keiththesnake

On my way downtown to the bar tonight, some mid-30's girl just about t-bones me as I'm crossing on a flashing yellow. She's got a flashing red. She's talking on the cell. She obviously doesn't see me. I yell, "Hey!" This gets her attention. She pulls the phone from her ear and rolls down her window to yell at me. I tell her to watch where she's going, and that she's supposed to stop back there. She tells me to get the eff off the road. What's a "cracker?" It didn't sound nice.

I saw her. I saw she wasn't paying attention as she's about to plow into me. Maybe I shoulda just kept my mouth shut. Maybe I was in a mood.

So, if I told my wife, she'd get all nervous again. She'd think it's unsafe for me to ride my little bicycle around town, that I'm gonna get myself killed. So, I'm telling you guys instead.

You guys can make fun of me all you want, or you can tell me how I must have serious relationship problems, or whatever. I just thought it would be nice to share this incident and to seek counsel from your experiences.

ok_commuter

Don't share everything with your wife, and don't insist that she shares everything with you -- having secrets is the secret to a happy marriage.

CJ Carbone

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cracker

JeffS

Don't feel obligated to share everything.

It's not that I go out of my way to omit these incidents, I sometimes rant about an incident when I get home. I certainly don't feel compelled to share every encounter though. We're both better off for it.

noteon 

It was also an outstanding TV crime series starring Robbie Coltrane.

CRACKER

And a very poor American imitation starring Robert Pastorelli, to which we shall not link.

That's probably what she meant.

uke

Always treat flashing lights as absolute greens, because you absolutely cannot expect people to stop for them.

ATAC49er

'Cracker' from a 30-ish femme might just get her a krypto-chain-rearview-mirror encounter....

But whether I tell anyone else about it or not -- no, no longer married -- I will not allow someone else to dictate my riding.

Yes, I am barreling towards the encounter "You need to pick -- me or your bike!" And I likely will miss her....

no1mad 

Cracker= *****. (Good lord, I'm starting to show my age...).

Also, you must never speak of this to your wife. She'll probably freak out, and insist that you take up spin classes instead.

larryfeltonj

I live on the edge of a bar district (East Atlanta Village) so I think I'm eminently qualified to give advice on cycling in those areas (the question of dealing with relationships I'm not so sure about, since I'm only 57 years old, but I'll give that a shot too).

First of all, if you're riding after dark in an area with bars, the normal rules of vehicular cycling should be put into slow motion. The main objective at intersections is to not be hit. So be very wary of any intersection. Also, if verbally engaging the drivers who don't notice or see you is therapeutic to you, by all means interact with them. But bear in mind that they may not be in any demeanor to properly accept your education.

As for communication with your wife, I'd suggest that you take an Effective Cycling course together, and that you promise to her you'll be very careful while riding in traffic. Cycling together, and demonstrating good cycling skills, will probably do a lot towards smoothing over the rough spots in her perceptions of cycling safety.

Kenay

I dont blame you for not telling her. I wouldnt!
But I still think it is safer to ride your bike then to drive-there are much more fatalities driving then riding bikes. Apparently it is safer to be in Iraq then on our road systems! haha!

Sirrus Rider

+1 Never let a woman take over your life. Have a life and share it with her.

TeamRoundBoys

Seriously, you should know the rules.

Look out for the crazies, expect to not be seen, keep your mouth shut unless you have a 12 gauge in your panniers.

Popeyecahn

Cracker=Dumba55 white boy.

As larryfeltonj pointed out I would not engage in any form of conversation with such slur tossers while on a bike. He also makes a very good point about survival tactics in biking after dark and in urban settings.

As to the topic at hand, I might not mention it if wifey is an alarmist...

recumelectric

What she doesn't know won't hurt her. But seriously, she hasn't figured out that you're a cracker yet?

3bikes

30 pound bike.... 3,000 pound vehicle.... do a little math and figure out which one will prevail in a collision. Always avoid problems... it ain't easy but... always avoid problems.

Cracker: nasty thing to say to a white guy... go ahead and Google the phrase... you'll be enlightened quickly.

Be safe out there... don't give up on your twice daily cardio workout because of a jerk and learn to laugh about it later on.

-3bikes

Pedaleur

This story did not go where I was hoping it would...

Doohickie

Yell HEY every time you think someone doesn't see you and might hit you.

på beløb

Buy yourself one of them little video cameras. Attach it to your helmet. After such incidents review the video. If the driver face looks amusing, all screwed up like, as they abuse you, put it up on YouTube. Remember: revenge is a dish best served cold.

RubenX 

I need to work on this one... 2 days ago a young punk was honking with the "get off the road!" attitude even tho the lane was insanely wide, like 16 feet. I soon found myself flipping the bird and yelling a barage of expeletives in both english and spanish (just in case, after all this is Florida)... for a second there, it looked like the guy was going to stop. He didn't, but yeah... uness I'm carying the 12 gauge i should me more carefull out there.

Wino Ryder

[QUOTE=keiththesnake;7396639 I just thought it would be nice to share this incident and to seek counsel from your experiences.[/QUOTE]

Its good you've come to us about this. I mean it would be rather embarassing if your wife found out you came within seconds of getting your arse beat by a woman because you could'nt keep your mouth shut.

The incident will pass and you'll be okay - remember what goes on in the forums stays in the forums.

JR97

I think my wife would be more concerned that I said 30'ish girl and T-bone on my commute.

neilfein

Hold off, here... you've got something you're keeping from your wife (whether it's really a Big Secret or not is another matter), so you're tossing it up on the net? This ain't Foo, fella.

vik 

+100 - great advice....

MNBiker

keiththesnake,
You didn't talk or ask about this explicitly, but I would hope you have your bases covered as far as nighttime lighting on your bike. I would suggest it is better to be on the maximal rather than the minimal side of lighting equipment, and also make sure it can be seen from the side as well as from the front and back. If this is too off topic, ignore me.

rugerben

Note to self:
Get longer and narrower panniers.