I was coming back to work from lunch today when I saw another bike in the bike lane ahead. He was on an old mountain bike, wearing a safety vest and BMX helmet. He kept singling for a right turn, but never turned. He was going pretty slow, so I quickly caught up to him, then waited until there were no cars passing by an swung out into the middle of the right car lane and passed.

As I passed him, he started yelling. I wasn't sure exactly what he was saying, but there were some expletives. I didn't think he was shouting at me, so I ignored him and kept going. At the next intersection, the light turned yellow just as I was going through.

About 100 yards later, the same guy buzzed by just barely to my left. He turned around a glared at me as he passed. He must've had to run a red light (at a very busy intersection!) and go way faster than he was going before, just so he could catch up and glare at me. Luckily, my turn-off was just after that, so I could get away from this guy whose day I had apparently just ruined.

Is there some rule or code or custom I violated? He was very angry, and I have no idea why.

He was waving and you didn't wave back?

Can't see anything wrong with your version of events. Maybe his version involves dragons or zombies or something.

At any rate, you did the right thing by not engaging

Yeah, assuming we can take the OP's version at face value my first thought is that there's some sort of mental issue here.

Well, at least you ruined his day. All in all, not too bad.

He might have been upset that you didn't "call out" the pass. I've seen one or two that were kind of neurotic about that, no matter how much space you have. Never out on an empty road, but I could see it happening.

That's the only thing I can think of. I always call out on MUP's, but here I used a whole different lane, so I didn't bother.

I think one of the things he yelled was "Thanks for the f****** hand signal!!!" So, maybe? But I was behind him and he had no mirrors, so I'm not sure what hand signal he was looking for.

All kinds of DB's in this world...some of who ride bikes too.

Next time yell really loudly “passing on the left” when you are about to pass, giving him no time to react.

Were you wearing a T-shirt with a contentious political or social message?

That's called "The Look."

He was dialing it up to 400 watts.

I'll try my bell next time, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that I never see this guy again.

I've never had anyone let me know before passing on the road, and I've never thought anything of it.

I was wearing a pink polo and jeans, with nothing printed on them. He started yelling as soon as soon as he noticed he was being passed.

Sometimes you just meet crazy people in the world.

Did it go anything like this?

Society is on the edge these days. People are stressed and frustrated, easily feel offended and are quick to lose their temper. It's the exact same deal with drivers everywhere cutting other drivers off during a passing maneuver, speeding up to prevent a passing maneuver or tailgating someone because they feel "wronged" on the highway. Just don't take it personally, ignore it and hope they're not in too much of a fighting mood.

Video can be a useful tool.

Sometimes all you can do is try to avoid the idiots.

I calmly state "there seems to be a problem here." And see where it goes. Most people realise they're being an ass and cut that crap. Some people blame me for issues and I just nod and let them talk. Usually they run out of energy.

OK, I can understand people not noticing that they've left their turn signal on in their car—their music was too loud, they were distracted or talking, didn't hear the clicking of the signal—but on a bike? Was this person putting out their right hand and just leaving it there, forgetting that it was out there? I can't picture this.

It sounds like you did nothing significantly wrong that you deserved the thrashing he gave you.

I got a bit of a look as I passed a pedestrian from behind: I called "On Your Left" twice but no response so I waited until we reached a wider section of the plowed sidewalk and went by him on his left (his hood was up so I couldn't tell if he was wearing ear buds or headphones but, I tried to warn him).

He'd hold out his left arm, upper arm horizontal and forearm straight up, and leave it there for 5-10 seconds. He did it three or four times before I passed him. He even did it while going over some railroad tracks, where there was no turn to take. His fist was closed, though, which I don't think is part of a standard turn signal. Maybe it was a call to arms?



Sometimes I have a hard time making myself heard when I want to warn about a pass. Too many people have headphones, or they're just not paying attention. I remember calling out to another bike on a wide MUP, but he abruptly swerved and nearly hit me as I was passing, then berated me for not calling out to him.

I have a bell now. The sound stands out and carries so much better than my own voice.

That was my thought based on the safety vest and BMX helmet.
Though... admittedly I'm picturing construction vest and motocross helmet.

There's a good one-finger signal for people like that. Practice riding no hands so you can use the other to put a stick in his spokes.

I meant the retro kind, not the full face mask type.



Construction vest, yes, just like this:



"I've got your f****** hand signal right here, buddy!"

Ok, I'm old, when I think BMX I still think of this...