Originally Posted by
Pinyon
For many of the reasons mentioned above, I think that it is a very bad idea to get into it with a motorist. Not only is it dangerous because you don't know what they will do (do they have a weapon, and are having a bad day?), but it also sets them up to be extra nasty to cyclists in the future.
I feel like I'm an ambassador for all cyclists in the area. If possible, I want them to think twice about what they are doing the next time that they get into a similar situation. I've found that being civilized counts for a lot in this situation. Usually I just wave and make non-threatening eye contact. That is usually enough to calm them down.
If they insist on getting into it verbally with me (it has happened), I respectfully disagree with them about the law/safety issue at hand, let them know that I think that people (me, them, everybody) are a lot more important than getting somewhere in a big damn hurry. I'm not in it to win an argument. I'm in it to not get me or someone else hit by this bozo the next time that he is having a bad day behind the wheel. Later that night, when they re-play the situation in their head, I think that most people will recognize what I DID NOT do, that could have made the situation worse. Being nice but firm never hurts. Never.
I do worry about those situations where the other guy is going to get physical no matter what. It has only happened to me once (about 20 years ago), but I hear about it happening every now and then. If they are willing to get physical, you don't know what they are going to do next. When it gets physical, usually one or both guys end up visiting the hospital AND the local jail.
Being hurt or in jail sounds like no fun at all to me. No fun at all.