Got screamed at by a driver at 5:00 AM
03-27-19, 11:14 AM
#26
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Great motivation to ride quickly for the rest of your commute.
03-27-19, 11:23 AM
#27
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You might have a point. At 5AM here it's still dark as night this time of year.
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
03-27-19, 12:29 PM
#28
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More seriously, I do agree with @jefnvk: I have trained myself to smile or laugh when people scream or shout from cars. I don't need the adrenaline, I don't need the angry thoughts, i on't need the self-doubt later about whether i did the right thing or deserved it .... and seriously, think of the state of mind of someone who would shout such stuff?
Usually if I make an error on the road, I know it, and otherwise, anyone who vents anger at me was angry at a bunch of other things and I just happened to be there. Smile and wave---it will either annoy the person (revenge!) or it will mystify the person, or maybe make the person stop and think (least likely but best possible outcome.) In any case, minimal karma for you, and minimal distraction from your real job, which is enjoying your ride.
Usually if I make an error on the road, I know it, and otherwise, anyone who vents anger at me was angry at a bunch of other things and I just happened to be there. Smile and wave---it will either annoy the person (revenge!) or it will mystify the person, or maybe make the person stop and think (least likely but best possible outcome.) In any case, minimal karma for you, and minimal distraction from your real job, which is enjoying your ride.
03-27-19, 12:37 PM
#29
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03-27-19, 01:01 PM
#30
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03-27-19, 01:08 PM
#31
Tragically Ignorant
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I've actually reacted to this scenario a few times when we got stopped at the same light afterwards by acting like such an angry lunatic that they clearly became scared of me, all without uttering anything that could be interpreted as a threat. I know it wasn't smart, but it was both fun and somehow satisfying. I suspect about 90% of these people would really be shocked by having a cyclist actually stand up to them. Unfortunately, some of the other ones probably wouldn't mind actually using their car as a weapon.
What can I say, sometimes I get cranky on a long ride. At least some of these people might think twice before they try it again.
What can I say, sometimes I get cranky on a long ride. At least some of these people might think twice before they try it again.
03-27-19, 01:47 PM
#32
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As others have stated, doing anything other than ignoring the crazy driver is likely going to escalate the problem.
-Matt
03-27-19, 02:15 PM
#34
Every day a winding road
I was stopped at a light at 5:00 AM this morning on a very well lit street when a driver rolled down his window to inform me that I was a "f...ing" moron for riding my bike in the street. Mind you, I was standing in the bike lane. He shouted that I should be riding on the sidewalk. As he drove away he yelled something about understanding hit and run drivers. A bit unsettling. Hopefully our paths don't cross again.
And in even more from the unusual news department - Dog bites man.
03-27-19, 02:24 PM
#35
Senior Member
Yeah, if they're shouting as they fly by, I just smile and wave. If they're stopped and expecting a response, I tell them that if they have a problem with the way I'm riding, they should report me to the police. Nothing I tell them about the law will matter because I'm just some goof on a bike; but if the police chew them out it might sink in.
03-27-19, 02:32 PM
#36
Interocitor Command
In situations such as these, I like to ask myself, "What would Judge Dredd do?" 
03-27-19, 03:20 PM
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I was stopped at a light at 5:00 AM this morning on a very well lit street when a driver rolled down his window to inform me that I was a "f...ing" moron for riding my bike in the street. Mind you, I was standing in the bike lane. He shouted that I should be riding on the sidewalk. As he drove away he yelled something about understanding hit and run drivers. A bit unsettling. Hopefully our paths don't cross again.
03-27-19, 03:38 PM
#39
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Avoidance is the first choice but occasionally that is not enough.
03-27-19, 03:44 PM
#40
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I'm in the "smile and wave" camp. If I want to get under their skin I'll point at them and laugh. There's something infuriating about being laughed at I suppose. It sure send people into a hissy fit, I know that. If I'm in the mood I'll shout out a compliant "OK!" as if I'm actually gonna get up on the sidewalk. I never do, of course. I don't ever challenge or argue with anyone. There's too much crazy in the world for that.
-Kedosto
-Kedosto
03-27-19, 03:59 PM
#41
Me duelen las nalgas
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03-27-19, 08:59 PM
#42
Senior Member
Been there done that. Then I would take out my badge and ID, instruct the driver to pull to the side of the road in front of me, check his license and registration, and if they were okay, give him a lecture on traffic law. The more in a hurry he appeared to be, the longer I would take. There is nothing like seeing the look of anger and outrage on a driver's turn to total fear, and angry curses turn into almost tearful apologies.
03-27-19, 09:06 PM
#43
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Safer to ignore them (while making sure that they don’t do anything sketchy).
Someone who is already that angry at 5:00 a.m., could be easily triggered by the rider’s reaction.
Just move on and let the idiot go on his not so merry way.
Someone who is already that angry at 5:00 a.m., could be easily triggered by the rider’s reaction.
Just move on and let the idiot go on his not so merry way.
03-27-19, 09:10 PM
#45
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This article on the subject explains it well...
Confronting a motorist from your bike is never worth it
Confronting a motorist from your bike is never worth it
03-28-19, 06:33 AM
#46
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No matter how justified, ultimately it’s never satisfying to fly into a rage; if anything, you just wind up feeling guilty and ashamed, like when you wake up on the couch covered in Cheetos after a Netflix binge.
03-28-19, 05:41 PM
#49
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I was stopped at a light at 5:00 AM this morning on a very well lit street when a driver rolled down his window to inform me that I was a "f...ing" moron for riding my bike in the street. Mind you, I was standing in the bike lane. He shouted that I should be riding on the sidewalk. As he drove away he yelled something about understanding hit and run drivers. A bit unsettling. Hopefully our paths don't cross again.
03-28-19, 08:23 PM
#50
Bikes are okay, I guess.
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I used to carry one when in uniform so that when someone asked, "Where's your military bearing?" I could display it.
