I guess I should have invited him and all his friends and family for tea and crumpets so we could discuss safe driving habits. Dumbass, that's not my job. Thats what driving school and the driver's license renewal process are for.

It's not your job, but if you can educate a driver and prevent a cyclist from getting plowed in the future, you'd be a 'dumbass' not to. That or a 'jackass'.

Don't know if you've ever been to driving school, but they don't teach you about cyclists. Don't know if you've ever renewed your license, but it generally involves nothing more than a new photo and a little cash for the state. So no, that's not what those facilities are for.

So, by not pounding safer driving habits into this gentlemen's head, beyond asking him to be more careful like i did, the next cyclist that could potentially get hit by him or his friends or family, is my dumbass fault. Give me a break. You put too much stock into the power of conversation.

In driver's ed and driving school they do teach safe driving habits such as, look before you turn. THis may not be adequate but it is not my job to pick up where these institutions fall short.

Had a similar run in.. My wife and I were riding here in downtown Philly, out running errands. I was out if front and ran into the front fender of a car that completely ignored the stop sign. My fork was bent a bit and my stem was shifted but I was OK. The driver started shouting at me to watch where I was going. There was some loud shouting back and forth for a second, until my Mrs. came up and started laying into the guy. It was awesome. It ended with me saying "Thanks man, you jacked up my bike." a few times and my wife telling him to keep driving and basically to get lost. I've found that in these situations drivers should be reminded that they are responsible for treating cyclists like pedestrians. May not be legally true, but puts a word of caution into them. Having a kick ass chick back you up doesn't hurt either.

I don't want to be treated like a pedestrian, and that's not what the law says, either. I want to be treated like another vehicle, and that IS what the law says. What he did was no different than pulling out in front of another car.

Ha, what a load of crap. Leave it to lawyers to figure out some weaselly crud like that. "It's true, your honor, if that mean old bicyclist were to be a good citizen and stay locked up in his house, he'd never get hit by a car, so therefore it's his fault if I hit him."

The US legal system; making sure NOTHING is your fault, you're just a victim. A victim with a deadly weapon.

Sorry you felt offended by my response to you. Not my intention. You did what you felt was right, by your standards. Good on you. Should I stroke you more so you can feel good about yourself?

I was only stating what I would have done. At any rate, it may not "be your job", but there's nothing wrong with doing something that isn't your job. I never said anything was your fault (I suggest you re-read what I wrote.)

And btw, I do believe in the power of conversation.

Stroke all you want sweetheart. My response that you are quoting was for Mr Underbridge. And don't worry idoru, you didn't offend me, I'm just tired of people being unrealistic.