david.l.k

Today on my home stretch I was riding between two rows of stopped car because snowbanks and the close proximity of cars made it impossible to just stick to the left like I would naturally prefer. But the light changes so I speed up to the same speed as the cars leaving the stoplight. The cars are movingly really slowly, out of the stop and twords the intersection. So I sped up faster than the cars on the left and merged through to the left side. I didn't cut anyone off or make any sudden moves, just a calm respectful maneuver. Well when I was on the other side of the intersection the guy I had merged in front of honked at me and gave me the finger. I had no idea why. I hadn't inconvenienced him at all. Maybe he just felt like discharging some pent up rage on a cyclist. Or maybe he was mad because he was stuck in a cage and I was just sliding through traffic I am a crourteuse but assertive rider so maybe he felt like I should be getting out of his way.
What stories of arogant and aggresive drivers do you have?

rwwff

I tended to really dwell on perceived insults I received from drivers until I came to realize by doing so, I was letting them make my life less peaceful and enjoyable. Now, when they do something like that, I smile and wave. I'm not sure how they take that, but thats their concern, not mine.

david.l.k

Man I didn't know what to do. I was just like is this guy for real. It didn't bug me cause I don't want to stoop to his level of adolescent anger.

becnal

I just hate drivers... period. =)

Roody

My new response to rude cagers:

I Yell real loud, "I love you too, babe! Meet me at my place tonight!" Then I blow them the biggest gayest kiss I can manage and stand up and wiggle my ass around.

someone

at times during rush hour in chicago, the streets are infectiously poluted with thousands upon thousands of cars, so when one decides to honk and honk and honk and yell and ***** and moan at me for riding to slow, i just catch up to him at my own personal pace and yell back: "ok, ok! you got me... you beat me to the red light." and then laugh in his face for accelerating to 50 mph to get 100 ft in front of me. man, some drivers are idiots.

Alekhine

lol, yep.

I see the speeding towards the red light thing a lot too. It cracks me up every time. I've stopped making comments though - to anyone in a car. Just not worth it to me.

genericbikedude

I hate it when drivers honk at me. I honk back, louder. They are surprised that I stepped out of place, and I win.

matt_savvy

I just hate when I'm riding the same pace (or faster) than the cars on the road, but this one guy behind me keeps honking or saying "get outta the street" or some stupid crap. It's like, dude, I'm not slowing you down any, because if I weren't here, you'd just be stuck behind this guy ahead of me anyway.

humancongereel

i think it's absolutely hilarious when some dude behind you just can't bear to be behind a bike and floors it, nearly hitting the car in front of him. i just thinking "crash, crash, crash!"

i hate drivers most of the time, too. i think cars are good for 3 things. carrying big things. carrying things long distances. and finally, being big, noisy, dirty, ugly, dangerous wastes of gas, money, time, etc.

Roody

So what do you do when the tables are turned and the cager is slowing you up? Sometimes I'm behind them at a red light. They're snoozing when the light changes to green and they just sit there. If I were driving, I'd probably give them a gentle toot on the horn. When riding, it's harder to be gentle. If you yell loud enough to be heard, you sound kind of harsh or angry.

2manybikes

excellent !

roccobike

Sorry david.l.k, but you're incorrect. He was NOT giving you the finger at all! He was honking and telling you his total IQ, i.e. '1'. Next week he's going to get vanity plates that say 'IMA MORON'.

spandexwarrior

Ooo, I hate it when drivers space out and don't go anywhere when the light turns green. Usually, because I have some car behind me and they get impatient too, and then ride my arse afterwards.

Cyclaholic

Go around them.

budster

I had to stop myself from giving a motorist a polite honk honk on my AirZound the other day. One more second and I think I wouldn't have been able to resist any longer....


You forgot the main purpose: sponges to soak up the excess money of the unimaginative. (Of course sometimes bikes function this way, too). We should probably be grateful for that part of it; imagine all the harm they could do in the world if they had the funds. Of course they could do good with that money, but being unimaginative, I'm sure they wouldn't.

yendor28

I have too many stories but one recent one:

I was riding down a busy street and this car started travelling alongside of me (it is a hill, so this is common for sometime). However, this car lingered longer than usual and it turned out the guy was yelling at me from the car. I just kept my focus on the road and the hill then later pulled over when he was not around and checked myself. I thought he might have been trying to tell me something positive like my bag was open but no. Everything was fine.

Hmmm, some persons are crazy!

mrkott3r

first post! my favourite pet hate is when drivers turn right in front of you cutting you off. that gets my goat.
You guys in the states seem to cop a lot of abuse, in australia i've never seen anyone get abused for cycling

genericbikedude

do you ever get your goat back?

mrkott3r

negatory. i buy a new one

shikaka

I was cycling along and this driver pulls out of a drive-way not seeing me then coming to a halt when he did.... he tooted and yelled at me to be more careful out the window... I’m sure he was the one in the wrong

smurfy

I hate drivers, too. I even hate myself when I drive, which isn't very often! (I'm carfree but rent one occasionally).

Especially in bad weather but almost anytime I'm at a stoplight and there's a whole string of cars behind me and not much room for them to get around me I just pull over and let them pass, or even get on the sidewalk for a little bit. Much easier than trying to make drivers pass me.

I try to peacefully co-exist with motor vehicles and give them a break as long as it's not hurting me too much.