I started reading this site soon after starting to commute. It scared the heck out of me.

However, as best I can tell, everyone posting these stories must be from a big city or in redneck central. I live in S.E. Michigan, have put over 2000 miles on my bike in this first year of commuting, and I've been honked at 3 times and yelled at once, that's it. Nothing I'm remotely worried about.

I hope that potential commuters don't come to this site and decide that cyclists are routinely beat up and run over all over the country. I believe that in the vast majority of the country, there's either no trouble at all (apart from omnipresent negligent drivers), or nothing a thick skin can't handle. There seem to be some areas where there's a lot of conflict, and we hear about them disproportionately. Not only that, but the people posting from those areas write as though they either speak for the rest of the world, or don't acknowledge that there is a world beyond the city they live in.

I had really hoped this could be a thread to say some of us do NOT feel hassled by cars. Please take your horror stories to the threads devoted to them...

I leave for a 10 mile commute at 6 AM
Roads are clear, air is crisp, no bother from drivers.
I ride home at 3:30 PM...uh - have a nice day.

I commute through downtown Chicago every day, which is deffinitly a busy ride. I almost never get angry, because most people dirve respectfully and I don't pay attention to the a-holes. If people want to get pissed off because I'm in their way or slowing them down, that's their problem, because it doesn't usually affect me. I feel very confident handling my bike in traffic, and try to leave early enough that I'm never in a big hurry. The only times I get concerned are when someone almost hits me. Then I yell as loud as I can (I can't help it, it's a reflex) and it either scares the hell out of them or at least gets their attention. Yelling (but not AT someone) is a good way to release stress and get noticed.

I have never been hassled once while riding. Maybe having a few tats and being in relatively good shape wards off jerks. Some of the Lance wanna be's do snub me sometimes when we pass each other. Maybe it because I don't wear the whole tour de France costume. I just ride wearing cargo shorts and a tank top.

Actually, it's not, but I wouldn't expect someone from Philly to know that.

I've done some long tours across country and I never had any problems while on tour, either here or in Mexico... the only issues I run into are in the city. I think city dwelling tends to get on peoples nerves and they lash out... cyclists just happen to be a convenient target.

What about the 20-second honk you posted way back? Most people would regard it as being hassled.

I've never had an issue.. but I ride on some heavily-biked, wide streets with paths (and the occasional sidewalk if traffic is bad).

There is a 4-way stop intersection near my house, and I've been nearly mowed down there a couple of times despite taking a lot of precautions (since I know that place is dangerous). The problem is that one of the intersecting streets is actually very busy (no one planned it that way, it's a two-lane residential street, but its strategic location made it into a de facto arterial), while the other is pretty unimportant and is actually a dead end on one side of the intersection (for cars anyway... bikes can keep going on a short MUP section, and that's why I ride there often - it's a very convenient shortcut). So the cars on the busy road don't even expect any traffic on the tiny street, especially not on the dead-end side, and most don't ever even look there. They come to the stop sign, stop, *maybe* quickly check for peds, and immediately step on the gas.

I personally don't have that many run-ins with drivers. I think one reason for that is that I have "mind like water" when it comes to riding on the road. All the time I see cyclists being infuriated by this or that action aggressive or inattentive drivers take: parking in a bike lane, right hooks, left hooks, pulling out of a driveway right in front of them...

The cyclists are obviously in the right in these situations, and have every right to be angry, but I just found that kind of attitude unproductive. So I don't take things personally any more. I actually make it into a game: try to guess the next crazy move that would put me in danger and have a plan for how to avoid it. When a crazy move gets pulled and I successfully evade it, I actually feel good about my game, and award myself some points. :)

In a sense, I completely dehumanize the drivers. I forget the drivers even exist. I ride in the city inhabited by huge beasts made of steel. They have ugly loud voices, they stink and they tend to run in packs. Or sometimes they just sit there in a long line and sniff each others tailpipes. I just try to figure out the behavioural patterns, and tame them to the extent possible.

Obviously this kind of attitude doesn't always apply, but it can be useful in many situations.

4 ways are bad. My daughter bought a nice suburban home at the corner of a 4 way intersection.
After the Third SUV's rolled into the front yard they moved,.

I've learned to just shake my head and laugh when people driving cars do dumb stuff around me.

I like Cephy's comments. Try to foresee the problems and avoid them.

Be "situationally aware." Your life depends upon it.

When I lived in NC I got harrassed all the time. I live near Portland, OR now and never get messed with. Of course most of my riding is in a bike lane so most people aren't being irritated by having to pass me.

I've been bike commuting for only 4 months or so, but I don't think i've ever been honked at... Most drivers here seem pretty courteous to bike riders (at least from my own experiences), which seems strange for L.A. I do admit I mostly stick to roads that have 2 lanes, so it's easy to pass, or roads that aren't as traffic heavy.

I rarely have problems with drivers too.

And I also try to stay out of their way ... and prefer to just let things go.

In short, don't sweat the small stuff. Learn from each experience, but learn to let things go. Carry the water, not the cup, the bottle, or the teapot.

I almost never have any trouble of any kind.

Most of my commute is along country roads to the top secret intergalactic headquarters of Silicon Products Mega-Corp (not their real name) nestled discretely amidst midwest cornfields. Easily half the vehicles passing me switch lanes to do so. I do worry about the inevitable nasties tho; ditches flanking these roads are 8 - 12 ft deep and my mangled corpse might not be found for days if I get clipped.

The suburb part of my commute sees minor violations of common sense and the law almost daily, but mostly due to thoughtlessness and ignorance. Like the SUV that cut me off to turn right just today - I could tell by the look on his face he didn't really see me. Still, a lack of malice isn't necessarily less dangerous. I just assume all drivers are drug-addled psychopaths spoiling for a fight, to be safe.

yah, i lived in Chicago 8 years ago, commuting to work on the south edge of the Loop from the near north area. not a far commute, but faster than walking and less hassle than public transport. people largely seemed to accept cyclists, imo, but it was busy and mistakes could be costly. sometimes it seemed like cabbies had it in for bikes, and i brushed off the occasional delivery truck brushing against my handle bars, but overall it was okay.

now biking 16 miles thru the south side to get to my car - that was an altogether different ride.

My route has wide roads with speed limits less than 35mph. Fairly mellow Seattle drivers means I have very little trouble.

Great post, Chephy. I feel exactly the same way, though I couldn't have put it so well.

I almost never have any altercations, and I can't remember the last time one bothered me for more than 5 seconds. I quickly go back to focusing on not being tired. :)

I line up with the cars and don't filter except into a bike lane. I remember that the drivers are hot and irritated and not enjoying driving and I try to share the road the same way I expect them to for me. We get along well unless they or I do something unpredictable or stupid. Either is possible at any moment. :D