Abuse from a driver
 

I started writing a carefully reasoned post. I laid out the road configuration etc. But screw it, I’m angry! That SUV driver simply came too close to me around that curve and then started cursing at me. And then pulled up and stopped in front of me. His string of curses ended with the classic “you f&&@ng bike rider”. Well, yes I admit to being a bike rider and I hope to continue that. Thanks for listening.

These types relish the thought that they might pass their rage demons on to others. It's their purpose in life and they are very adept at doing it. Don't let him do it to you.

I can get pretty fired up by a rude and dangerous driver. I would not have responded well to that.

These types of drivers are the reason why so many people are discouraged from riding on the road. There's a few threads about that.

Separated bike lanes eliminate the bad driver interaction with cyclists and that's why they increase ridership regardless of what some people think about them.

That's when it's a good time to pull out a cell phone and start video recording the confrontation.

Cheers

Start preaching the gospel. That causes most people to want to run away.

I'm ambivalent about separated bike lanes - they're appropriate for some streets, but not all. Many implementations increase the danger at every intersection, which are the most dangerous spots, while making the safest areas safer. There are good implementations, but the ones that make new cyclists feel the safest, with vehicle parking between them and traffic, I think add the most danger to the intersection. While getting people riding is good, having them die in traffic accidents while in those safe-feeling bike lanes doesn't help, and long term will drive those numbers back down.

Sorry this happened to you :( Glad it did not escalate to anything more than some angry words.

I have learned over the years that no matter how right I am, it is never good to get in a verbal altercation with some enraged driver. This has kept me largely safe from the nutjobs.

As the great W.C. Fields said, 'If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bs.' I.e., instead of raging back, smile and blow 'em a kiss. Stand back and watch their faces.

I simply point to the two video cameras and say "It is ALL on video". They normally shut up and quickly drive away.

Or come after you to try and grab the evidence. You know, like the guy who grabbed the flyers and the girl's arm and then using his bicycle as a weapon attacked and knocked down the fellow recording the assault on the little girl.

Cheers

Hard but I ignore it totally. Not worth the stress and mind cycles wasting time replaying in your head what happened all for a total stranger. I go about my day like it never happened. Well try to.

Getting yelled at ruins a ride, no matter how much I want to be thick skinned about it. I'll keep replaying what happened, how I should have reacted, .... no, that wouldn't be right... maybe.... and so on. And then my mind will turn to how to get the law enforcement to support us better, or how to get people better educated about cyclists and cycling advocacy. Eventually I arrive home and stew about it for a couple more days, looking up on the internet what the laws are in my area, looking up how to defend myself against that sort of road rage, checking the intersection again and again.

And then it passes. Probably 200 miles later I'm totally over it until the next time. :)

I agree, I refuse to waste my mental energy on thinking about it once it is over. Like all things it requires time and practice and Then it becomes second nature.

Take the lane.

The OP lives in CA. It does take nearly an act of God for that to happen. Look at what's going on out there and how little to none the police are doing to stop rioters and looters.

The cyclist caught on video. Is not commonplace. But why he got so bent out of shape over the flyers. Is beyond me.

A walking time-bomb just looking for a place to explode?

Cheers

Through my life, it has never ended well for anyone who came after me.

My fear with regards to someone attacking me is that I could knock them down and they could hit their head or for some other medical reason die. I was trained in hand-to-hand combat in the army and trained to kill with one blow if needed. ANd I had an oriental friend who taught me the real kung-fu not the glamorized crap Hollywood portrays.

Do you remember the original Kung-fu tv series with David Carradine? I loved the adage, "Avoid rather than check. Check rather than hurt. Hurt rather than maim. Maim rather than kill for all life is precious and none can be replaced. The Sensei who taught me kung-fu said, "I'll teach you but you must promise. If someone wants to fight you, you turn and you run like hell! But if you can't run put the assailant down as fast as possible becaus by attacking they mean you harm".

Due to my training I try to avoid conflict that might require a violent response from me.

Cheers

I have never thrown the first blow, but the bully/road rager has always ended up worse off. Outside actual military combat, of course one uses escalation of force only to the level needed for your safety and the ones you are protecting.

I point at the camera on my handlebars and ask "Look here and please say that again." Sometimes it's just a headlight but they don't know for sure.

Pretty much

Don't let people bully you, however, sometimes it's just not worth provoking a driving for your safety. You never know if the driver is unbalanced in the head and decide to swipe you while you ride.

Don't talk about what you don't know about.