Drivers who intimidate and drive at cyclists are nothing more than miserable cowards
10-03-15, 09:41 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Posts: 2,475
Bikes: Canyon Endurace
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1041 Post(s)
Liked 926 Times
in
541 Posts
Trust me, no one gets out of their car when you punch out their rear tail light with your fist.
10-03-15, 10:28 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,088
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 686 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
3 years of riding a bike and I can't come up with any other conclusion. It's always the same culprit, same car, same incident, same roads...
I had 3 incidents today and I'm just sick of it and need to rant. I was biking home from a single track trailhead. My route home is a massive MUP alongside a road, so it's totally seperated. I'm traveling WITH traffic, when this car comes speeding into a plaza. I have to slam on the brakes (I have the clear right of way) before this idiot hits me. He stops and I literally scream at him for 10 seconds. He turns his head away and doesn't even look at me.
I'm crossing an intersection not even a kilometer from this incident^ when some guy in a truck honks at me and starts yelling. Of course he has his window up and honked when I was halfway across. He then turns right and drives slower then normal. I think it was an invitation for me to come confront him, but I rode straight off. Typical pickup truck driver. I'm 6 feet, 200 pounds and would pummel him, and this middle aged guy knew it hence the cowardly tactics.
Next, we have a classic right hook. Some lady right hooks me AND a pedestrian on the MARKED MUP, just to get into a parking lot. As she was struggling to look for a parking spot, I rolledu p and told her that she needed to be careful. She apologized and was genuinely sorry (or was she?)
No matter where I bike, I encounter the same BS. The same drivers trying to get to Walmart or McDonald's 5 seconds faster and in the process, almost killing people. When you catch up to them at a red light, they're completely silent and won't even look you in the eye. These people are nothing more than miserable cowards who are often out of shape, obese, or just mad about SOMETHING.... bad marriage? Crappy job? It's infuriating to say the least and I just need to rant..
I had 3 incidents today and I'm just sick of it and need to rant. I was biking home from a single track trailhead. My route home is a massive MUP alongside a road, so it's totally seperated. I'm traveling WITH traffic, when this car comes speeding into a plaza. I have to slam on the brakes (I have the clear right of way) before this idiot hits me. He stops and I literally scream at him for 10 seconds. He turns his head away and doesn't even look at me.
I'm crossing an intersection not even a kilometer from this incident^ when some guy in a truck honks at me and starts yelling. Of course he has his window up and honked when I was halfway across. He then turns right and drives slower then normal. I think it was an invitation for me to come confront him, but I rode straight off. Typical pickup truck driver. I'm 6 feet, 200 pounds and would pummel him, and this middle aged guy knew it hence the cowardly tactics.
Next, we have a classic right hook. Some lady right hooks me AND a pedestrian on the MARKED MUP, just to get into a parking lot. As she was struggling to look for a parking spot, I rolledu p and told her that she needed to be careful. She apologized and was genuinely sorry (or was she?)
No matter where I bike, I encounter the same BS. The same drivers trying to get to Walmart or McDonald's 5 seconds faster and in the process, almost killing people. When you catch up to them at a red light, they're completely silent and won't even look you in the eye. These people are nothing more than miserable cowards who are often out of shape, obese, or just mad about SOMETHING.... bad marriage? Crappy job? It's infuriating to say the least and I just need to rant..
Why not just ride on the road?
10-03-15, 03:14 PM
#28
Senior Member
I hit a pedestrian head on way back when I was only 20. Skin from the mans hands rubbed off on my car hood trying to stop himself before his head smashed through the windshield. Fortunately, he lived. I still think about it all the time. Slow down people. Take it easy. Help save a life.
10-03-15, 03:53 PM
#29
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
Which city and which suburb do you live and ride ??...Are you from Toronto ??...I know that all the suburbs around Toronto are very dangerous for cycling.
10-03-15, 05:31 PM
#30
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 141
Bikes: Multiple GIANT bicycles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It doesn't matter man, Lol. Roads are even worse. A cyclist on the road here is such a weird site, people have no clue what to do when they see one. I rather take MUPS and sideroads. The MUPS are clearly marked...
10-03-15, 05:35 PM
#31
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 141
Bikes: Multiple GIANT bicycles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm in Mississauga, pretty much Oakville/Milton. Worst area for cycling. Pathetic infrastructure, speeding cars, 8 lane roads.. Everybody just rides on the sidewalk.
10-03-15, 05:47 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 11,016
Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
11 Posts
Get off those MUPS, they can be more dangerous than riding the highways
Been cycling for over 300-thousand miles since the early '70s on roads and highways including some (legal) Interstates here out west. Ridden in 30+ states (including FL).
Am 82 years old and take a bit of offense to the "Korean Vet" remark by MMLC.
Served during the Korean conflict and also survived the Nazis' brutality and starvation in Europe as a kid.
Still pedal 100 miles a week at age 82.
MMLC: Show some respect for your elder!
Pedal on!
Been cycling for over 300-thousand miles since the early '70s on roads and highways including some (legal) Interstates here out west. Ridden in 30+ states (including FL).
Am 82 years old and take a bit of offense to the "Korean Vet" remark by MMLC.
Served during the Korean conflict and also survived the Nazis' brutality and starvation in Europe as a kid.
Still pedal 100 miles a week at age 82.
MMLC: Show some respect for your elder!
Pedal on!
10-03-15, 06:14 PM
#33
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
I live in central part of Mississauga and I choose my routes very carefully. I am lucky to have few MUPS and streets along my commuting route which aren't too bad for cycling, I avoid most major arterial roads because they are too dangerous. Some parts of Mississauga are very bad for cycling. The main problem over in this area is speeding, fast moving traffic and too many distracted drivers using their cell phones.
10-03-15, 06:34 PM
#35
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
Be careful or you may end up getting stabbed with your own knife...I also carry a pocket knife but I think of it more as a tool then a weapon. If I was in a situation with no way out I would prefer to use my chain and padlock as a weapon instead of a knife.
10-03-15, 06:46 PM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Central, CA
Posts: 633
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I hit a pedestrian head on way back when I was only 20. Skin from the mans hands rubbed off on my car hood trying to stop himself before his head smashed through the windshield. Fortunately, he lived. I still think about it all the time. Slow down people. Take it easy. Help save a life.
Last edited by Flatbroke; 10-03-15 at 06:49 PM.
10-03-15, 10:59 PM
#37
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 141
Bikes: Multiple GIANT bicycles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I live in central part of Mississauga and I choose my routes very carefully. I am lucky to have few MUPS and streets along my commuting route which aren't too bad for cycling, I avoid most major arterial roads because they are too dangerous. Some parts of Mississauga are very bad for cycling. The main problem over in this area is speeding, fast moving traffic and too many distracted drivers using their cell phones.
I've given up and I'm just going to accept the fact that this area just isn't made for cycling... I find road biking boring anyways so it's not a big loss. Toronto and the surrounding suburbs are making greater efforts to accomodate cyclists though. I notice more bike lanes popping up in Toronto and when construction/new development is taking place in the suburbs, bike infrastructure will automatically be put in place in the form of an MUP or a bike lane. We're slowly getting there my friend.
10-03-15, 11:08 PM
#38
Gearhead
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chatsworth, Ga.
Posts: 236
Bikes: 1982 Schwinn Sidewinder, Sun EZ-1 Recumbent, Cannondale R-400
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
8 Posts
My first advice is do not ever directly confront anybody. That is the height of stupidity. There are all kinds of people with CCWs, and many carry firearms and knives illegally. Confronting them gives them the option of saying you were threatening them...and they shot/stabbed you. And you would be in the wrong. The best thing is to ride defensively and just pretend that all the cars around you are going to do the absolute most stupid thing possible....and most of the time, you will be right. If someone actually breaks the law, get it on video, get witness names, tag numbers, and all the information you can, and turn it over to the proper authorities. If anyone hits you, get all the information and turn it over to both the authorities, and your insurance company.
Again, never directly confront anyone. Road Rage laws also apply to cyclists. It could be interpreted as an assault.
Again, never directly confront anyone. Road Rage laws also apply to cyclists. It could be interpreted as an assault.
10-03-15, 11:16 PM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,557 Posts
I have the sheriff's non-emergency number in my cell phone. I have called in close calls a few times. Several of those drivers have had conversations with the men in blue.
Ben
Ben
10-04-15, 12:12 AM
#40
Full Member
And now you guys see why I can be afraid of getting into roads. This guy has 3 bad incidents on one ride. I would love to do long rides on the road, but unfortunately, like this guy suggests, drivers don't care about cyclists. And they may even carry guns.
10-04-15, 12:32 AM
#41
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 141
Bikes: Multiple GIANT bicycles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What kind of riding do you do?
10-04-15, 12:52 AM
#42
Full Member
Been riding my road bike on the multi use paved trails and have been riding my mountain bike on mountains/hills. But I have started testing some roads with my road bike. It hasn't been a great experience. It's like I don't know how to ride with traffic safely because a bike isn't the same speed and I don't know what to do when a bike lane ends and traffic is behind me.
10-04-15, 06:43 AM
#43
Banned
Join Date: May 2015
Location: North Jersey
Posts: 1,245
Bikes: 1975 Motobecane Le Champion lilac, 2015 Specialized Secteur Elite
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
"In the event that somebody actually attempts to touch me with their fists, they'll get a deserved beating"
Who is arrogant lol?
"This is why I'm quitting road cycling"
No offense bud but based upon your own posts you are not a road cyclist. And that is your problem.
You ride sidewalks and MUP's which are mostly populated with housewives and children and wonder why multiple incidents befall you daily by the exact same people that you profiled in your bike rage incidents.
Other people in this thread have picked up on the fact that bike rage and riding the MUP are your personal issues. Your ridiculous attempts at stereotyping 30 year old women and obese pickup drivers are wrong and insulting.
Have fun in the woods and can't wait to hear about your bike rage incidents involving squirrels and deer.
10-04-15, 07:05 AM
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 162
Bikes: 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105; 2015 Felt V100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Reading stuff like this is the reason I've done 99% of my cycling this summer since May 31st (beginning of my "season" this year) on our subdivision roads. Over 2000 miles this summer and the same 1.5 mile "loop". It gets really boring seeing the same thing over and over again....but at least I'm not dealing with a-holes on the road as described in this thread. Although next summer I'm planning on trying a metric century and a few other organized rides, so I'm going to have to leave my comfort zone eventually.
10-04-15, 07:25 AM
#45
Banned
Join Date: May 2015
Location: North Jersey
Posts: 1,245
Bikes: 1975 Motobecane Le Champion lilac, 2015 Specialized Secteur Elite
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Reading stuff like this is the reason I've done 99% of my cycling this summer since May 31st (beginning of my "season" this year) on our subdivision roads. Over 2000 miles this summer and the same 1.5 mile "loop". It gets really boring seeing the same thing over and over again....but at least I'm not dealing with a-holes on the road as described in this thread. Although next summer I'm planning on trying a metric century and a few other organized rides, so I'm going to have to leave my comfort zone eventually.
10-04-15, 07:33 AM
#46
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 141
Bikes: Multiple GIANT bicycles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Been riding my road bike on the multi use paved trails and have been riding my mountain bike on mountains/hills. But I have started testing some roads with my road bike. It hasn't been a great experience. It's like I don't know how to ride with traffic safely because a bike isn't the same speed and I don't know what to do when a bike lane ends and traffic is behind me.
"Not to be cocky"
"In the event that somebody actually attempts to touch me with their fists, they'll get a deserved beating"
Who is arrogant lol?
"This is why I'm quitting road cycling"
No offense bud but based upon your own posts you are not a road cyclist. And that is your problem.
You ride sidewalks and MUP's which are mostly populated with housewives and children and wonder why multiple incidents befall you daily by the exact same people that you profiled in your bike rage incidents.
Other people in this thread have picked up on the fact that bike rage and riding the MUP are your personal issues. Your ridiculous attempts at stereotyping 30 year old women and obese pickup drivers are wrong and insulting.
Have fun in the woods and can't wait to hear about your bike rage incidents involving squirrels and deer.
"In the event that somebody actually attempts to touch me with their fists, they'll get a deserved beating"
Who is arrogant lol?
"This is why I'm quitting road cycling"
No offense bud but based upon your own posts you are not a road cyclist. And that is your problem.
You ride sidewalks and MUP's which are mostly populated with housewives and children and wonder why multiple incidents befall you daily by the exact same people that you profiled in your bike rage incidents.
Other people in this thread have picked up on the fact that bike rage and riding the MUP are your personal issues. Your ridiculous attempts at stereotyping 30 year old women and obese pickup drivers are wrong and insulting.
Have fun in the woods and can't wait to hear about your bike rage incidents involving squirrels and deer.
Sad, I'd expect much more support from a fellow cyclist.
Reading stuff like this is the reason I've done 99% of my cycling this summer since May 31st (beginning of my "season" this year) on our subdivision roads. Over 2000 miles this summer and the same 1.5 mile "loop". It gets really boring seeing the same thing over and over again....but at least I'm not dealing with a-holes on the road as described in this thread. Although next summer I'm planning on trying a metric century and a few other organized rides, so I'm going to have to leave my comfort zone eventually.
10-04-15, 07:34 AM
#47
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Anymore it seems that if you can afford them, the best thing to have is a go-pro or some kind of camera to show the situation to the police. It time that more drivers that threaten cyclist be taught not to suck eggs. A nice high fine is definately in order.
10-04-15, 07:56 AM
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 162
Bikes: 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105; 2015 Felt V100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nope. The last few days I've had to put my bike on the trainer and it's not nearly as fun as being on the road. If I resorted to nothing but being stationary I doubt I would keep it up. At least during the fall/winter/early spring I have next late spring/summer to look forward to and be motivated to get stronger. I'll take doing a mile and half loop over a stationary bike any day of the week. An hour and a half on the road doing my loop in the neighborhood goes a lot quicker than even 30-45 minutes on the trainer.
Last edited by largefarva; 10-04-15 at 08:02 AM.
10-04-15, 08:00 AM
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 162
Bikes: 2015 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105; 2015 Felt V100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In some areas/instances, there's literally 0 you can do unfortunately. Where I live, they just enacted a safe passing law and posted up a million of those "Share the Road" signs, but I still encounter the same garbage almost daily. If it's something you really like to do, I'd keep on going. For myself, I'll just stick to commuting and trails.
Reading comprehension not even once. Lol. I don't ride sidewalks. I ride roads and MUP's which are clearly labeled and even have their own traffic signals for bicycles. I don't need to be dressed up in lycra and riding a carbon frame bike to be a road cyclist. I think the few thousand kilometers and couple of centuries that I've covered on my hybrid and friends road bike qualifies me as one
Sad, I'd expect much more support from a fellow cyclist.
I've found that riding with a friend or doing a group ride is much safer. More people to overtake means drivers have more people to watch out for. I have a couple routes that I ride for fitness, about 60 km. It gets old, but I also don't have to deal with cars.
Reading comprehension not even once. Lol. I don't ride sidewalks. I ride roads and MUP's which are clearly labeled and even have their own traffic signals for bicycles. I don't need to be dressed up in lycra and riding a carbon frame bike to be a road cyclist. I think the few thousand kilometers and couple of centuries that I've covered on my hybrid and friends road bike qualifies me as one
Sad, I'd expect much more support from a fellow cyclist.
I've found that riding with a friend or doing a group ride is much safer. More people to overtake means drivers have more people to watch out for. I have a couple routes that I ride for fitness, about 60 km. It gets old, but I also don't have to deal with cars.
10-04-15, 09:08 AM
#50
Senior Member
Instead of cringing and quitting, why don't you guy take a LAB Road I course or, better yet, a s Cycling Savvy course? You obviously don't know how to ride on the road, if you did, you wouldn't waste your time on MUPs and wondering why people are always cutting you off.