First time tailgated
11-22-11 | 02:44 PM
#51
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 2
From: Colorado-California-Florida-(hopefully soon): Panama
Bikes: Vintage GT Xizang (titanium mountain bike)
11-22-11 | 06:47 PM
#52
Resident smartass.
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 488
Likes: 2
From: Kamloops, BC, Canada
ROFLMAO!!!!
I would have done the same thing too. Just motion for the driver to hang back, pull off to the side of the road and wave him by. USUALLY the driver will put 2 and 2 together. If not, at least they are no longer behind you.
11-22-11 | 07:48 PM
#53
Ice Bites
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: cYa tossers
I've encountered jerks like this and found it's best to pull over and stare or get behind them so they don't have the opportunity to strike you. Slow drivers worry me more than the bad or distracted ones, at least you can predict what a bad driver will do.
11-22-11 | 09:05 PM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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Bikes: A Homer Hilsen and a bunch of pretty much worthless crap
Machka, I read your post just fine the first time, and I still disagree with it just as much the second time around.
I don't like people getting in my way either, it's a basic human trait. But in a modern urban environment, we are all in each other's way. We're all moving at different speeds and cross directions, using different time budgets, and all for different purposes with varying degrees of necessity. When I have both the time and the ability, I might let someone faster than me go by, but definitely not if they're gonna be an ass about it.
Between two of my classes I've 15 minutes to cross campus, which I can do in about 14, allowing for traffic. I probably could do it in twelve if people would just see me speed walking and step aside, but they're trying to get to class too. Why should I have any expectation that they would stop their travels to let me by? Doesn't that imply that I think that my time is more important than theirs? It is to me, but should I expect everyone else to feel the same way?
When I'm riding my bike and you're behind me in your car, don't expect me to pull over. I know that you're trying to get somewhere. So am I, so is everyone. If I pulled over for every faster vehicle, then it would take me a heck of a lot longer to get where I'm going; in essence I would be giving up my time to everyone who chose to drive, which is pretty much everyone.
I don't feel that by choosing to bike instead of drive I'm in any way being "self-centered and selfish and rude", even though I get in the way of cars. Your "uncommon courtesy" equates to having to choose between driving my car or being a prick, which I don't see at all. What I would consider courteous would be respecting the space of slower users and acknowledging their right to get where they're going at the pace that they move, and treating them as I would want to be treated in the same situation. I don't expect cyclists or horse buggies to get out of my way when I drive, I don't expect walkers and runners to get out of my way when I bike, and I don't expect senior citizens and pregnant women to get out of my way when I walk. If they choose to, fine, but in no way should there be a cultural expectation for them to do so.
I don't like people getting in my way either, it's a basic human trait. But in a modern urban environment, we are all in each other's way. We're all moving at different speeds and cross directions, using different time budgets, and all for different purposes with varying degrees of necessity. When I have both the time and the ability, I might let someone faster than me go by, but definitely not if they're gonna be an ass about it.
Between two of my classes I've 15 minutes to cross campus, which I can do in about 14, allowing for traffic. I probably could do it in twelve if people would just see me speed walking and step aside, but they're trying to get to class too. Why should I have any expectation that they would stop their travels to let me by? Doesn't that imply that I think that my time is more important than theirs? It is to me, but should I expect everyone else to feel the same way?
When I'm riding my bike and you're behind me in your car, don't expect me to pull over. I know that you're trying to get somewhere. So am I, so is everyone. If I pulled over for every faster vehicle, then it would take me a heck of a lot longer to get where I'm going; in essence I would be giving up my time to everyone who chose to drive, which is pretty much everyone.
I don't feel that by choosing to bike instead of drive I'm in any way being "self-centered and selfish and rude", even though I get in the way of cars. Your "uncommon courtesy" equates to having to choose between driving my car or being a prick, which I don't see at all. What I would consider courteous would be respecting the space of slower users and acknowledging their right to get where they're going at the pace that they move, and treating them as I would want to be treated in the same situation. I don't expect cyclists or horse buggies to get out of my way when I drive, I don't expect walkers and runners to get out of my way when I bike, and I don't expect senior citizens and pregnant women to get out of my way when I walk. If they choose to, fine, but in no way should there be a cultural expectation for them to do so.
11-22-11 | 11:02 PM
#55
Randomhead
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 25,930
Likes: 4,825
From: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
I ride my bike like I drive my car. I do everything I can to (legally and safely) get the manics in front of me. However, it's not my job to weave in and out of parked cars or ride in the gutter. It's far better just to ride a straight line. Maybe I'd feel differently if I was actually slowing anyone down, but I don't see that as the case most of the time. The guy in the truck obviously had plenty of time since he followed the OP down the dead end street. I'd give odds that pulling off would just have given him a way to bully the OP more efficiently.
If everyone just rode their bike in a predictable manner, it would be a lot easier for motorists to get used to driving in the presence of cyclists.
If everyone just rode their bike in a predictable manner, it would be a lot easier for motorists to get used to driving in the presence of cyclists.
11-23-11 | 02:28 AM
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Bikes: 2006 DBR Podium 2
The only time I have had anyone "bully" me on my bike was when I was riding on the sidewalk on a busy high speed road with no shoulder. I got smoked out by a diesel. Good thing I was riding with one of my buddies who never bikes. If I was on my own I would have chased him down.
/internet tough guy
/internet tough guy
11-24-11 | 09:28 AM
#57
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 2
From: Colorado-California-Florida-(hopefully soon): Panama
Bikes: Vintage GT Xizang (titanium mountain bike)
The only time I have had anyone "bully" me on my bike was when I was riding on the sidewalk on a busy high speed road with no shoulder. I got smoked out by a diesel. Good thing I was riding with one of my buddies who never bikes. If I was on my own I would have chased him down.
/internet tough guy
/internet tough guy
11-24-11 | 09:44 AM
#58
On the lam
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,470
Likes: 96
From: The Village
As soon as the motorist is in front, their thunder is taken away and they usually move on. I've only had two motorists circle around the block to continue the chase, forcing my hand to report them.
11-25-11 | 08:36 AM
#59
What, me worry?
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 3
From: Athens, Greece
Bikes: Corratec / Jamis
Tailgating here in Athens is an art... six inches is WAY TOO MUCH room between cars... especially if you're going below 60mph (up to a standstill). Since I started commuting to work which is around 3-4 months, I've been bumped into by cars at red lights more than a dozen times. Luckily up to now, it's only been a slight jolt with no damage to the wheel, bike or brakes. I'm just hoping that the next idiot which bumps into me doesn't panic and hit the accelerator (thank god automatics are extremely rare here!).
11-25-11 | 10:28 AM
#60
On the lam
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,470
Likes: 96
From: The Village
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