wildmoses

The other day I was on the back end of a commuting trip when I had to take the lane on a four lane road because of a poor shoulder. Shortly after taking to the lane a driver pulled in behind me and proceeded to honk for at least a solid five minutes before finally passing, and the entire time he is honking he has missed several opportunities to pass me. After experiencing such rudeness, which I'm relatively accustomed to dealing with, I was troubled by the lack of options for dealing with such a person. So my question is, what do you do about rude drivers, and do you have any interesting stories about encounters you have had with rude drivers?

duckliondog

The most offensive thing is when people throw objects. Personally, I have been used as a target for bottles and eggs. I've been honked at incessantly as you describe too, but my pet peeve is when people pass from behind, pull in front, and then brake and make a right turn in front of me, forcing me to brake, shift, etc.

At the very least, I give a good, hearty yell at the drivers. It has to be loud so that they can hear it through their windows. I usually swear so they know I am not pleased. When a driver has expressed displeasure in my rate of travel, and we are on city streets, I usually do what I can to catch them at a red light, stop next to them, and smile right in their face. I used to carry a golf ball to throw at people, but it was never very practical.

Incidentally, I only have a temper when I'm on my bike. I'm not sure I've ever even been in a shouting match. On the bike though, I feel a responsibility to remind drivers that the two-wheeled, pedalled vehicles are carrying humans too.

wildmoses

duckliondog I can't agree more when you say you only get a temper on the bike. For me I get infuriated when I think about the fact these car drivers are enjoying their climate control, all around airbag protection, comfortable seats, and effortless travel while they endanger my safety because I'm moving to slowly for their taste. In the winter of 09-10 I was riding at about 7 in the morning when the temperature was about 9 degrees out and the recent snow meant there was no shoulder, and a real jerk passed me within inches while honking as he sat there warm as could be. I just wish drivers understood what it felt like to be buzzed by a huge vehicle without any protection.

krobinson103

Cars don't bother me on the motorcycle as I can safely take the lane and travel faster than them if I want to. On the bike... totally different story. I've had taxis and buses pass me and then stop right in front of me, small cars decide to pass within a few cm of my position, and then proceed to slow down and travel at a slower pace then I was anyway! These days If I have to take to the road I just take as much of the lane as I need to be safe and if cars don't like it... too bad, being pushed into the shoulder because a driver won't give me room is not my idea of fun.

contango 

Depends on the setting.

In a very busy urban setting I was passed by someone who just had to edge past me when he could clearly see a red traffic light barely 50 yards ahead. So he stopped, and I went right past him into the designated cyclists' area (we have what's known as an Advanced Stop Line at many junctions in the UK). When the light turned green I got up to cruising speed, albeit more slowly than normal.

In a more remote setting I'd be more inclined to just suck it up, on the basis if the guy did want to be a major asshat he could easily enough nudge me off the road and there wouldn't be a major road full of witnesses.

rumrunn6

you might consider pulling over so he can pass ...

Tearlach61

I had two in the past month or so. I was on what we call back loop road, a two lane road with a generous striped bike lane plus one one side, the far side from where I was, a multi-use path. A worth about the multi-use path. I don't use it, no matter what direction I am going. There are a good dozen intersections and driveways within a 1 mile stretch plus they went cheap when they built it, it has roots growing under it so it's fairly rough riding.

Anyway, this guy pulls along side and says "why the f**c aren't you in the bike path" which was on the other side of the road.

A couple of weeks ago, a guy pulling a boat was waiting on a sidestreet, he had a stop, was waiting to pull out. When the cars cleared he started to pull out. But I was there. I just cleared the corner of his truck. He didn't slow down but he did honk. Like what am I doing there? Well, you have the stop buddy.

The big one for me was 24 years ago. I was on a one way street approaching an intersection. I was on the left side so I could make a left at the intersection. This guy in a van approaches honking constantly, when he pulls along side me, he cranks the wheel over and hits me. 100% deliberate. I spent the night in the hospital. I pressed charges. He was convicted of assault, a felony.

enigmaT120

The OP said the guy had many opportunities. He didn't want to pass.

ItsJustMe

It was a 4 lane road. The guy just wanted to be an ass.

nick burns

Develop a Daryl-like mentality (2nd guy in the vid):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgCqz...ature=youtu.be

nsfw

spunkyj

This is a good option on a single lane empty road. I've done it while driving as well as cycling. But if it's a four-lane busy road you cannot easily re-integrate with traffic after pulling aside, and there will always be another car that ends up "stuck" behind you. If there are four lanes, cars should be patient and pass on the left. If they honk, and you live in a country or state where the driver probably won't have a shotgun in the back seat (couldn't help taking a shot at the Americans here ) I would be tempted to flip the offending driver the bird --- this is probably the one hand signal he'll understand!

dwellman

I'm just gonna save money for one of them GoPro camera things: "Smile. I hope you enjoy your anger management, driving school, suspended license, whatever"

dwellman

Back seat? Kids go in the back, firearms up front.

wildmoses

Well I I'm glad to hear others out there can understand the struggle of bicycles to share the roads with terrible drivers, and I have certainly come to realize there really aren't many options for dealing with such people short of what I have been doing.

Bigdaddy021970

I have to agree with everyone else. There is not much that you can do, except let them know that you're not going to be bullied by their "road rage".

I used to get really mad and lose my temper, but then I was defeating the purpose of riding my bike to work, which was enjoyment. I now just follow the rules of the road, and wave and smile when someone else loses thier composure. Besides when all is said and done, the cage-driver will be the one that looks like an idiot.

I've had a few times where I was "raged" at, and just smiled and waved back. At the next stoplight some other driver who saw the whole incident commended me for my actions. I felt like I had a small victory that day because I didn't give in to temptation.

Zrane

I like giving people a thumbs up. It somehow manages to convey a sarcastic "good job, buddy!" really well.

I can forgive people for mistakes. **** happens, people can misjudge distance or not see things. We all make mistakes. The intentionally hostile ones I'm less forgiving of, but there's not much to be done about those unless there's a cop right there when it happens.

unterhausen

I just wave, no smile. I think it lets them know I acknowledged them and that I'm not going to change what I'm doing, because I'm not. I can count the number of times I needed to pull over in my 35 year career as a cyclist on one middle finger. And that was just because the idiot motorist refused to pass, not because they really needed me to pull over. I have been driving that long, and I've never seen a cyclist that I thought should pull over to let people pass.

murrikev

I've been living car free for about six months now, and so far, most drivers have been extremely curtious. I try and do my best to be friendly and considerate, and thus far, they seem to reciprocate.

mtbikerinpa

Exactly!!

I haven't taken my recent log to the authorities yet, but with the helmet cam I have a score list of licenses and dates which I plan on discussing with the police since we have a law around here of 4 ft clearance. If there is no 4 ft clearance to any passed object or vehicle then it becomes a pass on double yellow(points/ticket) and passing on turn/rise/blind is another form of a points/fine that can be had. Numerous cases have been logged where people can see oncoming traffic, leave me 5 inches and make the oncoming car swerve to avoid when it was the only oncoming car in the straight stretch. No modification to the bike's route needed, planning ahead for the car driver- yes. When I am driving and pass a horse-buggy or biker I rarely have to use the brakes because I watch far enough ahead to make it appropriate. Basic efficiency theory, don't go faster than you need and don't waste it by using more brakes than you need. Indeed observation is a rare skill that is hard to come by, but is it so much to ask?

jehowe

Maybe it's faulty perception on my part, but is it just me in thinking that driver awareness and acceptance of bikers has improved overall especially in the last 10 years? I ride N/NW Chicago suburbs primarily and sure, there are still asshats out there, but they seemed to be far outnumbered by drivers who are courteous and accommodating.

Maybe road improvements over the years have helped or my attitude's changed, but I remember attempting to bike commute (around '89~'90 I think) when my wife and I only had one car and being absolutely terrified. I had a few close calls and resigned myself to sidewalk riding whenever possible. Those bike commuting days didn't last long.

dynodonn 

I definitely would not have put up with a honking motorist for five minutes, I would have been looking for a safe place to pull over and let the SOB by, regardless of the adjacent lane.

Of course, as the bastard went by, I'd be IDing the license plates, the motorist, and vehicle with both of my cams and reporting the motorist to local law enforcement for harassment.

CB HI

Absolutely, reward the bad behavior. I understand the reward technique also works well with 2 year olds.

truman

It has definitely improved over the last 6-7 years in Fort Worth, but not so much in Dallas. In FW, we've added bike lanes and sharrows, bike racks around town, and the city adopted a 3-foot passing ordinance after Governor Goodhair chose not to do so. We've also reconstructed neighborhoods to accommodate pedestrian and cycle traffic - all of which seems to have created a heightened awareness of bicycles as legitimate road users.

FW was never a "bad" place to commute, in terms of rude drivers - and there are still some around, but I definitely get fewer honks, close passes and shouts. Usually, the worst I get is an intentional cloud of diesel smoke from Tommy Frat in daddy's F-350 dually.

dynodonn 

Since our state implemented an excessive diesel smoke law and an accompanying phone number to report offenders, I'm no longer a recipient of that bull**** maneuver.

unterhausen

I've only been smoked by one guy, in New York. I'm glad that some people know about it and are doing something about it. Now if they would do the same here, and add the train whistle idiots to the list