Hugh Morris

I will fess up to being pretty disrespectful to bad drivers. I give smarmy smiles, thumbs up, thumbs down, occasional spankings when their rear sits in the bike lane, and have even spit on a car that nearly laid me out...

My crowning acheivment in the field of bicycle buffoonery is the reversal of littering. I LOVE seeing a motorist ditch something out an open window at a red light, cause I will take the time to pick up said litter, return it to the inside of the vehicle with a "you dropped this!" Then I turn around with the red light halting them and freeing the opposite direction for me to sprint away like some sort of aggressive yet cowardly vigilante. Then let my heart rate settle and reroute back to (where-was-i-going-again?).

Rarely do I actually exchange words, and I'm never approached by the drivers I actively disrespect.

All that nonsense said, most bad drivers are unsure of when or how to turn or double park here, so they just get passed with a shake of my head.

ItsJustMe

Reminds me of this scene from my favorite early indie movie:

https://youtu.be/3ldOTw60Ozg?t=5m16s

I also like his bicycle anti-theft system, shown a bit later in the film:

https://youtu.be/3ldOTw60Ozg?t=25m10s

nishiki _fan

I have learned to accept that close calls are just part of the nature of cycling. I also assume every driver is a bad driver, and react accordingly.

In the areas I commute, there is a mix of "decent" and "ghetto" people.

If I get into a close call with a decent person, they're usually apologetic, and/or don't say anything. I just give them a "menacing" stare haha.

If I get into a close call with a ghetto person, they usually talk ****, etc. I try to match their level of aggression (they talk **** = I talk ****, they get physical = I get physical).

I wouldn't dare kick anyone's car though. Some around here are strapped! The grandma walking down the street may be packing. Fail to give her the right of way and...

[pop] [pop] [pop]!

Imagine, some individual is about to step out, they look down and see the WALNUT STUDIOLO 9mm bike frame holster!

"Oh my door was just ajar, I was just making sure it's closed".

peace

CliffordK

I would tone it down a notch....

But, I will admit that I have thought about tossing burning cigarettes back into cars that toss them out right in front of me, but probably won't do it. Although it might not be a bad idea if we have a very dry summer this year.

nishiki _fan

I respect that.

Knowing my luck though, and the fact that I have to commute the same "ghetto" route to work every time, that exact item of litter (or worse) has a high chance that it will be thrown back into my face if I do this!

peace

Hugh Morris

No real ghetto parts of my commute. I'm sure my behavior would change if I felt more threatened, though not 100% sure how.

I get a little bit hot on the road, often laugh at myself when I get home for getting so involved...

SlowJoeCrow

I have occasionally knocked on the windows of cars that try to drive in the bike lane. They are usually apologetic. I also admit to giving the occasional one-finger salute. On the flip side, the other day a guy in convertible said "nice signal" after I did my usual index finger pointing to the left to break into the car lane to make a left turn. Since I wear reflective gloves, he may have been serious.

chephy

I used to quite a bit. I would chase the drivers to catch them at lights; I would get into arguments; I once threw my bike in front of a car to block the driver from driving away and so we could have, ummm, a chat about why intimidating people with a two-ton vehicle is a ******bag move... I may have gotten some drivers scared of confrontation with cyclists, so maybe they thought twice the next time they wanted to harass a person on two wheels, but it wasn't doing me any good, psychologically.

So I stopped all that. I can't guarantee I won't do it again; sometimes I'm tempted, and there might be a situation when I'll feel confronting the driver is the right thing to do. However, for the most part I just shrug it off these days. The more biking years I accumulate under my belt, the easier it gets for me to predict what a moron cager might do, so I can figure out a way to avoid that scenario. I also wonder if drivers actually respond better to cyclists now than, say, 10 years ago, since cycling is slowly but steadily growing as a mode of transportation in Toronto.

Buffalo Buff

I do every chance I get. If I get the driver honking at me just for being on the road, I acknowledge them with a middle finger. If someone passes me within a foot or cuts me off in any way, I make a point to haul ass until they get stopped at a light and explain to them why they are a **** (politely, but assertively).

Just the other week I had someone lay on the horn while passing me super close, so I gave them a bonus prize - two middle fingers. This causes them to go into ***** mode and brake check me twice. I had the last laugh, since a cop was watching the whole thing and lit them up right away.



don't take no ****.

mcours2006

I have stopped once in my own neighbourhood to yell at a lady who backed out of her driveway without looking and almost ran me over. Man, I was pissed.

But I agree with the prevailing sentiment around here that it's best to just shrug it off and carry on. It's not worth the time/effort/aggravation to confront them. Some situations are unavoidable, but if you ride with your eyes open and are aware of your surroundings you can probably anticipate trouble spots.

As for chasing down drivers, I suppose in a busy downtown area it's possible with all those traffic lights. But here in the suburbs it's not. Lights are too far apart and I'm not about to empty the tank chasing down a stupid driver.

mcours2006

I've ridden around downtown Toronto a few times in the past month and am amazed at how many people commute by bike, and how busy the trails are on the weekends. It was actually quite a pleasant surprise. So you're probably right about the changing attitude.

intransit1217

I just googled>mad max bicycle< and didn't find one. Hmh. Turns out the internet does nOt have everything.

ItsJustMe

Try adding "porn" to the search query. Rule 34 may kick in.

jfowler85

Love it.

Unrelated to the quoted post: 6 months ago, or so, I was riding down a designated urban road (no lane but marked for cyclists). Unremarkably, an old jalopnick lumbered past me as we both approached a 4 way. They spent a good few seconds at the sign and rolled off to a slow start, and as I pedaled back up to speed I caught them at the passenger window, which was open. I apparently scared the schite out of the passenger, who shrieked when she noticed my hairy legs pumping right next (embellishment) to her face. She, in turn, scared the schite out of the driver who also yelled and jerked the steering wheel (thankfully) to the right. He collected himself and sped off, while the woman passenger yelled something comprised of EFFFFF YOUUUU.

They stopped at a light about a block away; this light is at the bottom of a fairly steep valley. I time my descent so as to have top gear at the green by the time I hit it. In instances where I end up in line with cars, I take the left and merge when it's clear about half way up the other side. Guess who I met on the way up? Same jalopnick. The driver thought I was fooooking with him, rolled up next to me and starting telling me I was a smart ass. I told him effff you, now move. I stepped on it and merged across. The driver started doing something stupid, like he was going to run around me and cut me off (wild guess...it's happened before). I beat him to it, and swung a hard left and he nearly went up on the curb to miss me. He immediately backed off and took the next turn.

Was that a smart move? Debatable...the consensus is probably no. I got the crazy off my nuts though.

velocity

Personally I don't want anybody get angry enough to go up the road and hurt someone that's on a bike just because I gave assshat a shot of emotion.

noglider 

A couple of times I have confronted drivers by saying something like: Hi. When you find yourself behind a bike rider, the best thing to do is wait until it's safe to pass. I say it with a smile. The driver is disarmed and thanks me for my advice.

jfowler85

Good on you for keeping your cool, but I doubt a car commuter is going to commit a revenge hit and run because the last cyclist they buzzed flipped em two birds.

velocity

Wouldn't put it passed anyone these days. Have you read social media lately that has anything to do with cycling. It will piss you off... Hard to hold back but I do..

AlldayAdam

On my way to work this morning, a SUV past within less than one foot of me going apx. 40 ish, in a residential zone. I catch up to him, and I said " Wow you almost hit me back there" and he said "so what, I should have went around"

Seriously after he said that I dropped like 10 f bombs. He than tried following me. Tired.

He was a typical thug gangster wannabe or something. Reminded me of this thread lol/

chephy

The tide is turning!

Getting to that critical mass of cyclists will do far more to improve cycling conditions than angry confrontations with motorists ever will, and that's a much more satisfying area on which to focus one's efforts. Recruit! Recruit!

Leebo

You never know who is carrying these days. Yes have confronted. Threw my water bottle and bounced off her windshield. 2 lanes each way with a dedicated ped activated light. All other lanes had been stopped for at least 4 seconds. In the crosswalk were myself, 1 ped, 2 runners and a mom with stroller. Came within 1 foot of the stroller. Nice. Chased and gave her an earful when she was ( wait for it) stopped in traffic less than 100 ft away. I try really had to take the high road with mixed results. Next time try saying " Jesus loves you" I find it really disarms them and catches them off guard.

jfowler85

Good on you. Twice I've popped off on drivers whose bad choices put kids in potential danger. There's no telling if it actually accomplishes anything....I can certainly look back on when I was confronted for making poor choices and I now use those examples as a barometer of sorts....but I will tell you that, on principal alone, I will not let someone walk away from crap like that without them knowing that someone else saw them and is willing to make an issue out of it. Concealed carry? If the jerk looks like he's packing then back off; no one here is advocating for starting a fist fight, and I'm not going to let someone almost run me or someone else over and cower away from taking action if need be just because they might carrying a gun. Notice I said if need be.

Ultimately I think this comes down a personal philosophy. There is absolutely no way of knowing if confronting an assclown driver produces any action on his or her part either way. The distribution, like many, many other aspects of life, is probably somewhat like a bell curve, with most drivers not giving a schite, some caring and some just getting more pissed over the confrontation. The real question here is - are you philosophically or morally opposed to confronting someone who you feel has wronged you. For me, despite that I have successfully made myself out to be a complete jerkoff, the answer is yes in some circumstances, no in most others.

alan s 

I might yell something or shake my head, but never a physical confrontation. No telling where that will lead.

snow_echo_NY

^^ This. most motorists are not good at driving so when i catch up to them at the light (which always happens and i usually end up passing them), i shout out "hey!" basically to let them know i'm a person and then i say to pass "not so close!" or "not so fast!" and to "sir, please move slow", that it has effects and can be dangerous for us. occasionally, i'll say something like "what if you were on this bike?" to give some perspective. some motorists are jerks while others will listen and acknowledge/apologize and tell me they'll do better next time.

i sometimes have to scream "STOP" b/c they are oblivious and about to crush me, a pedestrian or another cyclist. sigh.

nayr497

I started riding a bicycle everywhere when I was 25 and lived in Washington, DC. I'd confront drivers all the time. And yes, some of them did not react well. I was a bit young and aggressive and wanted to stand up for myself.

A decade later, I have other folks to think about besides just myself. I try to avoid confronting drivers, but sometimes I still do. However, instead of cussing them out or giving them the bird, I try to simply say, "Please use your turn signals" or "Put on your headlights, it's raining and dark."

I have a theory that MOST people don't want some darn stranger on a bike telling them how to behave and HATE having their wrongs pointed out. My theory is that if you cuss them out 50% will listen, 50% will ignore. On the other hand, I think if you're polite and nice...50% will listen, 50% will ignore.

I try to be a good engine for change, but sadly, in the U.S. cars are kings and most people have ZERO tolerance, understanding, or acceptance of cyclists on open roads.

And don't even try to explain our 2nd class citizenship to a non-cyclist. It's tough to just "walk away" when someone nearly kills you, and it happens a few times a day.