Neil_B

While on my usual seven mile loop. I was stopped on a covered bridge by a motorist who complained I "wasn't very visible." I'm 6' 1", wearing Lycra and a blue and yellow jersey, and standing on the side of the bridge holding a red bike. (I wasn't riding, I was looking at the trusswork.) There was more than enough room for an SUV to go by, considering it is a one-lane bridge. The shrew was probably unhappy she had to slow down when crossing the 160 year old structure. I let her complain and drive off, but it bugs me that she was b*tching about a bike being on a public road. It's common for people to walk on the bridge; I doubt she would have complained about them.

whitecat

Tell her where she can buy some glasses, she obviously shouldn't be driving without them, as far as I know, good vision is a demand for a drivers license, not an suggestion.

cdry

I feel your pain, reminds me of the lady that told me off for being on the road a few months back. She drove head on toward me (her going wrong way) because she cut lanes to get to her mail box across the street. I really should have let her hit me. I cannot imagine a good excuse for a vehicle diriving intothe opposite lane of traffic.

Also the most dangerous vehicles where I am are minivans, and the deadliness increases with the number of local sport/high school team stickers plastering the windows.

bautieri

next time give her the crazy eyes.

exile

Take it as a compliment. It means your weight loss is really paying off.

CliftonGK1

It's an all too familiar situation.

I was on my way to work one dark morning, chugging up a hill and nearing an intersection (cross street has a stop, I did not). I had my Supernova E3 blazing, a Princeton Tec Quad in blink mode on my helmet (which I was using to jacklight the driver like Bambi), 2 PBSF blinkies on my stays (which I'll give her this much, she may not have seen them at that angle), wearing a lime green jersey, reflective sash, under a street lamp, in the middle of the lane.
Mrs. Magoo ignores the stop sign, cuts through her oncoming lane making a left, and comes so close that I bashed my fist against her windshield right in front of her face. She nearly crapped her pants, from the look on her face.

Her excuse? "I didn't see you there."
Yeah, I'm dressed like a glow stick and lit up like a six and a half foot neon Christmas tree, and she "couldn't see me."

KD5NRH

Then how did she know you were there?

I've heard one complain about a cop directing traffic at an accident scene in a 45MPH zone not being visible enough, even though he was wearing an ANSI Class 3 vest with added Scotchlite "POLICE" in 3" letters on front and back and holding a lighted orange traffic wand, while standing in the middle of the road with his car running all lights on one side and a fire truck running all lights on the other. He was also in a valley with about 3/4mi visibility.

Wogster

Drivers know that the standard excuse, especially when they run over cyclists and pedestrians, is to say, they didn't see them, and 99 times out of 100, that gets them off. It really shouldn't unless your looking at a ninja cyclist, but when it comes before a court and the judge hasn't been on a bicycle since the 1960's they are willing to let someone off with that excuse then if the judge is a cyclist who commutes by bicycle.

Seve

That was a pick up line ....... you hound dog, you !

XR2

There are times when being 6'1" and pushing 300 lbs with long grey hair and a beard come in handy. I usually tell them the pope is the real problem in a loud voice and they quickly find something else to occupy themselves with. People are idiots and they are quick to prove it.

garethzbarker

at times like that I like use the trusty 'Bird'. ..i..
it communicates in a universal language how you feel about the person's comment.

indyfabz

"If you can't see me you shouldn't be driving a car."

Neil_B

I would have loved to have said something clever to her, but she's behind the wheel of an SUV. Discretion is the better part of valor.