GTcommuter

I don't get lectured by drivers because I don't hang around long enough to listen. Maybe they're still back there talking, but I've got places to go so I keep moving.

Shiznaz

I had a driver lecture me on the rules of the road last night after he sideswiped me. I corrected him on the highway traffic act, but he countered that he would TEACH me the rules of the road (implying he would teach me with his fists). I said that probably would not be at all educational. He then said that if he didn't have his kids in the car he would kill me! I asked him if he really meant it. Yup, the dude would actually murder me in cold blood on the street! Good thing he had his kids there! I would have murdered him had it not been for my hamster at home so I guess we are even...

I dunno what I'd think if my dad threatened to murder a stranger on the street after hitting him with a car. I'd probably lose respect for him and start to hate him, and develop some sort of complex he would have to pay tens of thousands of dollars to correct with my psychiatrist when I'm 18 and on meth.

joshuastar

"don't get mad at me just because you hate your father!"

"i do, i do, i hate my dad..."


so...did you press charges? or did your hamster give you the "no" face?

Shiznaz

No I just let it fly, the collision was very minor due to my evasive maneuvers and I stayed on the bike and rolling... He must have been pissed about his wife cheating on him so much or something.

Rusty Valiant

When they tell me to behave differently, I like to ask if they're the man who's going to make me.
That is, if I'm still around.

Rusty Valiant

Actually, That's the bad day reaction. Usually it's a **** eating grin and blow a kiss goodbye.

flipped4bikes

Ooooh, he's such a man because he displayed moral restraint ONLY because of the presence of his kids.

As for the moral restraint displayed because of the ownership of a hamster, well, there's just too many jokes there!

Shiznaz

Just to add to the pastiche, this guy was in a black tinted late model lexus SUV and looked to be in his mid forties. I happened to notice he had a nicely starched collar on his shirt. As far as getting booked for assault or murder, he has way more to lose than I do! Then again he probably has a better lawyer, but I've got powerful connections too, 22 years old or not.

ItsJustMe

That's the time to walk around to the back, look at his plates, and call 911. Even if you don't hit "send" - when he asks what the *&*& you're doing, and you say "I'm reporting a death threat to the police, I'll only be a minute."....

Shiznaz

I don't waste my time with that sort of thing. I have in the past but it never really accomplishes anything... I really should just smile and wave but sometimes I let the situation get the better of me.

I do make the 911 call if I am actually knocked off the bike, if there is any damage to me or the bike, or if it seems like the person may flee the scene. In this case it was kind of a 'no blood, no foul' situation, and police intervention wouldn't have done anything but waste our time, as nothing could be proved and there were no damages. Then again I have more time on my hands than the father of 2 driving a lexus SUV so maybe that would have taught him a lesson. At least he could be corrected on his misinformed view of the highway traffic act.

squegeeboo

Besides the occasional person shouting at me, I've had these 2 experiences:
1. A guy pulls up to me at a stop light, and lets me know my blinkies are too much and will cause an accident, I tell him, as long as they are crashing into something else I'm fine with that.
2. A group of college age kids in a van pull up to me at a traffic light and offer me some Jack, I thank them, but tell them I've got a few more miles so I'll have some of my own once I get home.

twochins

i do what i think is best when riding on the roads here...any of these dudes in cars telling you what you should be doing is ridiculous...let me try riding a bike for just one day and see how they feel after that...

TreeUnit

I don't get lectured very much, mainly because my commute is mainly on a busy street (and I am usually blazing past traffic). I think most motorists feel more able to lecture bicycles because, in their minds, a biker is probably of lower intelligence or economic status (I mean who in their right mind would put up with physical work to go from place to place, if they had a job which could afford them an SUV). Being able to lecture a bicyclist makes the driver feel powerful, intelligent, and really helps repress any feelings that they might be doing the wrong thing by burning oil to commute.

newbojeff

Shiznaz' incident reminds me of the guy who was driving with three ~8 year olds in the back seat, blew past me to make a right turn, then had to skid to a stop because he was taking it too fast. When I go rolling by, shaking my head at him, he gives me the finger. I yelled, "Hi kids!!" and rode on.

Most cyclist-driver conversation is totally unintelligable, but, like Chephy, I sometimes yell, "read the law!" when I'm told something ridiculous.

thdave

I've been regularly getting lectured by some of our guards as I come onto our facility. They check my badge (they have to touch it) and then give me some cautionary words of wisdom, e.g., "be careful going up hills, "make sure you're warm enough," and other feel goodisms. No problem, but geech--it gets old.

One guard is quite friendly--he always tells me what number cyclist I am today. Usually, I'm one or two, but sometimes more on nicer days.

Hambone

I haven't had a driver offer advice on using the roads but yesterday, one asked me for advice...

This driver nearly run me over yesterday morning as she lurched through the bike lane to get around a stopped handicapped pickup van.

I waited for the driver at the red light she was 3 seconds earlier to and explained that she was not allowed in the bike lane and she especially needed to stay out of it when my body was already in it.

She looked at me with confusion and asked in all seriousness, "How was I supposed to get around that car then?"

I politely replied, "Ma'am, if you are going to use that mini-van to get around our city, you need to be able to figure these things out for yourself." I then told her to have a nice day and rode off smugly.

Bekologist

sometimes, if its a 'grey poupon' moment at a stoplight, i respond with something like, "like sucking camel hose to help kill american soldiers willing to die for your gasoline, eh, gas huffer?" and that get's 'em really raging.

usually its' "Learn the rules of the road you (lousy so and so)" screamed at full volume.

It's sad and tragic, its not a joke. Gas huffers support terrorism with every fillup.

CommuterRun

My rule is, when a driver claims to be a cyclist, they are lying.

I had a driver try to lecture me once. I made my right, turning my back on him, and rode away.

If one can ever stop me for this, I'm going get their license plate number and give them the option. They can call the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office, or I will.

The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office was instrumental in helping Robert Seidler put together the Bicycle/Motorist Law Enforcement CD, for the Florida Bicycle Association.

rknj

Most of the time that's true, but after almost running over a Fred riding in dark clothing, with no lights or reflectors, helmetless, riding against traffic on a busy road, and having the nerve to yell at ME when I'm legally pulling out into a break in traffic from my girlfriend's office.. yeah, I gave him far worse than I usually give to the average ignorant cager.

bikedaddy

I am sorry ... this is completly off topic.

Just when I thought I understood what a Fred was you go and make this comment. Wouldn't a Fred be decked out with all the best commuter gear including lights, reflective clothing, helmet. etc? I guess I had come to understand 'Fred' to mean either 'commuter nerd' or 'roadie wannabee' but not your definition.

Sorry for going off topic.

Hambone

there are different schools of thought on the definition of "Fred."

If you search it there have been some interesting threads.

bikedaddy

Thanks for responding. As far as I can tell when you get on a bike regardless of it your a commuter, roadie, bum, or whatever somebody else on a bike out there thinks you are a Fred.

Hambone

no there are some retro grouches out there who would never be considered a Fred.

I like the limited Wikipedia definition, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_%28Bicycling%29

Daily Commute

I didn't know HH got that far north with his RV.

chipcom 

Today I had another conversation with a driver that I get far more often than lectures or screams - they asked for directions.