Or throw a beer bottle at their head

I don't know about Chile, but I partly blame the states here in the US. When you study traffic laws to get a driver's license, the exam focus is on metrics, like how many feet can you park from a fire hydrant, stop sign, etc. Driving students aren't taught about bicycles or bicycle rights on the road. Sadly, I think I lot of it is just ignorance.

You shouldn't tap your horn to be "friendly". You're likely to startle the cyclist. If space is tight the cyclist is more likely to hear "get out of my way" than "hey I'm here passing you". A cyclist almost certainly knows about you anyway. And if you want to make sure, as you squeeze by then don't. Wait for a safe passing opportunity if you really want be friendly.

I assume all honks are at best warnings of impending danger. A honk is too ambiguous to be treated differently.

I had a lady (and her two friends) honk at me while heading up the hill to the local reservoir. At that time of the year, the road (ahead of where I was) was closed to cars, and only cyclists were allowed past. I was riding two abreast on a 25 MPH road chatting with my friend and the lady comes up behind me. I didn't hear or see her, most likely due to the conversation I was having. Mind you, on a single lane road I'm allowed to take the lane if I feel safer that way. So she honked. I said to myself "Oh my bad" so I accelerated to get ahead of my friend and pull to the side. Not 3 seconds later, in the middle of me pulling to the side, she honks again, longer, so I said to myself "Ok dumbass, now you have to deal with me." And stayed in the left tire track until she floored it past me around an unsafe bend screaming "SINGLE FILE." even though I was hundreds of meters ahead of my friend at this point. All the while I gave them a certain one fingered salute. When I caught up to them in the parking lot a half mile ahead, we exchanged words. I asked "You couldn't have waited 5 seconds for me to get out of the way? You're obviously in too much of a hurry to enjoy yourself here." To which the loudmouth responded "LET'S ALL JUST HAVE A GOOD DAY" and repeated that until I went away. Loudmouth got herself into trouble and was embarrassed.

On the way back she was also leaving and passed us peacefully this time, no confrontation at all. Was much easier that way obviously.

People annoy me. Seriously, we were heading to a recreation area, where people go to relax. Not only that but that time of the year it's the local mecca for road cyclists biking the 10 miles and 3000 feet up to the reservoir. And the loudmouth had out of town plates on their car. Luckily I had the aforementioned 3000 foot hill to burn off some steam.

Most of the time I get angerly honked at I think "Uneducated ******* with nothing better to do that honk at cyclists, I bet they have a thriving family life."

But in all honesty, I've gotten more compliments from drivers than honks. Most say "thank you for" this or that. Most often it's for taking the lane at a stoplight and not going around people on the right so people don't right hook me. No reason to pass traffic on the right at a stoplight unless there are hundreds of cars. If there ARE tons of cars, I WILL pass on the right, but mostly because those cars are trying to turn left and I'm headed right, so no awkward merging later on.

I've only been commuting for a few months and I travel a different route home than the one I take to work. The ride home is entirely uphill and I take a nearby state road as the grade is drawn out over the entire ride rather than four very steep climbs with short flats in between. This way is very heavily travelled by autos, trucks etc. This road is often on the news for stories of pedestrians being struck by vehicles. Suprisingly, I've had positive experience, but the other day a truck honked at me and swerved into the bike lane. I was alarmed, and looked over to see him taking my photo or video with his phone. He was laughing and driving ahead while looking at me! It wasn't anyone I know or recognized. Odd. I'm guessing he found my presence on the road funny and I'm probably posted on his Facebook with some silly hashtag. But man! Did he ever come close to hitting me. He sped off and I didn't catch back up to him. That is also unusual as I typically pass the same cars at the top of the hill that passed me at the bottom of the hill. Aside from an occasional car that pulls into the bike lane, most people have been pretty good. Even if they aren't behaving well, I don't engage them. With a bad attitude and all that steel, they win. Besides I can't let them spoil the best part of my day...the ride.

Or just because they have better manners. (Oddly, the one person I know who drives a Prius also rides a Harley and a dirt bike. One of the most cautious drivers I've met around two wheelers. Then again, he bought the Prius because he has a miserable commute in stop and go city traffic, not because he gives a flip about appearing "green.")

Being honked at really really rubs me the wrong way, not just cycling but anytime. I hate loud abrupt noises and most of the time I the bike a honk really startles me. I have a rear view mirror and keep an eye behind me. Rarely does a car come up on me that I'm not aware that they are but I'm never expecting the honk. I hate doors slamming too, about the same result for me.

Another kind of honk is from people who are just trying to scare the crap out of you, recognized by the teenagers in the car laughing as it passes. And yes, I jump so they always have something to laugh at.

I remember cars really well better than names or faces. I've noticed that most of the time drivers that honk, crowd or other bad behavior have bumper stickers. Anyone else noticed that?

I think I might have goofed a bit. :(

As I pass people on the bike path, I like to say "Hello" to both greet, as well as let them know I'm coming up from behind.

Well, yesterday, I had two people drive past, roll down the window and say "Hello" before speeding off. :lol:

Not many honks but about once a month some asshat (always male) will scream/yell as they pass. A couple of years ago some teen losers cut me within inches and the passenger slapped my ass. His hat flew off as he did it, so I pulled over and pissed all over it. As I rolled down the road I saw the car returning to get his hat. Enjoy that cat piss hat brah.

I used to get mad at honkers. No more. I believe in honking-karma. Getting angry not only satisfies the honker, your anger is likely to fuel more confrontations, perhaps only in subtle (but effective) ways. I think the best policy is to assume that all honks are friendly honks, maybe from a personal acquaintance of yours. Wave vigorously and smile.

If the driver has a decent heart but was caught in a moment of weakness they'll immediately feel guilty and will be glad that at least you didn't get the message (you dumbass). And that driver is less likely to be mean to another cyclist or you on a different day.

If the driver is really just an a-hole then you've let the air out of their sails as you obviously don't feel intimidated and your animated reaction is clearly facetious to these types so they know you don't take them seriously and could give a rip about them being in a hurry.

This also has the effect of breaking up a line of close-passers. Often when one driver comes too close for comfort, other drivers behind him act like robots and do likewise. When a car comes by too close sit up and do the friendly wave thing. In this case it means "hey friend - I think you didn't see me!!!". If they look up in the rear-view and see you waving that gets the message across much better than angry gestures because the latter does nothing but stir up more anger. But the wave is just as much for the drivers approaching from the rear. It at least creates a little visual disturbance to wake up the robots and give you more space.

Motorist says "I was honking at something else" = "dam, the cyclist caught up to me, now I have to make an excuse for being a JERK"

Most motorists don't realize how freaking loud a car horn is to the unmotorized. Give them slack and always assume a misunderstanding.

Exactly, they misunderstand the law allows for cyclists to be on the road. I tend to respond with a wave if I'm able to take my hand off the handlebar at that moment. If they see me wave, they probably still think I'm an idiot for biking, but at least they won't think they ticked me off.

Whenever someone honks at me I wave. If as they pass and they don't wave back, I consider them rude and chase them down.

Used to be when passing another vehicle, it was recommended you honk. Maybe they were doing that.

Oddly, during my commute, the rudest/most dangerous drivers I've dealt with in the last few weeks were two in Smarts. I kept thinking, "Really? The only two cars I've seen on this road that I might do serious damage to, and they're the ones near-right-hooking or passing way too close?"

I mean, I weigh 198 and I'm riding a 7100 with probably 15lbs in the panniers, so I really might trash one of them in a downhill right hook.

That's pretty much what I do. Either way, I win. If you really want to make them blow a gasket, point directly at them and laugh and wave. Something about pointing at them and laughing just sends them over the edge.


-Kedosto

I always consider a honk a confirmation that the driver sees me, and therefore is extremely unlikely to hit me. A side benefit of honks is it causes other drivers to pay attention to see what the honk was about, further increasing my safety.

Most drivers who honk seem obviously upset by my presence on the road for some misguided reason... and want to make sure I know about it! Therefore I like to show no acknowledgement of their honk, in order to deny them any satisfaction of pushing their weight around.

http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...k-trucker.html

It's funny how different people have different experiences. My only two instances that I could say pretty confidently were maliciously intentional, one potentially even assault were pickups. There's another move I would interpret as I'll move over just enough to not cause harm, but just say'in this in my lane and i want you to know I'm here and you don't belong. These drivers are predominately a mix of pickup and large suv.

I meant to edit my post but it got deleted instead. ? Next time I won't bother fixing the typos.

Equating non-smokers to motorists is not correct. The non-smoker is the cyclist. Non-smokers for decades have been fighting for their right to be smoke -free. Smokers respond by blowing smoke in their faces. Cyclists have been fighting for their right to be on the road. Motorists in respond squeeze them and harass them.

Out of hundreds of motorists who pass me it's one that may yell or honk at me. Then I wonder what's wrong with that one who can't pass safely like all the others?

Usually when I hear a honk it's directed at another motorist.

When you see approaching vehicles from behind, always expect them to honk at you. You won't get startled if they do.

It seems to me that the worst driving in terms of being aggressive towards cyclists always seems to come from cars with political stickers supporting the most progressive candidate running for president. I've always found it odd.

Jerks gonna jerk.

During Saturday's ride I saw two vehicles on an otherwise empty divided four-lane street, two lanes on each side. First vehicle (a newish SUV) signaled well ahead of their right turn and slowed in the right lane to make a cautious turn. Just a typical, safe, cautious driver.

Second vehicle (a newish pickup) tailgated the SUV instead of passing in the left lane -- plenty of room, no traffic -- and sat on the lead vehicle's bumper, blaring the horn.

Funniest part? The impatient pickup driver actually bothered to use his turn signal when he swerved into the unoccupied left lane, while still leaning on the horn.

Jerks gonna jerk.

It's extremists of all stripes, not a left/right thing. My social media contacts, both real life friends and longtime cyber-friends, include extremists of both poles. They're equally intolerant of any slight diversity from their own pet views.

Offhand I can think of only one of my extremist friends who has openly expressed contempt for bicyclists in the sort of "they're all alike" generalizations that he would find unacceptable if used to describe any other group, race, etc. He's very liberal, and regards "all" cyclists as scofflaws and pests. But he's the only one I can think of offhand with that view.

All the others who've expressed strong opinions about cyclists (and joggers, power-walkers, equestrians, etc.) are all strongly in favor of sharing the roads and trails and showing courtesy. Probably they only thing they'd agree on, as their views otherwise are diametrically opposed.

I see far more polarized views -- or, if you prefer, diversity -- on bicycling oriented forums and Facebook groups. Cyclists themselves seem more likely to show contempt for other cyclists who ride differently. There's no real cycling "community", but several factions competing for perceived scarce resources.

I live out in the country, own a little bit of land and own a truck for my DD. I truck is a necessity for me, I haul stuff regularly (not just my bike). Around here it's most often the compact station wagon type vehicles that are most often crowding me (Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Honda Fit, Subaru's and VW's) but almost always stickers on the back.

I've been honked at and hollered at by drivers of SUVs and pickups, but not actual acts of physical aggression.

All of my experiences with being sideswiped, right-hooked and cut off were from newish and expensivish sedans. Only one actually honked. The rest were probably texting or yakking on their phones, or otherwise distracted.

By far, most motorists I encounter who actually acknowledge my presence are very courteous, often deferring to me at intersections, etc. Overall, riding in public now is much safer than I remember 30 years ago.

I've been scared a few times, maybe even a couple of uncomfortably close calls but I don't think I've ever been really in danger and certainly never hit (not as an adult). It's not the 1000's that pass the way they are supposed to that we remember (well there was these 2 hotties in the convertible wearing bikini tops that I remember but that's another story).