Always do this. It has an impact, usually a significant one if you talk to the boss.

J.

Ah, but what if it was the boss/owner, and they're not very supporting of cycling? Or even if it wasn't the boss/owner and still they're not very support of cycling?

Then, at the very least, they know you know who they are. You get a name first, then tell your story, then write down the name, in case you have to report it to the police later.

This is indeed the law here. I wish it were more strictly enforced. Way safer than the alternative, IMO. I've heard mixed reports of this being standard behavior in California. Genec, I believe, has reported he hardly ever sees it in SoCal... here in Central Cal, it seems most drivers do it. I'm not sure it's out of any great knowledge of knowing they are supposed to with a bike lane, but that everyone is just used to merging right when turning anyway... wide roads in a lot of places here.

Most of the time I see here in So Cal the driver behind me will speed up and whip passed me then cut me off the slam on the brakes to make the right turn. Pretty annoying. Like they could not wait the extra 2 seconds and instead put my life at risk.

This happened to me yesterday... at a 4-way stop sign. I stopped and waited my turn but she decided that since she was in a fancy Escalade she didn't have to wait her turn... she zips around me and makes a right turn in front of me without stopping first (I guess she counted stopping behind me as her stop?).

Nothing surprises me nowadays.

She turned down a dead end road... I had half the mind to follow her and say something...
But the cooler half of my mind prevailed and I just went straight.

Sad to say but probably the best course of action. I would like to think I would have the same reaction but can't guarantee I would not have made the right hand turn to follow her.

I don't get yelled at much any more...but when it does happen its one of the high points of my ride. It provides me another opportunity for one of my favorite hobbies: forceful cager education.

Motorists are usually in such a hurry that they just honk angrily, rather than slow down enough to yell something that I'll be able to understand. :-p

Oh, that's a staple in the dumb cager maneuvers handbook :p. I get it from time to time, but I'm lucky that it doesn't happen where I have to slam the brakes very often. Just makes me slow down a bit, which is a little annoying (and I usually give a "wtf" shrug), but not really dangerous per se. But I have had it happen once or twice where I was awful close to that bumper by the time I stopped. :p

I was riding once and in my mirror I saw a dude that I knew was going to be trouble. Sped sped around me, cut me off then slammed his brakes to make sure he could make the right turn. I actually yelled at him but thankfully I had predicted that problem well in advance and was prepared for it before it happened.

The more cyclists on the road driving correctly, the more motorists will expect our actions. Just keep riding. Don't be surprised that people don't understand. And don't let stupidity get to you. It's just part of the landscape.

In Georgetown, Water Street under Whitehurst Freeway dead ends into the start of the Capital Crescent Trail. Once in a while a half-crazed driver trying to find a new route through the gridlocked traffic on M Street comes roaring past, sometimes even honking at all the bike riders, thinking they have found some secret hidden passage. Inevitably they get to the dead end. I just smile and wave as they do a three-point turn, and roar back off in the opposite direction. All the bikes roll past the barrriers and onto the trail in the peaceful shade. Sweet revenge.

Had a USPS mailman honk at me as I was finishing a turn. It wasn't like I shot out or anything so that was certainly strange. I don't expect much out of the ordinary driver but these guys should at least be supposedly professionals, working off tax dollars no less. Too bad I didn't wasn't wearing the Contour today or I'd call in and have a chat w/ the local post office.

I used to flip birdies to drivers who are rude to me.

I got yell at by a cyclist for having too bright of a bike light, but the cyclist was riding on the wrong side right into me.

where the heck do you guys live? it sounds quite backwards :(

I feel for all you guys. Here in Thailand you can ride just about any where you want and no one yells at anyone for fear that the other guy might be a meth crazed psyco. It seems that we have no laws here. The roads are an absolute free for all. Luckily for me, if someone wants to yell with indignation they are more likely to yell at the family of five, mother father and three kids, all riding on the one motorcycle going the wrong way against traffic with the father smoking and riding with one hand.

Riding in Bangkok you have to have this mind set. The stupidity is just a cycling obstacle challenge. If you let it get to you, you just go mad.

When traveling through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, I noticed that once away from the national highways, it looked very bike/scooter/moped friendly and that the drivers in buses/trucks/vans/taxis really paid attention.

There is a world of difference between Bangkok city streets and the quiet streets out in the provinces. While I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city streets it is quite relaxing to get onto the quiet streets of the near by provinces. Having said quiet streets of near by provinces, riding here you have to be ready for stupidity at any moment. Illegality is no deturent over here. Illegal is just a sick bird and legal is just a question of how much money you have to pay.
Of course during Song Kran (Thai Buddhist new year) all roads in Thailand become churning factories of death. Best to stay off any road at this time

Better yelled at than this...
 

http://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-...9bb2963f4.html



A Davenport man was arrested for assault after police said he struck a bicyclist with his van Thursday night and then threw the bicycle down on the victim.

DeAnthony S. Patrick, 37, was released Friday night from the Scott County Jail, charged with an aggravated misdemeanor.

Patrick was speeding eastbound in the 700 block of East 13th Street when he ran the stop sign at Arlington Avenue, swerved and struck a male victim riding his bicycle on the north side of the street, according to the arrest affidavit.

Patrick then backed the van up to where the victim was on the ground, got out of the vehicle and approached the victim, the affidavit says.

The victim thought Patrick was going to help him when he saw him get out of the van, the affidavit says. Instead, Patrick picked up the broken bicycle and threw it back down on the victim, the affidavit says.

Patrick then punched the victim in the face, kicked him once and drove off, the affidavit says.

The victim suffered injuries to his face and right knee and was treated at the scene, the affidavit says....

Mean People SUCK!

Glad they caught the guy.