Originally Posted by IPCostello
<snip> I have been called ******, had big-gulps thrown at me (they always miss though), been tailgated, and even one time when I told the jerks off they stopped their big truck, sat in the driver's seat with a "cold-one" in their hand and said they would shove the end of the bottle up my...
Well, you get the point. I'd like to hear of other's experiences and thoughts on why this seems to happen as perhaps there is a solution, or at least words of wisdom floating around.
Thanks
-Ian
First off. I hope your luck holds out. I have been hit by slushies when turning and it can really throw off your path when your not expecting it.
I've been commuting by bike on and off since 2002 and have had my fair share of abuse/rage. I get alot more people just being jerks because that is who they are rather then people who hate cyclists. Both in Bridgeport/Fairfield Connecticut and the DFW Texas Area. Of the thousands upon thousands of drivers who have passed me, and 2 or 3 that I have passed
it is only a select few that do anything. Usually honking, tailgating, throwing things, jamming you off the road, cutting you off and slamming on the brakes but I find the best response is just to smile and move on. If they weren't ill intentioned you don't start anything and if they were trying to be a jerk you don't feed their anger or make it fun for them.
Some things that cut down on driver anger I follow traffic laws as close as absolutely possible, ride consistently and predictably, ride on the right side of the _STREET_, don't blast off sidewalks into traffic without looking, move to the side when it looks like I'm going to cause a little traffic jam, am fully lighted and reflectorized and I think the rear panniers really help. It shouldn't matter however people seem to think with the panniers I am on my way somewhere and not just getting exercise and getting in their way. I could always do better and sometimes I get distracted and am unprepared and get in someones way or I have bike issues and hold up traffic.
No matter how I or anyone else rides cars are going to get peaved sometimes either just because or because they were unprepared for, because they were distracted or possibly because they fear for your life out their with all the vehicles. In both cycling and driving I find may/june is the worst in Texas. You have either inexperience riders out trying to cycle or you have people who ride their bikes with complete disregard for everything and everyone else. Drivers seem to be alot more fed up with me this time of year then all the others.
It isn't really bikers though If you driver your car the speedlimit or slower and drive like a civilized person instead of jack rabbit starts to drag race between stoplights alot of drivers will get very angry with you in your car for holding them up.