banerjek

I'm trying to figure out if I've become a yahoo or if this reflects a change in my cycling circumstances. I've slapped 3 cars in my entire life, but two of those times were in the last year.

In all three cases, a car had come far into a bike lane cutting me off. I can pretend I did it out of self defense, but a truly defensive riding style would involve grabbing a handful of brake (or bailing) rather than taking a hand off the bars and increase the risk of being hit.

In all three cases, there was no negative reaction from the motorist -- in fact they all went back into their lanes. Two were texting, I'm not sure of the third. My general rule is to not touch cars, but I seem to be doing it more often even though the traffic I play in is easier nowadays.

GlennR

I snapped off a few passenger side mirrors in past year.

I've learned that it solves nothing and could pick on the wrong person and get hurt.

I've since learned to control my anger and have not reacted since. After all in a battle between a 14# bicycle and a 3800# car, i'll most likely lose.

woodcraft

I did it recently- the driver was not happy- concerned for his truck.

In hindsight, should have pointed out that it was better than the bloodstains on his truck had he run me over.

Have also done it as a pedestrian a couple of times.

Maybe not PC, but I think it is legitimate feedback.

redlude97

I do it all the time, but I'm probably an *******. Usually its a pre-emptive defensive reaction like you, but maybe not the best course of action. Mostly while commuting. I also do it as a pedestrian. I live/work/commute in a pretty busy city though with inconsistent infrastructure that requires a lot of riding in lanes with cars.

mcours2006

Guilty as well. Few times when being right hooked, albeit slowly enough for me to put my hand on the car. One time the guys stopped and gave me an earful. Lucky I don't live in Texas. Hard to hold back when you feel your life is threatened.

ridelikeaturtle

I would do it (and have done, though not frequently) when a car unknowingly invades my space so much that I'm at risk of being hit. I've never (yet) ripped a wing mirror off or been violent, only defensive.

I also am extremely aware of what cars are doing around me, and I try to predict when people are about to do stupid things. Seeing someone texting or holding their phone up to their head is an obvious sign; and it's important to not be a dick and encourage stupid things, like riding along in someone's blind spot.

I've even gone to the trouble of trying to help an elderly driver out when she looked lost and nearly killed me as she was swerving around slowly on a steep hill I was descending. I slowed right down, she indicated one way then started to turn the other, luckily there wasn't anyone behind us and I realized quickly what I was dealing with, an elderly woman... after a quick and nice chat she was not familiar with the area and looking for a friend's house.

It really is better to not go flying off the handle and being a "militant biker", it gives us all a bad name.

SwtBadger

Personally no,


But family lore holds that my sister once punched a car's rear quarter panel from her bike. I like to point out that it likely wasn't the smartest move - for her hand.

Doge

I was a regular car slapper when I commuted 3X week ~35miles each way up the coast Hwy through Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar and Newport Beach. If anyone knows that area, they also know why.
I'd typically ride in the middle of traffic as I was going faster and I stood less chance of door face.
I was in my 20s, hot headed and made weekly contact with cars - normally < 20mph.

I also ended up needed medical work a few times. Once a lady drove into me after a slap. She got in trouble.
I'm blessed I was not killed.

banerjek

I wasn't mad -- it was to tell them I was there rather than a retribution thing. Based on the reactions, I think they really didn't realize I was there or how far they were in.

Once in a long while, someone intentionally pulls in as a form of harassment. My standard operating procedure is to pretend I don't realize what's going on, lightly brush their mirrors with my shoulder, and continue on as if nothing happened. This approach has yet to provoke a negative response.

Scarbo

No.

All it would take would be for you to mess with the wrong person at the wrong time and you would be no more.

Scarbo

Newport Beach? You were daft, no doubt about it. You don't go around slapping people's Lamborghinis!

caloso

Yep. My MIL used to live in Irvine and I'd ride out to PCH and up and down it.

I've slapped a few cars. Since they usually come from my left, it usually happens that my wedding ring makes a loud crack! on the glass. No damage, but it never fails to get the driver's attention.

FBinNY 

Only you know what was in your mind, and even you may mot.

There's a difference between slapping a car as an alert or to get a driver's attention, and out of anger.

I've slapped a few cars in my cycling career, mainly to wake up the driver, and in one case to scare him into believing there was a collision. But I try to reserve the slaps for the most extreme circumstances, because there's too much of a downside if the driver misreads my intent.

Doge

Old cars are the risky ones.

Most the exotic car folks, are afraid of getting their own cars hurt they stayed away from me. Exotic cars should not be driven there.
Anyway I think there is a thread on that - GT3, Lambo ...just because.

FBinNY 

BTW - my most effective object lesson is the fake crash when I'm left crossed. Often the driver will realize his error and slam on his brakes half way across the intersection. I've mastered stopping just short of his right front fender, and using the bike to lever me onto his hood, and rolling across to land on the far side.

From the driver's seat this looks very real and drivers are so relieved and apologetic when they hear that I'm OK. Of course, I make a big show of checking out the bike and letting them know how close we came.

Scarbo

Yeah, PCH is wild for sure. Wild, yet so beautiful.

Nachoman

Yup. Guilty of that myself.

Reynolds 

Don't try that with Abuelita!

f4rrest

wut

How do you unclip?

Bmach

I did it once and the guy stopped started yelling at me. I told him he almost hit me and he said he wasn't even close to me. I responded with "then I guess I did not punch your car and if you have a problem call the cops". I then just road away.

TimothyH

A woman's purse and a man's car.

Two things my father taught me never to touch.


-Tim-

79pmooney

I like! I don't have your coordination and better not try that. What I see coming one day is a car squeezing me in a bike lane bordered by a curb. If this happens, I am steering into the car and doing my best to keep my tire away from the curb. If metal or rubber mark up the car's paint, so much the better. (I'll take a tape measure and have that vertical distance noted in the police report if I am mobile.)

The scream and ensuing injuries to the racer who rode into a curb to avoid contact with the rider who moved toward him in the sprint of a race many years ago still haunt me. I'll take the contact.

Ben

FBinNY 

I know that there are many threads here about problems uncliping, but in 50+ years of riding with toe clips and straps, along with cleated shoes, then more recently clipless, I've never had a problem with disengaging from the pedals. That's save for the obligatory 1st and last time it happens fairly early on. Mine was in front of a large audience at a busy corner in midtown Manhattan.

In truth, I don't ever think about it. My autopilot handles that the same way it manages all my bike handling tasks. I've crashed a number of times, both at high and low speed and never ended up still clipped in. That includes the time I laid the bike down smoothly. I can't say whether I unconsciously unclip, or it's a result of impact and twisting that happens during the crash, but it happens.

esskay1000

I've done it quite a lot, the way I see it, unless you try to teach them a lesson, they are going to continue the behavior over and over again. If you don't stand up for yourself, no one will stand up for you

CliffordK

I don't think I've ever touched a car due to driving issues, although there have been a few who blocked the bike lane and were hard to get around while pulling a trailer.

A couple of years ago, I caught up with a car at a stoplight with the trunk open. I probably knocked on the window, then pointed at the trunk, and the driver in turn gestured me to close it, which I did.

If I see a malfunctioning light, and can communicate it to the driver, I will.