Duckles McGee

rofl!

FrenchFit 

I've never seen similar harassing behavior here in Norcal. As the other posters have said, the bike culture has made a big impact...drivers are pretty enlightened about sharing the road..and bikers are perceived to be somewhat rabid about their rights to be on the road. Putting support behind a local bike coalition that advocates for biker's rights...that causes change.

Biggziff

Hero of the day award....you winz it!

Mithrandir

Indeed, and that has been my experience up here in Buffalo; everyone is nice, almost everyone waves, etc. When I flatted on a MUP the other day, every single rider stopped to offer assistance. It was strange that it was so different in DC. I think perhaps since there's so many more cyclists it becomes more combative?

Mithrandir

That's not to say that everyone in DC was like that, BTW. I did run into a lot more nice cyclists as well; met an elderly couple I chatted with for 10 minutes or so and they encouraged me to finish taking on some hills I was contemplating giving up on. Then there were a few other guys who were eager to show off their new Madones to me when I expressed interest in them. On general it was far more positive than negative, so I don't mean to cast it as being wholly negative.

chefisaac

my bike just told me its gay. I am happy for my bike. I love my bike for who it is.

DARKSCOPE001

dont be discouraged. All they are trying to do is make themselves feel big by making someone else feel small. These are the same people that wont say didly to someone else face to face. But dont have a problem because they feel cozy and safe inside there car.

As long as it doesent result in physical violence ignore it. If you react negatively all your doing is feeding the fire. Most people are nice and value human life and think about it as tho the table was the other way around. I dont commute, so I dont have nearly as many problems as others (seems like the weirdos and hicks gravatate to big cities and suburbs)

But If I may, share a story. I was on a ride with 3 friends so there was a pack of us. I was trailing behind by about 100yd. (fat and slow and I told them it was fine if they rode on) I hear a motorcycle behind me. I sit up straight and hold my left arm out indicating that I wish to turn left. Motorcycle contines to approach. I dont hear any change in engine rpm or anything. I start slowing down and turn and he is really close (if I had to guess less than a car length or two) And as he passes I hear "dumb***"

Of course I got all worked up and let colorfull words fly but thats just what he wanted. Sad part was. 1. it was a motorcycle. 2. no helmet or anything just some sunglases. Arent motorcyclists always the ones crying about respect on the road? then they go around and act like that.

So just keep riding. Dont worry about it. and try not to let it get to you. When you get all worked up they win. They dont understand that cyclists are normal people like you and me. They think we are subhuman fairys riding around on cheep plastic bikes. Most people are surprised when I take the helmet and sunglasses off and tell them im a Aviation mechanic just trying to keep fit.

Good luck
Sean Scott

etofhb

Like it!!!

etofhb

Happened to me two weeks ago, a white pick-up and an unopened soda can. Good thing the sate of California passed a law to make harassing a cyclist illegal, it helped me a whole lot, NOT!!!!

I was on a 6 lane road that had a bike lane with a curb protecting it from traffic so I was no threat to anyone. Some people are just evil.

DARKSCOPE001

AN UNOPENED CAN! man that guy must be a moron. What a waste. I love me some soda. did it explode? and was it cold? I would have picked it up and drank it and said. "thanks prick I needed that!"

JimF22003

mith, I'm surprised you got any negative comments. I (unfortunately) ride the MUPs a lot during the week in DC, and they can indeed be crowded. I see lots of larger riders out, and on lots of different kinds of bikes. Unless you were riding dangerously, it's hard to imagine why anyone would say anything one way or another.

Crazee dog walkers, on the other hand, are another story...

mgw189

The problem with reporting things to the police is that in most if not all places its hard for them to do anything unless the offense is seen. Sadly there are just not enough police to catch all the morons out there.

CraigB

^ No, what's really sad is that there are so many morons that need to be policed.

mgw189

LOL true.... but if there werent I would be unemployeed... I am a 911 dispatcher

Neil_B

I agree with you about DC cyclists, with one exception. Here's an excerpt from "Alone in a Crowd", my journal of my third Pittsburgh to DC trip, in 2009:

I followed the CCT to the Key Bridge. I was tired, sunburnt, blistered, and showing signs of bonking, and I walked the heavy bike up the hill to the bridge. As I drew stares from elegantly dressed Georgetown natives, I noticed my rear wheel was wobbling. I decided the wobble had been there for a while, so I could ride across the bridge and address the problem in Arlington.

I wobbled into rush hour traffic and pulled up at a light next to a cyclist on a hybrid. He wore the uniform of a commuter escaping 'casual Friday' at work - jeans, sport shirt, helmet, and a dorky reflective strap around his right ankle. I instantly felt at home.

"I'm glad to see you. I've spent a week on the trail and I'm lost. Can you help me get across the bridge?"

"Follow me" he said as the light changed. Off we went with three lanes of traffic, and I was over the river. He wished me well as I took off the trailer to get to the rear wheel.

GeorgeWerr

Hope it was a cold beer, those warm beers really get me heated

Neil_B

Couple possible reasons for this:

- people are people, regardless of their vehicle. I've met many courteous drivers and many discourteous cyclists. Having more bikes around means more louts on two wheels.

- Then there's the sheeplike nature of roadies. A friend calls the roadies out for their group rides the "Aryan nation" because so many of them look down on cyclists unlike themselves. You can't be one of them if you don't look like them.

- Finally, remember, it's DC. Big government corrupts everyone it touches, and that includes those who work for it. You might have met pencil pushers and pen requisitioners at a sub-bureau of a sub-bureau of the Department of Energy. After a day of doing nothing to help the people you allegedly serve, your temper can flare a little.

psalm

This morning on my way home from my ride I hear someone standing on their horn behind me. I turn around and see on old beat up Camry about 5 feet behind me. I was already way over the side of a large 4 lane road that had no traffic at all. The car speeds up and gets next to me. I look in and see a that an older woman was driving. I can see a Coke can in her left hand trying to hold the steering wheel. With her right hand she is shaking a breakfast burrito and a lit cigarette at me. She was screaming something, I couldn't understand what she was saying, the window was only cracked a little and crumbs were spewing from her mouth. Not kidding or exaggerating about that, I could see food spewing from between her lips. I was not in her way at all, there was plenty of room between me and her car, at least 3 feet and she was still in my lane. She stands on the gas pedal and slowly speeds away. I shake my head and let it go. I then see her turn into a Target parking lot about 1/4 mile in front of me. I shift gears, drop the hammer, and take off. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I turned into the parking lot and I see the car already parked. I pulled up behind the car as she was getting out. Still holding her soda, burrito, and lit cigarette. She looked at me a little funny. I asked her if she wanted to tell me something. She shook her head no. So I told her that it looked like she wanted to tell me something back there, if she had anything to say to say it now so I could understand her. She took a bite of her burrito, a drag off her smoke while still chewing. I said never mind and took off.

As I was riding away I was thinking about this thread and kind of laughing to myself. A bit later, as I stood up in the saddle to go up a hill, I hear another horn behind me, but this time, after the horn, I hear "nice ass!" Then a bunch of hoots and woo hoos, then in another voice, "I like your legs!" I turned around and saw a car full of girls waving and blowing kisses toward me.

So a couple of experiences this morning. One good and one not so good. The good one totally made up for the not so good one.

billmc40

Wife and I rode yesterday, we ride the country highways, better ride and better drivers for the most part, we gat away from the kid drivers that way. Coming home on a busy highway 99.9% of the drivers gave us 3 plus feet. One a$$hole in a 3/4ton truck about got my wife with his pullout mirror. I meet him at the stop light and gave him a piece of my mind, turned his tags into the local police. We have a 3 foot rule in kansas if you canpass safely.
BillMc