drummergeek

I was at the first intersection of my commute this morning stopped at a light. I was in the through lane, and there was a right turning lane to my right. This lady pulls up 2 ft. beside me in the through lane, partially blocking the lane to her left. She rolls down her window and sternly tells me:

You....are not a car....you belong ON the line.....not OFF the line.

I chuckled a little to myself and with a small humored smile on my face I just slowly and barely shook my head in amazement that someone would do that. I totally ignored her. I thought to myself, wow, what a great way to start the day. Sucks to be her!

The light turned green, she rolled up her window and sped off, and I went on my way.

AdamDZ

Always wrong, never in doubt = f***ing idiots. Just feel sorry for them and ignore.

AlmostTrick

The last time this happened to me turned out to be pleasant.

On a rainy ride home, a pickup truck driver splits lanes and pulls up alongside my right while I was waiting at the light, centered in the through lane. My first thought was, "Oh no, here comes the lecture", but instead he started off with "Doesn't it suck riding in the rain?" I laughed and explained that it really isn't that bad, as long as I had my fender bike and it wasn't a violent storm.

We talked through the rest of the red, and when the light changed I went first and then waved as he safely passed me once we got through the intersection.

twinquad

I'm always amused by this line, as it implies that they think they're a car. True, I'm not a car, but I'm also not a bicycle. I love my bike, but I don't identify with it so closely that I feel at one with it in some cosmic sense. Seems this lady needs to get some perspective on her identity.

AlmostGreenGuy

Always keep a copy of your state's traffic laws regarding bikes in your pocket, and some spares in your seat bag. When somebody tries to lecture you on the way they think you should be riding, sign your law sheet with a Bic pen and hand it to them. It's like giving out a traffic ticket. Makes you feel darned good!!!!!

Tractortom

I have an intersection like that on the way to work. I usually 'split' the lane, waiting on the line between the though-left turn lane and the right turn lane. I don't know what the law says about this, but the light is demand controlled and if I sit in the middle of the through lane, the light will never change as I need the mass of a car or truck to toggle the light. Lots of people will be hesitant to pull up next to me, so I wave them up, so the light will change.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

canyoneagle

I do something similar, without the handout. I simply say "I suggest you take a look at Title 39 of the Utah code then get back to me. Thanks"

dynodonn 

On my part, no handouts, no statements or lectures, if the motorist doesn't try to back up their words with sheet metal, I just carry on to my next destination with as little fanfare as possible.

frpax

I regularly ride to Church on Sunday, and one of the guys in our congregation told me that I'm supposed to be on the sidewalk.

I corrected him, nicely, and told him that I have the right to the road, just as any other vehicle does.

canyoneagle

Ignorance is as bad as sheetmetal - it is like a ticking time bomb, IMO. I agree that getting in their face isn't a solution, but if the opportunity arises and they are given a specific reference, at least they might consider the possibility that they are crossing inappropriate boundaries with their unfounded claims.

My ethos is if someone intentionally steps on my foot, I'll request that they "get off my foot", i.e. if someone chooses to cross a boundary with me, I will meet them at that boundary to tell them so.

dynodonn 

No it's not, not all motorists who are ignorant of a cyclist's rights try to back it up with sheet metal, the OP is a clear case of that.

Burton

LOL Next time ask if sh'd like a second opinion and offer to phone the police station for her.

canyoneagle

I wasn't being literal.

erg79

Might not be such a great idea...many officers of the law are as ignorant of a cyclist's rights to the road as self-proclaimed expert drivers are.

Chris_in_Miami

I had someone try just that a few months ago.

Motorist in an SUV passed entirely too closely on a quiet residential street as we approached a stop, then cut way over (so I couldn't pass her on the right without leaving the roadway) and jammed on the brakes. Waited longer than necessary while staring at me in the rear view mirror, then she realized I was turning at that corner as she started into the intersection, and quickly turned right to chase me down.

I heard her coming and took evasive action, and she rolled down her window and started screaming at me that I should be on the sidewalk, that she was a police officer (she was in hospital scrubs, and I started grinning immediately, because the thought "police nurse" jumped into my head,) then she backtracked and said her husband was a cop, then said she was calling the police because I rear-ended her truck. I told her to call them, but she took a photo of me with her phone instead and made a few more bizarre statements. She was really amped up and hostile, so I got out of there and was watching my mirror for the rest of the ride.

In retrospect, I probably should have called the police and mentioned that she identified herself as a cop, but I did think that there was a possibility of her being married to one. The cops in that town have a pretty heavy reputation, and I didn't want to arrive at work with boot marks on my neck, so I let it go. Complete sociopath, can't reason with people like that.

chefisaac

sometimes I wonder if it is time for me to get a video cam.

Kojak

I'm actually looking forward to this happening to me again soon. I don't remember who put this one on the boards, but their response was:

"I like maple syrup on my pancakes!"

Can't wait to use that.

SlimRider

You should already know that, you are what you ride!

Just be thankful that you're not riding a donkey!

dynodonn 

Sounds familiar, long story short, it ended up with the woman jumping out of her car, go into screaming tirade, and then having my panniers being ransacked in her attempt to find my personal ID.

Basically, this incident was my tipping point in purchasing video cams and videoing my commutes.

AdamDZ

Why did you let her go trough your panniers???

SuncoastChad

Does no one else carry a phone? 911 is real easy to dial. Usually, if you pull a phone or camera out things de-escalate in a hurry since a vehicle driver confronting a bicyclist would make interesting video on BayNews9.

Kojak

Seattle Forrest

Some lady rolled down her window to ask me directions once, and I immediately thought "Here it comes..." meaning the lecture about how I shouldn't be __________ riding a bike.

Ever feel like Pavlov's dog?

Chris_in_Miami

Ahh, you've met her! That one and a few other incidents had me seriously thinking about getting a video camera, but I'm afraid of turning into one of those guys who uploads boring videos of his commute to youtube

dynodonn 

Because I knew my personal ID was not in them, didn't want to start a physical confrontation which might go badly for me if this incident went to court, and "give somebody enough rope............"