You mean after all this time,I'm suppose to be actually listening to the cagers??? Well crap.....

hAHA, yeah, that was a weirdly aggressive suggestion for the OP's problem. I like guns, and I thought that was inappropriate...

My belief is that everyone should follow the traffic laws and be aware of their surroundings, however, that is not reality. Prudence would suggest that the most vulnerable should take the most care to avoid trouble, even if they are in the right, because they are the ones most likely to get hurt in the event of an accident. That's just a fact that cannot change. It doesn't matter who is right, a 30 pound bike will lose every time against a 3000 pound car. I'm not saying to be inconspicuous, just extra vigilant, because we know motorists are not often very alert to their surroundings.

And if you think having a gun with you on your bike makes motorists equally vulnerable, you're wrong. Not only might they be armed also, but they're still in a 3000+ pound car and can squash you. If you want to be armed for self defense against theives, robbers, etc, that's fine with me and I think you should have that right, but to do it in the hopes it'll disuade a motorist from being rude or oblivious is wishful thinking. If they are intentionally being rude, they are obviously beligerent and could escalate matters by trying to run you over or shoot first. If they're oblvious, they'll likely have no idea why you're flashing a gun and try to run you over or shoot first, or they may just call the cops. In either instance, you'll have a hard time proving you had just cause to flash or pull your weapon unless you have witnesses, and even then unless there has been an obvious intentional threat to run you over, you'll have no legal reason to do so.

Hey OP, I think you are just looking for an excuse to quit. Unless your route is unsafe and you have no alternative routes, just keep going. What do you care what others think of you? So what if you are the only one who rides a bike in your town? So what if every car that passes you honks or yells? Just by hopping on a bike, you're already crazier than most of the people driving, but in a good way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by homechicken

In either instance, you'll have a hard time proving you had just cause to flash or pull your weapon unless you have witnesses, and even then unless there has been an obvious intentional threat to run you over, you'll have no legal reason to do so.

A problem some of our bicycling colleagues have is that they perceive any motorist action that requires the cyclist to make an evasive maneuver or have to use their brakes as a deliberate attempt to cause harm to the cyclist, and merits an arrest for assault or reckless endangerment. With that mindset, these cyclists would likely feel justified to brandish/use a gun for "self defense" against an army of assaulting motorists threatening their lives every day. See the closed thread in A&S for details https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...a-driver-today.

Back to the topic, I don't think anyone can tell OP he shouldn't give up, or validate his decision, without at least having ridden there. Even then, what other factors are involved, not necessarily related to cycling?

All I can say is it IS dangerous, and can be vexing - if it's not worth it just stop.

The bolded is wrong, legally, morally, and in practice. The only part that is true is that the cyclist is in the most danger. It's not even true that "a 30 pound bike will lose every time"!

Obviously, everyone should look out for themselves. Yet, the people who should take the most care are those who can cause the most damage.

I also find it highly dubious that a motorist, feeling secure enough in their anonymity and equipment to threaten another person or to even assume that the potential entitles them, would be so belligerent seeing the other party armed. Do you really think you, or any belligerent motorist, would disregard a sidearm until the person draws and shoots it??

It is a mute point though, since we mostly don't ride with open carry. Hence the jokes, and fantasy.

there is no other route unless i take my bike in a boat and cross the lake

Again, prudence is the key word. The guy with the most to lose has to be the most careful because he can't rely on everyone else to do what they are supposed to. That may not be the ideal world, but its the real world.

In most states open carry is illegal, so the motorist should never know if the cyclist is armed. If the cyclist makes a move to purposely show his weapon to the motorist, that could be construed as an obvious attempt to intimidate, that is brandishing the weapon in a threatening manner, which is also illegal. Unless the motorist has actually threatened to run you over, you are in the wrong for brandishing your weapon.

I gave up last summer. Just keep riding.

Nice. I thought about putting something like that on my commuter. I would make it about 6 inches shorter than the 3 foot minimum here in WA, but make it flexible enough that if it was hit, it didn't knock me over. Now, to add something on the end that will leave a nice mark in their paint.....

No one is trying to tell the OP what to do, only expressing their opinion, as requested by the OP. Seeing as how the OP is the only cyclist in his town, presumably no one here has ridden there, so by your logic, no one can express an opinion?

We can all have an opinion about it, but by my logic none of them can amount to much.

I don't want to see anyone giving up on something they like to do, just because it's challenging, any more than anyone else does. But looking at it straight, I don't know what his challenges really are. It may be a bit nihilistic but that's my honest opinion.

Every other city i have lived in including downtown Cleveland was way better then this town. south fla was also way better.south ga sucked but it was better.There just is something about this town and there hatred of bikers The onbly road i can ride on is a huge road with 4 lanes of trafic that is bumper to bumper in some times of the day HAs tons of 18 wheelers going to and from the poultry plants(this is the poultry capital of the world..There is no other road for me to take

No idea where you live and the route you take, but if you posted the route (without showing the exact start and end point, of course), perhaps you would get some specific recommendations that would help. Not saying you are wrong in thinking you have no options, but there may be reasonable alternatives you haven't considered.

There is no other roads I live on a lake so a course i cant go towards lake lol.If i recall the lake is like 500 miles a shoreline

Sounds like you have already given up.

Given the content/format of the OP's various posts I imagine there are several challenges involved.

Ill just give up for 2 weeks .So at least i am able to not react to these jerks who make it unsafe to ride here.

You do realize that in a couple of those posts we were talking about fake guns... right?

Also interesting argument... and I'll use your commentary about guns to show you the problem with your motoring thinking. If we are to think as you, then those who are not armed should always work to give way to those that are armed. But the fact is in society, we require those with weapons to be prudent in the use of the weapons so as to not harm others. We don't tell those who are armed to just shoot away while the vulnerable have to duck and take cover.

Sadly those situations do exist. Have you considered an off road route?

Yeah i do think of that a lot .But at some times of the year the grass is like 3 feet high on the side of the road.Now its pretty short maybe ill try it

Yes, I included fake guns in my original post because someone else before me had brought them up. What you may know to be fake may look very real to someone else and that can lead to all kinds of trouble as well, legal and otherwise. As to the rest, enough said, I'll debate it no more. I've stated my position in different ways multiple times. If you still don't understand, then we'll have to agree that we have differing views on the matter and I hope you have many more years of happy cycling and never come to understand that what I'm saying is right! .

As to the OP, I hope you stick with it. It sucks when someone gives up something that they should enjoy because of the bad behavior of others.

Why use guns or fake guns when you can use pacifiers? Keep a small supply of pacifiers in a handlebar bag, and then when a cager pulls up next to you and yells something, toss him a "binkie" and say "Looks like you can use one of these partner!"

What you are saying is that might makes right and that anything/anyone smaller best just stay out of the way. That is the road attitude of much of the 3rd world. That attitude also tends to come from folks that feel they own the road. It is NOT the attitude expressed by the laws that govern the use of the road... otherwise large tractor trailer rigs would dominate any and all lanes on the freeway.

I said **** it and went out tonight.I know i could kick these jerks asses and it would feel nice to do so but that will just make me a loser who cant handle his temper so ill just ignore them and keep rideing.I thought about headphones because there is nothing they can block out other then people who hate us bikers