+1 on the yelling. I also stangely find the yelling to be theraputic. On more than a few occasions the drivers have stopped dead in their tracks... therefore the job was achieved. I've had a few people get pissed off at me. One person yelled back, that he saw me. Never mind that he was slowly rolling through a stop sign and appeared to be at a colision course with me. I don't care. I'd wrather yell once to many times than be hit again.

I guess it helps that I was born with a 50 ft whisper. When I used to teach at a pool I was always the one that would talk to all the parents as I never had a problem being hear. I don't hesitate to yell stop (sometimes followed by a few other colorful words if they start to cut me off)... I KNOW they can hear me. Never assume you will get the right of way, but I shure make it clear that I WILL take the right of way.

Some drivers are complete a**holes, and sometimes they "win." For example - earlier this week, I linep up in the middle of the lane I wear high-cis clothing, my PB Superflash is practically blinding the driver behind me, I have my left arm streached out to CLEARLY indicating my desire to turn... Yet a drivers pulled hisr car right in the middle of the street crossing over a DOUBLE yellow line (his car was dead center on the line) and insisted on lining up to the left of me to turn left. I can not possibly imagine what goes on in the mind of those drivers. Maybe their learned to drive in Rome (IT) where I have seen the craziest stuff ever. This driver was clearly out of touch with any possible resemblance to reasonable driving that just let him go first. I somehow don't think this driver would have had a problem hitting me it I got any more in their way. I just hope that one of these day a cop goes by and sees a drivers like that and writes them a tickets.

Happy riding,
André

Check your local and state laws concerning the use of video as evidence. Generally; if local or state government can mail the owner of the vehicle a traffic citation for speeding, running a red light, or failing to completely stop at a stop sign they have camera laws. If they do get a camera and use it. Every time your placed in danger by a careless or reckless driver save the video and file a compliant at the local police station or with the first officer you find. Nearly all police cruisers have computers with a memory card reader and can copy your video evidence. They will in turn send the vehicle owner a traffic citation or in the case of reckless driving or reckless endangerment a warrant for there arrest and detainment will be issued. After a few weeks people that don't take there driving seriously will quickly learn too start paying attention. Some will even come to the realization it was the cyclist with a camera that caused that expensive traffic citation to appear in there mail box and there after treat every cyclist as if they were a policeman.

I'm right there with you. I don't trust a motorist for a split second. Even when I take the lane in situations that I should (blind curves, narrow roads with double-yellow stripe, etc), they attempt to pass me. I admit I've had that attitude before, but I was 16 or 17.


Do not trust a motorist. Ever.

It may be well intentioned but that's not good driving and they're not doing you a favour. They're setting you (or a less skilled cyclist) up for a collision with some other driver who wasn't a party to the wave through.

I didn't describe the situation well. They are behaving correctly as if I was a car. I get to the intersection a couple of seconds before me and they treat me like a car and give me the right of way that is mine. My expectations when I started were that people would do the opposite and just go ahead despite me getting there slightly ahead of them. I will continue those expectations just so I am not caught off guard when it happens.

...

That's what I was gonna say! 120 DB at the press of a button! Great when your out of breath, lol!

Oddly I was nearly right hooked while riding to get/order mine, and it was the first time it happened to me. Sometimes Irony is just annoying! I invoked the loud yell backup system. =D

The Air Zound is good for keeping dogs away too! Can't attest to it yet, but read enough other comments on this site that say it works I went out and bought one, should be here today or tomarrow I bet.

ok

I hate when that happens... I'm never sure which one of me should go first!

I should have clarified that; I did not have a stop sign so I had the right of way. I slow down in that spot in anticipation of drivers not stopping at their stop sign. I do move all the way over to the left when I'm turning left. I'm going to try practicing more with hand signals because I know I'm really bad at that. I'm somehow better at riding one handed with my left hand on the bars than with the right so my hand signals are usually very short and wobbly.

I have one and I'm really happy with it. It stops motorists dead in their tracks.

today i was holding the lane on a 45 mph blind curve. some dude decided to pass by giving me the whole lane, but nearly had a head-on with another car. i would feel much guilt if an id10t driver caused a wreck while trying to pass me.

to the op: a well-placed middle finger works well (sometimes)

Another thing to try is while you are making eye contact and even if you are slowing down, make a big deal of pedaling furiously - like you are speeding up. If the motorist thinks that you are easing up then she will pull out in front of you.

I feel guilty doing what amounts to playing chicken but dumbass cagers do it to each other so other than the fear of death I don't see the difference so much.

Motorists are like dogs. If you act like the Alpha, they'll treat you like the Alpha.

Actually it's your drop-dead gorgeous good looks that do that, darlin.

Like I used to tell HH when he'd trot out this theory...most motorists are not paying enough attention to you to notice you at all, let alone notice if you are pedaling or not or how fast. Indeed, even if you get out of the saddle, many think you are doing so to stop, not to go faster...much like a jockey standing in the stirrups.

The point - what you think you are communicating may not be what the other guy perceives you are communicating, so communicate in ways that are as universally understandable as possible...and don't assume the other party got the message without some confirmation from them that they understand..

My brother.

And whack the fenders.

+1E6

Arguing with HH was an exercise in futility anyway. Kind of like arguing with a cat, but far more irritating.

I don't assume that they get it but I try to signal and communicate. I also communicate in other ways - hand signals yells etc. In other words, when it is necessary I take control of the situation and tell the drivers what I am doing and (many times) what they should do. Around here (central Pa) it works - it's not just a theory. Maybe the people around here are nicer that other places but I doubt it.

+ 1
Be predictable and take control of the situation. They appreciate it.

Once someone started to pass me on a blind curve. I could see an oncoming car but he could not. I moved further to the left and signaled "STOP" behind me with a flat hand. Then I made a "Get back" gesture. He got the idea and pulled back behind me - just in time. I was signaling him but was preparing my escape route off the road in case he did not listen.

When he lateer passed me he waved a "thanks".

Yep, yep, yep. Did the same thing a couple of weeks ago (cresting a hill rather than a curve)--same result.

I always puff up like a lizard at intersections. I stand up on my pedals and grab my top grips. It slows me down but I know they see me.

Cars don't see you. Repeat. They don't see you. Even when they do, they don't register you as being significant enough to change their behavior, so you have to ride defensively. Be bright, visible, and assert your position, but keep your safety as the #1 priority (because it is).

I've got flashers front and rear, have a high-viz bike and jersey...and an AirZound. I see people trying to RT on red into my lane when I'm approaching the intersection, and even when I make eye contact, they think that I'm moving 10MPH, not 20-25 when I'm really moving. (On one downhill section, I'm going 35). So, whenever I see a car approaching and likely to cross my path, I've got a thumb poised on the AZ to make sure that if they don't see me, they're going to definitely hear me.

When cresting a hill, I'll stand up to see over the top. I've gotten used to holding my left hand up in a "STOP" gesture when I see oncoming traffic, but I've just as often given them a rolling "move around" gesture when I see that the way is clear. That extra 2 feet of vertical view when I'm standing up on the pedals comes in handy.

When I'm at the front of a LT lane and have already made it to the middle of the intersection to turn left, I'll also give them a "come on" gesture to have them turn inside to the inner lane (I'm going for the outer, since it's onto a 4-lane divided street). I've never had any problems with people swinging wide, and a lot of them seem to appreciate keeping traffic moving through the light.