San Rensho 

I was riding on a narrow, two lane city street. Not enough room for a bike and a car at the same time. I was on my road bike so I was going a little over twenty MPH. I was taking the lane. Car in back of me honks at me a couple of times, not really obnoxiously, but not just one blip, as we are approaching an intersection that is at a steep angle with lots of oncoming cars turning left in front of me. Theres no way I'm moving over under any circumstances in the middle of an intersection.

After I pass the intersection and after oncoming traffic clears, the driver passes me, then slows down next to me. I guess I must really be important because he actually took his cellphone from his ear to shout at me. I was ready with my usual response, which was to suggest the he committ an indecent act with his mother, or to perform an act that is physically impossible with his automobile and a body orifice, but all he yells at me is "Can't you move over a couple of feet?".

I was dumbfounded, no comeback! What should I have said?

dipy911

"No!"
"My safety is my only concern."

dipy911

Bekologist

I've taken to screaming "LEARN THE RULES OF THE ROAD!" in those types of scenarios.

I hope it gets them thinking....

Kestrelman

When I can't think of a retort, a simple "Shut up, Stupid" seems to be a pretty good all-purpose response.

Roughstuff

I think Bekologists is best. It is not confrontational, and encourages the driver to check into the law. If there IS no room for a 'bike and a car at the same time,' then I think its your judgement as to whether it is safer to to take the lane or just avoid that roadway. But taking the lane forces the driver to treat you as a bona fide road user.

roughstuff

mikepoole

"Not 'til it's safe for you to pass" would probably be understandable... and _might_ help the driver to understand your actions

genec

Answer: "Why?"

Or better yet: "Why can't you just stay behind me for a minute?"

eubi

My default response is to smile, wave and yell "Thank you!".

noisebeam

Agreed with what others have said.

However one thing to consider is the drivers point of view. They are only thinking of themselves and that they could safely pass you if you moved over and they likely could. What they don't consider is that once you move over there is a line of vehicle/drivers behind them who may not pass safely.

I think this partly contributes to hostile reactions from drivers, thinking only of themselves passing you and not you riding in a manner that considers all other drivers passing you.

Al

caloso

"I will as soon as it's safe!"

ranger5oh

Id probably have yelled with my finger.

genec

+100... especially the bit about motorists just thinking of themselves.

Really, how much delay can any one cyclist cause at any time? Why is it that motorists always seem to be rushing to a fire?

timmhaan

and any delay can easily be made up by pushing the right pedal down slightly. no effort even.

San Rensho 

He was actually in a big hurry to stop, since there was a stop sign at an intersection about 100 meters ahead where I caught up to him when he stopped.

genec

Yeah, I've seen this action far too many times myself... This sort of thing was the basis for my whole "The Notion... Explained" thread last year.

I've yet to figure out why motorists cannot just take their foot off the gas pedal, and just coast to a pending stop... where is it written in driving rules that one must go at their highest possible speed, right up to the stop line? (and in this day and age of expensive gas... why haven't motorists learned that jackrabbit starts and stops are just a waste? sigh)

noisebeam

This was actually a very mild honk while in a RTOL approaching a red, but after the turn the driver yelled at me to get on the sidewalk. This same driver has honked at me several time before/after - if it were not for the yelling at me and the other honks it would almost seem a 'courtesy' honk, by an unaware driver. (ingore the break squeal, it has been fixed)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGuZOpEou1s

Al

flipped4bikes

Smile and wave boys, smile and wave!

or:

What's wrong, can't talk and FOLLOW a cyclist at the same time?

WalterMitty

"Can't you drive something 4' narrower?"

littlewaywelt

I'm terribly sorry that my safety cost you an entire thirty seconds out of your day.

Beyond that I have copies of the state code pertaining to bicyclists (free from my state) that I'll stick under a wiper if I have to.

LittleBigMan

San Rensho,

Thanks for the opportunity to think about my response while I'm sitting behind a computer, with plenty of time to come up with snappy answers to a stupid question.

1) "I was going to ask you the same question."

2) "Don't let me disrupt your phone conversation!"

3) "I would, if it weren't for that nasty guardrail on my right."

4) "Sorry! Need to go to the bathroom?"

5) "That's what my wife keeps asking me."

6) "No, I'm too busy being insensitive."

7) "I'm glad you asked. I actually prefer riding on the grass."

8) "Congratulations! You are the 1,000th motorist to ask me that question! You've won the grand prize: one free tank of gasoline at the most expensive gas station in town!"

9) "I could, but you'll still have to lose a few pounds to make us fit together."

JohnBrooking

Motorists seem to have an instinctual urge to pass bicycles under any circumstance whatsoever. I think they think it's their right as the faster vehicle.

One day a guy tried to pass me on a mall perimeter road between stop signs 50' apart with a 10 MPH speed limit. He was angry that I was taking the lane (and probably exceeding the speed limit most of the way).

maddyfish

Answer "no!"

CaptainCool

uh, guys

the whole point here is that the driver asked nicely. The OP was ready with a mean response, but couldn't use it in the face of a decent, if misguided, question. Insults, confrontational remarks, and passive-aggressive sarcasm do nothing positive when there's a chance for a short lesson.

"The lane's too narrow to share."

noisebeam

Here is how I handled a driver comment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UVCKzKJ74A

My verbal communication skills go downhill while riding.

Al

Six jours

You folks still riding around in the middle of the road and wondering why you're getting yelled at? Huh.