Angry cyclist!

Another driver rant post... should be fun.

You can't please everyone, verbal abuse on the road is just part of the experience. I do, however, take issue when drivers use their vehicles to threaten cyclists. I have been swerved at and had folks slam the brakes in front of me. To me that is making threats with a deadly weapon, crossing the line from passive-agressive to aggressive. Part of the problem is that the balance of power is far too lopsided toward motorists and they are far too few consequences for them.

A cyclist is poorly equipped to be percieved as threat to motorists. How can one, in a nonviolent way, get respect on the roadways? The best suggestion I encountered thus far is to have a recording device (cell phone, helmet cam, etc.) handy. Take the perception of anonymitiy away from the driver and add the threat of legal consequences - instant respect.

Maybe what we need is a group of "vigilante" or "hero" commuters/cyclists "armed" teeth with recording devices working in concert with local law enforcement to identify problem drivers.

I should note that here in Minnesota there are an abundance of overly bicycle friendly drivers - just a few rotten ones spoil the bunch.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CAMPYBOB [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Is that the Tour de Afghanistan?

The good ol' U.S. of A.!

These Swiss gals are probably NOT going to get much road rage directed at them...

[IMG]cyclingforums.com700Open ↗[/IMG]

Cyclists are easy targets for angry motorists. And there's a lot of angry motorist out there...ride safely. Keep your cell phone handy and always be ready to pull that assault rifle off your back! [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eek.gif[/IMG]

Spinal Tap said it the best - but I'm thinking the same way about that photo:

My love gun's loaded and she's in my sights
Big game is waiting there inside her tights, yeah

I had been building up a little angst after a sudden and new wave of road conflicts. I'm a brand new road cyclist as of this summer, and the negative energy I began building up began one night when I got a flat on my ride into work at 10pm. As I was changing my tire on the side of the road it suddenly began to pour rain. I quickly moved my bike over to a nearby confectionary store with an eves-drop so that I can continue my repair where it was slightly more dry. Minutes later I turned around to see a MASSIVE bear walking across the street in my general direction. It didn't look off to the side where I was crouched down, luckily. It did walk right into the path to where I had originally been fixing my flat. Thank God for that rain! (I didn't see the positive in the situation AT THE TIME. I was more scared to death and got the hell out of there right away and finished my repair hidden in a ditch, again, in the rain). Anyhow, I must have done a poor job at fixing the flat because I flatted about 2 minutes later after having just installed the new tube. I absolutely had to get to work as I was already late so just rode the rest on my rim. I was internally raging at this point, BTW. Moments later, a guy flew through a stop sign nearly T-boning me (he slammed his brakes after just noticing me. I'm luck to be alive). He then proceeded to throw a water bottle at me, clearly not feeling very sorry for nearly killing ME. (yes my bike is equipped with about 8 different placed lights, one high powered on the front). Since that day, LITERALLY every single ride out since has been one after another of people randomly shouting obscenities or throwing objects at me for no reason.

I had a chance to drive my truck into work last night but decided not to let the fear (of another encounter) beat me and so I got on my bike and rode. I put some calming music in my earphones and had a great ride. Nearing the end of my commute I was approaching two guys standing at a bus stop. I said to myself, "two juveniles out on a Friday night - yup - they pretty much HAVE to follow their built-in primal, pubescent instructions and shout out random, angry gibberish - which they did of course - and I had my choice words locked and loaded and ready for firing back. Before they could even finish their sentence I replied simply with, "learn some respect, fu*kers.". It left a big smile on my face and a big load off my recent storage of anger, fear and anxiety. Very therapeutic! Kids today have no respect for authority whatsoever. (I'm a 33 year old husband and father of three with two jobs). Typically, though, I just bite my lip - especially as far as other cars go. With pedestrian teens, I have no problem speaking my mind just as long as I'm not verbally stooping to their level. Plus, I can hold my own just fine.

I am now looking into buying a GoPro HD Hero2 Helmet cam after reading this thread. Great advice!

It's OK to hate cagers. They are less than human. There is something about getting behind the wheel of a car that dehumanizes most people. We've all witnessed this and it would be foolish to ignore or deny this sad fact. Be careful out there. Remember the person putting your life at risk by making an unsafe pass because she can't comprehend the possibility of slowing down until it's safe to pass maybe someone's mom but she's still trying to kill you.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Dave Cutter [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

...Cyclist do get injured and even on occasion killed. Cycling is a great sport and a fine hobby! But it isn't for everyone. If traffic scares you... maybe the mountain cycling trails might be your thing.

A friend of mine was killed by a motor vehicle. He was not afraid of traffic. It's not about fear. It's about drivers running over bicyclists. Cagers have hollered at me to get off the road and you seem to be telling me the same thing! Unfortunately there is no mountain bike trail that will take me where I need to go.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by qdc15 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

It's OK to hate cagers. They are less than human. There is something about getting behind the wheel of a car that dehumanizes most people.

I hope you share those thoughts with someone. NOT someone on a forum or on line.... but with a real person that cares. Maybe you have a mother or someone. You need to bounce those kind of thoughts/feeling off another human being... you need to see the look in their eyes when you say those things.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by qdc15 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

A friend of mine was killed by a motor vehicle. He was not afraid of traffic. It's not about fear. It's about drivers running over bicyclists. Cagers have hollered at me to get off the road and you seem to be telling me the same thing! Unfortunately there is no mountain bike trail that will take me where I need to go.

I see now.... you are very young. I forget that the young see life... and by default death... differently from adults. Most of the people I love... have passed. I see death as a normal part of the journey not as an interruption.

Your hatred harms you... and helps no one. I wish you well and hope you find peace.

I hope I die before I get old.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Dave Cutter [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I hope you share those thoughts with someone. NOT someone on a forum or on line....

I've shared them with you and I feel better now. Thanks.

This is a dangerous world! There are plenty of people that will happily hurt you... for the fun of watching you suffer. Of course many men seek-out women like that for marriage.... but that's another topic.

Riding a bicycle through the city streets, roads, and bicycle paths will expose cyclist to people who would accidentally or even purposely do them harm. Cycling alone is the riskiest way to bicycle. I guess cameras could increase a cyclists "feelings" of safety. But if reducing risk is really the goal... I would guess cycling with a buddy may be the only actual way to add safety to the behavior.

Setting at home with the doors locked may always be the safest way to live. I don't think the risks involved with cycling are nearly great enough.... to keep me home.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by qdc15 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I hope I die before I get old.

I should have shared with you... that I do feel sorry for your loss of your friend. I know that feeling. I miss many people.

As you age... you should naturally learn... and become better able to recognize fear and discard its affects. Trust me... Life is good at any age!

I trust you as far as can throw you!

I hope I die before I get old.

T...T...Talkin' 'bout my generation!

qdc15 said:

It's OK to hate cagers. They are less than human.

I nominate the quoted post for "Stupid Post of the Year". it's very likely, some cagers consider us the same way. I'd say your intelligence is in question after making such a stupid statement.

I'll second that nomination. That attitude doesn't help the cause of cyclists wanting to share the roads.

Old is a relative statement and is conditional depending on your age. You can be damn old, older than dirt or pretty old, also pretty ugly, pretty fat and pretty dumb none of which are actually pretty.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by CAMPYBOB [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I hope I die before I get old.

T...T...Talkin' 'bout my generation!

Reading that enduced an LOL moment.

A comment stemming, no doubt, from no concept of having truly aged.

I'm currently 33. When I was 29 I was in such good shape that I felt better conditioned than when I was 15. I did rupture my acchiles tendon at that point, so my health went a little down hill after that. But all in all, I stay healthy and active and I don't foresee quitting. Once you quit, then consider yourself old and just watch your real quality of life go downhill.

Reading that enduced an LOL moment.

Cool!

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by alienator [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I nominate the quoted post for "Stupid Post of the Year". it's very likely, some cagers consider us the same way. I'd say your intelligence is in question after making such a stupid statement.

I'm not even quite sure what qualifies someone as a "cager" as far as that goes - I definitely log more miles behind the wheel than I do on the bike.

Cager vs. cyclists is just an attempt to create an "us vs. them" generalization. The media, politicians and special have trained us generalize and factionize people for their benefit. Pedestrians, slower cyclists may make the same arguments about roadies. It is easy to make generalizations and gives us a warm fuzzy feeling that we are in the right.

The reality is that out on the road its him or her vs. you; one person either voluntarily or involuntarily places another into harms way. It does not matter if it is a car driver, pedestrian, another cyclist, dog walker, mail main, etc. - we can all be threats to each other.

On the roads, be aware of your environment, don't get complacent and assume that others will have your best interests in mind. Stay safe and, if needed, defend yourself and others' safety.