PainTrain

Got my baptism last night. Car full of teen boys heaved a soda cup at me. Missed, as with the other posts here. I didn't even notice until I heard it hit the hedgrow right behind me.

sbhikes

Lotsa bikes in Santa Barbara. Nobody pays much attention either way.

The thing I really hate are when people try to be too nice. Like when I'm just following traffic rules, waiting for cars to act like cars do, and then some super cautious/super 'helpful' car driver goes out of his way to give me right of way I don't have. Takes me too long to figure out what the heck they are doing, and as soon as I do they get all annoyed and speed off, and in the confusion we both end up mad.

elbows

I think the worst are people won't pass me, but just follow behind at 15 mph for a while. I never know whether they're just afraid to go around me, or are planning something nasty.

khuon

Hint: Lance only had half that number of wins at the time of the original post.

This is the danger when people forget to check the posting dates.

rickwilliams

I've experienced some of the same bad behaviors by motorists. One of my friends suggested I might be a bit paranoid. Perhaps. But just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.

genec

Whoa... I am a biker and I do this... when a biker is obviously about to change lanes or is chugging up a hill and I need to turn right at a drive in front of him... I know I would not want someone doing the stupid turn in front of me, so when I drive I won't do it to a biker.

Yeah it is strange behaviour to cyclist, but I also nod and make them aware that I know they are there... (where as most auto drivers are barely aware that THEY are there).

PainTrain

There's no such thing as paranoia. The truth is far worse than you think.

-Hunter S. Thompson

elbows

Well yes, when it's just a short distance it's the polite thing to do. But I've had people follow behind me for 30 seconds or more, at which point it's just kind of creepy.

This happened to me a lot when I lived in Rhode Island, where drivers were nice enough, but seemed completely baffled by the presence of a bicycle on the road.

Kestrelman

From my experience, people seem much more accepting of cyclists in the past year or so. Drivers give me more leeway, are more courteous, and I've NEVER had anything thrown at me. I attribute it to Lance and the TDF raising Americans' awareness of cycling as a valid sport / exercise regimen.

jperegrino

Here in Boston I've not had anything thrown at me, but I've had teenagers scream in my ear as they've driven by. Plus a couple of curses from cars wanting to make a right turn in front of me. I guess I caused them to slow down, losing precious microseconds.

There's plenty of bikes around some areas out here, but I would say that we are tolerated, not accepted. Because this is such a big college area, we have plenty of fools biking down the wrong way, without helmets, with headphones on, in the dark, wearing black clothing with nothing reflective.

ollo_ollo

I had a Ford Aerostar pull out from a side street & fall into line behind me then crawl up to the top of the hill at about 12-15 MPH on my commute this week. This was at 6:05 AM & pitch black on a country road. Beyond Creepy! Guess he didn't want to pass uphill? But he did blow by me as I descended the other side. Don

SlowJim

It sure is nice on the W&OD here in Virginia. Do not have to deal with many cars.

Those days on the back roads of Florida are another story. Teenage rednecks seem to be the worse