Advocacy & Safety - No Plate!

Lately it seems like I can't go for a paved road ride by myself without getting harrassed. It's either someone who's really good at buzzing (the type that can pass you 12 inches away at 60 -- friggin' scary, especially if it's a large pickup as they move more air and make more noise while doing it). Or someone doing the quiet approach, then blood curdling scream (that one was today). Or, the very occasional, object throwing.

Well, today I had the good sense to look for his plate in enough time to read it. It said:




Yea, that's right, nothing. He didn't have one. I hate people. That is all.

I hate people too. Haven't been harassed in a while, it's probably about time.

I hate people too. Haven't been harassed in a while, it's probably about time.

It seems like they're worse in the fall. I'd say it's them being fed up, but half the time it's teenagers. I don't think it's bad natured (from the teenagers), I'm just an easy target.

I really don't know, I'd just like to see some people disappear off the face of the earth so the rest of us can get our work done and enjoy our lives.

I really don't know, I'd just like to see some people disappear off the face of the earth so the rest of us can get our work done and enjoy our lives.

I get that feeling almost every time I leave the house. My plan is to deport such people to Spitzbergen.

No plate.. Sure you're not in MA? They do it here as well. What's more common though, is illegal plate swapping. This is when someone whose registration has been yanked by the RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles)
borrows plates from a drinking buddy. Sometimes they get caught, sometimes not.

I am surprised at the number of reports I hear about this sort of thing, coming from the rural midwest. I thought people out that way were supposed be more laid back. Am I misinformed?

Getting the plate won't do you any good. The police will both require property damage or injury and you must be able to I.D. the driver. Nice system eh? There was a cop who posted here once. He would pay a visit to the people who buzzed him. I wish he took video of those encounters.

It seems like they're worse in the fall. I'd say it's them being fed up, but half the time it's teenagers. I don't think it's bad natured (from the teenagers), I'm just an easy target.

I have always noticed more traffic and more rude drivers when school starts back up. Many motorists are on new routes at new times, and often in a hurry. Hang in there, it'll get better.

Lately it seems like I can't go for a paved road ride by myself without getting harrassed. It's either someone who's really good at buzzing (the type that can pass you 12 inches away at 60 -- friggin' scary, especially if it's a large pickup as they move more air and make more noise while doing it). Or someone doing the quiet approach, then blood curdling scream (that one was today). Or, the very occasional, object throwing.

Well, today I had the good sense to look for his plate in enough time to read it. It said:




Yea, that's right, nothing. He didn't have one. I hate people. That is all.

This is another example of why, I 'take the lane'. I don't 'ride the shoulder', waiting for them to run me off the road. I 'take the lane', waiting for them to be dumb enough to try to pass when it isn't safe for them to do so. If they try to pass me on the right(which is illegal) when I am taking the lane, I block their path. If they try to pass me on the left on a two-lane blacktop, I force them to pass me by going into oncoming traffic.

No plate.. Sure you're not in MA? They do it here as well. What's more common though, is illegal plate swapping. This is when someone whose registration has been yanked by the RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles)
borrows plates from a drinking buddy. Sometimes they get caught, sometimes not.

I am surprised at the number of reports I hear about this sort of thing, coming from the rural midwest. I thought people out that way were supposed be more laid back. Am I misinformed?

More laid back? Yes.

The land of moral perfection? No.

This is another example of why, I 'take the lane'. I don't 'ride the shoulder', waiting for them to run me off the road. I 'take the lane', waiting for them to be dumb enough to try to pass when it isn't safe for them to do so. If they try to pass me on the right(which is illegal) when I am taking the lane, I block their path. If they try to pass me on the left on a two-lane blacktop, I force them to pass me by going into oncoming traffic.

I hate being an ass to the majority of decent drivers just to improve my negative encounters with the garbage.

But it may come to that.


In this case I had plenty of room to the right to freak out, get my balance back, and not be run off the road. My definition of riding the fog line is about 6-12 inches to the left of it. Any closer and it makes me a bit nervous, especially since our roads often break up inside the fog line a few inches.

I hate people. That is all.

I've been buzzed and harassed as well, but I don't hate people, I just hate jerks. 99% of all cars drivers on the road are very polite, they pass with care, and while they may be a tad annoyed that they have to slow down for me, I rarely get any type of rude response. When I do, its almost always the work of a jerk who disregards the rules.

Drivers do that to us all the time....cyclists suck, they don't follow the rules etc. because they saw one person do something. I encourage you to stay positive on people in general, and limit your disdain for those who truly deserve it.