3alarmer 

WhyFi

Never once, when overtaking a slower motor vehicle, has the notion occurred to me that they were occupying "my" space. I bet it's never happened to the OP, either. Funny and sad, then, that you take the person out of a motor vehicle and put them on a bicycle and they're knocked down a peg or five; I guess that the OP, and others like them, respect inanimate objects more than human beings.

bboy314

What about shouting “lights” to a driver without their lights on makes someone an a-hole? I consider this a polite way to let someone know their lights aren’t on.

Reflector Guy

I bet most likely he heard you coming long before you honked at him. Unless of course the crashing of the surf on the beach or the moaning of the Fentynal addicts makes too much of a din to hear.

burnthesheep

No you didn't. That's a lie that inside a vehicle at 30+ mph you could see the exact same debris situation in their bike lane across and over the hood of your passenger side of the car, unless you're driving a British made right hand drive car in the US on the right hand side of the road. So you're lying to bolster your stance.

indyfabz

You mean you can’t see shards of glass or similar debris in that situation without your headlights on? I thought everyone can.

OP needs to work on his story fabrication.

Koyote

OP has a history of whining about other road and trail users.

indyfabz

I remember those. Post like a Pirate Day. That was a good one, if I must say so myself.

He sounds like a one-trick pony.

badger1

Yep. My colleaugues in 'creative writing' (re. 'creative non-fiction') would agree. The premise in the op is silly, to put it charitably, absent the existence of some sort of law/regulation in CA/county of San Jose that requires cyclists to ride in a "bike lane" where one is provided.

I particularly enjoyed the notion that the only justification for a cyclist's riding in the "car lane" would be the anticipation of a left-turn.

Koyote

I think "creative non-fiction" is otherwise known as "Bull****ing." Which is certainly what the OP is doing.

Maelochs

Your lights help others see you .... first sign of selfishness. As is his right. Butthole move, and if you are a cyclist you should know this In Youerr Opinion there was no need for him to ride outside the bike lane. Maybe he had reasons you didn't see (anything from debris to not wanting to get passed by pushy drivers at cvertain points on the road, to whatever.

See above comment about how you drive with your lights on so others can see you. You are a in a car driving in admittedly low-light conditions---This Is Why Cars have Lights. You could have blended into the background---or maybe he heard you coming, and felt that he was riding in a safe and sensible manner, and that if you wanted to pass and could do so safely while allowing him the requisite three feet, you should do so without sounding your horn

Maelochs

his choice to make:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/f...21202.DIVISION 11. RULES OF THE ROAD [21000 - 23336] ( Division 11 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )

CHAPTER 1. Obedience to and Effect of Traffic Laws [21000 - 21300] ( Chapter 1 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. )
ARTICLE 4. Operation of Bicycles [21200 - 21213] ( Article 4 added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 479. )
21202.
(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a “substandard width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 674, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1997.)

The cyclist determines what is the best distance to ride from the side of the road,. depending on conditions. At no point does it say the cyclist is restricted to the bike lane. And while you claim that you can see over 100 feet ahead on an overcast morning and see any conceivable roadside hazards, we all know you are lying, and if you actually ride a bike, you know it too.
Do you honk at cars as you plan to pass? If you actually ride a bike you know that cyclists can hear cars well before the cars are close enough to be threats .... he certainly wasn't unaware of you unless you were far enough back that you didn't need to bother warning him. If you were doing around 30 mph, that's about 45 feet per second .... so you both had a couple seconds before you would actually be overtaking.

You Do Not have a "Space" which he is obliged to respect. He has a space YOU are obliged to respect. As the overtaking vehicle it is up to You to make the maneuver in a safe fashion. if he wants to ride right down the middle of the lane, he can, and if you cannot pass by using the other lane, you have to wait. it is the Law. Sorry for you.

Funny, I have been driving since I was 16, and even though I was car free for half my adult life, I still had a license and drove from time to time. In the past 20 years I have owned a car and driven regularly, and ridden regularly too. I have never needed to honk at a driver or a cyclist.

Buy then, I am not out looking to "defend my space" from cyclists or anyone else. I am just another road user and we are all trying to get wherever we want or need to be.

How big is the trunk of your car? Can you fit groceries and stuff along with that gigantic sense of entitlement?

(Just kidding, but you don't want to hear anything but praise, and no one can change your mind .... because you didn't come here to discuss. Top me, you are exactly who you claim to be, the entitled guy in the car who thinks he should have control of the road. You are the problem, friend.

veganbikes

Of course you didn't because you recognized the fact that is actually my personal space. Also cars are clearly deserving of more respect than humans, What human has built in AM/FM stereo, 5 CD changer and heated seats? Exactly, humans are clearly inferior!

Chuck M 

These bashing other cyclists threads just don't go well do they?

Troul 

like Chinese food & chocolate pudding, cocaine & waffles, peanut butter & ladies, not jelly.

ooga-booga

let me guess, your car is silver or champagne colored and driving on an overcast day...tough to pick out on the side view mirrors on the freeway...much less with a quick backwards glance from a cyclist. help us help you.
lights on at all times regardless. can't tell you how many times it has made the difference with driving or cycling. a little safety goes a looong ways. regardless of the color of your chariot, thank you.

3alarmer 

mschwett 

the utterly ludicrous part of this is that shouting "lights" makes you a jerk but HONKING at a cyclist makes you ... a respectful, responsible driver? the mind boggles.

Maelochs

Basically, as you realize now that there may have been better ways to handle the situation. No need to feel bad about it …. and you do feel bad, your feelings are a little hurt because the cyclist came back at you with venom and in your mind, your intent was in no way venomous.

What we have here is Failure to Communicate.

And you opened the communication by honking. Easy solution, just don’t do that. Think of how the message might be received, not how you might have intended it.

But otherwise …. Vicissitudes of life. Stuff happens. No big deal. You are fine, so is the cyclist. Let it go. Onward, into the fog!

WhyFi

Ugh - one thing that really bugs me is when people with light colored vehicles - white, silvery, or gray, etc - don't turn on their lights in a light rain, particularly on the freeway; they absolutely disappear in to the tire spray, "....but I don't need my lights on to see anything!"

Troul 

I find that a vehicle with poorly aimed lights are problematic. unless squirrel hunting is a popular thing nowadays?

veganbikes

Wait Cocaine and Waffles isn't a normal thing that goes together...I mean of course it doesn't...hehe,

I actually do really love Chinese food and chocolate pudding but yes together not so good but there is restaurant I have been to that makes a delicious chocolate mousse pie and some very good Chinese food

dedhed

Worse, white/grey/silver car in a snow storm when I'm plowing

nomadmax 

I think we need to give the OP the benefit of the doubt. There's a good possibilty that his story never really happened and in fact, is not an 8sshole.

bruce19

I have no problem criticizing a cyclist if I think it's warranted. I'm not a member of the "Cyclist Team." So, I don't automatically side with someone just because we are both cyclists