justadude

Don't assume the honking is meant to be disrespectful. When I drive, if I honk at cyclists, it's just a friendly "hey there, I'm passing on your left".

GovernorSilver

I was a lot more hot-headed when I was in my 20s. Being told to chill out/relax/etc. wasn't effective.

As I got older, my temper got easier to control.

Jim from Boston

My most frequent response to a honk not readily identifiable as "friendly," is to reach out my hand, palm up, in an exasperated gesture, and say, "WHAT, WHAT, WHAT...?!!". Not infrequently I realize the honk was not directed towards me.

old's'cool

That may be so. As a cyclist, I prefer not to be honked at, at all, except as a warning that I need to immediately notice a hazardous situation and take evasive action. I don't need to be informed that a motor vehicle is going to pass routinely on my left. That is happening all the time anyway, honk or no honk. I certainly don't care for supportive honks either, well meant though they may be.

Be that as it may, with the ubiquity of either aggressive or supportive honking, take your pick, I tend to ignore honks period. I've even been honked at taking a very safe and legal left turn, hundreds of feet in front of oncoming traffic. Really?? Yawn.

wolfchild

This afternoon as soon as I left work and got on the road I heard a honk behind me, so I turned my head sideways and it was my receptionist waving and saying bye, I am so glad I didn't loose my cool and flown into beserker rage.

noglider 

Please stop it. On a bike, I can hear a vehicle approaching from a long way off. A sudden loud sound doesn't help and rattles the nerves.

Tundra_Man 

That happens to me regularly: I'll hear honking and think, "what's wrong with that idiot?" Then I'll look and realize it's somebody I know who's waving hello.

justadude

Good morning, noglider. I agree with you, when I'm cycling on the road a sudden and unexpected loud sound, like right up behind me, is startling and not pleasant. A quick brief honk from a distance of about 200 feet seems more reasonable, for example when the driver may foresee a close pass due to oncoming traffic in the other lane. It may also alert the next driver behind to look and see a cyclist ahead. As a fellow cyclist, I understand your concerns about drivers and perceived rude drivers, as I've had some close calls myself while cycling on the road. On the other hand, I propose that not necessarily all drivers who honk are menacing towards cyclists as relating to the topic of this thread. I appreciate your comments and giving me the opportunity to clarify what I meant. Have a great day and be safe my friend.

justadude

Good morning old's'cool. I'll make it a point to not honk at you, if I'm driving and see you cycling. Have a nice day)

justadude

This has happened to me many times, as someone honked to me and I didn't know who it was, but later they told me they saw me out cycling and honked but that I didn't seem to see them. Have a nice day and be safe out there, everyone.

noglider 

@justadude, please start driving better. I do not need a 200 foot warning that you might pass me unsafely. I need you to pass me safely. If the lane is not wide enough to accommodate both you and me, stay behind until it is wide enough. If I were driving a backhoe or a street cleaner, you wouldn't think twice about slowing down behind a slow-moving vehicle, so please slow down behind me when I'm on my bike.

I understand that honking is not always done out of aggression, but the effect is the same. It is nerve-rattling and unnecessary. Therefore, it is a bad practice unless there is an emergency that the cyclist must respond to.

Thank you for admitting how badly you drive so we can discuss this.

justadude

Good afternoon noglider. I am a safe driver. I am a safe cyclist. I allow usually the entire lane, which is more than "at least 3 feet" distance, when passing, as required by the law and safe practice. I wait to pass and/or use my horn appropriately and only in the interest of safety as I deem necessary. If I'm driving a 35 or 40 mph road and anticipate braking to 10 mph for cyclists ahead who I'm unable to pass, I may just honk to alert the drivers behind me about my sudden braking, and it's my discretion and right to do so. Nothing I have done or written suggests I drive unsafely. I have never personally had an incident with another driver or cyclist, but I've seen many. While I appreciate your encouraging everyone to drive more safely, and I am sure you are both an excellent cyclist and driver, there is no reason for you to suggest my driving involves unsafe passing and is un-necessarily nerve-rattling. Your statement to me "Thank you for admitting how badly you drive so we can discuss this." seems to me inappropriately condescending in a friendly forum. As I stated before, my original comment was to the topic of this thread, "People honking me triggers my rage", to express my view that honking doesn't have to come from or make anger. I'm sorry if you're in favor of anger, road rage, or whatever. Thanks again, be safe, and have a nice day my friend.

noglider 

No incidents? That's good. But you've honked. Please stop honking at cyclists, even if it's a friendly warning that you are approaching. You mention a "close pass," which is a choice you make. I don't need a warning that you might pass me closely. I need you to refrain from passing closely, and whether or not you honk does not enter into that choice.

Thank you for the offers of good will. I wish you good will, too. I've pointed out a practice that is rattling and unhelpful. Please consider that they're not wise as you describe them. If my tone makes you closed-minded to the idea that your driving could use improvement, then I have failed. I have not suggested you pass unsafely. You have stated that you do.

noglider 

I'm sorry. I think I read you wrong. You were not necessarily describing how you drive. But you justified a 200 foot warning of a possibility of a close pass. I don't think there is a justification.

Walter S

I hate that. Keep your honks to yourself. Honks are irritating and sometimes startling.

caloso

What others have said. It is pretty much impossible to discern a friendly honk from a malicious honk. So don't honk at all. Just pass safely. Wave as you go by if you like, but please lay off the horn.

Walter S

Some drivers actually honk as a warning for me to get out of the way. That is of course quite rude. And given the ambiguity of the situation the intent to warn me is about all I can safely assume the honk means. Drivers should not honk except in emergencies.

justadude

Good afternoon noglider. I'm sure I've specifically stated that I do not make a close pass, but allow the entire lane which is more than the 3 feet required. That when the passing lane is occupied, I brake and wait to pass. I'm sorry you seem to be having difficulty understanding my post. I also explained that a quick honk may be used to alert other drivers around (behind) me that I'm braking for cyclists. In the situation were I can safely and easily pass, I probably will not honk at all, although I might if I'm crossing into an incoming-traffic lane to pass. I never said I come up behind cyclists and honk at them while passing unsafely, which you said. I'm sorry if you don't understand or disagree, but I don't think I need to continuously explain or repeat myself here. Furthermore, when I'm cycling I use a bell to advise other cyclists or pedestrians when I'm passing them. Frankly I don't care whether you like it or not, but thank you for your interest in discussing cycling safety and have a nice day.

p.s. If you all want to be angry because drivers use their horn, that's your problem.

ThermionicScott 

You don't get it. Just stop honking unless it's an emergency situation.

Spoonrobot 

You can't seriously believe a honk will alert drivers behind you?

This is nonsense.

With repsect to proper horn use; the California DMV has a nice handy guide:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/co...bk/hrn_hlts_es

GovernorSilver

If I'm driving behind another car and that car honks, I'm not going to think the honk was a signal to me. My first thought would be "who is he/she honking at? Must be someone in front".

Most drivers don't use their horn to signal somebody behind them. That's what hazard lights are for.

AlmostTrick

That's why I ride with a "Honk if you're Horny" jersey.

psy

When I first started commuting a few years ago I had some anger issues myself. I kicked, spit on and hit several cars and even a bus once. I've chased down cars and gotten into some pretty good shouting matches at the side of the road. I'm a nice guy and actually not very tough in a fight, but I would get filled with rage when these idiots would put my life in danger to save a few seconds. I've since calmed down quite a bit and take things in stride more often than not these days. Mostly I smile and wave, or if I'm really not liking what someone did I might give them the international cyclists salute.

i can't remember the last time I tried to chase a car down...

justadude

In my state, Florida, the law about using horns is: "The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with his or her horn.". I also agree with the California DMV guide you provided. It seems to me like a few people here are completely intolerant of drivers using there horns under any circumstances except maybe during a collision, or maybe not even then. The origin of this post is a fellow cyclist expressing how drivers using their horns triggers feelings of "rage" while he or she is bicycling. My point was to explain that people honk for different reasons, sometimes for good and not just in anger or spite. It seems my thoughts about it are not well-received by a few people here, and that's ok. I wish you all to be safe and have a nice day.

Walter S

+1!!! I can't believe a cyclist would do that and steadfastly maintain their "correctness" in doing so. That's more unnerving than some ignorant driver.