Road Cycling - Road Rage!!!

Those Bad Arses in their cars think they own the road! Everytime I go out for a ride some idiot in his car has to ruin it for me by running me off the road, throwing beer bottles and other junk on the side of the road, or yelling at me to get my F***ing A** off the road!

Well im tired of it, so everytime I see a car throw something on the road, I pick it up and chase them down like the evil Adolf Hitler's they are and throw it back at their cars.

If someone yells at me to get off the road, I just swerve in front of them to make them even madder. I play deaf, pretending I can't hear them yelling at me.

If someone runs me off the road, the good ol' birdie will go up! Or I'll try to follow them home and give them my piece of mind.
So far none of this has landed me in jail (thank god), and it makes me happy to piss those car drivers off.

So what would you guys do, if you were in my position?

I'd wait until they got a few hundred yards ahead of me and whip out my shoulder mounted infra-red seeking ground-to-ground missile and fire a high explosive rocket up their tail pipe :D !



**SIGH** If only...:rolleyes:

Here is my suggestion.

Put your bike on the car, drive to the country side or somewhere that you can enjoy the ride.

Most purists will tell you otherwise, but if riding is dangerous and stressful as it is in your case, then it doesn't apply.

Rocket Launcher, eh.....mmmmm....the ideas that pop up in my head when i think about that.....errrr.....if only i had one.:D

This hasn't been mentioned in a long time but the following site is a great read to release your tensions.

http://danenet.wicip.org/bcp/spike.html

Well Amir, I would tend to agree with you that the stress just isn't worth it. However, there is a segment of the population (I'm one of them) who for whatever reason does not have a car to put the bike on. Why not cycling as an alternative? And it's precisely the attitude that cycling is purely recreational/sporting and cars are the only viable form of transportation that push us off our roadways. My bike gives me independence I wouldn't otherwise have due to a disability that kept me from being able to afford the upkeep of a car. I know there are other responsible cyclists in similar circumstances who refuse to lock ourselves away dependently waiting for a ride from someone. All we want is for the motorized community to know we're here and to cut us a break we are entitled to and deserve.

It's like this. There should be legislation that every able bodied person garage their car for one day and cycle everywhere they have to go to get a perspective of the road from the cyclist's viewpoint. Or maybe a "cycle to work day" kind of like "take your kid to work day".

Ok. I'll get off my soapbox now before somebody takes a missile to me LOL. :crash:

Kathy

Well, Kathy, I see your point...but unfortunately I'm the "why deal with it when you can run from it" kind of guy. A healthy attitude years of being bullied has thought me.

Don't the buses there have a bike rack? I'd presonally rather get on a 45 minute bus ride to a peacful route than put up with that kind of stuff.

If motorist gave me hassle (which they don't, I'm in Vancouver:) ), then I'll just take my biking off the precious busy roads they like to think they own.

holy cow, roadrager! or is that just a play on words and you are really the red ranger from power rangers.

there is no amount of principle i have where i would further enrage a person driving a 2-4 ton lethal weapon when all i have is a 20 lb. bike. You will lose any true confrontation. And you can't teach people what they don't want to know.

I prefer to keep my enlightenment to myself and bask in the glow of my good health and fortune. and if it means defering to a driver so i can get on with my journey, then so be it.

Stay safe.

I'm kind of at a loss. I've been riding for a long time, and I ride a lot of miles, and I rarely have problems with drivers. The vast majority of them are polite and accommodating and just trying to get to where they're going. There are always a few who believe they're special and that traffic rules don't apply to them, but I almost never get hostility directed specifically at me as a cyclist.

Is it that Philadelphia has a lot of cyclists and the drivers are used to us? Or is it that I ride in a predictable, vehicular style that doesn't require drivers to do anything sudden or unusual because I'm there?

On those rare occasions where a car occupant mouths off, I just ignore them. I ride because it's healthful, because it makes me feel good, because it's fun. I don't cede the right to disturb my peaceful state to yahoos in cars.

RichC

then I'll just take my biking off the precious busy roads they like to think they own

I have had virtually no problems in the last 10 years of riding, until recently. On a winding downhill road I have been tailgated by a car that is <3feet from my rear tyre, this happened twice in a month. The second time I got the guys rego and reported him. The officer recommended that this was the best way to handle the situation, gesticulating to the driver will only put me in hospital he said. He is a cyclist also, but he only rides MTB now, he thinks roadies are mad. After riding on this road for 7 years I will now avoid it, luckily I am moving so I won't have to worry about this road any more.


I'm kind of at a loss. I've been riding for a long time, and I ride a lot of miles, and I rarely have problems with drivers. The vast majority of them are polite and accommodating and just trying to get to where they're going. There are always a few who believe they're special and that traffic rules don't apply to them, but I almost never get hostility directed specifically at me as a cyclist.

Is it that Philadelphia has a lot of cyclists and the drivers are used to us? Or is it that I ride in a predictable, vehicular style that doesn't require drivers to do anything sudden or unusual because I'm there?

I find that most drivers are polite and accommodating too. I agree that living in a city that has a lot of cyclists, helps drivers become aware of how to share the road with us. Riding in a predictable manner, and following ALL the road rules helps also.

CHEERS.

Mark

If someone yells at me to get off the road, I just swerve in front of them to make them even madder. I play deaf, pretending I can't hear them yelling at me.

I do that too or I smile really big and blow them a kiss. I've never thrown anything back at a car. All I ever see thrown my way are cigarette butts. Thankfully none have ever hit me.

I don't find the road ragers out there stressful at all. I find I'm a more relaxed person after a decent bike ride, hassle or no hassle from motorists. I've dealt with so many insane motorists over the years that they've become entertainment. It's like all the drunks and crazed junkies I encountered when I used to work security downtown. No anger or stress, just desensatized fascination and sometimes the odd challenge.


If someone runs me off the road, the good ol' birdie will go up! Or I'll try to follow them home and give them my piece of mind.

The last couple of times someone's tried to run me off the road, I've torn after them to the next light but for some reason these tough guys race off through a left turn, red light or otherwise. I mean what gives? It's not like a bicycle is intimidating or anything. I only want to play.

i've ridden a lot of miles in a lot of places (Munich Germany, Portland OR, Massachusetts, Houston TX, Austin TX, Dallas TX)... and for the most part am treated pretty well on the bike. of course this varies a lot by place and there is always some idiot...

i've had beer bottles thrown at me a few times, people honk and yell to get off the road, and a few people look me in the eye and then pull in front of me (he later saying i should have been on the sidewalk and i almost ended up in a fist-fight), and then many times when people just weren't paying attention and almost hit me (haven't had a collision with a car in the last 12 years of cycling and only had 2 the 1st few years i was cycling when i didn't ride as defensively or as smartly - one was on the sidewalk, one at night w/o light, 2 things i now don't usually do) -- i.e. more 'accidental' car-problems from people not paying attention than people just being aggressive

If someone does something dangerous or whatever (e.g. turns in front of me) i will usually try to catch them and politely (attempt to not get mad) tell them how dangerous it was and ask them to please pay attention and be more careful - probably 2/3 are apolgetic and the others just arsholes... i often say, 'hey for you it's a fender-bender but for me it's my life' - most at least seem to think about it

i really try and not do anything to piss the car drivers off - that won't help the next cyclist they see - but to 'educate' and inform them one by one.

in Portland, for example, this seems to work really well as there are lots of cyclists and if someone doesn't watch for cyclists, someone like me will talk to them quite a few times and they'll probably gradually change. In other places with fewer cyclists (like Texas outside of Austin) this is less effective, because there are sooo many cars and so few cyclists... i've heard from various sources that Florida has the worst auto-cyclist treatment in the US -- not sure if that's b/c of all the retiress who shouldn't have licenses or the dominance of suburban auto-only design... probably both

sometimes it's difficult, but try and not just act out your anger - if it's politely done it can be quite constructive and help you or the other cyclist next time... one by one we can educate the 'normal' people who should care and the complete a-holes there's just no hope for...

I have lost a few water bottles lobbing them at cars, but don't think I would enrage a motorist in a country where weapons are so readily available.

However I have found that taking the reg number (and making a point of being seen by the driver as you do this) has been effective. The police have been very good at following up and warning drivers.

Originally posted by RoAdRaGeR
Those Bad Arses in their cars think they own the road! Everytime I go out for a ride some idiot in his car has to ruin it for me by running me off the road, throwing beer bottles and other junk on the side of the road, or yelling at me to get my F***ing A** off the road!

So what would you guys do, if you were in my position?

Move. It isn't that bad everywhere. Maybe you just live in an area with an excessive amount of rednecks.

Hmmm, Orange Park Florida, lets see
there's a naval air station, some really busy
6 lane roads, you're on the edge of "civilization"
(gets to nice country not far west of orange park),
lots of shopping centers and strip malls,
and it DOES have alot of rednecks.
RoadRager, you're nuts if you think you can ever
win one of these battles. I think the only thing
you are ever gonna succeed in doing is ending up
either dead or in the hospital. Sorry thats just the
way I see it. I'd just let em pass. If they're throwing
stuff at you, take license plate number down, report
it. Your only going to enrage these *******s even more
by continuing to get into pissing contests with them,
and as stated previously you will never win.
just my 2 cents worth.
Marty

I've been riding for a long time, and I ride a lot of miles, and I rarely have problems with drivers

That's because you don't live in Florida, roadrage capital of the world.

Originally posted by cycletourist
That's because you don't live in Florida, roadrage capital of the world.

Heh. With all that heat, humidity, and insect life, I'd be pissed off all the time too. :D

RichC

Everytime I go out for a ride some idiot in his car has to ruin it for me

I see you're from Florida and you call it cycling Hell.

WOW! What is it with those Floridians? I’ve been hearing about them for years. Since most people living in Florida are from somewhere else, I would think that their attitudes would be better - or at least less monochromatic.

Does anyone have any theories about how the Florida people got such a bad attitude. I know that it has nothing to do with dimpled chads, because they came later.

Florida has a large pop. of rednecks, spanish, phillipinos, whites, blacks, mixed, etc (at least where i live). It seems that people have a lot of trouble communicating with each other. I have had a couple of problems with the rednecks in their mud swampers (very large pickups). One time, a really sick redneck spit tobacco juice at me. Thank God it did not hit me, because if it did, that would be one dead redneck. Once while riding at night, I was almost hit by a drunk (I could tell, since he was on the wrong side of the road). Another time, a group of what I think was gang bangers decided it would be funny to use me as a target for their beer throwing practice. I threw rocks right back at them, and sped off as fast as I could, eventually picking up my bike and running into the woods. One time I was almost hit by an ambulance...if it would have hit me, I would have needed it! Once while riding by an elementary school, the kids in the play ground made me a target for the jokes...telling me that I looked gay in my tight biking jersey, etc. I told the kids that I worshiped satan and that I would eat them alive...that scared them off! Stuff like this usually happens about once every other ride. I am starting to get used to it, expecting the un-expected, etc. I just thak god that I will only be living here for another 3 months till I move back to Portland, Oregon. Ahhh Heaven:angel:

Such actions taken by a biker here in Colorado would get you shot at I'm pretty sure. I try to ignore it. If I see something really bad I'll shake my head. Best to get their license plate number and report them and live to ride another day. Try to bike where other bikers do. This helps because the car drivers are conditioned to watch out for you.

The other day I'm on a ride in the middle of nowhere on a county road and some chick with California plates honks and gives me the evil eye. I'm on the white line. I'm thinking to myself I'm already pulled over as far as I can go. I can't pull over any farther or I'd be in the dirt.

Try to let it go.

Cannondale

RoadRager,By your posts and handle,don't you think you enjoy the rage? If you project a certain image,it will attract what comes with it like a magnet. I get mad when things like this happen believe me,but acting to the extreme is not going to help cycling.Wasn't it last year Lance flipped off a car and almost got run down?We almost didn't have to wonder who can beat him in this or last years tour over a silly incident,but thats all it takes.Know what I mean:D

Well, im only 17....im a teenage adolescent with the all so usual rebellious side, and if someone messes with me, i'll mess with them. Capish! I do enjoy the rage sometimes, but it distracts me from my riding. If im ever in the tour de france one day, I would probably get kicked out for hitting the other riders or throwing rocks at those pesky camera men on their motorcycles.

Some people advised me to rack the bike and go to the country side...but I don't have car. So the only way to get there is through traffic jams, bad neighborhoods, or trailer parks. I would rather not take the risks. The only good place for me to ride is a small 2 mile stretch of mostly empty road. Back and forth, back and forth. I guess I will have to wait till I move back to Portland, Oregon to experience some good riding.

I think you can turn that rage into DRIVE.You do that and I will be watching you in the Tour in a few years.

Im one of those types of cyclists that like to ride till it hurts. When ever I see those speed limit signs on the side of the road, I like to see if I can excel past the speed limit. That would be awesome to get a traffic ticket on a bike!

Does anyone know any cyclists who have ever been giving a traffic ticket for speeding, or any other violation?

RoAdRaGer sez:

If someone yells at me to get off the road, I just swerve in front of them to make them even madder. I play deaf, pretending I can't hear them yelling at me.

if someone messes with me, i'll mess with them. Capish! I do enjoy the rage sometimes, but it distracts me from my riding. If im ever in the tour de france one day, I would probably get kicked out for hitting the other riders or throwing rocks at those pesky camera men on their motorcycles.

Does anyone know any cyclists who have ever been giving a traffic ticket for speeding, or any other violation?

I'd prefer that the cyclists "with attitude" ride somewhere far, far away from the motorized traffic I have to deal with! Whether you like it or not, you are an ambassador for all cyclists - you can leave the poor slobs in cars with either a good feeling, or a bad feeling, about cyclists in general.

I ride assertively, predictably, and defensively. I take as much room as I need to be safe, but not more than I need. I obey traffic laws. I watch for people who aren't watching for me. I rarely have problems that last for longer than 5 seconds; then they're gone. I refuse to be intimidated into going out of my way to avoid a busy traffic situation. I keep right up with traffic in 'most any urban situation. (And what a joy it is, to pass long columns of cars stuck in their self-induced traffic jams!)

Once a guy ran me off the road in his big company truck, with the name on the side. He thought it was funny. So did "Butthead," who was riding shotgun. I called the owner of the company and told him what had happened - he did NOT think it was funny. He told me I wasn't the first person to complain, and when the driver showed up back at the office, he got his last check and a pink slip. I didn't feel a BIT sorry for him.

Does anyone know any cyclists who have ever been giving a traffic ticket for speeding, or any other violation?
A friend of mine got a ticket for doing 30mph through Arlington
National Cemetery in Va. Speed limit is 15mph.
He still has it, framed on his wall.
Marty

Originally posted by lotek
A friend of mine got a ticket for doing 30mph through Arlington
National Cemetery in Va. Speed limit is 15mph.
He still has it, framed on his wall.

As someone whose father is interred there, I can't say I'm particularly impressed.

RichC

Rich,

I also have relatives there so I understand the sentiment.
This was this guys regular route for commuting,
across memorial bridge, through Arlington, and onto
bike path on the other side. He was riding into work
(towards DC) and this was on one of the downhills. I'd occaisionally ride with him and we were very aware of and respectful of funerals, ceremonies etc.

Marty

Arlignton national, eh? Thats pretty cool, although kind of weird. And why was he riding through a cemetery? On some other web site, I read about some guy getting a ticket from going to fast through a school zone, but a cemetery? Thats just weird. Well if im ever up there in virginia, I guess I would have to try and top your friends feat, by getting 2 tickets. One for speeding, and the other for indecent exposure. Just imagine that...a guy riding on a bike naked through arlignton national:eek: That would make the news!

O, im just kidding:D