"Get off the road!"
10-19-11 | 08:57 AM
#27
Airborne Marauder
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: River City
Well, it finally happened to me. I haven't heard these words from a motorist for a long time, not even on major thoroughfares.
Friday afternoon, I was doing my usual commute home. On Belinder, in Prairie Village, KS, a quiet residential "feeder" road, a pickup passed me. The passenger said,"Get off the road!" as they drove by. Strangely, this is one of those two lane roads that has ample room for cars to park on both sides without hindering thru traffic. So, it isn't as if I was in any way impeding this (ad hominem remark deleted).
Usually, motorists are friendly and nice to me on my commute, so this was strange for the roads I take.
Jonathan
Friday afternoon, I was doing my usual commute home. On Belinder, in Prairie Village, KS, a quiet residential "feeder" road, a pickup passed me. The passenger said,"Get off the road!" as they drove by. Strangely, this is one of those two lane roads that has ample room for cars to park on both sides without hindering thru traffic. So, it isn't as if I was in any way impeding this (ad hominem remark deleted).
Usually, motorists are friendly and nice to me on my commute, so this was strange for the roads I take.
Jonathan
10-19-11 | 09:23 AM
#28
Señior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
smile and wave kids, just smile and wave.
Including when someone responds to a 10 year old thread.
Including when someone responds to a 10 year old thread.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
10-19-11 | 09:29 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Unfortunately if you ride on the road, sooner or later you are going to meet Chris L's "motoring primate." Although I've never been crowded off the road, I have been flipped off, cursed at, Had one guy yell "hey man, your supposed to be a car"!! Yeah, I lost it on that one,liked to died laughing!! This spring had my first hey look its a cyclist lets throw our beer bottle at him experience. Caught me on the left thigh, so can only assume they were going for a wheel. They missed thankfully. Left me with a nice 6" bruise though.
I never give the response they're looking for. I give'em a thumbs up and go down the road. I have become quite adept at reading license plates though.
In eight years of cycling I've had four bad encounters with autos. So, the bad ones really are few and far between.
Pete, I can't agree with you more, about life teaching us all.
I never give the response they're looking for. I give'em a thumbs up and go down the road. I have become quite adept at reading license plates though.
In eight years of cycling I've had four bad encounters with autos. So, the bad ones really are few and far between.
Pete, I can't agree with you more, about life teaching us all.
I've never had any experiences as bad as that. The worst I have had is somebody screaming "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!" while I was literally riding over the painted on symbol of a bike that signified that said road was a "bike boulevard" (I fear for the intelligence of the girl who screamed that). I think motorists in Portland sort of fear bikers though... we are legion.
10-19-11 | 09:59 AM
#32
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Smile & wave. If their window is open, yell, "I love you!" It puts the h8ters off their game.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
10-19-11 | 10:10 AM
#33
Descends like a rock
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 16
From: Fort Worth, TX
Bikes: Scott Foil, Surly Pacer
I just yell back "No!" or ignore them.
When I was stopped at a railroad crossing recently, I had this strange conversation
Lady -"Why do you ride in the street?"
Me -"Where else would I ride?"
Lady -"On the sidewalk" (with an implied 'Duh')
Me - "Well, as you can see, there's no sidewalk here. Most sidewalks are not safe and sometimes even illegal for bikes. Plus, you cant really go very fast on the sidewalk"
Lady -"Oh, just wondering"
I would like to think that was an educational moment for her than might change her attitude about bikes on the road, but that's probably just delusional.
When I was stopped at a railroad crossing recently, I had this strange conversation
Lady -"Why do you ride in the street?"
Me -"Where else would I ride?"
Lady -"On the sidewalk" (with an implied 'Duh')
Me - "Well, as you can see, there's no sidewalk here. Most sidewalks are not safe and sometimes even illegal for bikes. Plus, you cant really go very fast on the sidewalk"
Lady -"Oh, just wondering"
I would like to think that was an educational moment for her than might change her attitude about bikes on the road, but that's probably just delusional.
