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I'm a "smile & wave" guy as well, but I must admit I have stupidly confronted a few drivers also. I have found that when I have a close-call with a jerk in a car, fight or flight kicks in and it's sometimes very difficult to suppress. Having said that, I really do make a conscious effort to stay calm, regroup, and if possible, get the license number.
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Originally Posted by spare_wheel
(Post 15240395)
Cyclists will never gain respect on the road if they do not confront bullies. I've done this more times that I can count and each time the motorist either fled or apologized.
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Fify...
Originally Posted by big lebowski
(Post 15241929)
perhaps it is different in portland, but i think that the risk of confrontation with a motorist here in kansas city is too great. Unfortunately, too many are armed and don't give a rip about any already born human life.
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Maybe just give them the stink-eye as you roll past them stopped at the next intersection so that they realize that a) they didn't just roar away after their stunt, b) they didn't actually save any time, and c) their conduct was objectionable.
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 15243421)
Maybe just give them the stink-eye as you roll past them stopped at the next intersection so that they realize that a) they didn't just roar away after their stunt, b) they didn't actually save any time, and c) their conduct was objectionable.
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My brother-in-law gave me a small, lightweight tomahawk for Christmas, and I have been wondering what it's for. Now I can see that it's obviously a tactical cycling tomahawk. In addition to the hatchet bit, it has a spike that would be awesome for punching holes in auto bodies.
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I used to think that everyone who whizzed by me too close was doing it deliberately. Then I noticed that, when I rode to the left of the fog line, I had far fewer close calls and a lot more drivers giving me lots of room. I have since learned that, due to the way our not-designed-to travel-at-highway-speed brains work, a lot of people actually won't see you unless you are right out there in the travel lane. I'm not saying this explains all of the bad driving we see, but if you want to reduce your ratio of close calls, try this experiment. Ride 6-12 inches to the left of the white line whenever possible.
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Originally Posted by cogdriven
(Post 15252337)
I used to think that everyone who whizzed by me too close was doing it deliberately. Then I noticed that, when I rode to the left of the fog line, I had far fewer close calls and a lot more drivers giving me lots of room. I have since learned that, due to the way our not-designed-to travel-at-highway-speed brains work, a lot of people actually won't see you unless you are right out there in the travel lane. I'm not saying this explains all of the bad driving we see, but if you want to reduce your ratio of close calls, try this experiment. Ride 6-12 inches to the left of the white line whenever possible.
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Originally Posted by cogdriven
(Post 15252337)
I used to think that everyone who whizzed by me too close was doing it deliberately. Then I noticed that, when I rode to the left of the fog line, I had far fewer close calls and a lot more drivers giving me lots of room. I have since learned that, due to the way our not-designed-to travel-at-highway-speed brains work, a lot of people actually won't see you unless you are right out there in the travel lane. I'm not saying this explains all of the bad driving we see, but if you want to reduce your ratio of close calls, try this experiment. Ride 6-12 inches to the left of the white line whenever possible.
I agree, taking the lane reduces close passes. I've also found that a blinky rear light helps a lot - most cars actually change lanes when I have the light on, not so much when I don't. So now I have it on all the time, even on sunny days. |
Unfortunately there is nothing we can do about bad drivers other than watch out for them. There are many things that irritate me daily. For example, when I'm on a bike at an intersection and it's my right of way but the car makes me stop and wait anyway while making eye contact with me. If they only new how much more effort it takes me to get my bike going again. Or, when I'm hauling butt down a steep hill doing the speed limit on my bike and they insist on driving way to close behind me, or making a dangerous pass. I mean I don't plan on crashing when I'm going 40 mph down the hill but it's not impossible, and they would just run me over because they don't have the logic to stay far enough back to stop in case of incident. Actually I get just as mad about illogical selfish drivers when I'm driving a car. Yelling or flashing the finger will only make a bad situation worse.
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Originally Posted by DiabloScott
(Post 15235400)
I wonder if reports that don't result in follow ups wind up in some kind of personnel folder so that multiple offenses will pile up and could influence future citations.
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Originally Posted by Bat Guano
(Post 15235256)
by a guy in a pickup truck. He came within a few inches of my handlebar, clearly on purpose. So after I yelled at him - instinctive reaction - I realized I was going to catch up to him at the next stop light. I stopped behind him and very obviously noted his license plate number. Paced him through a school zone, and at the next light I pulled up alongside his passenger-side window. 'Hey buddy,' I said politely. Loudly, because he had his windows rolled up and was trying to ignore me, but politely. 'Hey buddy, you're supposed to give a bicyclist 3 feet when you pass.' He's staring straight ahead, but I know he hears me. He and everyone else stopped at the light, for that matter. 'Three feet, buddy!' The light changes, and that's the end of the encounter. When I got to work I called in a report to the police - had his truck make/model/license plate number. I don't expect anything to come of that, but you never know; they filed it under reckless driving, and said if the detective decides a law was broken they'll follow up on it.
So I feel pretty good about the way I handled it so far. Anything else I can do? Any follow-up steps? I get buzzed several times a week. I used to get angry about it, but now I don't. I can't be sure who buzzes intentionally and who doesn't, and, more importantly, I don't have the time or energy to deal with something I can't change and has little to do with my life in general. |
Originally Posted by Crazyed..27
(Post 15236103)
Who rides a 50lb bike?
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When I get buzzed I take that as an indication to go skitch, they have made it obvious at that point they are pretty okay with close proximity.
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Originally Posted by Bat Guano
(Post 15235256)
So I feel pretty good about the way I handled it so far. Anything else I can do? Any follow-up steps?
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I don't have the time or energy to deal with something I can't change and has little to do with my life in general.. |
Originally Posted by spare_wheel
(Post 15240395)
Cyclists will never gain respect on the road if they do not confront bullies. I've done this more times that I can count and each time the motorist either fled or apologized.
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