quoted to me by a lady in a small car today

[dynodonn]

Somehow, I get the impression 24th letter in the alphabet(several times), and your post are synonymous.

[AdamDZ]

I would never let anyone go through my things or even see my ID if there was no accident, and even then I'd wait for the cops. She assaulted you, you should have called 911 at that time and get that on record that you were being assaulted. It's very likely she would back off when you called 911 and if not, she would be the one in trouble.

[canyoneagle]

I'm actually looking forward to this happening to me again soon. I don't remember who put this one on the boards, but their response was:

"I like maple syrup on my pancakes!"

Can't wait to use that.

hehe, that was me (but it was waffles)

[Kojak]

Shows on my screen as two smiley faces eating popcorn..... as in, "I'm curious too".

Did it show up as two red Xs?

[dynodonn]

I would never let anyone go through my things or even see my ID if there was no accident, and even then I'd wait for the cops. She assaulted you, you should have called 911 at that time and get that on record that you were being assaulted. It's very likely she would back off when you called 911 and if not, she would be the one in trouble.

It's over and done with, plus it all started with my writing her license number down from a close pass, and now with the video cams, I can generally get a license number without the motorist ever knowing about it, plus have far more evidence than just I said, they said.

[Kojak]

hehe, that was me (but it was waffles)

Even better, waffles rock!

[canyoneagle]

Even better, waffles rock!

I like waffles.

[AdamDZ]

Yeah, but in such situation when someone gets physical with you, you should be the one to call 911 first, before they do or before it gets ugly. She could have been really crazy, you didn't know what she was about to do, it was time to call 911. That would give you the upper hand if the cops showed up or made that person stop. Like SuncoastChad said: once you pull out a phone most people would sober up and stop acting aggressive towards you if they see you're serious about calling the cops.

[dynodonn]

Yeah, but in such situation when someone gets physical with you,.....

Other than verbal assualt, my panniers were the only thing getting physically assaulted, who knows where it would have gone if I grabbed her hand or arm to stop her. She eventually ran out of steam, plus she was so flustered that she could not even dial her cell phone to call her daughter that she was going to be late.

The incident ended with little fan fare, and with me casually leaving the scene(with her license number) and calling the local law enforcement on documenting her close pass, which was my original intention.

[AdamDZ]

LOL, she was a NUT! I hope you had some smelly socks in those panniers

[WPeabody]

Seems to me the worst altercations had nothing to do with my existence in their way as a cyclist, but rather they already were having some serious issues going on in their lives. Whether I was on a bike, or a horse, or a tractor...

I driving a car when this woman behind me started flipping out at me for some unknown reason. She continued to follow, swerving, and gesturing at me until I pulled over. She screamed at me "Are you stupid??"
So, when I saw her pull into a parking lot, at a university, and there was a security guard standing there, I got out after she parked, and asked her what the trouble was. Apparently I didn't accelerate fast enough from the stop sign. I reminded her that I was in a 5000 lb, 18 ft long, 26 year old land yacht, not designed for fast or agile driving.

Another time I was tailgated by some guy who screamed at me through the windshield while swerving back and forth, trying and failing to pass me on a two lane, rural road... I finally went into a central turn lane when it appeared, to make my turnoff, and didn't realize he was using it to pass me at the time. He slammed on his brakes, tires screeching, and really flipped out at me, turned into the same road, though now he was driving the wrong way on a divided road, so he could go alongside, still screaming at me. I got a bit frightened, thinking he was going to cut me off and shoot us or something. Then suddenly he burned a u-turn across some grass and went away.

People can get so freaked out for various stupid reasons, and by no fault on the part of the recipient, other than they just happened to be in the way...

[Robert C]

I do something similar, without the handout. I simply say "I suggest you take a look at Title 39 of the Utah code then get back to me. Thanks"

It looks like Section 41 is more applicable. However, the Utah Code is a rather surprising mess. There really does not seem to be much about bicycles. One annoying thing is a rather detailed description regarding how one is to make a left turn.

[canyoneagle]

the Utah Code is a rather surprising mess. There really does not seem to be much about bicycles. .

very true, and yes, it is title 41 here. I throw out the red herring on purpose - I figure if they actually do look it up (fat chance), it will hopefully make them be aware of the code's existence and other sections. I am by no means an expert on all of them, but I've read most of them. Title 41 is pretty basic, and like you noticed, gives bicycles an extremely small piece.
I think other states I've lived in have addressed bicycle-specific rules better.

Any of these state codes will be car-centric, but I've seen some that have very good bicycle-specific sections.

To further confuse things, each state can have different rules - for example, stop lights and stop signs. Some states require bicyclists to observe/obey standard vehicle provisions, while others allow discretion to "go on red". Other variations exist on "taking the lane", etc.

Since most motorists are already pretty ignorant of bicycle rights and responsibilities, it is made worse by the variation state to state (most folks I know have moved to a different state at least once).

I tend to be a methodical route planner - I will go out of my way to ensure a more bike/car compatible route. To me, it is not worth it to insert myself into situations (by the routes I choose) where the chances of conflict are higher.

[nashcommguy]

Might not be such a great idea...many officers of the law are as ignorant of a cyclist's rights to the road as self-proclaimed expert drivers are.

Amen.

[weshigh]

Ahh, you've met her! That one and a few other incidents had me seriously thinking about getting a video camera, but I'm afraid of turning into one of those guys who uploads boring videos of his commute to youtube

It is fun to have a camera. Get to share in some of the craziness that happens. They key is to only post 1 full commute and then tightly edited highlights of incidents. Everyone at worked loved one of my more recent clips of me crashing.

[Schwinnrider]

I was at the first intersection of my commute this morning stopped at a light. I was in the through lane, and there was a right turning lane to my right. This lady pulls up 2 ft. beside me in the through lane, partially blocking the lane to her left. She rolls down her window and sternly tells me:

You....are not a car....you belong ON the line.....not OFF the line.

I chuckled a little to myself and with a small humored smile on my face I just slowly and barely shook my head in amazement that someone would do that. I totally ignored her. I thought to myself, wow, what a great way to start the day. Sucks to be her!

The light turned green, she rolled up her window and sped off, and I went on my way.

You are much cooler than I am. My usual response to people like that is to scream at them. I have a loud, deep voice, so I've been known to yell "LEAVE ME ALONE" at the top of my lungs. Then I growl. And sometimes I'll slap myself in the face.

They leave me alone. LOL

[Schwinnrider]

Seems to me the worst altercations had nothing to do with my existence in their way as a cyclist, but rather they already were having some serious issues going on in their lives. Whether I was on a bike, or a horse, or a tractor...

I driving a car when this woman behind me started flipping out at me for some unknown reason. She continued to follow, swerving, and gesturing at me until I pulled over. She screamed at me "Are you stupid??"
So, when I saw her pull into a parking lot, at a university, and there was a security guard standing there, I got out after she parked, and asked her what the trouble was. Apparently I didn't accelerate fast enough from the stop sign. I reminded her that I was in a 5000 lb, 18 ft long, 26 year old land yacht, not designed for fast or agile driving.

Another time I was tailgated by some guy who screamed at me through the windshield while swerving back and forth, trying and failing to pass me on a two lane, rural road... I finally went into a central turn lane when it appeared, to make my turnoff, and didn't realize he was using it to pass me at the time. He slammed on his brakes, tires screeching, and really flipped out at me, turned into the same road, though now he was driving the wrong way on a divided road, so he could go alongside, still screaming at me. I got a bit frightened, thinking he was going to cut me off and shoot us or something. Then suddenly he burned a u-turn across some grass and went away.

People can get so freaked out for various stupid reasons, and by no fault on the part of the recipient, other than they just happened to be in the way...

Honestly, once someone gets along side me doing crazy stuff like that, I'd show them my cell phone. Dialing 911 will make them leave you alone. If not, I'd tap my 9mm on the window.

[chefisaac]

me like pancakes AND waffles.

[cehowardGS]

I was at the first intersection of my commute this morning stopped at a light. I was in the through lane, and there was a right turning lane to my right. This lady pulls up 2 ft. beside me in the through lane, partially blocking the lane to her left. She rolls down her window and sternly tells me:

You....are not a car....you belong ON the line.....not OFF the line.

I chuckled a little to myself and with a small humored smile on my face I just slowly and barely shook my head in amazement that someone would do that. I totally ignored her. I thought to myself, wow, what a great way to start the day. Sucks to be her!

The light turned green, she rolled up her window and sped off, and I went on my way.

You a better person than me. I would have gave her the DOUBLE FINGER!! I have no will power whatsoever!!

[fastbartender]

That sounds pretty darn funny. I probably would have laughed my ass off which would have in turn made her even more angry....hope granny ain't packing heat!

[m1k3yb0y]

I've never had any types of altercations with other people that y'all have been havin'. In my rides, some people just like to pass by me and say "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOIN'!!!" or "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!!!" In that case, I just ignore them and continue my ride because the road I ride and live along is wide and quiet enough for me to stay to the right even with the sidewalks. Feels great to be me.

[bhop]

I got the 'you're not a car' a couple weeks ago. I just said 'no ****' and went on my way.. I passed them as they were stuck in traffic.

[stringbreaker]

I had someone try just that a few months ago.

Motorist in an SUV passed entirely too closely on a quiet residential street as we approached a stop, then cut way over (so I couldn't pass her on the right without leaving the roadway) and jammed on the brakes. Waited longer than necessary while staring at me in the rear view mirror, then she realized I was turning at that corner as she started into the intersection, and quickly turned right to chase me down.

I heard her coming and took evasive action, and she rolled down her window and started screaming at me that I should be on the sidewalk, that she was a police officer (she was in hospital scrubs, and I started grinning immediately, because the thought "police nurse" jumped into my head,) then she backtracked and said her husband was a cop, then said she was calling the police because I rear-ended her truck. I told her to call them, but she took a photo of me with her phone instead and made a few more bizarre statements. She was really amped up and hostile, so I got out of there and was watching my mirror for the rest of the ride.

In retrospect, I probably should have called the police and mentioned that she identified herself as a cop, but I did think that there was a possibility of her being married to one. The cops in that town have a pretty heavy reputation, and I didn't want to arrive at work with boot marks on my neck, so I let it go. Complete sociopath, can't reason with people like that.

I didn't know my first wife had moved to Florida.

[WPeabody]

Lately, the roaring of an overtaxed engine from a heavy foot on the accelerator when they pass by reminds me of the shrieks and growls of dinosaurs. The motor-dependent, anti-cyclists are feeling a bit desperate. We should pity them just a little. (And no, I'm not feeling very smug, my car gets about 13 mpg. That is why I don't drive it much, especially nowadays.)

Oh, and my son, who has a lifted '79 Bronco with a 450 something cubic inch massive custom V-8 that only uses premium, is now riding my old touring bike.

[Artkansas]

Might not be such a great idea...many officers of the law are as ignorant of a cyclist's rights to the road as self-proclaimed expert drivers are.

I had a cop order me onto the sidewalk and threatened me with arrest if I failed to comply.

She refused to give me her badge number, but I did get her license plate. When I called in, I got routed to the Sargent of the Bicycle Patrol. He gave her a chewing out.