Not sure if anyone has noticed but its getting worse out there in traffic. They dont just do this to cyclists. Im recently retired, but as a long time truck driver o/op (over 40 years) and observing,the things people do today even to semi's, they would not have done 20 years ago. Anything that gets in there way will make them crazy. Ive had them go half into the ditch at highway speed to try get around me and often when im turning onto a clover leaf to the right and cant even see them as i turn.
Imagine having to put up with that all day everyday 24/7. Getting upset. You lose. You get a knotted up gut and everything which goes with that,which if happening enough will cause some damage to your system. So you just learn to shake it off,its healthier for you.

Bike Rage
 

First, yeah, just let it go. Maybe you're like me and little things can trigger a potential outburst. So, I just take a deep breath, think of a happy thought and try to forget about what just happened. Maybe you'll be happier about not getting angry. I am when this happens to me.

Is this generally in the same location?

Over my many years of riding I have "lost it" and chased down drivers, even had some punches thrown at me- i've never hit back- I'm good at blocking punches. But I'm not proud of those interactions. It really doesn't make the world a better place.

I still get buzzed, honked at and nearly clipped by cars at about the same rate as I always have but the verbal interactions have been greatly reduced over the years- I'd like to get them down to zero.

The last serious driver interaction I had I ended up calling the police. The guy almost sideswiped me with his van and I slapped the side of the van as he nearly took me down so he slammed on the brakes and came out at me screaming to not touch his vehicle! When he said if he ever saw me on that road again ( a route I frequently took to work) that he'd run me down I called the cops.

Unfortunately, there are some truly screwed up people in this world carrying a ton of anger just looking for an excuse to be violent. I'm sure there are bike riders who fall into that category as well as drivers but there are far more drivers and their vehicles can be used as a deadly weapon with ease.

You've never had road rage in a car? How does that work? Seems like most people driving a car get road rage at some point. Then again, I guess the keyword there is most. For me, my bike rage is pretty much nonexistent, which is nice. Part of it is that I take quiet streets on my commute. I also keep in my mind what to expect so I don't blow a fuse. Just like most of you here, I've been close to getting hit many times, been honked at, sworn at, etc, but you kind of expect it, I guess, so you have to learn to shrug it off.

The only memorable bike rage I've had was a couple of years ago when I was biking home from my ex-girlfriend's house and I was coming up to a stop sign. I slow down to a track stand, look both ways and proceed to go, and I swear this car came out of nowhere! I was about to cross the intersection and this car coming from the right of the intersection just blows the stop sign!! Needless to say I got pissed because had I not seen the car and braked, it would've been really bad. I contemplated picking up a rock and chucking it at the car. Obviously I didn't, I'm not that type of person, but that's the only time I ever really remember being really angry at a driver.

Anyway, yeah, learn to let it go and/or find quiet streets; they're more fun anyway.

Same thing happened to me just yesterday on the way home. I veray easily could have caught the guy as we were now on a residential street but I figured, "What's the point?" I catch him, scream and yell, make a scene and piss off the driver. For what? Am I hurt? Will it change his driving style or educate him? Will it change how we are seen by the public as a whole? Nope? I let him make his right turn at the next stop sign and I calmly stopped behind him and waited my turn.

I did say a few things to him as the incident was happening but not in a yelling manner and more under my breathe. Kinda like, "Ya, sure buddy. I suppose you can go before me if you want to." or something to that effect but nothing with ill intentions. Would serve no purpose.

I'll find the video I have of the incident later tonight when I get home.

I hear you
 

Believe me, I have a hard time taking my own advice. But I've had enough rage-inducing encounters to conclude these things:

• Somebody who does something outrageous in traffic is probably already stressed out and on edge. Bad time to push them.
• It's easier to cool down after such an affront if you don't escalate it. I may be mad for a few seconds if someone does something stupid, but if I turn it into a shouting/gesturing match, I fume for a long time.
• Learn from it. Chances are that if one motorist did something stupid at a certain spot, others will. Take a different approach there, or find a way around it.
• Remind yourself at the start of each ride that you really enjoy it, and you're going to have fun. It may help you roll with the punches.

I know what you mean. It really gets on my nerves too, especially with the added obstacles of pot holes, bumps, cracks, thick car fumes and people. I used to commute 7 miles to work and another 7 miles back, until I realized the frustration it caused was probably doing a lot of damage to my body internally. Constantly stopping and going, constantly having to hold my breath to avoid inhaling diesel fumes, constantly being on edge. By the time I got to work I felt half-dead and smelled like it too. Now I take the bus. It's just too risky to commute by bike. Biking should be reserved for recreation.

:lol: You realize you are in the "Commuting" section of BF, right? I think most here would disagree with a lot of what you had to say. I for one feel refreshed when I get to work in the morning after my ride in.

Just sayin'

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

I'm just sharing my thoughts, that is all.

That might be, but making comments like "biking should be reserved for recreation" here in the Commuting forum and the "are you serious?" when it was pointed out that you should take the lane in that thread you started in the Hybrid forum does tend to cause a bit of discord...

It some point you just have to realize that its just not worth the effort.

If you get all twisted up over it for days then they really won. If you really want to get even, when someone is pissed at you for whatever reason , instead of reacting in similar form, I smile. Might even wave. That really pisses people off. Now they are going to be steaming about it for days and I'm the one who won. :)

Locally I know a gal who does this as well. She'll chase Ioth motorists and cyclists down to "educate" them. So far (AFAIK) it hasn't resulted in anything happening to her. But I'm sure that there is going to come the day when something does.

Just stop (if it's safe to do so) take a drink of water and let it pass. Maybe contemplate how bad their life is that they're willing to endanger someone's life.

If it's really outrageous consider carrying a camera and report it to the police.

Not attacking you here, just the mindset that cagers have- this is why the guy I described said what he said- apparently bikes don't belong on the road. It isn't seen as a another way of transportation, only for recreation on an MUP. Scratch that, it's seen as a poor choice of transportation. After all, bikes only hold up the superior choice of transportation, cars.

Interesting response to the challenges of bike commuting but maybe not all tht rare for some people to feel this way. I'm curious where you're located where the riding was so intolerable for commuting.

Correction: "You don't want the guy coming back and actually hitting US with his car"

Right?!?!

Don't worry, OP, you'll get used to it. You'll be ignoring the minor ones soon enough.
One "incident" a week, you say? So about 4 incidents a month, that's actually not too bad, assuming they're mostly minor rages.
I think I have about one a month that I actually go home and tell someone about.

[QUOTE=Midnight Biker;14507377]I know what you mean. It really gets on my nerves too, especially with the added obstacles of pot holes, bumps, cracks, thick car fumes and people. I used to commute 7 miles to work and another 7 miles back, until I realized the frustration it caused was probably doing a lot of damage to my body internally. Constantly stopping and going, constantly having to hold my breath to avoid inhaling diesel fumes, constantly being on edge. By the time I got to work I felt half-dead and smelled like it too. Now I take the bus. It's just too risky to commute by bike. Biking should be reserved for recreation.[/QUOTE]




:twitchy: :wtf: :twitchy:

The best thing you can do is spend some of the peaceful moments while riding your bike to figure ways that you can identify these potentially hazardous situations before they happen and adjust your actions to avoid the danger.

This is much more achievable if you ride the same route every day, e.g. a commuter, because you know the route after a while and get to know how best to avoid the risks. It's still achievable on a new ride to some degree just by using those experiences from your regular rides and applying them in new situations.

For me, I've learned the most important time to be cautious is that time when you are feeling totally awesome. That's when you may not be focused on what you're doing.

My ride takes me from Chicago, through three suburbs located right on the border of Chicago. Trafficy as hell.

You can't cure stupid and you'll drive yourself crazy trying. If you can prove intentional harassment or intent to inflict injury, call the cops, ditto if you are ever actually injured. Otherwise just let it go.

Yeah, I've seen my pretty hare-brained stuff around trucks. I used to drive a 5 ton cube and I found that I took a very different attitude when behind the wheel of that thing. Stuff that would enrage me in my car or on the bike just rolled off my back.

LOL .. there's such a love / hate relationship here in NYC with bikers and drivers! LOTS of yelling and more cursing LOL

its usually, drivers: Hey .. F you! .. Bikers: yeah, F you too! and everyone moves along .. and most of the times its vice-versa

Yea habs fans

I feel you guy!! Don't a commute go by that I don't do that "fast pump to catch" bit.. You are normal.;)

On my side, I need to stop doing that move, because I only weigh 135 lbs and can't fight my way out a paper bag!! :cry:

you will get better at coping. the drivers on your route will get used to you. a strobe on your left drop bar will help, I noticed more courtesy room since I added mine. keep in mind our challenge coping with bike rage includes our increased physical and chemical changes that may be different that a cager's. meaning we are all hopped up on adrenaline and endorphins that a threat to our life triggers a fierce reactions, and coping with that is a challenge. I remember once, during a kill-zone interaction with a buzz-by I was so charged that I did the rest of that zone including an uphill section in top gear and then proceeded to reach my highest commute max speed after turning off onto a gentle downward slope. if I had been given the opportunity for a face to face interaction I might have ripped the guys throat out. I've caught up to few drivers and given them a piece of my mind and it was never pretty. try to stay calm and use this line: "I have recorded your plate number and am going to report you to the local police dept." that usually calms them down :-)

be cool, not a fool

Part of my rage is precisely because I go out of my way to make sure I am visible,courteous,and predictable.I have blinkies front and rear,always on- even in daylight.I signal my intentions and follow the rules of the road.

Lots of good feedback here-particularly about reconsidering my route.I think 3 of 5 incidences have occured on the same 3 block stretch of a busy road where Im forced to take the left lane to turn.Maybe I can go around or use the crosswalk,but the stubborn side of me wants to assert my right to the road..lol.

I think alot of these drivers are ignorant to the laws regarding bikes.We need some PSA's on TV to inform the public or something.

Pretty much. A bunch of people tend to either forget the test material after passiing and obtaining their license or simply cherry pick the one's they care to observe. And motorists aren't the only ones doing so...

A lot of people just never learn it in the first place. I don't think there was a section on cycling rights in the Kentucky handbook/test.
PSAs would be a fair start though. Something should be done.