Road Rage

I think cyclers are target to drivers out of spite sometimes. The moment they started making bike lanes on roads you started to hear about intentional hits more and more.

I've only been riding for about a month so I haven't really dealt with much road rage but I've heard about it from some of my friends. I guess it used to be a lot worse here than it is now. Several years ago, our city voted in a minor tax increase for infrastructure improvements that included extra bike racks and lanes. A certain subset of the population though this was a waste of money. They would drive around and when they saw a cyclist, they'd throw handfuls of pennies in their face. That happened to some of my friends causing accidents. That doesn't really happen anymore.

I was a cyclist and now I consider myself just a biker. But I am also a car driver so I know for a fact that bikes and motorbikes are banes on the road. My car has suffered countless of scratches and some dents too from those 2-wheel drivers. In a traffic stop, those rascals would be inching their way regardless of the space between vehicles. That's the reason for the scratches. It seems like it is prohibited for 2-wheels to stop unles they are right in front of the traffic lights.

I've been cycling for a little over a month (1-2 hrs 3-5 times a week) and have only been honked at a few times and never really threatened intentionally. One of the times I was honked at, I signaled 3 times before a turn and when I went to make it, the car behind me was very close.They probably didn't know what the hand signal mean't. I use to walk to work as my main form of transportation(5 miles each way) and actually became friendly with many people in the community because of it, met all types of people. I do remember a few jerks yell out racial slurs(ironically 2 of the times on the street I've lived on for 20 years and the plates were out of state) and a few times was splashed with water on purpose when it heavily rained. One of the times I saw a mom driving with her young kid in the car splash me on purpose, disturbing to say the least. The thing is, most people who harass want to get away quick or not be seen at all. Another thing I noticed is many people are hesitant to go with the right of way or let me go first.Many people think all cyclist break the rules(run lights,signs) and don't want to risk an unnecessary accident.

Get a helmet mirror and look what is coming up behind you.
You might be able to see the idiot stretching out the window etc as they get closer to you. You'll have a better chance of getting the rego plate number and reporting them.....I do.

Yesterday morning, we were off to the mall and traffic was light since it was a Sunday. In an intersection, we notice a bike rider and a motorcycle rider arguing. Both dismounted from their rides and took aim at each other. It was an instant boxing match although the traffic officer, with the help of some motorists, pacified both parties. A clear road rage caused by a misstep of one rider - blocking the way of the other rider.

Hey, that sounds pretty harsh. I've never understood why there is so much road rage but it's a reality that we have to confront on a daily basis. Motorists are becoming increasingly more hot-tempered and ill mannered, not to mention ever more dangerous. When we ride our bikes we have to be constantly on guard, as you never know when you'll come across the next psycho motorist.

Road rage is a real thing and cyclists should understand it. It's a psychological condition of a car driver fuelled by other stresses and the frustration of not being able to reach on time. It's not usually intentional though some scumbags still do it. In any case, a biker stands to lose, no matter what the punishment that a drive goes through.

I vouch for the first post made by "volnix" and wish you to follow his tips.

Bonzer said:

I vouch for the first post made by "volnix" and wish you to follow his tips.

Fanks! 😄 May the tailwind follow you on your adventures! 😄