Commuting - Ever happen to you?

Last Friday night I was at a red light waiting to turn left. There was no right hand lane for the ones turning right so I always place myself to the far left of that lane up front so cars can go by me and turn right on red on my right hand side. It generally works well. A car came by and this rude guy rolls down his window and yells at me, "hey, get out of the road". I simply said "Share the road guy". He drove off, mad, accelerating hard. I didn't let him steal my joy. Happy Commuting.:o

Sometimes hard to do, but letting it go is the right thing to do.

But most people are happy when I let them get around me to turn right on red.

you could have told him you were turning left, no?

Some people are just idiots.

It's unfortunate but something that most all of us run into at one point or another. They don't know any better and with their attitude likely never will.

Never had a complaint when I had something that resembles a camera on my head, btw. Pull out your phone and ask them to repeat that, they'll probably scurry right off.

I had the opposite experience two days ago. A kid with long hair pulled up next to me at a traffic light and said, good for you - you're saving the planet. So I said - thanks, you should too - He mumbled something about will try to skateboard - didn't really matter what, I was just pulling his leg and he knew it. After a few seconds he rolled down his window and said - I work in the deli across the street - if I ever came there he would stand me a sandwich :)

Happened to me last year. Got told off at a red light for not being on the right side of the lane (ie. hugging the curb). Tried to explain to the driver that I wasn't turning right and I was actually being courteous by giving room for right turning vehicles. The moron just couldn't compute any of that to I called him a f'n something or other and he peeled off all enraged.

It's unfortunate but something that most all of us run into at one point or another. They don't know any better and with their attitude likely never will.

Never had a complaint when I had something that resembles a camera on my head, btw. Pull out your phone and ask them to repeat that, they'll probably scurry right off.

I'm pretty sure many of them know that we are allowed in the road, they are just being jerks because they think they've been inconvenienced by a second or two and feel entitled to vent their ire at us.

One of the things that I like about my helmet mounted mirror is that I can see if a car behind me has its turn signal on. Sometimes I'll pull up and over into the crosswalk to let someone behind me turn right. Whether I am on the right or in the lane varies from intersection to intersection, they all seem unique in Seattle, with their own considerations.

I think it's great to cook up smart-alec answers but NOT deliver them. We have to blow off steam sometimes, but it accomplishes nothing if we blow it at the stupid people.

Though next time someone tells me to get on the sidewalk, I am tempted to say, "But I'm not allowed." But I know that will go over his head.

I find that waving and smiling is best. It makes them think I'm oblivious to their anger or dumb. I don't care which, but it seems like the best way to diffuse the hostility.

But really, the best thing is to ignore people.

Careful with the 'far left side of the lane' thing if the right lane is a through lane. I had an idiot food delivery guy sandwich me going straight once, and since then I stay more in the center and up front with just barely enough room for right turners to squeeze by.

Just smile & wave, boys. Smile & wave.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCIr5BkyGlE

I just reply," I like jelly donuts"

Just be happy he was actually turning. The worst is when you give that space to people turning right and someone going staight pulls up along side you. Now i start out in the center, and if it's a longer light, and the person behind me has their blinker on, i'll shift over, otherwise, to bad. You wouldn't get to turn right with car in front of you, so you can wait for me also. I've even had a person shout at me to get out of the way, they're trying to turn right. Kind of made my day due to how ridiculous it was. "Hey, Cyclist, Biker, get out the way, I'm trying to turn! Hey Biker!'

Best not to engage these kinds of people because they can get aggressive and you'd be in a vulnerable situation. Ignore them. Look straight ahead and don't give them any attention.

Just be happy he was actually turning. The worst is when you give that space to people turning right and someone going staight pulls up along side you. Now i start out in the center, and if it's a longer light, and the person behind me has their blinker on, i'll shift over, otherwise, to bad. You wouldn't get to turn right with car in front of you, so you can wait for me also. I've even had a person shout at me to get out of the way, they're trying to turn right. Kind of made my day due to how ridiculous it was. "Hey, Cyclist, Biker, get out the way, I'm trying to turn! Hey Biker!'
I try to get over enough to allow right turns, but prevent straight through traffic from trying to squeeze up. I do the same thing on my motorcycle (and in my car, really). It's amazing to me how many people continue to drive as if they are the only ones on the road, and no one else.....

Yeah, so this guy was just out to be heard and was venting something out at me. He had plenty of room as obviously he went to my right and just stopped, yelled and took off. I will try to just wave and laugh next time. This is so rare that your never really prepared on what to do.LOL

You occasionally get these asshats, but far more often right-turners will wave and smile because they have perceived that I've done them a courtesy by allowing them to turn right unimpeded.

Yeah, so this guy was just out to be heard and was venting something out at me. He had plenty of room as obviously he went to my right and just stopped, yelled and took off. I will try to just wave and laugh next time. This is so rare that your never really prepared on what to do.LOL

It is a problem, that we're confronted with a difficult situation, and our wits are not quick enough. That's why this discussion is useful, so we can plan. We can only hope that our planning applies to the next situation.

Notsofast_fastLane, you just made me realize that I have a technique I haven't been conscious of. I ride in the middle of the lane, and when I and the motorist behind me are stopped, I look back. If I see he wants to pass on the right, I move sideways to the left to let him go. This shows the motorist that I want to help, not hinder. Thank you for bringing this to my consciousness. I'm going to do it from now on and recommend it to others.

I like to give non-sequitur responses. Sometimes I just laugh, that really stirs their chili. Occasionally I burst into song. That often de-fuses the hostility and we both end up laughing. Once a passenger cracked up and said to the driver "He's singing at us!"

I try to give room for right turners, but I don't move over so far over that cars could still go straight without performing some strange maneuvers.

I think it's great to cook up smart-alec answers but NOT deliver them. We have to blow off steam sometimes, but it accomplishes nothing if we blow it at the stupid people.

Though next time someone tells me to get on the sidewalk, I am tempted to say, "But I'm not allowed." But I know that will go over his head.

I find that waving and smiling is best. It makes them think I'm oblivious to their anger or dumb. I don't care which, but it seems like the best way to diffuse the hostility.

But really, the best thing is to ignore people.That's what I do, just sit there and ignore them when they yell. After 4 decades of urban bicycling, I think I've heard it all and it just doesn't bug me any longer.

I plant myself dead center of the right lane (straight or right turn), and last week I had a guy make a right in front of me from the left lane (marked straight ahead only) just as the light turned green. Because, you know, the extra 5 seconds waiting behind me would have killed him.

I plant myself dead center of the right lane (straight or right turn), and last week I had a guy make a right in front of me from the left lane (marked straight ahead only) just as the light turned green. Because, you know, the extra 5 seconds waiting behind me would have killed him.

Oh boy, that's a bad one. I never even thought of it and have never experienced that one.

Been there, had a few cars creep up on my right to squeeze in along side me even though I was clearly in the lane. Once a dude leans out practically in my face and says pretty much what the OP's guy did "You need to get off the road", felt like punching him right then and there but I didn't.

Yeah, so this guy was just out to be heard and was venting something out at me. He had plenty of room as obviously he went to my right and just stopped, yelled and took off. I will try to just wave and laugh next time. This is so rare that your never really prepared on what to do.LOL
I just like to tell them I think they're number one.....

Some good ideas here!