Bike Rage
 

Ive been commuting by bike for about a month now ,and it seems a little more than once a week someone in a car does something incredibly stupid that endangers my safety.The problem I have is it doesnt seem to be because they dont see me...but because they see me as an annoyance,something in the way that shouldnt be there in the first place,so they disregard me and do whatever they want.

Anyway ,the reason for the post is today, for the second time ,i found myself peddling like a mad man and hoping for a red light to try and catch a guy who passed me on the right in the middle of an intersection while making a left.My intentions werent good.

Im sure some of you guys can relate...what do you do
??

Take a timeout?Count to ten?

Ive never had road rage in a car,but I feel vulnerable on the bike and people seem like they are willing to kill or maim me to save 5 seconds sometimes.

Glad to have this place to vent if nothing else.

If I got that mad, a timeout would certainly help. Other people will often be idiots, can't help that. But if you find yourself reacting the same way, a break is indicated to calm down. Ideal if you can vary your timings or your route to make sure that you travel through less crowds.

I have had road rage in a car (I don't think the mode of transport matters) and I have done stupid things. Now, if I hit that stage (which is pretty infrequent), I take a break.

Quite a few people in North America, carry firearms inside their vehicles.

You might wanna tone it down a notch....

Best thing to do? Nothing. Let it go, it's not worth the confrontation if you do catch the person. I have done the same thing (chasing the car) and really it did nothing but make me more angry. Now I either wave or more likely just keep riding.

Smile and wave, boys! Smile and wave.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pXhAazBzDF...nguins_152.jpg

This is one of the reasons for my post.besides,Im not really that tough anyway. :p

Im against violence as a means of dispute resolution,but Im truly losing it with these drivers complete disregard for my safety.

Im not proud of my reactions and its something Im aware needs to change.

I may curse and rage for a few seconds, but I know I'll never catch that idiot driver, so...I let it go and NOT let it ruin my pedaling experience. The few times I HAVE caught the car, I've had a few choice words; most of the time, it's met with profanity and honking horn as they speed away. ONCE, I was nearly showered with floorboard trash by some guy who could have stunt-doubled for the convict in Green Mile.

I can slow-burn for quite a while in most situations; rarely does it happen while on the bike. I just can't really stay all that mad doing what I love best.

Nothing. You don't want the guy coming back and actually hitting you with his car.

I haven't had such an experience in the 2 months I've been commuting. Then again, Springfield is a pretty easy town to commute in (mostly full-width lanes to share with light traffic on my route). I am thankful for that every day I commute.

It is just not worth elevating most instances to face-to-face confrontations, in my opinion. There are not a lot of likely good outcomes to be had.

The way I look at it, the police in my town are my friends on the commute, and if a driver pulls some jerkitude in an intersection, there is some percentage chance he will be seen and stopped. It won't happen most times, but it will happen some day to consistent jerks. Karma will come around.

In the mean time, it is more productive to keep riding safely and let it go. The stress is not helpful in any meaningful way. Learn if there is anything more defensive you can do, otherwise, keep pedaling. It may not always be easy, but moving on and leaving enforcement to the pro's is usually adviced.

Take a deep breath and let it go...It's all you can do, man...Unless you can video intentional events and call police. But the chance of police doing anything after the fact and without actual damage is probably slim. It's none in Jacksonville, NC.

I snap a bit when i get some one yelling at me or other bs .I try to get them to stop.Which makes me a idiot and makes me mad at my self

This his very true. Here is a real example of what could happen:

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story...storyid=224522

short version:

motorist does not give cyclist enough room in construction zone
cyclist reaches and touches motorist's car to maintain balance
motorist becomes enraged
cyclist stops on the side of the road to catch his breath and recover from nearly being sideswiped and taken out by motorist
motorist returns to attack and punch cyclist
cyclist in hospital with fractured cheek and eye socket

OP you'll probably mellow out as time goes by, remember that there are somethings out of your control. I haven't learned this lesson as well as I'd like and sometimes still chase cars down, if anything so I can stare them down. a few weeks ago I was nearly hit twice by the same car as he turned a 180 in to a parking space. I went down the block, turned around and as the young couple was getting out and crossing the street, I rolled by I asked the fellow "going to be parking there long are you?" and rolled down the street. I turned around again but by the time I got back the car was no longer parked there.

I can understand your reaction, but I think it helps to remember that such people don't really care about you one way or the other. That is, reckless/rude motorists don't actually have it in for you because you're on a bike; they treat everyone like that, regardless of one's method of transportation. They're just jerks, and they'll act like jerks whether you're on a bike, in a car, or crossing the street in a wheel chair. Write them off as the idiots they are, do what you need to do to survive, and don't let it ruin your day.

There's also the chance that the motorist is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving without a permit, and may already have an extensive criminal record. In which case you'll just be further compromizing your own safety. If you think thats stretching some possibilities - come to Montreal and I'll introduce you to a few people.

This is something I struggle with; the logical side of me knows that nothing good will come from confrontation with a car and the best policy is to smile and go about my day. At the same time, I do have a temper and it tends to come out when people do something grossly stupid that endangers my life. I've had a few less than stellar moments where I behaved poorly and ended up in some form of confrontation. In retrospect, I always feel ashamed and embarrassed about the incident and I've continually been able to improve my reactions and do the smart thing. It takes a great effort of will for me.

I'm against violence because I have too much to lose in an incident, but some people really need a swift kick to the head.

Normally the drivers are okay here (rural area) but there are moments. Last night I had a woman deliberately pass me within a foot and then hug the shoulder before a red light so that I couldn't filter (I don't anyways). But the timing of her actions pushed me over and prevented me from taking the lane before the red, leaving me open to a right-hook which luckily didn't happen.

I have a camera running clipped to my person, about two inches below my sternum. I find this position has the least amount of wobble, will follow me around instead of being stuck to my bike (which may be in a ditch somewhere if bad things happen), and doesn't make me look like the Google car like a helmet cam might. If I catch the plate, I will post it on YouTube. If the actions were exceptionally malicious or ignorant, I will email the police detachment with a driving complaint (video included) and they will follow up. I've been tempted a few times to go up and have some words or simply take a mirror, but given the possible consequences, that's a bad idea. Don't get angry, get even.

My take is to let it go, I am not going to confront anyone while I am on a bike, alone and a woman.There just is no way that this can go well for me. Though I do not usually have incidents with cars.

The smile and wave tactic doesn't work. Some motorists think you are mocking them, and may themselves become enraged.

The best solution is to do nothing. No hand gestures, waving included. Do nothing. Do not even make eye contact. Just keep pedaling and ignore them.

You have to let it go. Car people are always going to show their displeasure to at having to sit in the mess they created, occasionally.
If you don't your riding is going to be a source of negativity instead of pleasure. Maybe you might re-evaluate your route, and also
research ways to make your road presence exude confidence. Tools who do this stuff are generally low-dwelling bullies who will
rethink their dopiness if they feel there is a even a slight chance chance for retaliation.

When I commuted in the most violent, inhumane hell in this country, South Florida, and after many problems relating to cars and
gang kiddies, my urban camoflauge was to look like a crazy homeless crackhead. They respected me, then :lol:

Just let it go. Dont let a dope wreck your day. :beer:

Let it go. It's easy to take it personally given the consequences but nothing will be gained escalating from a perception of another's intent.

That particular driver probably:

a) would pass a car on the right in the same situation
b) thinks you were doing something wrong
c) carries a gun
d) all of the above

Hey, that's my line!

Seriously though, happened to me this morning. I was coming around a slight bend to the left. I cut the corner some because just up ahead near a stop sign are cars parked on the right. A Honda Fit came so close to me I could open his door by just reaching over . I yelled out "A little more room please!". The Fit driver was none too pleased. He pulls over to the side, and as I ride by he yells, "Why don't you ride where you belong, d***head!" My response was, "I am right where I belong, buddy!" and "Have a good day!" and smile and wave.

Really, you can't find room to pass a bike with a Honda Fit?

In another serious vein, what others have posted above is correct. I've been assaulted once and in another instance stalked from behind when I decided to argue with the drivers. You have to let it go, or be prepared for defending yourself from cagers who will never see it the way we do.

I never have good intentions after someone pulls a monumentally stupid move in traffic. Doesn't matter if I'm driving, riding, or just walking to the store for groceries and some jerk almost tags me in the crosswalk. I have a short fuse and an immediate Rage-o-Meter "pegged needle" response, mentally. I don't physically act on it, though. I might honk my Airzound or give someone the finger, but I don't go chasing someone down to pick a fight.
If someone hassles me and then stops to confront me, then it's a different story. If a driver wants to pick a fight with me, I will do my best to end it quickly.

I will admit to a couple opportunistic retaliations, though. A guy thought it would be a funny idea to pull over and block the bike lane since traffic was all bunged up and I was going to pass him. So I stopped, got off my bike, and pressed a narsty butt-print on his passenger window before remounting and riding off.

Most days I let it go.

Every once in a while I slip. My most recent inappropriate reaction happened about three months ago. A kid in a car buzzed me very close while leaning on his horn. About 100 yards ahead I saw him pull into the left turn lane and stop to wait for his arrow. The passenger side window was down so I pulled up, pointed my Airzound directly into his car and let 'er rip. Then I simply pedaled away.

I really didn't feel good about losing my cool like that at the time. Now as I remember it it's kind of funny.