General Cycling Discussion - Ever Notice How Stupidly Some Drivers Will Pass You?

I really make a point when driving my car to pass a cyclist safely. When I'm out riding though some drivers choose the freakiest times to pass. They'll either pass near the crest of a small hill with little visibility of oncoming traffic, or right before a tight corner (when there was a straightaway earlier!), the worst is having someone pass with the oncoming traffic heading towards them in the opposing lane. So they need to veer back to the right to avoid the oncoming car and nearly cream you in the process, stupid!

Hi there Friend!

What I hate the most (besides parked car doors opening), is when cars drive so close to your handlebars when passing.

Sometimes I feel like I have to veer to my right just to avoid them. I also hate it when you know that parked car ahead of you is about to pull out, because you see the wheels headed towards the street. The driver looks around and sees you coming. As you approach the car, it suddenly swings out into the street like the driver never saw you in the first place!...WTF!

I also hate cell phone drivers!

- Slim :)

You should hear some of the stories in A&S and Commuting subforums... basically, yes, I could believe it, I used to commute almost every day and it was rampant.

Welcome to road riding. "Bad" are the one who pass too close or poorly due to lack of attention or cluelessness. "Worse" are the ones who are "bike-unfriendly" (read: nasty and bike aggressive) who purposely try to buzz you with their mirrors to rattle you. Those folks are not only criminal but also probably deserve a night in jail to think about their stooopidity.

i was overtaken recently by a school of motoring car (driver under instruction) on a blind bend on a country road, what are instructors teaching them? instructor should have stopped the car the instant that the learner made any attempt to overtake, could have ended in multiple fatality.
i have also had s.o.m. cars pull out of side roads in front of me on residential estate, 3 times in 1 week. on another occasion i stopped and gave the instructor a serious talking to.

Welcome to road riding. "Bad" are the one who pass too close or poorly due to lack of attention or cluelessness. "Worse" are the ones who are "bike-unfriendly" (read: nasty and bike aggressive) who purposely try to buzz you with their mirrors to rattle you.

I disagree, I think clueless or just plain stupid drivers are far worse than those who are nasty and aggressive. For one thing, the stupid drivers are much harder to predict or anticipate than the aggressive ones (at least the aggressive ones know in their own mind what they want to do). For another, the stupid drivers aren't a minority. In fact, I read a quote from a local driving instructor who puts the stupid drivers at around 90% of the population.

It amazes me when out in the middle of nowhere a car will pass me do 70 mph and not move over the center line with clearly no traffic in the oncoming lane passing with in a foot of the bike. It's hard to believe they don't realize if I swerve slightly I'd be a hood ornament. The even more unfortunate part is if they did hit me they probably wouldn't be considered at fault because I am a cyclist!!

The most puzzling motorist maneuver that comes to mind is when I'm riding well to the right of the road, there's more than enough space for a motorist to pass me safely, the motorist will hold back until I reach a parked vehicle. After I take the lane to pass the parked vehicle, the following motorist will then pass me using the opposite lane, and at times, with oncoming vehicles approaching, making those motorists take evasive actions.

I lost count on how many times that type of incident has happened.

It amazes me when out in the middle of nowhere a car will pass me do 70 mph and not move over the center line with clearly no traffic in the oncoming lane passing with in a foot of the bike. It's hard to believe they don't realize if I swerve slightly I'd be a hood ornament. The even more unfortunate part is if they did hit me they probably wouldn't be considered at fault because I am a cyclist!!

ye, its like the cyclist has no rights and the motorist has them all. yet in common law (uk) any unmotorised citizen has right to use highway whereas motorised citizens are only allowed the courtesy when duly licensed.

when are the government going to remember that and act accordingly.

I disagree, I think clueless or just plain stupid drivers are far worse than those who are nasty and aggressive. For one thing, the stupid drivers are much harder to predict or anticipate than the aggressive ones (at least the aggressive ones know in their own mind what they want to do). For another, the stupid drivers aren't a minority. In fact, I read a quote from a local driving instructor who puts the stupid drivers at around 90% of the population.

I hear you there and I agree to a point. But I'd rather a driver who knows no better but IS trying to avoid me (albeit unsafely) than the aggressive driver who purposely tries to graze me. Of course the "texting and veers right into you" driver is the truly scary problem. I do however live in a cycling aware State though so even our "stupid drivers" are aware that they WILL encounter cyclist often and generally seem to look up on occasion and when they see you they tend to keep an eye up to try and avoid you.

I disagree, I think clueless or just plain stupid drivers are far worse than those who are nasty and aggressive. For one thing, the stupid drivers are much harder to predict or anticipate than the aggressive ones (at least the aggressive ones know in their own mind what they want to do). For another, the stupid drivers aren't a minority. In fact, I read a quote from a local driving instructor who puts the stupid drivers at around 90% of the population.
as a professional driver with something like 4 million miles experience, I agree with both of these statements.
Although I love to hate aggressive drivers, and I usually trot out some bad words when I witness their antics, at least they are usually in control, and know what they are doing. Timid drivers are of much more concern to me.
I do think that 90% estimate is high, but the majority of the driving population demonstrates to me on a daily basis that driving is not what they were born to do.

the majority of the driving population demonstrates to me on a daily basis that driving is not what they were born to do.

I love that!
I have been hit in the elbow, almost doored more times than I can remember, etc...
On the other hand, out in the sticks I have come on riders when in my car when going up hill that will flag me by but I have no idea what is coming the other way and I am fine waiting a few car lengths back until we crest the hill.
Now that I'm over the fear I like when the semi's pass me on the highway, the draft rocks!!

ye, its like the cyclist has no rights and the motorist has them all. yet in common law (uk) any unmotorised citizen has right to use highway whereas motorised citizens are only allowed the courtesy when duly licensed.

when are the government going to remember that and act accordingly.

Allowed the courtesy, I like that.

I go with the assumption that everyone else is about to do something dumb...but the car coming from behind in the one you can't really control. OP, these are the ones that scare me the most. I've been grazed, but never knocked down.

When I feel its not safe to pass, I'll usually ride in the middle of the road/lane when possible...my safety, my decision.

I was almost taken out yesterday by a young female driver. She passed me then slowed down and pulled a slow right turn into a McDonalds parking lot not 8 feet from me. No turn signal, no indication of a turn. I reacted as soon as seeing her brake lights which saved me. I yelled at her out but she ignored me. I felt like I should follow her into the lot and beat her with my helmet.

It amazes me when out in the middle of nowhere a car will pass me do 70 mph and not move over the center line with clearly no traffic in the oncoming lane passing with in a foot of the bike. It's hard to believe they don't realize if I swerve slightly I'd be a hood ornament. The even more unfortunate part is if they did hit me they probably wouldn't be considered at fault because I am a cyclist!!

I had a county cop do this to me. Long straight-a-way and not another car in sight.

I really make a point when driving my car to pass a cyclist safely. When I'm out riding though some drivers choose the freakiest times to pass. They'll either pass near the crest of a small hill with little visibility of oncoming traffic, or right before a tight corner (when there was a straightaway earlier!), the worst is having someone pass with the oncoming traffic heading towards them in the opposing lane. So they need to veer back to the right to avoid the oncoming car and nearly cream you in the process, stupid!

A very high percentage of drivers have poop for brains when they get behind the steering wheel !!!

I really make a point when driving my car to pass a cyclist safely. When I'm out riding though some drivers choose the freakiest times to pass. They'll either pass near the crest of a small hill with little visibility of oncoming traffic, or right before a tight corner (when there was a straightaway earlier!), the worst is having someone pass with the oncoming traffic heading towards them in the opposing lane. So they need to veer back to the right to avoid the oncoming car and nearly cream you in the process, stupid!

This is where taking the lane is an effective way to communicate. I will get right in the middle of the lane if I think a car cannot pass me safely to force them to go out and around. I find that a wave of "thanks for waiting" afterward helps make the driver feel like he did the right thing.

This is where taking the lane is an effective way to communicate. I will get right in the middle of the lane if I think a car cannot pass me safely to force them to go out and around. I find that a wave of "thanks for waiting" afterward helps make the driver feel like he did the right thing.

I like the additional wave positive stance! I will definitely do this whenever I take the lane!

I was almost taken out yesterday by a young female driver. She passed me then slowed down and pulled a slow right turn into a McDonalds parking lot not 8 feet from me. No turn signal, no indication of a turn. I reacted as soon as seeing her brake lights which saved me. I yelled at her out but she ignored me. I felt like I should follow her into the lot and beat her with my helmet.
Glad you restrained yourself, but I know the exact feeling!!

In NYC, cars pass with 6" or 6'+. There's no happy medium.

This is where taking the lane is an effective way to communicate. I will get right in the middle of the lane if I think a car cannot pass me safely to force them to go out and around. I find that a wave of "thanks for waiting" afterward helps make the driver feel like he did the right thing.

I do this frequently. I know they were back there waiting. I will acknowledge their patience with a quick wave. Sometimes they wave back.

This is where taking the lane is an effective way to communicate. I will get right in the middle of the lane if I think a car cannot pass me safely to force them to go out and around. I find that a wave of "thanks for waiting" afterward helps make the driver feel like he did the right thing.

not only smart but exactly what the law prescribes!

I agree with everyone, drivers are openly hostile and for no reason.

They are ok with anything impeding their forward progress: pedestrians, other cars, construction, merging traffic, traffic lights, etc.

They are 100% ok with impeding others' forward progress: driving slower, turning, texting, cell phones, cutting off traffic and pedestrians, no signals, etc

BUT if a cyclist, moving with traffic, requires them to slow (not even stop) for a moment, than the required reaction is physical harm or death...
it's crazy.

One confusing thing I've found is drivers that won't pass. Yesterday I was out on a road with a "shared bike lane". (Thacker/Dempster for those of you that know Des Plaines) I had a pretty nasty headwind, so I was probably going 15mph at most. Nobody was going the other way, and it wasn't a no-passing zone or anything, but the driver behind me refused to pass. I turned after about a half a mile and I noticed he had a bunch of cars stacked up behind him. I don't get it.

I agree with everyone, SOME drivers are openly hostile and for no reason.


FTFY - In my area (and most I've been) the hostile drivers make up a spitball 5-10% on any given ride. Not a huge number but it really only takes one to make it scary dangerous...



One confusing thing I've found is drivers that won't pass. Yesterday I was out on a road with a "shared bike lane". (Thacker/Dempster for those of you that know Des Plaines) I had a pretty nasty headwind, so I was probably going 15mph at most. Nobody was going the other way, and it wasn't a no-passing zone or anything, but the driver behind me refused to pass. I turned after about a half a mile and I noticed he had a bunch of cars stacked up behind him. I don't get it.

Yeah, that seems to enrage the nasty drivers even more. Seems like when it is their turn to pass after being stalled in a no-passer line they often tend to take it out on the cyclist rather than on the driver...

One confusing thing I've found is drivers that won't pass. Yesterday I was out on a road with a "shared bike lane". (Thacker/Dempster for those of you that know Des Plaines) I had a pretty nasty headwind, so I was probably going 15mph at most. Nobody was going the other way, and it wasn't a no-passing zone or anything, but the driver behind me refused to pass. I turned after about a half a mile and I noticed he had a bunch of cars stacked up behind him. I don't get it.

That's a situation I keep running across lately. It's freaks me out having a car follow me just creeping along with no reason for not passing. Another thing brought to my attention lately is that 2/3 of the population is not in their right mind. Meaning they are on some type of mind altering substance, whether it be alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription meds. Give them a cell phone and it's a miracle that we don't all get run over.

as a professional driver with something like 4 million miles experience, I agree with both of these statements.
Although I love to hate aggressive drivers, and I usually trot out some bad words when I witness their antics, at least they are usually in control, and know what they are doing. Timid drivers are of much more concern to me.
I do think that 90% estimate is high, but the majority of the driving population demonstrates to me on a daily basis that driving is not what they were born to do.

The 90% estimate came from a local driving instructor, who went on to say that if drivers were ever re-tested after passing that initial test, 90% of them would fail. Having lived in this city for 16 years, I'm inclined to agree. In fact, I think we've identified the real problem here. I could get a licence tomorrow and not drive again for 20 years, and all the road authorities would know about me is that I've never been involved in a crash. Yet if I got behind the wheel again at that point, I'd be a menace.

To be honest, if timidity was the worst thing drivers ever did, it wouldn't bother me so much. The real problem is with the idiots who are so stupid that they'd probably get a black eye from being punched in the mouth. For example, they charge into intersections like there's no tomorrow, then stop half-way across. What is the point of that? Yet I see it happen almost everyday.

There are the colour-blind morons who can't tell a red light from a green one, the ones who indicate at intersections when they have no intention of making a turn, or indicate one way then turn the other. The idiots who generally either drive at 20km/h or 120km/h -- irrespective of what the speed limit actually is. We have plenty of the tailgaters people have mentioned in earlier posts, but give them some oncoming traffic in the other lane and no shoulder, and they'll suddenly remember some appointment they had to be at, and charge ahead regardless.

Frankly, many drivers are nothing more than living, breathing evidence in favour of legal, accessable and occasionally mandatory abortion.

The 90% estimate came from a local driving instructor, who went on to say that if drivers were ever re-tested after passing that initial test, 90% of them would fail. Having lived in this city for 16 years, I'm inclined to agree. In fact, I think we've identified the real problem here. I could get a licence tomorrow and not drive again for 20 years, and all the road authorities would know about me is that I've never been involved in a crash. Yet if I got behind the wheel again at that point, I'd be a menace.

To be honest, if timidity was the worst thing drivers ever did, it wouldn't bother me so much. The real problem is with the idiots who are so stupid that they'd probably get a black eye from being punched in the mouth. For example, they charge into intersections like there's no tomorrow, then stop half-way across. What is the point of that? Yet I see it happen almost everyday.

There are the colour-blind morons who can't tell a red light from a green one, the ones who indicate at intersections when they have no intention of making a turn, or indicate one way then turn the other. The idiots who generally either drive at 20km/h or 120km/h -- irrespective of what the speed limit actually is. We have plenty of the tailgaters people have mentioned in earlier posts, but give them some oncoming traffic in the other lane and no shoulder, and they'll suddenly remember some appointment they had to be at, and charge ahead regardless.

Frankly, many drivers are nothing more than living, breathing evidence in favour of legal, accessable and occasionally mandatory abortion.
My concern with timid drivers is they never plan and execute. I'm speaking more from the perspective of a large vehicle operator here than a cyclist, although it affects us on our bikes too.
Agressive drivers are usually planning their moves and executing them, sometimes to the point of living dangerously, but at least they are usually alert and attentive.
Sloppy, unaware drivers that just drive fast, now they are worst of all.

I regulary cycle but I also own a moped and for the short time I ride I realize how idiotic and ignorant drivers can be. I was once riding towards an intersection and I had taken a lane when some idiot in a giant SUV came behind me driving at the same speed as me and beeped at me to get off the road. I looked back, waved at him and stayed in my lane until it was my turn to take the intersection. Spend an hour on the road on a bike or a moped and you eyes will open and you'll notice how many idiots take to the road every day.

This is where taking the lane is an effective way to communicate. I will get right in the middle of the lane if I think a car cannot pass me safely to force them to go out and around. I find that a wave of "thanks for waiting" afterward helps make the driver feel like he did the right thing.

This is by far the best tactic I've found for keeping drivers from doing stupid things. If you motion for them to wait, and then wave them by when it's safe, they are much more likely to thank you instead of getting irritated. I started doing this and it made a huge difference. I've only had one or two people try to pull a dumb stunt once I started doing it this way.