windhchaser

Just have had enough with the people yelling stuff at me.I ride my bike in a perfect line and am as far over as a i can get yet they still yell for me to get out of the road or drive so close to me that it is unsafe.As i said before im the only bike rider i see in this town.

Blinkie

Can I have your bike?

Just kidding. I'm sorry it's taking its toll. I'm sorry if you've posted this a lot, but have you reported any of the behavior to the local police? What they're doing is dangerous, and yes I'm aware if there's a police car along your commuting route, the people will just not do so when the car is visible.

I wish I had some actually helpful advice to give D: Will you at least ride elsewhere?

windhchaser

Nah i didnt say i was giving up riding .Just commuting

AK404

As they would say in the 41, "HTFU," and on 4chan, "Haters gonna hate." Maybe it's the lights, maybe it's what you're wearing, but don't give up. Hell, sometimes I think I'm the only cyclist dedicated enough to travel in Metro Detroit streets, but I'm going to keep doing it because it's what I love.

aboatguy

I'm sorry to read that you are giving up commuting!

windhchaser

MAy call the local police dept and inquire about making this town more bike friendly or at least bike safe.Hect even the guy at the local bike store said he wont ride on the streets in this town

Mark Stone

It won't work, because it won't change the people and how they act. I'm glad to hear that you're still going to ride and that you're giving up only commuting. I think all commuters should study the Portlandia bike guy and ride like he does. Everyone here at the forum has seen this clip ad-nausium, but maybe we have to ride like this to commute?

Artkansas 

I was commuting along the most heavily traveled highway in Gulf Coast Florida by the time I was 7. Florida drivers are crazy. So not much dissuades me from commuting, except temperatures below 20F.

Rather than call the police, you might consider organizing bicycle advocates where you live. Then talk to the police as a group.

Blinkie

I don't know windchaser or what area this is, so this is just a related question: Would it be bad form to recruit activists from other towns (say if there's a larger cycling presence in another nearby town) in stead of staying with in-town locals?

I'd assume a great place to find people would be the LBS whose employee(s) don't feel safe to ride locally. At the very least you may garner a few letters from them to support the cause. Better, you might be able to skim some cycling club contact info to gather even more names and faces for that list.

edit: If you're willing to make the expense, there are fairly inexpensive video cameras out there (480p resolution) made to mount on handle bars. It might make enough of a case if you can document a few incidents of harassment from motorists. I've seen them under $50.

Also, making sure your city government knows you're aware of cycling-related laws (by tactfully stating some highlights or ordinance numbers when appropriate) will help strengthen your argument. Take this as personal experience with some other similar situations.

howeeee

I think if you cant take the heat,,yea it is a good idea to get outta the kitchen,,,maybe you can take up knitting or tiddly winks.

nashcommguy

Listen to this guy. ^^^ That being said don't expect any sympathy from govt reps. They all think you're nuts and in their way, anyway. Get numbers(meaning voters)and video proof. Then they have to listen. People run for office because they want to make a difference. They like to stay in office because they get used to having power. Threaten that security w/a voting block or a higher authority like a state law and a civil suit and you'll see changes to peoples' driving habits. But, you have to have proof. Get a camera or 2.

Wait For Me

Mount a go-pro camera and send the footage to the local news station.

Blinkie

That was basically my next thought. But pass by your local government first. At the absolute very least, it's more effective when the 'big bad government' doesn't do something to keep its citizens safe, when it makes the news.

Also see which level of government maintains or patrols which local roads (I know, this gets cumbersome). You may also need to do something similar at the county level. At the very least, it would then make finding people a bit easier.

nashcommguy

Recently, I ran across a posting of a guy who had a camera pointed towards the rear and the front. The rear caught the harrassers faces and the front caught the licence plate number. Indisputable proof. They are facing charges of vehicular harrassment. A serious misdemeanor. High rez cameras are getting cheaper and cheaper. My next serious cycling purchases. 300.00 isn't much to spend on one's continual safety.

ThermionicScott 

You seriously need to develop some thicker skin.

acidfast7

you're in the southern US?

IMO, a gun seems to be the best option, gotta protect yourself.

if you don't want to be that drastic, can you change your commuting hours to really early/late to avoid most of the traffic?

Lot's Knife

Are you looking for encouragement or simply calling it quits? If the former, move left, if the latter, I hope this is the last topic you originate in Commuting.

mkeller234

Windchaser, I think my town is probably a lot like yours. Not a lot of bicycle commuters around here and the drivers aren't always so eager to share the streets with me. I've learned a few things that have helped me.

- Adjust your expectations. That is hard to do, but it helps.
- Don't react. No middle fingers, no yelling, no nothing. Don't make it worse for yourself because that is usually not an argument that is winnable.
- Worry less. I used to worry about trying to keep up with motor traffic before I figured out that it does not matter. Your going to be slower anyway, 12mph or 20mph... it makes no difference to most drivers.
- Travel on side streets when possible. It may not be as direct, but I usually look for the streets with the least traffic.
- Follow the laws. Signal turns and stops, stop at lights and stop signs, etc. It doesn't always make a difference, but I feel it projects an image that you belong and that you are respectful of the road. Even a
helmet may signal to a driver that you deserve some respect.
- Thicken your hide. There are always going to be some real A-holes, try to ignore them. Most people are not actually crazy enough to kill someone, they just want to be A-holes and feel they have a point to prove. I've had a few cars get really close, one laid on his horn and FLEW past me. That was scary stuff, borderline psychotic.

Simpletommy

Don't let the bastards win!

acidfast7

chandltp

I think a gun rack with a loaded 12 gauge is more appropriate Surely there's a way to mount that to the back of the bike.

If people think I'm crazy, they don't get close. They think the crazy is going to rub off. The Santa hat last winter really helped.. or the goggles when it's really cold.

Seriously though, to the OP, sounds like you're riding too close to the edge of the road. If there's not enough room for people to safely pass where you are, then take the lane and force them to move over. They may not like it but it will keep you save. The other option is to find a less direct route with bigger shoulders.

juggleaddict

This sounds crazy but after just yesterday I'm pretty sure my new commuter pannier makes people nicer. I guess they figure you're carrying a lot so they expect you to be slower or something? Put some big ole bags on the back, and fill them with pillows, or this:

rumrunn6

that's too bad. it might be the right decision. groundbreakers have it rough for sure.

for me it helped to stick it out. be predictable, same time every day. also adding astrobe to my left drop bar helped. I don't know your roads but riding as far right as possible isn't always the best or safest thing to do.

also some roads are just not safe to commute on - I had a few I called kill zones.

a note about change of season ... at changes of seasons was a good tiem for me to get off the road because car commuters wwere not regulars and going through their own transitions. once everyone gets back into their groove might be a good time to start again - but if you're the only one then you will betraining them and you have a long row to hoe and you'll need to research everything and it's a lot of work. calling local law enforcement should be part of your plan, they should be patrolling and protecting you, at least a little bit.

unterhausen

I like the way you think, but I've found my diamond scribe mounted on a safety yellow stick works pretty well

I understand the OP's frustration. I actually did quit cycling for 10 years after a particularly unpleasant ride. I let the bastards win and I regret it.

I-Like-To-Bike

A gun response to being yelled at? OP didn't report any other problem. The OP should harden up or get a set of ear plugs or a music device with headphones; no more problem.

Granted, being yelled at is not pleasant, but there sure seems lately to be a lot of cry babies whining about each and every slight.