eyeomegasquared

+1 on carrying pepper spray. I'm not sure there's much you can do about people buzzing you, but if someone actually gets out of their car to harass you, then straight up spray them in the face.

Wolfvegas

americans and their guns lol

Artkansas 

From what I've seen and heard, Baton Rouge is a tough town for bicycles unless you are on the LSU campus. You should contact the fine folks at BRASS, the Baton Rouge Advocacy for Safe Streets. They know your situation and ways to minimize it and you should join them to help improve conditions. And they are good people to get to know.

I'd wait till Isaac passes though. Stay dry.

Ridefreemc

Let me start by saying that I do not believe that what happened to you after the drive-bys was warranted based upon your response of yelling at drivers or using a horn. However, you can expect an attack back in some instances (i.e., with certain people). After reading some of the other posts/responses here I got curious and looked at some of your previous posts where you stated you spit on a car once and another incident where you gave a guy the middle finger after placing your bike directly in front of his car. Not sure if that was the guy that chased you through traffic or that was the one that assulted you, but you cannot expect all people just to continue on their merry way with that kind of a response from you.

The comment "what did you do to make them mad" may not be fair, but again it is to be expected. People in cars are first annoymous, that is why they cut in front of you after you've patiently waited in line at merging traffic (in your auto), that is often why they buzz you, etc. However, they may also be angry in the first place and that is why they buzzed you. If you stop in front of their car blocking their way and shoot them the finger you may have just thrown gas on their fire (many are just looking for an excuse to unload on someone). At a minimum it represents a challenge to them.

I would suggest that you refrain from responding in such a confrontational way. You may get further when pursuing a solution with the authorities. Earlier I suggested you contact local officials, but after reading about your responses I am not sure you are going to win anyone over. Sorry it is that way, but it is reality.

curbtender

If people want to be treated like cars then they should expect to get cut off. You are the granny holding up traffic. I do whats going to be safest for me, legal or not. Tickets can be fought in front of the judge. Street confrontations usually end up bad.

goagain

Ridefreemc: Very interesting info you found about the OP's other posts. There is apparently more to this story than the OP told.
There are nice people and not so nice people everywhere. No need to stereotype any region.
OP seems to escalate situations and definitely does not need to carry a firearm! Sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen. The video camera is a much better idea, or find another route. Carrying a firearm is huge responsibiity, one for which OP doesn't seem to have the necessary self control.
And don't follow people home in anger. All this has already been said by many here; please take the advice.
Unusual that so many motorists on this route are hostile and escalate incidents to violence. If OP's post is legit, I hope he finds a peaceful solution before he or someone else gets hurt.

recumbenttoad

It sounds like them Cajuns are mean S.O.B.s. If it is that dangerous where you live, I would move if at all possible. If not, find an alternate route. It may take you longer, but it may be less hassle.

recumbenttoad

It's Americans. And, what's so funny about living in a country that doesn't seem to be as oppressive as the rest of the world?

thplmn72

So are you a girl ? If not and you never were taught how to fight take lessons. I know obviously if your hit by car from behind there's not much you can do but the guy that got out of his car I promise you would have had a mouth full of my fist before he could yell.

Ns1

With only 24 posts, doing investigative work is surprisingly easy.

Re: thplmn72, no he is not.

Now onto the LOL's in case nobody has c/p'd it...I'm gonna c/p them a little out of order.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post14622465

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post13907053


I rage a lot too, so maybe you should consider raging then getting out of harm's way, which usually involves flipping a u-turn real quick and then running away.

Jamoni

Things you can't change: Other people.
Things you can change: your self.

Threads like this always remind me of this joke:
A farmer is out working in his field, when a guy in a car stops and asks for directions to the next town. He mentions that he's thinking about moving there, and asks the farmer what the people there are like.
The farmer says "What are the people like where you're from?"
The traveler says "They're great! Hard working friendly folks who wouldn't hurt a fly, and would give you the shirt off their backs!"
"Well," says the farmer, "That's what they are like in the next town.
So the traveler thanks the farmer and drives off.
About an hour later, another car stops, and another traveler gets out to ask for directions to the next town. He also asks the farmer what the people there are like.
"What are they like where you're from?"
The traveler spits. "Ah they're a bunch of no good, lying, lazy, cheating, back stabbing bastards! I hate them all!"
"Well," says the farmer, "That's what they're like in the next town."

John_1961

I was almost run off a two lane highway early this week pepole in cars think they own the whole dam road

Leisesturm

Have you ever tried to Mace an onrushing Escalade? Or F-150 for that matter. It doesn't faze them. Just makes them madder. I doubt shotguns are much good either... too much scatter. No, for vehicles you need something with penetration. You also need to be out of the direct line of acceleration of the vehicle. You know... I might have missed the post where someone called the OP a [TOS Violation]. Sorry but I can't take the o.p. seriously. It is beyond regrettable that four pages of posts don't reflect this more.

H

curbtender

Ahhh, so a Slowcrank Haiku...

Moving is not a tenable solution.
I wouldn't get a gun, but that's just me.
Cameras are a great idea.

rando

yep. find another route.

SnowJob

We actually prefer to be called Mericans, thank you very much.

otis66

Someone on the site posted this a while back. Somtimes you just have to go gangsta when your riding "The Tour De F**** Y". LOL Be careful out there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgCqz3l33kU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3nMn...eature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr4n_...eature=related

SlowCrank

Hah! I used to write haiku every day for about a year and a half. Guess it's still with me.

RichardGlover

I see your problem; you've mistaken Florida for being part of the south. Only Yankees and Floridians believe that.

Schwinnrider

No, move away from Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge is a dangerous hellhole of a city. If he lived in a smaller town in Louisiana, he wouldn't have such problems. BR is just kind of trashy. Every city, however, is going to have problems with nuts. The cyclist's paradise of Minneapolis has a problem with youths assaulting cyclists.

Carry pepper spray and a gun for the nuts who will try to assault you.

RichardGlover

Change your route. Change your attitude. Change your ride times.


A camera can help with buzzing cars (well, in convincing the police that there's a problem and giving them evidence to follow-up). Don't bother if you have to edit the footage to hide the fact that you're provoking drivers with your own rage.

Carrying a gun isn't going to help you - unless you get into an out-of-car, off-the-bike altercation that you didn't start, didn't escalate, and gets to the point where you're in danger of grievous bodily harm or death.

Carrying a gun without changing your attitude is going to get you into a lot of trouble one day.