your life please let me know because I try hard not to and if I messed up I want to hear it, but don't touch my stuff.

werd

Any distraction while riding in traffic is potentially dangerous, not to mention removing a hand from your bars. I limit my "tapping" to the most serious offenders, then only in areas where they will not have a chance to overtake me, because I am a coward (and, if someone is boneheaded enough to make me punch their car, why should I take an azzwhoopin?)

Touching someone's private car is like sticking your hand down their throat and ripping their heart out. Best to reserve that for very special occasions.

Always remember that it is YOUR choice to ride your bike. Certain hazards come with the territory. I get more satisfaction just letting $h1t go in the long run. When I lose it and punch a car I usually feel disappointed in myself afterward. Learn to "float above it all" which will give you the orgasmic sensation of being better than them.

Over here tapping on someone's car is pretty much asking for a fight. Don't touch their cars unless you're fully prepared mentally and physically to actually go to combat.

Your "friendly" tap is likely an infuriatingly obnoxious intrusion into the cocoon world of the cager and might turn even a little old lady librarian type into a full blown road rager.

Besides to the car driver it probably really seems something of a chickensh!t thing to do if you're rolling away right after you do it while they're stuck in traffic. If they catch up later they might sideswipe you in retaliation or else vent on the next cyclist who comes along...

If you're really wanting to make your concerns noted, the proper protocol would be to stop, tap lightly on their window and when they roll it down, you can try to politely tell them that they are blocking cyclists. Probably not worth the effort and over here you'd either get a non-comittal "okay" or a simple FU. Why bother?


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Don't touch any of my stuff. If I've done something to endanger your life please let me know because I try hard not to and if I messed up I want to hear it, but don't touch my stuff.

I gotta say, I don't understand this kind of attitude.

You're allowed to drive like a moron, block legitimate traffic, break the law, and perhaps endanger my life, but you're pi$$ed if I TOUCH your car?

You might think about getting your priorities in order.

You might think...

There is you answer.^^

They MIGHT think.

I've done it and don't care if it makes law breakers angry. I'm a Golden Gloves boxer and I'm 100% positive that I'd be able to handle myself. Most people who get angry and start carrying on have no intention of backing up the words they speak. I see it all the time here in Boston. Each time someone gets in my face about taking the lane (which I am legally allowed to do) I calmly let them know about my boxing experience and invite them to take a chance if they want to. Nobody has taken me up on my offer.

I went through a stretch where I would get into situations like this 4 out of 5 days a week. I've since adjusted my route to less traveled roads and the confrontations have decreased to less than one per month if that.

I have done it a couple times. The reactions are quite indicative of a country where the car seems to be held in a higher regard than most other possessions. I reserve this action for life threatening situations. Not for idiots blocking lanes or what not.

I just give them a verbal warning. I have to ride through the hood, and over here touching someone's car is probably just as bad as talking about their momma. That's just asking for a beatdown.

I knocked on someone's window after they cut me off dangerously and both driver and passenger in the car behind asked why I did that, adding with a lecture on how cyclists are dangerous. The driver wasn't looking where he was going and nearly drove through the next stop sign. :rolleyes:

I do it fairly often, due to our laws regarding yielding to MUP traffic at intersections. Approximately once a day I meet a driver who fails to do that, they're sitting smack in the middle of the MUP crossing, waiting for a break in the traffic.

If I haven't established eye contact with them, I ride 'round the back and give a loud slap somewhere in rear panels. Or I ride at a steady speed right up to the car, brake at the last possible moment and stare them through the front side window. If the window is open, I may ask if they're contemplating buying a plot of land in the middle of the intersection, or what giveth.

Reactions vary. This one guy in a van got so excited when I slapped his presssscccious, he got out of his car right there in the intersection to try and talk to me. I guess he wanted to thank me for the wake-up call. :beer:

--J

I've done it and don't care if it makes law breakers angry. I'm a Golden Gloves boxer and I'm 100% positive that I'd be able to handle myself.

Do Golden Gloves stop 2000 pounds of metal on wheels?

I "tap" more vehicles when I'm walking and they're blocking crosswalks (or driving right through when it's not their turn.) I wouldn't call it friendly.

Biking...I usually find all the time I have is for some form of pissed of gesture. I've been meaning to bring my camera, since I'm getting pissed off at the city gardening crews who block a counterflow lane at rush hour 2-3 days/week.

I only touch a car in traffic when there is a clear and present threat to my safety, and then I don't tap, but give a good solid whack with my outstretched palm. In such cases I want it to be loud inside the car, but not scratch the paint. Don't do it very often, maybe once every year or two.

I did lean on a van once, but that was only because he was making a right turn where I had intended to go straight before he started to right hook me. Then I had a stable reference point to his direction and could steer with the other hand and not be run over.

it's a personal space thing. in a crowd, which do you do first?
1) say "excuse me"
2) tap them on the shoulder.
it should be the same order on a bike. stop and yell at them, if they don't seem to take any notice, or flip you off or something, feel free to fing falcon punch the car. verbal warning first, then get physical. just like parenting (and the police).

I'm a fan of making physical contact with people in the car. If I can reach out and give a soft punch to the face of the passenger, I'm in heaven. Or if they're cool I'll reach in the cab with a peace sign, then pull it out real quick. My favorite is to find an arm resting on the window sill, and give it a good hard slap as I go by. It's like lighting fireworks.

OK I made all that up. Don't touch other people's stuff I says. The tried and true methods of traffic communication work fine, like loud noises and animated gesturing.

I did lean on a van once, but that was only because he was making a right turn where I had intended to go straight before he started to right hook me
This can be avoided through correct lane position. Unless you were in a MUP or bike lane at a time (in which case guy in the van is an idiot), you should have been taking the lane, making a right hook impossible.

Over here tapping on someone's car is pretty much asking for a fight. Don't touch their cars unless you're fully prepared mentally and physically to actually go to combat.

Your "friendly" tap is likely an infuriatingly obnoxious intrusion into the cocoon world of the cager and might turn even a little old lady librarian type into a full blown road rager.

A rider was seriously (and permanently) injured here a few years ago when she ticked off a pick-up truck driver who decided to run her off the road (in front of witnesses). A jury of his rural peers practically aquitted him.

I tap on cars that are in the bike lane as I go around them. Just to let them know that the bike lane is for bikes.

Also, if I'm driving, I'll gently rub the side of my car as I pass by them if they're blocking a lane. Just to let them know that the road is driving.

And when I'm walking I also give a light tap on the shoulder as I go around pedestrians that are stopped on the sidewalk. Just let them know that the sidewalk is for walking.

I don't think I would do it, out of self preservation.

On the other hand, I have seen Police in Albuquerque, write tickets, to cars with as little as one wheel in a bike lane.....

This can be avoided through correct lane position. Unless you were in a MUP or bike lane at a time (in which case guy in the van is an idiot), you should have been taking the lane, making a right hook impossible.

Nothing you can do will make a right hook "impossible". I was in the middle of the right-hand lane on a five lane road a few weeks ago, when a semi pulled from behind me into the lane beside me, barely passed me with the cab and turned right directly in front of me, cutting me off with the trailer. I had to stop and get on the curb to keep from getting run over.

I wouldn't dare intentionally touch someone's car, I know people that would run you down for that (they love their cars). Not saying they're justified, but they would.
If someone loves their car so much that a mere tap is going to enrage them, I doubt they'll risk doing majour damage to it by running you down. I'm rarely concerned about giving a quick "hey, wake up!" tap to a shiny, expensive sedan which is drifting too close. A '92 CRX constructed primarily from Bondo and duct-tape is whole different situation.


The only time I have smacked a car is when they have passed way too close. Generally I don't mess with people's stuff otherwise. I don't want them to touch my bike, why should I touch their vehicles unnecessarily?
This is pretty much my attitude. The only reason I'll touch someone's car is when it's well deserved. There's a 3' passing rule, if you're close enough that I can reach out and touch your car, you're inside that 3' zone. That space is mine, and I'll let you know it.


This can be avoided through correct lane position. Unless you were in a MUP or bike lane at a time (in which case guy in the van is an idiot), you should have been taking the lane, making a right hook impossible.
Impossible, you say? You've obviously never been hooked by an impatient driver who uses an LTO lane to try and pass you to make a right turn, because "you're blocking the entire f-ing lane!" (yep, actual quote from the guy.)


Over here tapping on someone's car is pretty much asking for a fight. Don't touch their cars unless you're fully prepared mentally and physically to actually go to combat....
...Besides to the car driver it probably really seems something of a chickensh!t thing to do if you're rolling away right after you do it while they're stuck in traffic. If they catch up later they might sideswipe you in retaliation or else vent on the next cyclist who comes along...

Ah yes, because nothing proclaims how "manly" you are like using a 3000 pound motorized wrecking sledge to intimidate/assault someone on a bike. The chicken**** argument is weak. A quick tap and then rolling away is nothing more than a wake-up-and-watch-what-you're-doing notification. If drivers were really concerned about who appears cowardly to whom, then none of them would rev their engines while rolling up close on a rider's wheel, lay on the horn while following a rider, throw stuff then speed away, etc.

I have an intersection that is usually so backed up that drivers frequently get caught blocking the intersection when their light turns red. This of course annoys all the cars who now have the green but can't go anywhere. Sometimes I tap on the cars as I go around them and question the driver's intelligence out loud. I think the cars in my lane would honk except they know they get caught doing the same thing sometimes.

When I was in Seattle I noticed the police were very active in ticketing anyone who blocked an intersection like that.

I can certainly attest to the OP's plight as something like that happened to me this morning. A car over took me and promptly parked its fat Caddy right on the bike lane waiting for no apparent reason. It was occupying not just the bike lane but part of the street as well to the point that a school bus had to stop as well. I was doing a pretty good cadence too and was pissed that I had to get on my brakes and drop my gears! Instead of tapping his window, I figured f@ck it... and rode pass it on the what's left b/t the bike lane and curbside. Made sure that the passenger door ain't gonna pop open. Otherwise they will be some serious dent on a *** GM car.

Not an issue. We only have one bike lane in town and its no where near my commute.

A tap followed by a friendly wave is probably ok.
Slapping the hell out of a back window of an suv that cuts you off, is probably not a great idea. Trust me on that one.

Wow, some hilarious comments in here, slapping the arm in the window had me rolling!

So if many are so adamant about whacking all the cars around them and teaching all others a lesson, how many of you give positive cues and signals to drivers?

I'm a fan of using my hands and arms to wave or get attention when it seems needed. If they see me and yield then I flick a thumbs up to them or even yell a thank you, smile etc. I'll motion them up in line if they are the only one behind me so that they don't have to wait behind me when the light changes etc.

It's communication, and my commute may take me past the same drivers. They can think "hey, here comes that a-hole who whacked my car" or "hey, there's that cyclist gave me a smile and thumbs up yesterday". I hope I get the latter, and a complimentary wide berth.

Sometimes I've had to say something and have given a "what the *** are you thinking" look. Some remain clueless, others suddenly realized they did a bonehead move.

If someone loves their car so much that a mere tap is going to enrage them, I doubt they'll risk doing majour damage to it by running you down.

Incorrect premise. Road rage is not a rational reaction. And it's not about them loving their cars as much as invading their "cocoon". Often the culprits themselves are surprised about themselves after the fact.



Ah yes, because nothing proclaims how "manly" you are like using a 3000 pound motorized wrecking sledge to intimidate/assault someone on a bike. The chicken**** argument is weak. A quick tap and then rolling away is nothing more than a wake-up-and-watch-what-you're-doing notification.

It isn't a question of "manliness" as even female drivers might rage and run you down. Part of the difference in perception between a "wake-up-and-watch-what-you're-doing" notification and a d!ckless reaction is the protocol by which it is delivered. If you stop and speak intelligibly then your "notice" is readily communicated verbally. But if you rap then run, then that act can easily provoke a very heated reaction.


If drivers were really concerned about who appears cowardly to whom, then none of them would rev their engines while rolling up close on a rider's wheel, lay on the horn while following a rider, throw stuff then speed away, etc.

Imho, quite the opposite. The drivers we need to be wary of are in fact searching to confront cyclists who think that they just can roll away with impunity. They want to "teach" us that we can't run from consequences.


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Wow, some hilarious comments in here, slapping the arm in the window had me rolling!

So if many are so adamant about whacking all the cars around them and teaching all others a lesson, how many of you give positive cues and signals to drivers?

I'm a fan of using my hands and arms to wave or get attention when it seems needed. If they see me and yield then I flick a thumbs up to them or even yell a thank you, smile etc. I'll motion them up in line if they are the only one behind me so that they don't have to wait behind me when the light changes etc.


If I see someone at an intersection, just itching to jump out in front of me (obviously inching forward, etc.) and I know they don't have the clearance to do it, I'll point straight at the driver and give a "no-no" shake of my head. Sometimes this works, sometimes they end up being one of those drivers whose car gets slapped.
If someone holds off on passing me until it's safe (like the majourity of drivers on the big roads around here) then I'll give a polite wave of gratitude. If I see a big truck (or even just a car) slowing down behind me because the driver is worried about passing clearance, I'll scoot over as far as I can and wave them around me if it's safe. I also do that on rolling hills if cars are waiting to pass me; give the "all clear" wave around when I have line-of-sight over the hillcrest before the drivers do.