Got buzzed this morning...
02-05-13 | 08:19 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
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.
02-05-13 | 09:49 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
Bikes: Trek 9th District, CAAD 10, Crux
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 human life.
02-06-13 | 09:48 AM
#28
Collector of Useless Info
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 5
02-06-13 | 10:34 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
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.
02-06-13 | 11:56 AM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 703
From: Layton, UT
Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile
They definitely look a little worried. I'm hoping they realize that if they had misjudged just a little and actually made contact, it would have been all on film.
02-06-13 | 12:40 PM
#31
Slob
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Bikes: 1970s AMF Roadmaster 3 speed, Bianchi Volpe, 2012 GT Zum City
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.
02-08-13 | 03:40 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Thetford, Vermont
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Karate Monkey, Ogre
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.
02-08-13 | 04:23 PM
#33
I Biked Today
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: My Place
Bikes: 1998 Lemond Zurich, Redline Conquest Pro, Kilo TT
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.
02-08-13 | 05:13 PM
#34
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 52
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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.
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.
02-08-13 | 05:50 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 780
Likes: 7
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR600, 1965 Schwinn Super Sport, 1973 Schwinn World Voyaguer, 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper, 1985 Specialized Rockhopper, 1988 Schwinn Traveler
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.
02-08-13 | 09:15 PM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
They allegedly do here in Colorado. There's an "aggressive driving" hotline specifically allocated to this, with "Reckless endangerment" and "menacing" being the primary misdemeanors that apply to situations with cyclists.
02-09-13 | 12:27 AM
#37
bragi
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 3
From: seattle, WA
Bikes: LHT
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?
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.
02-09-13 | 08:13 AM
#40
commuter and barbarian
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,494
Likes: 3
From: Potomac, MT, USA
My suggestion is to get a cell phone pic, if you carry a phone. That may help drive the point home to the asshat that he is not as anonymous as he thinks he is. It may also bolster your side if it comes down to your word against his. On that point, my question if I'm law enforcement would be, Why would a cyclist bring this up if nothing happened? I suppose the driver could come up with any number of excuses, including the old standby, I didn't see him. But if you're lucky enough to get the police to notify the guy, and he has to go to the trouble to explain himself and worry about consequences, he's not getting out of the situation what he intended. People who do this on purpose are clearly cowards who don't believe they'll suffer any pain for it, including justifying their actions. So an ordeal with a leo may just make a believer out of him... Hey, I can dream, can't I?
02-09-13 | 11:48 AM
#42
On the lam
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,470
Likes: 96
From: The Village
Not always, I now video all my rides and only go as far as reporting the offending motorist to law enforcement if I have enough solid information to give them.
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