Originally Posted by Bizikleto
On the other hand: how come that there are so many commentaries about drivers' ruthlessness, pettiness and aggressivity over there in the United States?
Umm...maybe because there are so many ruthless and aggressive drivers here in the United States? You don't have to be a cyclist to figure that out.
Originally Posted by Bizikleto
Don't want to draw the wrong impression here; I'm sure the vast majority of car-bike interactions are smooth, lawful and right, and that only the despicable ones come to the forums. I've been riding in Skokie, near Chicago, and around Cisne and Swansea (or something similar) Natl Park in Kentucky some ten years ago and I didn't find a nickle of disrespect or rage on the drivers' part... quite on the contrary: exquisite behaviour and manners.
My experience, which is limited (only been city-riding for a few weeks), is that most drivers who are able to pass you in the next lane will not cause any trouble. Some even then will find a way to be rude. On the other hand, most drivers who you force to slow down (by riding in the middle of the lane when it's unsafe to pass) will become impatient and a good portion of those will express their impatience, whether by honking, tailgaiting, yelling, or passing too close.
I would guess only a fraction of the despicable ones -- i.e. those that are particularly memorable or dangerous or frustrating -- come to the forums.
Originally Posted by Bizikleto
My experience in Spain is that no one would dare telling off any cyclist of riding their bike. Some drivers may despise cycle commuting or whatever, but no one would make it loud let alone have it expressed in their behaviour on the road.
Because the automobile is so dominant in the USA, people are often offended that you're different, or confused that you're riding what they consider a toy (perhaps somewhat like a skateboard or roller skates) in the road, and causing them to slow down for you.
Not everyone is this rude or impatient or aggressive, but an alarming percentage of people are. And you wonder why our government/military invades and occupies foreign countries and bullies the world and tortures people and lies about everything (with the help of our lapdog media) and then we re-elect them, and this sort of thing happens again, and again, and again. Whereas you have a terrorist attack, and you oust the criminals!
Remind me why I still live here...oh yes, American Dream...go back to sleep...zzzzzzzzz