Now now, let's be even handed.

I wasn't only talking to you, I was talking to everyone

I got lucky with this last week. I don't often have problems but I had an older car that was going real slow passing me but yet came so close to me, I had to get off the road. I'd just assume it was someone who though they weren't allowed to cross the yellow line to pass me. As soon as they pass me, they speed up and drive away. It's happened before and no sense in doing something flip the finger......

Lucky for me, the car that was behind this one was a local police car. Sure enough, police car pulls over the car that came within inches of me. Don't know if they got a ticket or not because I just keep riding but still it felt good that the local PD looks out for me.

I live in a small town and I've not had any problems either. On the other hand I am very strict about obeying the road laws, making my intentions clear, etc. Whenever I hear other's horror stories I always think this one thing...and it always bothers me: why not pedestrians? How many walkers, joggers, and runners get stuff thrown at them, yelled at, or ran off the road(where there are no sidewalks or paths)? It happens...but not nearly as much as what happens to cyclists. I just have to wonder...where does the hate come from?

^^^
Sadly, in downtown Honolulu, pedestrians get less respect than cyclist. The motorist may not yell at them, but they much more frequently put them in danger and challenge pedestrians for the right of way.

the driver probably honestly didn't know how to pass you. if the police was right behind the driver, i'm sure he/she would've followed the rules, and passed you safely.

Sometimes I think of throwing a leg out to give them a nice door dent, but that might knock me off the bike. Donkey Konging the **** out of their side mirror might be a better option.

thx 4 all the posts!
for the record, I am new to this forum, but have been ridin bout 4500 miles/year since 1992.
I consider myself a conscientious vehicular cyclist- I wear the brightest colors I can find. If anything, I may ride too close to the curb.
Here's my point: cars don't come within 3" of me, but, with every ride, there's always a close call- probably bout 6". I think it's usually intentional; they usually have plenty or room to their left to pass, but don't use it.
My philosophy to the whole issue is: a) LE would yawn b) getting pist at the motorist is exactly what they want- I sometimes give them a wave instead as Sianelle proposes c) I aint' gonna move to a different city- that would be admitting defeat d) I'm not gonna shot em, throw something at em, key em or pull their mirror off. the most I'll do is spit or bang on their car w/my hand.
And when they yell at me, 1st I bring my hand to my ear and say "huh?", then they yell again, and I say "Oh, it's a Cannondale, hybrid....." They get frustrated
But, wouldn't the horn be loud for the cyclist, too?
Sianelle- you don't really ride w/that outfit on, do you? (btw,I was educated by nuns)
So now, let me ask, is there any way, legally, to piss them off? (I don't do the critical mass thing)

I'm feeling guilty for passing a guy too close in my car on my commute home tonight. It was at a place where the shoulder really narrows down. He was further over to the right when I decided to pass. I really hope he moved over to the bike path soon after that, I've seen a very few cyclists on that road, but it never looked like a good idea to me. On the other hand, for some reason about 60% of car drivers on that section of the road are driving like morons (in the George Carlin sense) so maybe riding a bike there is not such a big deal. I guess my point is that some of us are just morons, tired, whatever, not really thinking.

I had a really strange experience yesterday riding with my daughter. A SUV came up behind us, and braked hard to match our speed because of oncoming traffic. When the traffic cleared, they passed us without going into the other lane. Personally, I don't mind being passed that close by a competent driver, but I think someone that stupid should consider riding the bus.

I don't think I've ever been in the situation where someone tried to run me off the road. Someone tried to doornail us when we were riding a tandem in North Carolina back in the '70s. I think the doornail thing is that you time it just right to scare the crap out of the victim, but don't hit them, but I'm not that kind of criminal. I've been punched while climbing a hill. Turns out I'm fairly adept at memorizing license plates. The worst run in I've had was out on a trianing ride. We were just coming into town, and hit some traffic. We were keeping pace with the other cars, and the guy behind us pulls up next to me and goes the same speed. He was just an idiot, didn't realize how threatening that was. But I smacked his car, and things went downhill from there. Word to the wise, don't ride close enough that they can grab your arm. And also, when you smack a car they might think you are using a hammer.

Yelling really loud is fairly effective. Usually I do that when someone is going to pull out in front of me, but it has worked really well for that, so I'm guessing it would work in other situations.

Any hunters on here? Does anyone know what a squirt of deer or fox urine from a squirtgun would make someone's car smell like for a while? Wouldn't really do any perceptible damage. Just make DAYUM sure you don't spill any on yourself!

Just call them police, give them the license #, and say the driver looks drunk.

It's not difficult at all so long as you're riding the right sort of bicycle and you've got a good chainguard and mudguards.



You could always ride with your own pirate boarding party all ready and able to board and capture any vehicle that passes too close

Reminds me of corporate raiding a la Monty Python in The Meaning of Life. Good one

Well I have this problem always, I fixed it, most people who do this don't like their car getting keyed, no one does, anyway I ride a big Xtracycle to work a hour away from home so I need to use the sides of roads, thust I came up with a plan, my bikes built for my protection andit's own protection, not the cars, it has poles out the sides at the back, so if cars to that, they will get nice marks, I use the poles to tie down stuff, but they also work on cars aparently, I got one not to long ago with them, another is the handlebars, I have four bull horns, end bars things, and some small metal pieces protecting my hands, in the case of someone really wanting to hurt me i will break the mirrors, i've had that happen to, these so called Thug things always think people on bikes are helpless, maybe i'm being rude or whatever be doing this but guess what, I don't care, I work, I make money, I aint gonna get hurt or get my bike broken and loose money because these knobs in cars, another alternitive is ride on sidewalk after it happened then taunt about gas prices, my bike does all a car does aside from distance, it's free to ride and free to make lol, and there you have it, the perfect thing to do, because we all know, the police really don't care, the bikes ones do though, I've only seen those dudes once.

Precisely. Their goal is to provoke and as soon as you jump out of your skin, flip them off, get mad, or whatever, they have accomplished their mission. The best way to react is not to notice. One of the reasons I wear a fred mirror is so I can see exactly how far they will miss me by so I don't need to react.

In all honesty, people who are buzzing you are not dangerous. They may want to scare you, but they don't want to hurt you so they will miss. The inattentive driver is a far bigger threat.

If they come close enough that I can take their mirror off without changing my travil path i'd think they are trying to hit me, It also gives it away when they say something like, hahaha stupid bicycle, i'm gonna run you off the road, i already heard it, another fun thing to to is keep cut up bike tubes with you, yes bike tubes, stick that on the muffler, the car will fart lol it's amusing

In Hawaii, the spitting thing is legal as long as you spit on the car and not the person. Worst case, a cop might try and push a disorderly conduct claim, but that would be too much effort for most cops.

How about this:




Or maybe a reflective vest with the same message.

I like that. I'm seriously thinking about the video cam, just so my kids can sue the *******s if I'm killed on my bike.

I used to scream, swear, and challenge people to fights. Nowadays I simply open carry everywhere I go, and cars tend to give me more room. For some mysterious reason, no one throws anything at me anymore either.

i adopt a calm attitude. i try not to let things faze me. if someone gets too close, i might shake my head in disbelief after they're ahead of me... but i stay calm and un-flustered.