jessestylex

Yesterday was the first time a driver honked at me and started yelling but i couldnt tell what he was saying.

I was riding through a gas station parking lot to exit onto the main road. Anyways, I beat him to the road by about 2 car lengths as he was leaving also. Apparently he didn't like me being in front of him and honked, then yelled something. This wasn't a near accident or anything where either of us had to brake hard. But it did surprised me he was being a jerk when it only took me 5 seconds to be gone and out of the way. I just ignored him and never looked his way and kept on riding. What do you guys do in these situations? I thought about giving a dirty look like "whats your problem" but Im not gonna give someone a road rage motive while im on a bicycle.

Chaco

Haters gonna hate. You did the right thing.

johnin

Smile and wave - drives 'em nuts -

jerseyJim

I stop right in their way and ask them what's the matter.

They're in a hurry so I slow 'em up.

Chris516

Something somewhat similar, happened to me two days ago. I was in the eastbound outside lane just left of the right-turn only lane, on a 40mph six-lane major arterial going 25-30mph during PM-rush. But the motorist behind me in pickup truck pulling a utility trailer, chose to 'sit on his horn'. While I definitely heard him, I kept my speed, and did not give in to his intimidation. He was miffed that he did not get the better of me. I laughed., because he was the only vehicle of probably 30 on that section of the road at that time going the same direction, that was 'sitting on his horn'. No other motorists' joined his intimidation campaign.

I will give you one point. I am so used to a motorist potentially honking at me, that it doesn't phase me. The only time it bothers me extremely, is not when it would amount to intimidation on the part of the motorist. But that, they would have done the same thing to another motorist i.e. A traffic light going from red to green but not noticing it. Changing lanes without signaling and gauging the speed of the traffic in the other lane, causing a motorist to slam on their brakes.

chi-james

cry

PlanoFuji

When it happens (one or twice a year), I ignore it...

I remember some advice from my childhood that started with "Sticks and stones, ..."

wphamilton

I just ignored him and never looked his way and kept on riding. What do you guys do in these situations?

The same, and maybe a casual wave as if I misread his intent. Am I someone who knows him, a neighbor down the street, a higher-up where he works? Commuting, any of these are possible. If they have even a second's doubt about it they have to confront their own misbehavior.

ItsJustMe

If I ever have a situation where someone yells and I'm actually able to hear anything besides "yeraaarraaaahgaablaaaaaa" I'll let you know.

But in general, try this advice:

https://www.girlswithslingshots.com/c...sk-the-cast-3/

Brandonub

I almost never really seem to have any idea what they're saying. One time I heard the word "sidewalk" among some other garbled crap. I don't think there's going to be any fruitful discussion stemming from any engagement that involves a raging narcissist yelling incoherently at me, so I just shake my head and move on.

gerald_g 

When car drivers yell at me, it never seems to matter what they are trying to say... all I can hear is "Look at me, I'm a complete moron!".

unterhausen

wave, who knows it might even be the appropriate response

kingsqueak

In a security job years ago, I had a guy come in and give me all sorts of trouble over what should have been a painless bit of procedure. He was unhappy and had been quite a prick, so I enhanced his experience and had him waiting around DMV style to return the favor.

Shift change happens, I move into the back room to enjoy my gourmet breakfast and the day shift desk sergeant takes on the happy case for me.

From the back room I hear the guy, who now realizes his company truck has no paperwork and won't be allowed onto the base, making a cellphone call to raise hell with his boss over the situation.

I hear: "I don't care what it takes, I've run into this great big ******* here who isn't going to give an inch"

So I do the rational, logical thing...I jump up, burst into the reception area and ask him "Can you swim?", stunned he says "What?" and in my best Jules from Inglewood impression I tell him, "I hope you can swim, because that's about the only way you are getting out on that pier ever again with that attitude"

So the dust settles, he leaves and the day sergeant comes back and asks "What the hell was that all about?" So I explain that anyone who calls me a great big ******* isn't going to be subject to my best customer service.

The sergeant then proceeds to explain to me that, in fact, what he said was "I've run into a great big hassle"

So in fact, this great big ******* doesn't often respond to random things shouted at him anymore.

Also having worked in security, as a bouncer and in the clubs for years as a soundman, I've learned a solid fact. There are some true animals out there in this world and one never quite knows when one will meet one of them. Some things just aren't worth that gamble. Just keep pedalling.

spare_wheel

If I am at fault, I apologize.
If I am not at fault, I tend to respond with a finger (or sometimes two).

gcottay

Most yells are from friends and neighbors so I either wave hello or stop and talk. Attempted verbal abuse I ignore as if the attempted abuser did not exist. The attempted abuser pays the penalty of non-being.

unterhausen

awesome story, thanks. I learned my lesson when I flipped someone off and then realized I knew them.

Waving at least lets people know that you heard them. I suppose it might be escalating the situation, but I've never had anyone do that.

FBinNY 

I simply tune it out. Some people need to vent, so I let them.

DX-MAN

A lot of the times I've been yelled at, I've been able to understand them: "GET ON THE F****** SIDEWALK!", or "GET THE F*** OFF THE ROAD!" I usually tell them what they can do with themselves, and see if they want to escalate things. ONE did -- reminded me of the "Green Mile" convict, so he kinda got the better of that one, I escaped.

There was one other, a senior police official, in his own vehicle (which still had a PA in it); he broadcast to me TWICE, "SIDEWALK!". This was in December, and the sidewalks were under two feet of plowed snow drifts. I loudly told him, "SAME RIGHT TO THE ROAD AS YOU!" The second time, he threatened to arrest me. I repeated myself, he drove off, I rode home. . . and wrote a letter to the Chief of Police detailing the matter. The response letter was, on the face of it, unsatisfactory -- but it did what I wanted, it got attention paid to the issue. They dealt with that internally, somebody was called on the carpet.

Since about '07, I've averaged about 1-2 'hollers' a year; last year could easily have bumped that, but just as I was getting good and geared up for them, they died out.

turbo1889

Ignore while slowing down slightly.

jon c. 

I almost never really seem to have any idea what they're saying. One time I heard the word "sidewalk" among some other garbled crap.

That's my experience as well. I can't really hear what they're saying, so I assume it's a friendly greeting and I smile and wave. One time I did hear the word sidewalk, but I figured he was making a joke as we were on a tiny, chipseal country lane and the nearest sidewalk was about 10 miles away.

PatrickGSR94

Whenever a driver does something stupid, like buzzes me or turns in front of me, I usually just raise my left hand up in the air as if to say "what the hell is wrong with you". No one has yet to react to me doing that, though.

wabbit

sometimes i flash the peace sign!
sometimes, just half of it.

gpsblake

What most of these cars want when they harass a cyclist is to get a knee jerk reaction out of them. Nothing rewards bad driving more then a cyclist flipping the finger or being seen going into a tantrum. And over-reacting when a car harasses you only will make it worse for the next cyclist.

Don't reward them.

howeeee

I cuss them out flip them the bird and everything else that makes me happy

zac

My standard "Ride on the F'ing sidewalk" reply is: "Your wife/gf/mother really isn't that appealing to me."

But generally I just wave, 'cause I mostly have no idea what was said.

Mostly immune to it, tune it out, as I'm too focused on my ride. But I would say in general I don't get many comments, as most cars/drivers are fairly accommodating.