Telly

Totally agree, at least that's how it is here in Greece. When people are in the above state, no reasoning is possible since they don't really "see" you; they see all their daily problems and vent... and sometimes if they're in a really bad state can become very dangerous.

My 0.01 cents is avoid confrontation with anyone sitting in a vehicle that can (easily) kill you.

DJ Shaun

I just tell them to f-off or give them the finger and then keep moving on. I used to chase them down but I learned that was pretty pointless. Now, I report the worse offenders to the police with the video from my GoPro.

rumrunn6

don't flip anyone off, it's can trigger a violent reaction that can result in your personal injury. I should know. I almost pulled a guy out of his car while traveling in Texas. I couldn't get the door open cuz it was locked. the guy went for his gun in his glovebox but that was locked and he was stuck trying to decide what do do, turn the car off to use the key to unlock the gun or leave the engine running so that when traffic freed up he could drive away. he was terrified. the minute I heard him shout through the closed window "I'm gonna get my gun" I stopped pulling on the door handle, stood up straight like I was hypnotized, realized what the heck I was doing (a Yankee in Texas) turned around and walked away (back to my car). so, ummm, yeah ... don't flip anyone off ...

caloso

yamsyamsyams

Just had my own encounter about 10 minutes ago (among a few others over the years), BF Help me calm down! Was crossing using the crosswalk at an arterial and this guy shouts out of his car "I should have ran you over!" Didn't do anything to provoke this sort of threat. Told the guy to learn the law. Can't we all just get along?

spare_wheel

and yet each year tens of millions of americans flip each other off without shooting each other.

PS: the chance of being struck by lightening in any given year is approximate 1:1,000,000.


moral of your story, do not attempt to assault people.

SpeshulEd 

I was recently almost hit by a large truck pulling a fairly large boat. Guy never got over, there was no bike lane, I was holding my line on the white line on the side of the road. He went by me so fast it blew me into the soft gravel but I didn't fall, woohoo!

After that day, I ride more in the lane on roads with no bike lane. Let the cars slow down and pass me when there's no traffic. I have every right to be there just as much as they do.

I also try to avoid roads without bike lanes, or cut through neighborhoods with less traffic.

FatherAlabaster

My folks always said to ignore people if they were being mean. Over the years it's become my greatest weapon. If only I used it more often.

merkong

They hate us because their spouses and partners want us...

merkong

In the town where I live there are several roads, two lanes in each direction where the posted is 55 mph. No shoulder. I hate the chance of taking the lane and them not seeing me at all. Not that my being over does anything more than get them to slide over a bit but whatever.

One thing I always think is that these drivers wish they had the moxy to do what we do... Yay us!

SpeshulEd 

Yeah, I'm not really riding down the middle of the lane, just decided it was more hazardous to my health to try to stay on the white line or the 5 inches of crumbling roadway to the right of it.

I've come to the conclusion in life that most people are complete idiots, when people are dumb or rude, I just chalk it up to that.

contango 

Normally I'd say do this but it's easier said than done when some moron does something moronic that causes a massive dump of adrenaline. I very rarely completely lose it but one time I did recently I chased a guy in his car and it was clear he was fleeing in a state of panic. He'd given me all the choice works about "riding on the f***ing pavement" and "get the (bleep) out of his way" and then took off, so I cranked the power and went for it. The speed he took off and screeched his wheels around the corner did cause me to chuckle, he had all the aggressive sounding language but when the chips were down he fled from the guy on the bike.

Notso_fastLane

I just like to tell them they're 'Number one'....

Notso_fastLane

Mmm...the sweet taste of Karma.

Medic Zero

I like bring my hand up to my face and make the international sign for crying (knuckle to the corner of eye, rotate back and forth). I figure they either might laugh or realize how ridiculous it is that they are complaining about my cycling, especially on cold days when I am commuting in the rain. Either way, it makes me feel better, without shouting back or giving them the finger, although on occasion I do those as well. My secret weapon is my Airzoundz horn though. Nothing like 120 decibels of HAWWWWNNNNK right back at them! Sounds like a bobtail truck laying on the horn.

One thing to bear in mind - a lot of the time you'll find yourself together at the next stop light. Be prepared for this. I feel naked without my u-lock in its holster on my hip on those occasions when I get into it with motorists and we end up at the same light right afterward. I don't want to have to use it, but if someone got out of their car and were coming at me, I'd threaten them with it. Bad day for them if they actually try and assault me, I WILL defend myself.

Medic Zero

Instant karma! I would've laughed for blocks and felt good all day after that happened!

newridenewme

what are the rules if any on the loud horns for bikes

xenologer

I've chased down (dont always catch up) and confronted. Generally with the adrenaline being pumping this becomes more about me being angry and loud than sucessfully educating anyone.
I tend to regret it afterwards, since all I end up remembering is the anger and no sense of accomplishment.
On the other hand, when I dont confront I tend to feel bullied and it eats away at me over time.
Feels bad either way.

I try to avoid riding in areas that have been problems, both to avoid the traffic and to stave off flashbacks.


Hmmmh, about the only time it went sorta OK (emotionally), was chasing down an suv with my u-lock held high for him to see. Ended up in a residential area, clearly he lived nearby, and he ended up not going home but instead circled back towards the freeway. I guess I really made him fear for retaliation right where it'd hurt - at home and not in the damn suv.
Probably didn't paint a good picture of cylists that day, but at least a driver realized that there was a real world outside the car.

spare_wheel

venting can also give the bullies satisfaction. i've found that for the minority who are not ahsamed it really gets their goat when you calmly try to educate them. since many of these bullies consider themselves to be moral, god-fearing, respectable citizens being lectured by some anarchist commie scofflaw on a bike completely @#$%s up their reality distortion field.

SpeshulEd 

You guys using your u-locks as weapons makes me think of that one part in Premium Rush where the girl takes her chain locks and knocks the mirror off the cab and shouts "you weren't using it anyway." I wasn't the biggest fan of the movie, but that part made me giggle.

wbuttry

I liked pemium rush not for the story line b ut cause they actually got a decent movie out about cycleist hauling arse in the city always wanted to try that but never had the balls to weave in and out of traffic like they do I value my life

daredevil

If u wanted to screw with it, a blast from an Airzound might catch their attention.

I say point at your ears and shake your head like you can't hear what they are saying, then wave.

SpeshulEd 

I didn't mind it but it wasn't my favorite bike movie.

If you dig videos of riding in heavy city traffic, check out Line of Sight by Lucas Brunelle...there's a couple of other you tube vids similar to his, but I like his best.

MuddKatt

I have my gopro with me at all times when riding. If someone cuts me off or tries to run me over I make a note of the license plate and just post them on youtube with the plate number. Even if nobody sees it it makes me feel better. I haven't had anyone yell at me recently though.

spare_wheel

Amazing videography of some of the most skilled cyclists on the planet.

The thing to really watch for is how they biff. The way they hit pavement, slide with their heads up, and immediately get up (and out of the way) is pure skill. I think its also an illustration of just how FOS the Cat 7 safety nannies are. Learn some cycling skills and your chance of riding away from a crash are astronomically higher.