Chesha Neko

That was brayed at me today on the ride home from work by a couple of yahoos in a pickup truck that went flying by somewhere well above the speed limit. I will confess that I did not take the high road and promptly gave them the finger. I've been bike commuting since November, and this was the first such heckling since then, but I've been heckled just walking to work by these types before. I do not understand the mentality of these car trolls. Does being in their getaway car boost their flaccid courage?

*VENT OVER*

caloso

muu

You can probably expect a little more of that once it's warmer out and people become more willing to open a slit in their cage -- haven't had any recently myself as it's been ~25F in the mornings.

CB HI

OP, you gave them what they wanted, a flip off - it showed that they got to you.

Either wave at them - makes them question if you know them
OR
spit on their truck- pisses them off and gives you the satisfaction of turning the tables and watching them flip you off. (also puts DNA evidence on the truck in case they "accidentally" hit you)

Chesha Neko

Yeah, I should have just ignored them, but they caught me off guard after an extra-crappy day at work. We'll take the high road next time.

CB HI

It takes a lot of practice to not flip off some of these fools.

Underground

Self control is hard sometimes, especially when they just buzzed right by your arm.

In the end I normally wave, smile and just keep riding.

On a side note, I have seen too many "idiots" state their opinion online and how they will "run down any cyclist that gets in their way". I'm sure you will. People talk so big on the net.

I smile and wave at them too.

surfperch

Smile and wave. Its probably one of the hardest skills to learn on a bike, but anything else and you are feeding the trolls.

In the future tho, if it gets any worse (they start buzzing you, getting in front of you and hitting their brakes, or anything that could potential lead to bodily harm) get their plate number and report it to the police. Chances are it will stop altogether if a cop knocks on their door and if they do anything else from that point forward keep reporting it and site that you've had to make other reports in the past (make sure to tell them any previous dates you've had to call for the same thing).

Artkansas 

My standard reply to "Sidewalk" is "Parking Lot."

cehowardGS

You not by yourself.. Not too long ago, same thing, said the same words, "You belong on the sidewalk", and I gave them the two handed double finger!!

bluegoatwoods

Yeah, jerks like that go with the territory. What they're doing is really just cowardly. And they're too stupid to know it.

You'll notice that a good deal of the time you can't hear what they're saying clearly because of other noise. As "spikebike" puts it, they "bark like a dog". And most of the time they can't hear your reply, of course.

But on those occasions when they can hear me, I've found that a good reply is "You've got better things to worry about!"

It shuts them up better than I would have guessed.

recumbenttoad

Try being a fat guy on a bike. People seem really offended that I would dare go out in public while overweight and let me know about it. I've flipped off more than a few. Never had anyone with the balls to came back and teach me a lesson, though, not that I'm looking for trouble.

Chesha Neko

I am a fat guy on a bike. 30 pounds down, 110 to go.

ZManT

Welcome to the commuter club. You made it since November to get this one? Count yourself lucky, and make sure you maintain control of your bike when you give them the Utah salute.

recumbenttoad

Excellent. I hope I can follow your path shortly.

gerv 

I'm sorry that you got some flak, but I have to say that sort of activity is becoming less and less frequent around here. There are just too many bikes on the road these days.

But also you get a thicker skin after commuting a while. You just ignore it.

Or maybe my hearing is getting bad

mtalinm

I think pickup truck owners must go to a different driving school. consistently rude, loud, and dangerous.

not sure whether it is more selection or treatment

canyoneagle

When I see one of these in my rearview mirror, I tend to turn on a side street or whatever, just to avoid the inevitable ******baggery that the drivers of such vehicles are prone to exhibit.

Underground

The sad thing is most of those lifted 4x4's around here have not ever been off concrete. I find it funny since they spend so much money putting a lift kit on it and off-road tires. It is the equivalent of one of us buying a top end Trek Madone that runs over $10,000; then putting it on a bicycle trainer and never taking it outside to ride.

canyoneagle

LOL so true.
At most, trucks like this tow the ATV's or motorcycles to a trailhead (that my prius could easily get to) and that's about it.

G1nko

Funny because as a pedestrian I've found myself grumbling with increasing frequency "Ride it on the road, you moron" to people whipping down the sidewalk way too fast on their bicycles threading through the crowd and coming way too close. Occasionally it earns me a finger.

chandltp

I had that happen last night. I was in the straight lane of a 3 lane intersection (left only, straight only, and right only). I moved over as soon as I could and the guy that was behind me rolled down his window and said "Don't ride in traffic". I just kept going and off he went.

It took until this morning to formulate the response of "Bikes are traffic".

If I see him again, I might see if he wants to pull over and talk. That could end well, mediocre (he still thinks what he did before, and I still think what I did before), or badly (we're both frustrate or worst case a physical altercation).

making

I have been riding to work for years now. I ride exactly the same route as I did when I started many days. I used to get yelled at all the time. Now, I am not sure if I dont get yelled at or just dont care, but I very rarely hear it anymore. Just ingnore the dummies unless it is a safety issue.

Hendricks97

happens to me on a regular basis. Theres a benefit to wearing PI lobster gloves, am I giving them the one or two finger salute? I actually grade my daily commute by how many times I get honked or yelled at

locolobo13 

Not at all. As a proud owner of a beater S10 I must tell you we DO own the road!