work4bike

Everyone has stories of how they've been accosted by motorist or had things thrown at them. But how many times have you had a motorist approach you to ask questions like, "How many miles do you ride per day?" or just to say, "Man, I see you all the time riding down the road..."

I've had this happen quite a bit, just today someone came up and shook my hand and telling me how they've seen me all over the place...

Of all the times this has happened I wonder how many people that never approach me, yet know who I am, or at least very familar with seeing me a lot.

Makes me glad that I chose to ride the roads as an ambassador of sorts, by obeying all the traffic rules and not being a general ass on the bike.

rkelley23

As I have been riding more I get many more nice comments and playful joking than harassment. I see a homeless guy every ride who just yells "duddeee give me your bike", ride by a military base and there are always guys who yell at me things like "if you can still here me you arent riding fast enough" and then my friends who do not ride or anything of the sort who call me "pinche lance armstrong" and i hear that one randomly

hairnet

The most I have receive is applause from some hobo on my way to class when I track stand at his stop light.

Velo Vol 

I hardly ever get asked anything like that when I'm riding around town. Every once in a while someone will ask me about cycling at a scenic stop in the hinterlands.

surgeonstone

I like this. The other day a friend asked me how much I ride and before I could answer went into a rant about cyclists taking up the road, 2 abreast, holding up traffic and refusing to move over, ending with " are you one of those".
When out riding I give a wave at every truck or car that passes, just a friendly nod or wave of appreciation for not running me off the road, yelling or honking at me. I ride very quiet roads and often will be passed by only 3-5 vehicles in 3 hours of cycling. I figure they know me, have seen me many times throughout the year and that a little good will goes a long way.

Seattle Forrest

People in cars sometimes ask me for directions. One of them told me cyclists are friendly and know their way around town. Homeless people request me to take my clothes off, but that's just because of the naked cyclists at the solstice festival. Street kids have occasionally expressed their awe and envy at our ability to go straight on red; I tell them "you could do this, too, if you had a bike."

JaceK

What? Aaah, no, no way, as running traffic devices is illegal where i live & ride.

dgasmd

For years, I rode from 3:30-6:00 AM. Have extremely bright lights, etc. I used to always see this rather large lady unloading newspapers in a gas station I passed by at about the same time. Then, a few minutes later she would pass me down the road and turn a couple of blocks down the street. It was like clock work 3-4/week. I was out of town for a couple of weeks, and when I went out the first time, she rolled the window as she passed me and told me she was very glad to see me because she had not seen me for a couple of weeks and she was worried something had happened to me. She told me "you are my warrior", whatever that means. But, it surprised me because if I didn't think she or anyone even noticed me. The owner of a convenience store was always opening as I passed by on the tail end of my route too. One day I went into the store during the day and he was there. He recognized me immediately. Told me if I even need anything during that time to just come in. Again, I didn't even think he noticed me go by!!

Eclectus

I used to be hassled a lot by drivers. I realized, "They aren't seeing me." I tried a Plnet Bike Superflash blinkie. A little better. Then I splurged for a DiNotte 400R taillight.
Wow, that's workin. People changing lanes 200-400 yards behind me. On country two-lane roads, wide-go-around-me passes. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, "Give drivers far-ahead-avanced-notice of your presence and they can cooly figure out how to go around you, nobody gets stressed."

I live in a crappy area for riding. Cold winters, HOT summers, too much wind. But drivers here are really awesome. I was riding on a summer afternoon, and a TS front caught up to me. The sky totally blackened. Lightning bolts were coming down around me. It dumped water. People kept coming up, slowing down, opening their windows, "Do you need a ride home?"

This winter, I didn't have my pedal tightened. Standing up crossing an intersection, the pedal came out. I went down, my handlebar was badly bent, front wheel semi-tacoed, front brake was badly bent. No way I could ride back home. I immediately got an offer for a car-ride home.

The weather here sucks. But drivers here are really friendly.

surgeonstone

This! I splurged for a Dinotte 800/400 combo and the results were so good at night that I started using the tail during the day. Drivers give me a much wider berth even in daylight hours. Best and most important piece of lifesaving equipment I own.