Originally Posted by
Doohickie
I use my voice as a horn when necessary. I've tried to stop shouting commands/insults/beratings at the drivers though; I try to save those for the under-my-breath muttering later. Usually I just yell "STOP!" or "WHOA!" or "LOOK OUT!" I've learned that anything more than that is just gonna end up in everyone getting pissed off. Also, I don't worry about whether people are driving right, or "giving cyclists their rights" or whatever. If I wanted to enforce the law, I'd become a policeman. Since I'm not, that's not my job and I try not to do it.
The problem with using your voice like a horn is that it's usually too late at that point - it is used reactively.. What I was talking about (ie, using my hand as a stop sign) is proactive. I don't wait until it's too late. I get eye-contact and I make the sign almost immediately. It gets the message across before they've had time to decide they would continue to move.