Advocacy & Safety - What you ACTUALLY do, not what you SHOULD do

When I ride my bike, I try to adopt a zen like attitude towards drivers and their actions. Most of the time, when they do something aggressive or stupid, I just ignore them. But every now and then, some one will just totally overload my fusebox and I go nova. I yell, shake my fist, and even have taken my lock out of my bag. Afterwards, I feel bad about myself, that I had been weak.

But reading these threads, and the one about embarrassing my wife below, I got to thinking that I may not be alone in my sometimes incidents of roadside justice. Take my poll, where do you stand?

Always is pretty absolute. I don't think I have ever "confronted" a driver simply because the times I was most ready to, they left me in the dust. I have -- very rarely -- given a finger. Ordinarily, I'm with you. Zenlike on the road, all the way.

i usually don't bother... but i've "lost it" a couple of times

i'm doing better riding the trainer indoors... the cars don't get as close to me now

wonder how that first close pass will affect me when it warms up?
oh, i hope it's not a big H2 with a gastric bypass patient smoking and talking on a cell phone... then i might lose it

every now and then, some one will just totally overload my fusebox and I go nova. I yell, shake my fist, and even have taken my lock out of my bag. Afterwards, I feel bad about myself, that I had been weak. [QUOTE]

I can't say always, but I think I would check, "I too often confront them" and usually feel as you aptly described above.

I chose I usually ignore them. The reason is there are some instances where, as a cyclists you have to confront an aggresive or stupid driver. I pick my battles accordingly when I ride. The same goes for the way I live my life as well.

I think there's a difference between a stupid and an aggressive driver. I don't get mad at little old ladies with bad eyesight making tentative moves into traffic like I encountered tonight, nor do I often get steamed at drivers making sudden lane changes or generally acting stupid at intersections. bikers need to read traffic and anticipate problems to the best of their ability.

Aggressive drivers that tailgate, shout out windows, honk their horns like impatient crybabies, try to cut me off, etc, get a full dose of agressive verbal abuse as well as liberal middle finger treatment. And I don't feel bad about it at all.

I usually let it slide: confrontation isn't worth the hassle. I'll give a yell or a slap to the side of a vehicle if need be, but then get on with my journey. I'm on the road to get somewhere, after all.

The exception is if I get taken off, or if the driver's actions are grossly dangerous, or he's just an outrageous ass. Then, if my blood gets up, I'll stop them, give 'em an earful and go into full confrontation mode. But it's very rare.

I voted "I usually ignore them". I may slap their precious vehicle (yelling does little if their windows are closed) or gesture. I try not to use the middle finger. Main idea is to make them notice that something went wrong there. In my book that's a wake-up call, not confronting.

--J

I usually ignore them and aim to increase the frequency of doing so, especially if it's already a bad situation (honking or other aggresive actions), that's only going to ge worse. If someone's just ignorant (e.g. parking in a no parking zone), sometimes I'll say something as I pass (if their window is open . . . and just speak, not yell at the top of my lungs), maybe they'll figure it out next time. But I'd rather just get on with my ride in most cases.

I did go back and scare the crap out of some gang bangers that yelled at me as I cruised by them one time (they were walking on the sidewalk, they didn't hear me turn around and didn't even hear me until I was on top of them). They threw a rock at me but were too slow. Anyway, I later thought about how dumb that was. Luckily I transferred to a new facility shortly after that and haven't had to worry about it. I almost always don't confront. Mutter under my breath, curse their childrens children, Swear a pox upon them and their family, yes. Confront, no.

I usually ignore them... or at best I get a kick out of giving them a wave like a long lost friend... It depends on the situation.

If it is some redneck type that just gunned their F-350 pickup and then swooped close by... I try to ignore them as I know it is a no win situation. But if it is someone else and they are just honking... they get the "long lost friend" wave.

On a few rare occasions I have confronted drivers that took the time to yell at me... I.E. they seemed to want conversation. For these folks I used to carry a copy of the Vehicle Code section on bikes in my panniers... a simple one sheet handout... just so they could further their education.

Cars are too close, I whack them. Idiot walks in the bike lane, I brush by them as close as possible to scare the **** out of them, or ring my bell and shout real loud just as I get close to them, also to scare them.

Maybe they'll hate me, but they will be more attentive they are crossing a bike lane or crowding some other bicyclist. I do it for YOU guys!

I usually "confront" them if I think their action was unwarranted. But my "confrontation" is along the lines of pulling up next to them and asking in a controled tone of voice, "Was there something you wanted to say to me", eg. in the case they yelled something unintelligible or "You beeped me?" in the case I have no idea why they beeped. My commute is nice in that there are plenty of stop lights and long lines of traffic so chances are good I will catch them. Then they are trapped and are forced to give a reason for their behavior. I also try to memorize their license plate as I approach. I think this somewhat humanizes me as a cyclist. Eg. a young woman in one vehicle yelled something as they passed. I distinctly heard the word "sidewalk". I followed them to soccer practice and asked the driver, ie "soccer mom" why they had yelled. The woman was said that I was being very inconsiderate by blocking traffic. I asked her how long she was delayed (in fact this was a 4-lane street, and she had passed me with perhaps 10 sec delay). She seemed flustered and all she could say was that I was being very inconsiderate. I continued with the rules of the road, etc, and that I was perfectly within the law. The last thing she huffed out was, "Well, just go out and obey the law then". I responded, "OK, I will, thank you ma'am."

I don't understand it, but the more I ride the fewer aggressive drivers I encounter. So it's getting easie to ignore them.

Paralyzed hands help me be non-confrontational..... ;)

The last thing she huffed out was, "Well, just go out and obey the law then". I responded, "OK, I will, thank you ma'am."

Now, see, you're a much better person than me. I would have gone right out, stolen a gun, came back and put a F"@$#ing bullet between her eyes. But maybe I have anger management issues.

Generally I ignore the cages (and in some cases pedestrians that yell nasty comments) and their superiority issues. Occassionally I'll give them the birdy but that's only if they come cm's from my handlebars.
One warm, sunny afternoon riding home I was squirted by a mega-water gun from a passenger in a car. I caught up to the culprits at a Service station down the road and asked them why they did it, after some flustered ahh, errmm's they replied "it's a hot day, we thought you'd need a cool down". So I asked them to squirt me again, and boy did they look shocked! They did as I asked and bolted. I saw them again about 5 minutes down the road and smiled and waved and they did the same back. I guess my point is I could've got peeved at them but then the situation could have gotten worse, and besides, it WAS kinda funny watching them struggle for a response. :D

66]Generally I ignore the cages (and in some cases pedestrians that yell nasty comments) and their superiority issues. Occassionally I'll give them the birdy but that's only if they come cm's from my handlebars.
One warm, sunny afternoon riding home I was squirted by a mega-water gun from a passenger in a car. I caught up to the culprits at a Service station down the road and asked them why they did it, after some flustered ahh, errmm's they replied "it's a hot day, we thought you'd need a cool down". So I asked them to squirt me again, and boy did they look shocked! They did as I asked and bolted. I saw them again about 5 minutes down the road and smiled and waved and they did the same back. I guess my point is I could've got peeved at them but then the situation could have gotten worse, and besides, it WAS kinda funny watching them struggle for a response. :D[/QUOTE]


:roflmao: .....You've got the touch!..... :p

I don't ignore them at all... They are generally the first thing on my mind at that time. However I rarely ever confront them if at all. The "I'm hauling 2 tons of weight fast then you and can easily crush you if I wish" argument does play in my mind a lot if I ever want to get aggressive.... but I was tailgated once on my mountain bike while I was around 30mph(about top speed for that crank set) and got the hell out of his way ASAP. I wanted to live.

The fun one I have had though was near a college around where I bike the back routes(different bike)... A college woman cut me off and almost forced me off the side of the road into the raised shoulder. Not because I wan't going the speed of traffic, which I was, but becase I was a bike and bikes of course are slow.

100 feet from where she cut me off the was a bike lane...

200 feet later I whizzed by her and remained so, even once the speed limit changed to 45, for about half a mile or so. Afterwards... I was too tired and winded to be mad anymore.

I have learn that ignoring them is trouble... got me hit by a vehicle.

I always acknowledge them and then keep and going. Not worth getting hit and sent to the hospital over a few seconds...

You've forgotten an option:

"None of the above"

I don't ignore them or confront them. I take a completely different tactic which I've found to be VERY effective ...


... are you ready for this ...

... I wave happily at them, with a huge smile on my face, as though their aggression (usually in the form of honking loudly) is their way of showing support and encouragement to me, a cyclist.

I have had two reactions to my happy wave and smile:

1. The driver tries some other form of aggression (usually the finger), which just prompts more happy waving and smiling from me. Then the driver, now purple in the face, his day ruined because he was not able to deter my enjoyment of cycling, drives off.

2. The driver waves back - usually slowly and hesitantly - as though it just dawned on him that perhaps I belong out there and am enjoying myself. I LOVE that reaction. :)

I have also used the "blow a kiss" -gesture a couple of times with great success. Works even better if you're wearing tight bike shorts. :D

--J

You've forgotten an option:

"None of the above"

I don't ignore them or confront them. I take a completely different tactic which I've found to be VERY effective ...


... are you ready for this ...

... I wave happily at them, with a huge smile on my face, as though their aggression (usually in the form of honking loudly) is their way of showing support and encouragement to me, a cyclist.

I have had two reactions to my happy wave and smile:

1. The driver tries some other form of aggression (usually the finger), which just prompts more happy waving and smiling from me. Then the driver, now purple in the face, his day ruined because he was not able to deter my enjoyment of cycling, drives off.

2. The driver waves back - usually slowly and hesitantly - as though it just dawned on him that perhaps I belong out there and am enjoying myself. I LOVE that reaction. :)


Ride on!.....Baby!!....... :p

Now, see, you're a much better person than me. I would have gone right out, stolen a gun, came back and put a F"@$#ing bullet between her eyes. But maybe I have anger management issues.

Well, I was having a good day. :)

I have also used the "blow a kiss" -gesture a couple of times with great success. Works even better if you're wearing tight bike shorts. :D

--J

I've used "blow a kiss" gesture followed by the "slap my spandex covered butt" gesture . . .

I've used "blow a kiss" gesture followed by the "slap my spandex covered butt" gesture . . .


.... :roflmao: .....Now we're talking creative-combo body language!..... :p

... I wave happily at them, with a huge smile on my face, as though their aggression (usually in the form of honking loudly) is their way of showing support and encouragement to me, a cyclist.

I have had two reactions to my happy wave and smile:

1. The driver tries some other form of aggression (usually the finger), which just prompts more happy waving and smiling from me. Then the driver, now purple in the face, his day ruined because he was not able to deter my enjoyment of cycling, drives off.

2. The driver waves back - usually slowly and hesitantly - as though it just dawned on him that perhaps I belong out there and am enjoying myself. I LOVE that reaction. :)

True story:

When I was growing up, I knew a kid named Skippy. He rode a big red bike around town and waved and hollered at everyone he saw. My parents told me that Skippy wasn't like all the other kids. I usually left Skippy alone. I think everyone else did too. The End.

There's a moral to this story, but I'm not sure what it is. I'm going to ride around like Skippy used to, waving and hollering, until the moral comes to mind.

Skippy wuvs you.

It depends on the situation. I believe that it is pointless to try to 'eduacate' every motorist on the rights of bicylcist to share the road. Also, it may not be too safe. I believe in just going on, and avoiding any conflct with motorist, even if they are being a-holes. However, if I am attacked, and do not have a way out, I do believe in defending myself. Look for an exit, do not respond to petty slights, and igonore verbal comments made from motorist. Much safer. If you see a potential incident developing, look for a way to avoid it. But if attacked, f*** 'em up.

Just ignoring them is fine with me. Fuses are already too short during commute time.

I recall an incident from my teenage years.

I used to ride a road bike on Toronto suburban arterials (I live downtown now). One day as I was riding north on Yonge street (2 lanes each way, lots of strip malls, turning cars, etc. avg car speed at the time about 50 km/h). A couple of young adults in a pickup truck passed me by (almost took my head off with their outsize mirror). They evidently felt that it was amusing that a cyclist was more or less keeping up with traffic (I was doing about 40 km/h), and took it upon themselves to 'give me a boost'. One of the goons grabbed the top of my helmet, as their vehicle began to accelerate. I was of course shocked, and terrified. They took me up to about 60-70 km/h, before letting me go. I said nothing, as all of my concentration was on keeping a steady line. I was aware that any defect in the road, any braking by myself or the ******* who had me by the head could easily result in loss of life.

I lacked the composure to record their licence plate down, nor did I have a cell (it was the mid 80's). I essentially did my best to forget the whole thing.

With the hindsight that comes from not being a teenager anymore, I wish I had flagged down a motorist who was behind me who might be able to witness, and called the police.

By far this was the most terrifying cycling incident I have ever had (including the time I was hit by a car). I was helpless, under a direct threat from another person, and I felt I was unable to do anything about it after the event.

I still get the shivers thinking about it.

I usually just use the middle finger, and depending on how stupid the driver is ( if he nearly kills me because she/he is not paying attention and gabbing on the phone or eating) I might confront them most times I just bang on the hod and tell them to get their head out of their ass and pay attention to their driving or take the bus.

I usually just use the middle finger...
Me too, it's quick and universally understood. Unfortunately it doesn't have the same impact for me in the winter since I wear lobsters and it looks like I'm actually telling them that they're number one :rolleyes: .

I remember the time I had to jump up on the "grill" of an SUV (it was more like monkey-bars) to avoid being run over when the driver didn't look for me in the crosswalk after stopping--she was only looking for oncoming traffic.

And a similar time when a van started into me at a crosswalk, so I pounded it's hood. Actually, the first time I pounded it, the driver didn't notice, so I had to slap it with force.

I don't think that's "losing it." I think that's saving my life.

But after the fact, once the incident's over, it's better to chill, though I don't really blame anyone who almost got hit for going ballistic. Not a bit. Just remember, you can actually make matters worse for yourself if you do some property damage.

I recall an incident from my teenage years.

I used to ride a road bike on Toronto suburban arterials (I live downtown now). One day as I was riding north on Yonge street (2 lanes each way, lots of strip malls, turning cars, etc. avg car speed at the time about 50 km/h). A couple of young adults in a pickup truck passed me by (almost took my head off with their outsize mirror). They evidently felt that it was amusing that a cyclist was more or less keeping up with traffic (I was doing about 40 km/h), and took it upon themselves to 'give me a boost'. One of the goons grabbed the top of my helmet, as their vehicle began to accelerate. I was of course shocked, and terrified. They took me up to about 60-70 km/h, before letting me go. I said nothing, as all of my concentration was on keeping a steady line. I was aware that any defect in the road, any braking by myself or the ******* who had me by the head could easily result in loss of life.

I still get the shivers thinking about it.
You can bet that whoever did this has already gotten in trouble for some other stupid thing, and might even be sitting in jail somewhere. Stupidity has a way of repeating itself.

I smile politely, wave, and secretly pray that they crash into a tree.

How's abooot giving them the pelican?

http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/tricks.html#dtp