fordfasterr

I got buzzed today on the way to work, and with little hope of ever catching the cager I gave it a shot.

This time I got lucky and just 4 blocks away - the cager parks his car in his driveway and goes into his apartment.

I rode by him and looked him in the eye but didn't say anything and just went on my way.


Question:

1. Should I take sweet revenge on his cage as retribution for the buzz?

OR..

2. Should I just let it be and move on as if nothing happened.

AlmostTrick

Don't do anything to the car, but leave a note under the wiper blade. Something like "Please be more careful when passing cyclists Mr. *enter name of car* at *enter address*. When he realizes someone who was displeased with his driving knows where he lives and parks, he will be nervous about the fact. Adding a vague threat doesn't hurt either. *This is a very nice looking car you have*

Flimflam

I like the leaving a note idea - unless I was in the heat of the moment and not thinking properly, I probably wouldn't do a thing other than try to talk / make clear my claims (using a number of words that aren't so appropriate generally) - revenge isn't going to change what happened, nor educate to change for the future - I'd rather try and get the person to understand the buzzing on a human level. "I'm just trying to make it home like you, man - just want to see my child and stay alive doing it.".

Anything other than trying to educate/get my point over is probably a waste of my time, and even that is sometimes a waste - most people don't seem to care to listen. Revenge is a band-aid to your own ego/emotional distress, it's not going to work out in the long run, IMO.

Bklyn

I voted "leave it be," but this is the new me.
I suppose it would depend on the severity of the buzz. The kicks I've administered to side panels usually are payback for simple inattention.
The one time that I was actually run at — by a cab with a fare in the back seat! — I roared after him. I caught up to him. (New York traffic; no car car can outrun a determined cyclist.) We engaged in this weird scene that was like the O.J. white Bronco chase. I pulled in front of him, and he slowed way down, driving at parade speed. I did too. Cars on either side of us rolled past, wondering what the hell was going on in the middle lane. I think he was trying not to let me see his license plate or something. But I did. And I was fully prepared to call the Taxi Commission and report him. For some reason, I didn't. I can't explain it. It didn't feel right.

Steve Hamlin

Your best revenge is already had (though it could have been amplified) consider, he knows you know where his car gets parked.

You only missed out by not saying something like, "Hi there! Nice to see you again. That sure is a nice color for a make/model. . .is that a make of year or of year. . .? Well, I just know you'll be thinking of me. . . next time you get in your car."

All delivered with a sort of a John Astin in the Addams Family kind of a smile. . .you know, very happy and very insane.

It's a variant on what a yacht racer told me they would do to opposing crews. Just chuck a cotter pin on their deck. They'll have to comb the entire boat to figure out where it came from and still, they'll never quite know for sure.

Percist

Next time, accompany the eye contact with a dead-pan look while using your thumb to make a throat slitting motion.

Same effect as Steve Hamlin's suggestion.

Sawtooth

YES! I had no idea I would be this much of a minority here, but I am sure that if I knew there was no way I would get caught, I would deflate his tires.
No permanent damage, just a PITA for the PITA.

sfcrossrider

Revenge!!!

CastIron

So you're going to follow somebody to their home with nefarious intentions? I call that suicide, which is whole order of magnitude dumber than road rage.

fordfasterr

I never said any of this made sense or was morally correct. lol

SSP

It depends on the buzz...if it was a DAB (Dumb-*ss Motorist), no. If it was an intentional JAB, then yes, probably.

acroy

i can go either way. it comes down to your belief in karma.

Assuming it was an intentional buzz, then he has created some bad karma. The question is: do you want to be the person who brings balance to karma (revebge!) or let someone else do it?

Cause it will happen.

personally, I have followed cagers to their destination and engaged them in conversion re the recent (perceived on my part) infraction. Their balls shrink something fierce, like a balloon in the freezer. never yet trashed a car but come close...

Sawtooth

I followed a guy to his home and did the same.....he was aggressive beyond all get out and threatened bodily harm if I did not get out of there fast. I have not been buzzed by him again, though. I think that even he, with his clearly diminished reasoning skills, could realize that his enemy now knows where he lives. I know I would mellow out quickly once I realized my home and family were at someone elses whim.

filtersweep

are you sure that he intentionally buzzed you?

do you really expect to educate this moron, assuming he did?

I was in a similar situation as you-- on my commute, buzzed by the same guy twice (a few months apart) in the same location--- when there was no one around. I confronted him the second time, when he had his wife in his car--- asked if he wouldn't mind giving me a little more room on the road (at 6am when there was no traffic). He became extremely verbally abusive and agitated... threatened to run me over if he saw me again. I posted his plates on craigslist, and some DMV angel emailed all sorts of info about the guy, including his legal history, address, name, etc.

I ended up starting to use a take-a-look mirror on my commutes, and started taking the lane more often--- never had further trouble. I was often tempted to "do something"--- but to what end? How would letting the air out of his tires help? How would petty vandalism to his vehicle change his behavior? Even leaving a note on his car would likely enrage him that someone touched his car.

Keep in mind that if you are commuting, and you retaliate, he could just as easily find you again.

SDRider

I'd leave it be. Who knows what that stupid f#@k will do next time he sees you on the road.

Az B

Next time you're in the grocery store, wander over to the magazine rack and pick up a couple dozen of those subscription cards laying on the floor. Fill them in with the bonehead's address and send them in.

Az

SDRider

BTW-I had a Ford Exploder pass me and immediately slow to make a right turn which they were signalling for (miracle). I was going about 25mph and was right along side the vehicle so I reached over and started banging on the windows along the right side so that the driver knew I was there. The driver looked startled as hell but didn't turn into me so I think I did the right thing.

fordfasterr

I've done the knock on the window (WHILE GETTING BUZZED) on more than 3 occasions !!!

PaulH

I don't think these people are proficient enough as drivers to intentionally buzz someone. I'd ascribe apparent buzzes to incapacity, not malice.

Paul

unixpro

People buzz me all the time...including other cyclists. It isn't worth the blood pressure to get all worked up over it.

b_young

I had a guy that passed me in the 2nd lane only to try and turn right at the intersection. He didn't realize how fast I was going and I didn't slow down ( a little stupid on my part looking back). He tried all he could to complete the turn in front of me and ended up running into the ditch. I laughed my butt off. He actually appologized and said he didn't realize how fast a bike could go. If he would have been a real JAM I would probably be in the hospital instead of writing this though.

kemmer

If he buzzed you to piss you off/intimidate you maybe. If he was just trying to get by without realizing how dangerous/rude it is, I'd let it go. I might consider leaving a note, but I don't think I would even bother with that.

ax0n

Depends on the kind of revenge. But yes, I would. It would probably be mild.

Jeffbeerman2

he risked your life. There are no laws against what he did that are enforced. How else is he going to learn? (flame away, that's how I feel)

CastIron

I'm just thinking how I'd react to someone following me home. You're on his turf and he's got every available advantage. Think about it.