Originally Posted by jeffmc511

Most drivers are uneducated, and believe that the cyclists belong on the sidewalk to begin with. So, of course this example would never happen. I offered my opinion as a motorist because I do not yet, and won't until I get comfortable on my new bike, have any experience as a cyclist riding on the road. Because of the fact that I have not ridden on the road, I have been pondering how I will behave once I begin doing so. I have also been talking to friends, family, and just about anyone else who would listen, and beyond a few who share the "bikes belong on the sidewalk" attitude, every single one of them (none are cyclists by the way) has stated that what annoys them about cyclists is the fact that they seem to believe they don't have to follow the rules of the road. Running of red lights and stop signs has been mentioned by several people, but the overwhelming majority are most annoyed by the cyclists who ride in the traffic lane, then move to the shoulder and pass everyone at traffic lights, causing them to have to pass the cyclist over and over again.


As a general rule, I would say this comment mostly applies to those who; a) are going to hate cyclists no matter what, and/or b) are unaware that cyclists are supposed to ride on the road, and believe they belong on the sidewalk.


Anyone who experiences road rage towards a cyclist, or can be inconvenienced to the point of their blood boiling, is someone who this is going to happen to no matter what. Some people are just miserable, hateful people that have and will continue to use cyclists as the target for their rage. As to the cyclist vs "bicycle driver" point, I have talked to enough non-cyclists to be convinced that, at least to start with, I will be a "bicycle driver" when I start riding on the streets, as I believe that will gain the most respect from those drivers that will be around me.

I guess my point is that there are certain people that will always harbor a certain disdain for cyclists, and there is nothing that can be done to change their opinion. But, I feel through my own experiences as a driver, when encountering cyclists on the road, as well as many conversations with non-cyclists, that following the rules of the road will be the best way to improve the other peoples perceptions of cyclists, as well as my own safety when riding. I guess I'll see how that goes when I start riding on the road...