poopskidz

i just got home from an 1 1/2 hour ride and i successfully only got yelled at 3 times 2 were fat old men in cars the other was an 18 year old hick in a lifted pickup. Is it really that exciting to see a cyclist on the road??? I guess i better get used to it since i am fairly new to cycling but how many times do i really need to be called a fagg*t

20yearslater

It never stops but you get more used to it and begin to worry when it dosen't happen. Just smile and wave.{and hope they don't think your flirting heheh}

Machka 

Smile and wave.

Tapeworm21

I've personally noticed that when I'm all kitted up in spandex on my Tarmac, drivers are very quiet and courteous. They'll stop for me when they have the right away 9 out of 10 times. I get a sense of respect from drivers around here.... granted I live in Berkeley. It's as though they think I'm in a race and they're somehow slowing me down.

However, when I'm on my commuter bike in regular street clothes riding the EXACT same way, on similar streets.... it's war. Every man for himself! Constant bickering, traffic never stops for me (Which I expect anyways), and ******** comments being yelled at me that I seldom understand. Again, I have headphones in, just at a lower volume.

nashcommguy

Practice memorizing license plate numbers. Report any verbal abuse to the police or sheriff's dept w/t licence plate number and a description of the vehicle. If you're a commuter you're likely to be in the same proximity at around the same time everyday. Remember, you're in a VERY vulnerable position and while subject to vehicular laws you're NOT subject to any form of 'road rage'. Which is EXACTLY what verbal abuse is intepreted as under the law. It's assault...and a criminal offence. Not to mention a 'hate crime'...which is Federal...according to what they called you.

Don't mean to wax so serious here, but I'm dealing w/a case of sporatic harassment by the same individual(s) on my daily commute. The sheriff's dept sent out an officer to take my report and stated that if I 'feel threatened' I can take 'whatever means I deem necessary' to remove the threat. When I asked him if I should apply for a 'carry permit' he said, "Well, that depends on how threatened you feel, but your within your rights to obtain a firearms permit and exercize the right to purchase a handgun under Tennesse law." I said, "How about dog spray?' He said, "That'll certainly work." We talked awile longer and as this is a very small town he thought he was familiar w/t car in question and would go by and 'have a little talk' w/t boys. Simply 'smiling and waving' can seem a little pollyanna when you're dealing w/aggression and ignorance of this type.

sanitycheck

Or hope they do; that can be even more fun.

Had a real idiot of a garbage truck driver giving me crap once, over the course of several weeks -- I always try to be extra considerate to people with unwieldy vehicles and/or tough jobs, but this guy flat-out wanted me off the road, and wasn't shy about laying on his horn and yelling. I shrugged it off, but the day he started with the homophobic "f****t" rants, I turned back, waved, and yelled, "Love you too, babe", in front of a large crowd of pedestrians.

Mirrors are great; if you haven't already got one, I recommend it. But even if they served no other purpose, it was worth every penny I paid for my mirror, just to watch this guy turn beet red and kind of shrink into his seat while his buddy in the cab with him cracked up laughing at him.

After that day, he would just pull over to the curb and wait till I was out of sight. I should have done that way sooner.

Treespeed

I find it's just the opposite here in Los Angeles. Though some days are worse than others.
At times I'll go weeks without a word and then on days like last Thursday three a-holes in a row.
Of course the heat wave doesn't help either.

Machka 

Chris L

One day you'll realise that most people are very, very stupid. When you come to this realisation, it will be extremely liberating because it provides a plausible explanation for 99.9% of all human behaviour we observe over the course of our lives. This business of calling cyclists "****" is a prime example. As if there are any cyclists who haven't heard that one before, and yet, these idiots still think that someone actually cares about it.

No, the yelling doesn't end, ever. You'll get used to it.

VinoHrdTailComm

Arm Yourself Say Nothing Back To Them. If Threatened Your Certainly Within Your Rights as An American Citizen To Pepper Spray, Stab, or Shoot Someone in Defense Of Your PHYSICAL, Not Emotional(Get Thicker Skin) well-being. I Recommend A Law Enforcement Standard 3 3/4 inch blade Knife with Pant Clip(over 4" Illegal in PA), DPS pepper Spray 15 Foot Range Shotgun Blast Pepper Spray and A PT9 Handgun Designed To injure Not KILL your Attacker.(This is To Prevent Death, Remember Your DEFENDING, and Its Your DUTY to Your Family members To Ensure YOur Safety Whenever You can.) If You have Children at HOME This IS Especially IMPORTANT, Dont Let Some Drunk Or Arrogant ******* Ruin Your Childrens FUTURE by Harming YOU.)

Cyclaholic

When does the yelling end? when you get an I-pod. Seriously..... I'm so glad I can't lip read, I just assume that the fat guy hanging out the SUV window is saying "hey man, nice bike.... sorry my buddy can't drive for ***** and accidentally passed by you a bit too close.... y'all have a great day" then I smile and give them a little wave.

Cyclaholic

This is so true.

znomit

Funniest post ever. Especially like the Crazy Capitalisation and the bit at the end about the kids. Nice touch.

VinoHrdTailComm

Yeah Might Be Craziest Post Ever Sorry If Too Extreme... I've Been Cycling Commuting For About 6 Years To a Night Managers Job and IM Usually Kind Of "Preppy" Looking at Weird Hours on NON-Busy Nights in Extremely Urban(Shady Characters Everywhere) Areas to Work and Back. I've Actually Stabbed two People And Maced Prolly 4 Dogs and 6 People With Pepper Spray. I've Moved Opposite Way of Work Because Of This A Litlle Further But "SAFER" Commute. Take The SHEEPLE's Advice And Smile and Wave, I've Just Been Through Too MUCH. The Newbies Should Have Some Real Inspiration For Ya, It Is WAR With The AUTOS And We Are NOT Welcome By a MAJORITY Despite What People Say.

nowheels

I have to admint in phlia it's not that bad.... most drivers are polite and give me plenty of room when they pass on the narrow streets. Conversly when I lived in Manassas in the 90's I used to get all sorts of 'bubbas' trying to run me off the road. Just wave , smile and make sure the offending car is in front of you.

keiththesnake

You say you're fairly new to cycling. Often, when we're new to cycling, keeping a good predictable line is a problem. I'd be willing to bet that the yelling will die down a bit as you become more experienced.

Jeez, what's with this thread? People gonna arm themselves and blow away the locals to protect their childrens' futures? Violence is not the answer.

poopskidz

i guess i didnt state that like i wanted im new to road cycling ive been mountain biking for quite some time and there was very nice shoulder that i was on where i stayed far enough out not to get sucked in the drain grates but still to the right of the white line besides 2 out of the 3 were going the other way and 1 was at a stop light and they were turning left onto the street i was on. Also i would like to point out that i wasnt offended by them ive have always just laughed but after hearing the same stuff over and over it just gets old after a while.

making

i dont really think about it much anymore but on my Saturday morning ride I was almost home, turned right at a very wide T road. I was about 20 yards up the T when a guy went by in a truck. The reason I bring it up is a normal yell I probably would not have heard. This guy sounded like Pavaroti or something. It was very loud and clear and really just struck me as funny. He did not have a speaker or anything, I really think he is some kinda singer or something. Just very loud and clear and funny.

mesasone

I've only had one encounter here, but it was pretty scary. A bunch of idiots buzzed me in an SUV at 10:45pm on a Friday night while I was on my way home from work, and stopped at the next light and hung out there windows with beer cans in hand yelling **** at me. Being a large guy, I do what I've always done... I have them **** back. The the light turned green and they sped off into the mall and parked in a parking lot to yell at me some more. I cut through the mall as part of my route, so I just gave them the bird and kept riding, hoping they wouldn't follow me. Fortunately they didn't. However it was a bit foolish of my to get confrontational with 4 drunk 20 somethings looking for a fight. Could have turned out much worse.

keiththesnake

Well, if that's the case, I'd Shoot 'Em, Stab 'Em, or Pepper Spray 'Em. Notice I'm Starting Every Word With A Cap.

On a more serious note, it sounds like you're just suffering from having some real jerks on your route. Sounds like you're not doing anything to draw their negative attention. It'll probably go away. As long as you don't feel threatened, you're probably okay.

ok_commuter

Just a point of order... yelling a name at somebody is not a hate crime. Beating someone to death while yelling that same name at them might qualify the murder as a hate crime, but yelling is just yelling, maybe harassment or assault of some sort.

BA Commuter

It's been all positive in the suburbs of Philly. Am I surprised, YES!

In general, I tend to ignore idiots and laugh to myself. IMO - it's not worth getting fired up or fired at!

ok_commuter

+1 to PHL

I lived at 13th and Callowhill and visited friends in south and west PHL a lot, so I rode pretty much all over center city and don't remember the first problem. (I only lived there for a year.) There's some bike theft for sure, but lots of people riding bikes and cars were always pretty cool to me...

genec

LOL... they were yelling at you the whole time... the head wave just means they rolled the window down so you could hear it.

HeIncreasesMe

I haven't had any problems. Granted I have jus finished my first week of commuting. But, had been running errands etc.. for 4 weeks prior to commuting. I hought it would be much worse...but it's been great. Thank you Jesus.

I commute in the Bay Area and I see cyclist on my commute and they never seem to have any problems either. Maybe folks in cars under....we do have really high gas prices.