I have a guy in a white truck that yells "*******" (presumably) every time we cross paths. Four times last summer, four times so far this spring. Always at the same location at about the same time (6:30-6:45 in the morning or 3:45-4:00 in the afternoon)

This morning he was stuck at a red light and I got a good look at him. If I was thinking I would have gotten his plates, for my reference. I just stared him down as he yelled and tipped my helmet at him I have no reason to be mad. Part of me wishes I knew why he was. Just weird...

(I guess I should acknowledge the good with the bad. I've gotten my fair share of looks by the fairer sex and a few whistles/cat calls over the years. And a few guys who will wave or give me a thumbs-up)

Some people are just full of rage. I used to be one of those people. It's not a nice way to live.

You handled that a lot more calmly than I would have. I think your tactic is the correct. Imagine calling someone an ******* at every opportunity only to have that person give you a polite nod. It would be either eye-opening or simply more enraging. Probably the latter for that person, which sucks.

It's hard to say what motivates some people to be jerks. Maybe his wife ran (rode) away with a cyclist?

Proverbs 25:21-22
Words to live by.

You handled it very well. As you indicated, getting the license plate number would be a good idea, possibly even reporting it to the police so they have a base from which to work if it escalates later on down the road.

Amen!

I wasn't even thinking about reporting, just more or less so that I could track him down / figure out who he is and try to understand.

I don't take it personally (at least I can't think of an instance when I was an ass on the bike) I figure it's a general philosophy of his. Something about bikes grates him. To each his own.

Anyways... just find it curious.

-philip

He's driving, of course he's mad. I would be mad too, if I had to drive and didn't get to ride my bike.

Its not worth an altercation. 2 Ton truck vs 20 pound bike. Just wave and say have a nice day.

Excellent way to respond Philski. Thanks for looking our for all of us.

It is still winter, not yet spring. Next time you come up to his vehicle, either signal or talk to him about his actions. Tell him that you too suffer from Tourettes Syndrome and know of a great specialist in town that can help him.

That's not actually Tourette's, that's Coprolalia.

"this is Private *******. That's Major *******."
"I knew it! I'm surrounded by *******s!"

Sometimes the madder they are the funnier it is.

But of course, you wouldn't want to cause an altercation, so it might be better to keep outright laughter at bay.

If I understand this post, he was yelling at you as you both were stopped and you were staring at him? That sounds pretty belligerent. How would you characterize this guy, or at least more description if you don't mind.

Here in Boston with the repeated snow emergencies and clogged streets, I have had a remarkably peaceful co-existence with drivers, though there have been rants about winter cyclists on local Talk Radio shows.

I think I would have given the "what the heck shrug" if he was yelling at me. Personally I would like to know where all the hostility is coming from. Usually I just ignore them since they pipe down at a light.

A lot of these guys are tough guys in their vehicles, but won't step outside of them if they really have a problem. Of course they probably don't realize i'm 5'9 215 (high of 240) built like a refrigerator while i'm riding. They probably think we are all Lance look-a-likes.

Jim,

Normally when he runs past me I'm going 15mph and he's doing 45mph in the other direction. This time he was stopped at a red light and I could hear him start to say "*******..." so I looked him in the eyes while I rode by (staring down might not be the right turn of phrase) and tipped my hat in his direction. I guess I felt I was acknowledging his presence and not escalating the situation.

philip

Yeah, I was too... Three times through anger management. First two didn't take too well because I "had" to go, the last one was for me...

I thought cycling was going to get me into anger management, but I finally took people's recommendation to smile and wave at the jerks that I crossed paths with. It has made all the difference.

You handled that well. I, unfortunately, suffer from a certain automatic response when a complete stranger decides to yell at me. It involves the raising of a finger and certain nasty words pouring out of my mouth before the rational part of me kicks in and tells me not to give them the satisfaction.

Good on you.

Limited vocabulary from driver?!
Give 'em a 5-fingered wave.

I also do that if they honk at me, but sometimes I will wave them past as if they didn't know they could pass me.

It is really better not to enrage someone who is already mad at you, but I know it is easy to do.

Even if they are acting like kids, they still have a bigger vehicle and I might see them again someday, especially on a commute. And I really don't want an altercation.

Next time yell back:

"Yeah, we all have one. *******!"

There will always be jerks on the road, whether you're cycling, driving, etc.

You have to learn to let it go.

That's right and the man who wrote those Proverbs also killed thousands of his enemies in battles and then took their wives for himself.