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Does anyone keep the bike laws on them, to show some assinine driver who, tries to:
1. Shout at you while they pass you
2. Run you off the road even to the point of, attempted murder
Also, Do you take plate #'s to report to the police?
As you know, I went to the city Mayor. I keep a copy of the Driver's Manual on me at all times. If someone tries to run me off the road or, shout at me, I take down their plate and, if possible, chase them where I corner them to, shove the law in their face. I chased down another driver last week. I may sound crazy but, while, I observe the laws to the letter, I don't put up with, what I like to call 'ambivalent ignorance'.
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haha very nice, where can i pick up one of these manual for NY driving laws?
Go to your local DMV office and, pick up a copy of the Drivers Manual.
I have to admit, I'm probably a little more slack than I should be as far as physically carrying the legislation with me. But I know what the law says I can and can't do, and I can always look up the specific section on the Internet at any given time. I also have to admit I'm a little desensitised to the situations you describe above. In the decade or so I've been living here (about seven years of riding seriously), I can't say I've gone for more than a week without having some clown shout verbal abuse at me (excepting the times I've been holidaying in other places).
However, if I feel a driver has done something particularly shocking (and it takes a lot to shock me these days) I have no hesitation in taking down a number and paying a visit to the police. In fact, I'll speak to the police before I'll bother speaking to the driver. The truth is that here in Queensland there is a lot of anti-cyclist bigotry among the general population (other forms of bigotry also seem to thrive here). As far as I'm concerned, a cyclist trying to explain the road rules to a driver who's just tried to kill them would be like Martin Luther King trying to explain racial equality to the KKK.
The cops actually care in Duluth? Here cyclists are the least of the cops' worries. I know you went to the mayor and everything, but don't you think you take it a little far when you write down their license number and take it to the cops for just honking at you from behind? I could see doing it if they ran you off the road, but if they want to pass you and honk at you to let you know they're there, I can't always fault the driver for that one. I'll go to the cops if I get run off the road, or clipped (like last week). I'm not going to go to then for every petty instance though, because after a while they get annoyed. I'm not going to try to tell people how to drive, because they aren't going to listen. Most of the people I end up having problems with are from Minnesota, so they are going to scoff at me with a Wisconsin Automotive Manual.
haha very nice, where can i pick up one of these manual for NY driving laws?
I have printed copies of this...
http://www.dot.state.ny.us/pubtrans/share.html#1231
On the rare occaision you can chase down a harrassing motorist I doubt you will have any meaningful discussion about traffic laws, let alone gather around a driving manual to consult the wisdom contained within. Carrying a driving manual with you to 'shove in the face' of a motorist does little more than escalate a confrontation.
Getting a plate number and reporting illegal behaviour would be the more effective tactic.
The cops actually care in Duluth? Here cyclists are the least of the cops' worries. I know you went to the mayor and everything, but don't you think you take it a little far when you write down their license number and take it to the cops for just honking at you from behind? I could see doing it if they ran you off the road, but if they want to pass you and honk at you to let you know they're there, I can't always fault the driver for that one. I'll go to the cops if I get run off the road, or clipped (like last week). I'm not going to go to then for every petty instance though, because after a while they get annoyed. I'm not going to try to tell people how to drive, because they aren't going to listen. Most of the people I end up having problems with are from Minnesota, so they are going to scoff at me with a Wisconsin Automotive Manual.
I can agree, to an extent, that the DPD does care, as, I happen to see a female officer on a mountain bike, on Monday. I had an honest, forthright, detailed and, civil conversation with her, about what I had been feeling. Even though it was only 1min.(A call came over the radio), it was still beneficial. I don't expect 'cycling' to be the DPD's #1 priority yet, Duluth does have large segment of the population that, is involved in some 'outdoor' activity, be it hunting, trapping, skeet shooting, cycling, off-road or, archery. When I give the license to the DPD, they send out a reminder of what the laws are regarding cycling and, how it pertains to motorists. I don't expect them to do anything else. It is when the motorist honks and, utters some vulgar profane comment that, I actually go to the DPD. I can hear when they are behind me because, I can hear the engine. While I don't need them to tell me they are behind me, they don't know that and, I don't hold that against them. I am not surprised that, most of the bad drivers are from Minnesota. I see them, either, driving like snails or, putting the pedal, to the floor. Also, There are quite a number of vehicles with 'souped up' engines and, when one of them goes by, have to turn my head and, plug my ears.
I find that most of the time its the "fair weather" cyclists on the road who are the focus of my ire. Blowing redlights, stop signs, riding on the sidewalks etc..., I really don't have too many issues with vehicles. Good luck with your efforts hopefully they will eventually pay off.
Most of Wisconsin is involved in some sort of outdoor activity. I don't know anyone who doesn't hunt or fish. Even most of the girls will gladly go huntin granted you gut the deer for them after they shoot it. I guess our area is just too small for them to think about cyclists. The cops aren't going to do a whole lot for a cyclist with a complaint unless they've been hit by the vehicle. They're a bit Barney Feif like around here. We also have some serious DNR issues around here because the DNR is so powerful, so the cops end up dealing with a lot of environmental stuff. The methamphetamine lab problem is big here too. That's mostly people from Upper Michigan, Minneapolis, and St. Paul that find abandoned farms and set up, but we have to deal with it. That takes a lot of time and money too without much state aid. Our police just aren't as aware of cyclists.
...don't you think you take it a little far when you write down their license number and take it to the cops for just honking at you from behind?
There is such a thing as illegal use of the horn. It's not enforced, but when used against a cyclist, it can make you jump, if they time it right. That, in turn, could make you fall, which could send you to the medical center.
That's my feeling about it, but I wonder if, after leaving the police station, they put your complaint in "file 86."
I think that the best thing you can do to help motorists treat the cyclists better is to demonstrate what a good cyclist is.
When you're out riding are you...
- Wearing bright colored clothing - I prefer that sickly yellow
- Staying about a foot IN the lane of traffic
- Stopping in the line of cars at a stop, rather than trying to work your way to the front
- Signaling your turns
- Stopping for turns, or do you blast out on to the street
- Do you have a flashing red LED thingy on the rear of your bike
I do all of these things - and in 5 years have never had anyone yell, swerve, curse, or even shake a fist at me.
I've seen lots of people who don't do these things, and, if you ask me, they're dangerous to ride with. A wise person also once told me "when they honk at you that means that they see you."
By the way... chasing someone down and reading them the riot act could escalate and get you charged with assault.
Pedal On....
I think that the best thing you can do to help motorists treat the cyclists better is to demonstrate what a good cyclist is.
When you're out riding are you...
- Wearing bright colored clothing - I prefer that sickly yellow
- Staying about a foot IN the lane of traffic
- Stopping in the line of cars at a stop, rather than trying to work your way to the front
- Signaling your turns
- Stopping for turns, or do you blast out on to the street
- Do you have a flashing red LED thingy on the rear of your bike
I do all of these things - and in 5 years have never had anyone yell, swerve, curse, or even shake a fist at me.
I've seen lots of people who don't do these things, and, if you ask me, they're dangerous to ride with. A wise person also once told me "when they honk at you that means that they see you."
By the way... chasing someone down and reading them the riot act could escalate and get you charged with assault.
Pedal On....
I do all those things and still get harassed from time to time. The first thing we must understand is that people do not harass you because of something you did to them. The harasser does his deeds for his own enjoyment - period. He wants to see you react by shaking your fist, giving him the finger, yelling back, etc. Anything to indicate that he has been successful at making you suffer. It does no good to respond to him and it just tends to put you in a foul mood. Why should I let some opportunistic punk ruin my day just by shouting something unintelligible out his passenger window?
Wearing bright clothes, staying to the right, having a blinker, and such are all good practices that help get you noticed and reduce the chance of an accident with an inattentive motorist. But the harasser is anything but inattentive. The only good thing you can say is that he definitely knows you're there.
Our state's bike advocacy group prints a "law card" small enough to carry in your wallet. It's obviously not the whole letter of every law that applies, but it's an up-to-date synopsis of your rights and responsibilities, and what to do in case of certain situations.
Oh, and in case CR has given everyone the idea that the entire state of Wisconsin is made up of Elmer Fudd clones, it's not. A whole 14% of the population hunts. The rest of us do get outside, though.
I do all those things and still get harassed from time to time. The first thing we must understand is that people do not harass you because of something you did to them. The harasser does his deeds for his own enjoyment - period. He wants to see you react by shaking your fist, giving him the finger, yelling back, etc. Anything to indicate that he has been successful at making you suffer. It does no good to respond to him and it just tends to put you in a foul mood. .
That's one reason, another (more common) reason is just plain ol' bigotry. I know for a fact this exists, I deal with it everyday. I've become so desensitised to it that I no longer care what drivers think of me, regardless of which direction their opinion runs. I just ride. I know the law, and I also know what I need to do to arrive at my destination safely -- so I concentrate on those things, and on enjoying my ride. I focus on nothing else.
Wearing bright clothes, staying to the right, having a blinker, and such are all good practices that help get you noticed and reduce the chance of an accident with an inattentive motorist. But the harasser is anything but inattentive. The only good thing you can say is that he definitely knows you're there.
Actually, I seriously believe being seen is not the biggest battle. Making people aware of your presence is pretty easy. Getting people to actually care is another matter.
Trying to explain the road rules is about as pointless as showing a card trick to a dog.
I know the road rules, and follow them as best I can, but there is rarely the time nor the opportunity to enter into a discussion on the finer points of the law with people who lack the wit to understand them anyway. The only time having such a doncument about your person might be useful is if a police officer with a less that comprehensive knowledge of the laws pulls you over for no good legal reason, and even then it's a gamble. They at least are more open to discussing what is and isn't legal.
Great Analogy! I was basically going to say the same thing, except not as colorful. I think that in most cases it would be a waste of your time and it would probably torque the already-uptight driver even more that he/she was being lectured.
Matt
On the rare occaision you can chase down a harrassing motorist I doubt you will have any meaningful discussion about traffic laws, let alone gather around a driving manual to consult the wisdom contained within.
LOL! I love the image, though.
[QUOTE=KosCycle]I think that the best thing you can do to help motorists treat the cyclists better is to demonstrate what a good cyclist is.
When you're out riding are you...
- Wearing bright colored clothing - I prefer that sickly yellow
- Staying about a foot IN the lane of traffic
- Stopping in the line of cars at a stop, rather than trying to work your way to the front
- Signaling your turns
- Stopping for turns, or do you blast out on to the street
- Do you have a flashing red LED thingy on the rear of your bike
I do all of these things - and in 5 years have never had anyone yell, swerve, curse, or even shake a fist at me.
The items you mention are followed by many cyclists who still have trouble with motorists. Some areas are worse than others, and the time of day make a big impact on motorist's actions. Sometimes only 5-10 miles can be the difference between courteous drivers and those that don't want you on the road.
The California Vehicle Code is available on the Internet:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc.htm
Although this is obviously an oversimplification with plenty of exceptions, "Same Rights, Same Rules, Same Roads" goes a long way toward resolving many of the conflits out there. Political pressure on city government and law enforcement is helpful, as well.
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