Road rage threatens my life, so what can be done?
#26
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
Or the start of a police big brother state
I was thinking about carrying an air horn anyone do that?
I was thinking about carrying an air horn anyone do that?
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Originally Posted by jfmckenna
Or the start of a police big brother state
Joe
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Originally Posted by jfmckenna
Or the start of a police big brother state
Originally Posted by jfmckenna
I was thinking about carrying an air horn anyone do that?
#29
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I really like the camera on my bike idea. I've been thinking about that for, like, ever, but couldn't think of a setup that wasn't too bulky.
But the post upthread (sorry, can't be stuffed to look for the quote) suggested recording to an iPod, but I figure 40-50 minutes of footage set at a lowish resolution would probably fit on my 128Mb player, no? How would you get the image from the camera to the player?
But the post upthread (sorry, can't be stuffed to look for the quote) suggested recording to an iPod, but I figure 40-50 minutes of footage set at a lowish resolution would probably fit on my 128Mb player, no? How would you get the image from the camera to the player?
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I don't know of any device that lets you record live video to an iPod. A small digital camera capable of taking stills and video would be a better solution, and probably cheaper.
#31
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The cameras attached to the threat of sending tickets might have an effect over time, but I don't know how much that will help cyclists. I've given this entire subject quite a bit of thought lately, as I've had to drive from Manassas to Bethesda (covering part of Interstate 66 headed into DC, and part of the famous Beltway for those not familiar) and it's awful. I think it's all part of a much larger problem, that being the way we do business. We demand cheaper goods, which means mass manufacturing. Way back in the Industrial Revolution that meant people went to factory and mill towns to find work. Of course those became the banking and finance, cultural, and academic centers as well. Then people that had become successful wanted to escape the hell holes that resulted, so they commuted further out to live. I'm condensing of course. This all coincided with the development of the automobile, after all it was a result of the improvements in manufacturing technology.
Bottom line is that in terms of profit margins, companies need to be as consolidated as possible, which means that if we want to be employed by these companies, we have to live in or near concentrations of people. Since those areas are densly populated, we either have to accept a high cost, high density lifestyle, or accept a commute. Since this has developed at the same time that the automobile hase become commonplace, the vast majority of us accept the costs of owning a vehicle almost like we accept the cost of food.
I guess to condense my thought process here...jeeze, right? People are reacting to the circumstances that they have put themselves in, and what's worse, they believe that their way of life is normal and neccessary. They vaguely resent it and they are angy. It's not excuseable, but it is understandable. As cyclists, when they see us as a cyclist, they see someone that isn't in the same rat race that they are in, and they either resent it, or deduce that since you aren't in it you must not be worthy.
It's a societal issue brought on by waht we accept as normal. Punishing people may be neccesary, but it's treating the symptoms, not the disease, and it won't have any long term effect.
And if you think that's scary, get this: I consider myself a conservative.
Bottom line is that in terms of profit margins, companies need to be as consolidated as possible, which means that if we want to be employed by these companies, we have to live in or near concentrations of people. Since those areas are densly populated, we either have to accept a high cost, high density lifestyle, or accept a commute. Since this has developed at the same time that the automobile hase become commonplace, the vast majority of us accept the costs of owning a vehicle almost like we accept the cost of food.
I guess to condense my thought process here...jeeze, right? People are reacting to the circumstances that they have put themselves in, and what's worse, they believe that their way of life is normal and neccessary. They vaguely resent it and they are angy. It's not excuseable, but it is understandable. As cyclists, when they see us as a cyclist, they see someone that isn't in the same rat race that they are in, and they either resent it, or deduce that since you aren't in it you must not be worthy.
It's a societal issue brought on by waht we accept as normal. Punishing people may be neccesary, but it's treating the symptoms, not the disease, and it won't have any long term effect.
And if you think that's scary, get this: I consider myself a conservative.
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Tom,
The only viable alternative to the ever-longer commute from ever-extending exurbs you discribe is twofold:
1. A large increase in fuel costs
2. A viable mass transit
I am just north of you. Baltimore had a trolly/streetcar system up until the 50's when it was dismantled because.... the trolly interfered with the auto. Back in the day, you could ride a streetcar from Towson to Ellecott City - completely across town - in about 30 minutes (so I am told by the oldsters). Lots of the tracks and right-of-ways are still in place.
In fact, the Powerplant in Baltimore (now an entertainment complex) generated power for the streetcars.
If Baltimore and Maryland had any sense, the would reclaim every rail bed in the state under eminent domain and begin reconstruction the rail mass-transit system of old.
The only viable alternative to the ever-longer commute from ever-extending exurbs you discribe is twofold:
1. A large increase in fuel costs
2. A viable mass transit
I am just north of you. Baltimore had a trolly/streetcar system up until the 50's when it was dismantled because.... the trolly interfered with the auto. Back in the day, you could ride a streetcar from Towson to Ellecott City - completely across town - in about 30 minutes (so I am told by the oldsters). Lots of the tracks and right-of-ways are still in place.
In fact, the Powerplant in Baltimore (now an entertainment complex) generated power for the streetcars.
If Baltimore and Maryland had any sense, the would reclaim every rail bed in the state under eminent domain and begin reconstruction the rail mass-transit system of old.
#33
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I'm not sure a large increase in fuel costs would do the trick. It's become so ingrained in people that they need a car that they will deal with it somehow. I'm not sitting on a pedestal here, I have 2 vehicles myself. I try to not drive the SUV that gets 18 MPG around town unless I need the capacity. The other vehicle, which my wife commutes in, and we drive as often as possible, gets better than 30 MPG. To be honest, I'd deal with increased costs as best I could. When I see people driving an H2 to the grocery store, I'm amazed. They will pay the cost, whatever it is, short of maybe a 5-fold increase.
Unfortunately mass transit is a poor solution as well. I occasionally ride the DC metro, but I have to go to Vienna to reach the closest station. That means, for me, a drive, pay for parking, and then pay as much or more to ride metro as it would cost me to drive wherever I was going. It's even worse if it's me, the wife, and 2 kids trying to go somewhere. And Metro is screaming for more money, they are trying to get a toll increase so that drivers will pay for expansion to Dulles. You might think that will drive more people to use metro, but if that actually took place, then where would the money come from?
I think we need some creative thinking on a large scale to solve the problem. We don't need a way to get more people into the cities more efficiently, we need to dissolve the need for them to go to the city in the first place. Telework for instance is one solution that seems to be on the rise. Can that kind of productivity somehow be mimicked by manufacturing? If so, does it require a HUGE shift ib how we think about being paid for our work?
I'm just saying that I think it's a bigger problem that "road rage."
Unfortunately mass transit is a poor solution as well. I occasionally ride the DC metro, but I have to go to Vienna to reach the closest station. That means, for me, a drive, pay for parking, and then pay as much or more to ride metro as it would cost me to drive wherever I was going. It's even worse if it's me, the wife, and 2 kids trying to go somewhere. And Metro is screaming for more money, they are trying to get a toll increase so that drivers will pay for expansion to Dulles. You might think that will drive more people to use metro, but if that actually took place, then where would the money come from?
I think we need some creative thinking on a large scale to solve the problem. We don't need a way to get more people into the cities more efficiently, we need to dissolve the need for them to go to the city in the first place. Telework for instance is one solution that seems to be on the rise. Can that kind of productivity somehow be mimicked by manufacturing? If so, does it require a HUGE shift ib how we think about being paid for our work?
I'm just saying that I think it's a bigger problem that "road rage."
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Portland has a 'Neighborhood Traffic Safety Partnership' program based on the three 'E's - education, engineering and enforcement. The program is funded by a $60 surcharge on moving violation fines. It's a pretty new program, still mostly in the planning stages, with school, pedestrian and bicycle safety elements.
https://www.portlandtransportation.or...sp/default.htm
https://www.portlandtransportation.or...sp/default.htm
#36
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Originally Posted by randya
Trolling again, John??
It just sounded odd/pathetic...Would you go running away from a woman like that, cowering in the bushes? Your wife doesn't count
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Originally Posted by FXjohn
It just sounded odd/pathetic...Would you go running away from a woman like that, cowering in the bushes? Your wife doesn't count
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I just became the latest cyclist to call and report a motorist to the police. The same old man in the same suv passed way to close to me two days in a row in pretty much the same place on the same road, so I wrote down his license plate number and called the police.
The suv was registered to a company (don't you love the tax breaks people get with their suv's if they claim business use? But, that's another topic...), but the officer I spoke to is a cyclist who rides in the same area, and said he would make it his pet project to find and stop this vehicle. He pointed out that, if there are no outstanding warrants, there isn't much he can do. I told him I would hope that an officer explaining that bicycles have a right to be on the road, and he needs to move to the other lane to pass, would be enough to get his attention.
The suv was registered to a company (don't you love the tax breaks people get with their suv's if they claim business use? But, that's another topic...), but the officer I spoke to is a cyclist who rides in the same area, and said he would make it his pet project to find and stop this vehicle. He pointed out that, if there are no outstanding warrants, there isn't much he can do. I told him I would hope that an officer explaining that bicycles have a right to be on the road, and he needs to move to the other lane to pass, would be enough to get his attention.
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Originally Posted by twahl
Unfortunately mass transit is a poor solution as well.
How about NYC? What would it be like without the subway?
The fact is that our land-use decisions and our missguided attempt to flee Metropolitan life for whatever reason have put us in the mess we are in. People working in one place and living 45 miles away.
I work in the land development industry and I can tell you first hand that abosolutley no though is given to transportion. If the product sells thats all that matters.
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Originally Posted by FXjohn
It just sounded odd/pathetic...Would you go running away from a woman like that, cowering in the bushes? Your wife doesn't count
I know women that'd kick your ass, son.
How're things in Maybury, RFD?
El Cabron
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Originally Posted by FXjohn
It just sounded odd/pathetic...Would you go running away from a woman like that, cowering in the bushes? Your wife doesn't count
Screw that, I'd get the heck outta dodge too.
I like what the other poster recommended though. Circle back and steal her car after she jumps out and comes after you .
Better yet lock yourself in her car and taunt her until she becomes so enraged she starts beating the hell out of her own car. Then call the cops . That only works if she left her keys in the car to come after you though...
-Trevor
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Originally Posted by sbhikes
So basically nobody knows of anything on a larger than individual scale for combatting road rage?
I suppose I might be able to act fast enough if I kept my camera phone mounted on the handlebars. But that's still fighting the problem one road rager at a time.
I suppose I might be able to act fast enough if I kept my camera phone mounted on the handlebars. But that's still fighting the problem one road rager at a time.
You take pictures or videos of them. I have mounted my digital camera on my bars, and also used a camera case like an open top holster so I can get my camera out easliy. I velcro the camera case to the stem. I prefer the holster method as I can aim anywhere easily. It's a digital, just point and start clicking off repeate shots if you are in a hurry, you are bound to get a good one.
Then you start a website showing them and giving as much ID as you can. Tell the local newspaper too. See if they want to put the photos in the paper. At the very least get a reporter to do a story in the paper about your website. Call the local TV station, explain how your life is at risk from these people and get a news spot about the website too. Try to recruit other cyclists or drivers to contribute to your files. Maybe a local cycling club would be glad to help. At least the local cycling club may guide you to some bike advocacy connections for support and ideas. Maybe get a cell phone company or local retailer of camera phones to contribute some phones to give out in exchange for all the good PR. **********???
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I think driving habits would improve if a lot of 2 way cameras were installed on bikes and cars. They would record bad driving both by other people and by the person on whose vehicle the system was mounted. They should be set-up like a cockpit voice recorder running a continuous loop of the last 30 minutes. There was a thread about 6 months ago of someone with a helmetcam who recorded himself and his wife making illegal turns at a traffic light, riding on the sidewalk on the wrong side of the road, then getting hit by a car. He was proud of having it all on tape.
#44
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i'd like a camera, two way or helmet. anyone got a set up to share?
i'd also like a sonic wave gun that emits waves that break up poop into little pieces so i could give a holes diarhea for a day.
i'd also like a way to get names and addresses from liscence plate numbers.
i'll pay top dollar.
i'd also like a sonic wave gun that emits waves that break up poop into little pieces so i could give a holes diarhea for a day.
i'd also like a way to get names and addresses from liscence plate numbers.
i'll pay top dollar.
#45
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Always have a rear view mirror on my helmet. You can tell a jerk coming several hundred feet away. Have managed to avoid em. As far driving goes, an old beater is a good choice cause they have nothing to prove to you. Plus no car payments. Mine gets 30 mpg and me to bike races.
sun
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#46
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I have been trying for a few weeks now to be zen about road rage, and think to myself things like, "My, how stressful their lives must be since they are obviously so much important than I am." And then thank whomever that I don't have to rush around all the time like that.
It's hard to do.
I also tend to phrase things in such a way that will either make a driver feel ashamed (and probably wig out because of that) or dismiss without being rude.
"Get on the sidewalk!"
"Thanks for your concern! I'll take it into account." (said cheerfully)
"You shouldn't be on the street."
"Please don't risk my life because you're in a hurry. That's really all I ask."
and my personal favorite:
"Get off the road!"
"Hey, let's make a deal. I'll try not to make you a minute late to wherever you're going, and you try not to kill me! That seems fair, doesn't it?"
It might help that I'm a woman in my early twenties so it might be easier for me to get away with a winning smile while I say such things.
I don't know. My life is too short to let people like that affect me too much. I love biking. That is good.
It's hard to do.
I also tend to phrase things in such a way that will either make a driver feel ashamed (and probably wig out because of that) or dismiss without being rude.
"Get on the sidewalk!"
"Thanks for your concern! I'll take it into account." (said cheerfully)
"You shouldn't be on the street."
"Please don't risk my life because you're in a hurry. That's really all I ask."
and my personal favorite:
"Get off the road!"
"Hey, let's make a deal. I'll try not to make you a minute late to wherever you're going, and you try not to kill me! That seems fair, doesn't it?"
It might help that I'm a woman in my early twenties so it might be easier for me to get away with a winning smile while I say such things.
I don't know. My life is too short to let people like that affect me too much. I love biking. That is good.
#48
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What I don' t understand..The idiots..If there were more of us vehicular cyclists, it only diminishes the gridlock that makes them nuts.