Stuck behind a bike

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Arpit
WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass you,
but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

Tell him not to drink and drive, bloody idiot!

"Arpit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass
you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

Well you could just stick it out - you DO have a right to be there.

Or, you could pull your bike off the road and let them pass.

Or you could ride really fast so they are no longer stuck behind a 'slow' bike.

I do all of the above to differing degrees depending on how long they are likely to be stuck behind
me and if they were nice about getting stuck or not.

hippy

"Arpit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass
you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

What I hate more is when there _is_ enough room to pass, but not a hell of a lot, and the f^&wit
won't go round, but instead sits two inches off your back wheel. You just know that their
frustration level's going to rise to the point where they'll do something stupid. West end of
Mowbray road is a typical example.

When that happens, I deliberately slow to a snails pace. Once or twice I've actually stopped, and
then they suddenly realise there's a whole road there and take off.

Regards,

Suzy

"Arpit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass
you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

I just try and gesture to them to move past if there is enough room or otherwise duck up onto the
path for a couple of metres so they can get past. If there isnt enough room then ride on but if it
looks like they are going to get stupid then just pull off and let them past... it aint worth being
hit from behind or having something thrown at you as they go past.

My fav was the couple in the beat up POS that changed to the outside lane (yes this was on a hwy
with little other traffic) then Ferrel Sherral yells "GET ON THE FOOTPATH AND OFF THE F**KING ROAD!"
whilst her delightful buck toothed husband points to footpath using his middle finger and then hoon
off leaving a ploom of black smoke... only to end up at the next set of lights where she is half the
way out the window still yelling at us as my mate rides past and gives her half a bottle of Powerade
in the face... We then took her advice and hiked it onto the path and down onto the cycleway (where
we were headed anyway).

"Suzy Jackson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Arpit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass
you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

What I hate more is when there _is_ enough room to pass, but not a hell of

a

Quoted message said:

lot, and the f^&wit won't go round, but instead sits two inches off your back wheel. You just know
that their frustration level's going to rise to the point where they'll do something stupid. West
end of Mowbray road is

a

Quoted message said:

typical example.

When that happens, I deliberately slow to a snails pace. Once or twice

I've

Quoted message said:

actually stopped, and then they suddenly realise there's a whole road

there

Quoted message said:

and take off.

Regards,

Suzy

What I love (?) is being in a car and stuck behind a bike - the driver gets 'heated' and says things
like f&%$#ing cyclist and I remind them that _I_ normally ride a bike. Shuts them up really fast!
--
Alan Erskine alanerskine(at)optusnet.com.au Where are the Weapons of Mass Destruction, Mr Bush?

"Tim Jones" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I can't remember ever being in a situation long enough to warrant

conscious

Quoted message said:

thought on the matter for being on the bike and someone not being able

to

Quoted message said:

get past. What sort of area are people riding on to have this for an extended period? I cycle only
Melbourne bike tracks and roads.

Sometimes the traffic flow is just right to stick you in this situation.
e.g. Trams can cause it. You catch up to a tram and then the person behind you doesn't have the
judgment/skill to pass between you and the tram so insteads starts beeping at you to, what,
levitate the bike sideways over the gutter?! f%$ off b%^ch! (venting, sorry, can still remember
this one incident..)

hippy

"SM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

<...>

Quoted message said:

I just try and gesture to them to move past if there is enough room or otherwise duck up onto the
path for a couple of metres so they can get

past.

Quoted message said:

If there isnt enough room then ride on but if it looks like they are going to get stupid then just
pull off and let them past... it aint worth being hit from behind or having something thrown at
you as they go past.

My fav was the couple in the beat up POS that changed to the outside lane (yes this was on a hwy
with little other traffic) then Ferrel Sherral

yells

Quoted message said:

"GET ON THE FOOTPATH AND OFF THE F**KING ROAD!" whilst her delightful buck toothed husband points
to footpath using his middle finger and then hoon

off

Quoted message said:

leaving a ploom of black smoke... only to end up at the next set of lights where she is half the
way out the window still yelling at us as my mate rides past and gives her half a bottle of
Powerade in the face... We then took her advice and hiked it onto the path and down onto the
cycleway

(where

Quoted message said:

we were headed anyway).

LOL

Love it...

Tim

Arpit said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass
you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

What do YOU do if you are driving a vehicle on the road, where there isn't enough room for a car to
safely pass you, but is stuck behind you and the driver is getting [censored]?

---
Cheers

PeterC

[Rushing headlong: out of control - and there ain't no stopping]
[and there's nothing you can do about it at all]

I take your point. But do you think some drivers would have different attitude depending whether the rider is a male or a female?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Suzy Jackson
"Arpit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass
you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

What I hate more is when there _is_ enough room to pass, but not a hell of a lot, and the f^&wit
won't go round, but instead sits two inches off your back wheel. You just know that their
frustration level's going to rise to the point where they'll do something stupid. West end of
Mowbray road is a typical example.

When that happens, I deliberately slow to a snails pace. Once or twice I've actually stopped, and
then they suddenly realise there's a whole road there and take off.

Regards,

Suzy

Quoted message said:

What do YOU do if you are driving a vehicle on the road, where there isn't enough room for a car
to safely pass you, but is stuck behind you and the driver is getting [censored]?

Two words: "BRAKE TEST"

"Peter Cremasco" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Arpit said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass
you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

What do YOU do if you are driving a vehicle on the road, where there isn't enough room for a car
to safely pass you, but is stuck behind you and the driver is getting [censored]?

If I'm in a car, going the speed limit and someone starts tailgating me, I'll usually slow down.
On a freeway, getting tailgated, I'll flash my brake lights - that usually works in getting them
to back off.

I can't remember ever being in a situation long enough to warrant conscious thought on the matter
for being on the bike and someone not being able to get past. What sort of area are people riding on
to have this for an extended period? I cycle only Melbourne bike tracks and roads.

Tim

"amirm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I take your point. But do you think some drivers would have different attitude depending whether
the rider is a male or a female?

Definately. As well as whether or not you are wearing lycra and on a road bike or an mtb. Or if you
are a kid on a bmx. Or if you are wearing no helmet or have no lights at night. Or if they've had a
bad day. Every driver can reacte differently depending on millions of circumstances. Why do you ask?
Somone wrong you?

I often think to myself "well I have a right to be here so get stuffed car driver" which most of the
time changes to: "okay i'll let you through because if i do, you might not hate me so much next time
we meet and if I intentionally hold you up, i'm just causing you to waste MORE fuel anyway!" If the
person in the car gives me grief though, and i'm doing nothing wrong, well, lets just say it
suddenly looks like the hippy has taken some bad acid :-)

hippy

Keep in mind people that we're on a bike with no protection and no power to get quickly out of a trap situation. Our options as cyclists are very limited. So although it's nice to imagine that we're in control when someone is struck behind us it's better to always assume that they are not cycle-friendly and be prepared for the worst.

An associate of mine (anti-cyclist) once described a situation to me. An inconsiderate cyclist was riding in the inside lane approaching the intersection at which he needed to turn left. Five metres out of the intersection he decides not to wait and cuts off the bike because.....he didn't want to hold up anyone who might be coming along behind him. He honestly felt that the cyclist was interfering with his rights and that he was acting in a socially responsible manner towards other drivers behind him.

This indicates the mentality of a few drivers out there. Slowing down for just a few moments for another road user is utterly unimaginable. The more "insignificant" the other vehicle the more frustrated they become. It's just few moments but to them it must feel like a lifetime. And all they're doing is going down to the pub.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Paul J
[B]Keep in mind people that we're on a bike with no protection and no power to get quickly out of a trap situation. Our options as cyclists are very limited. So although it's nice to imagine that we're in control when someone is struck behind us it's better to always assume that they are not cycle-friendly and be prepared for the worst.[QUOTE]

Oh so true. Commuting daily in Sydney is a good way of coming across all the reminders that this fact. I have found that the Bus lane / Transit lane in the South Eastern burbs is the safest place to be. The Bus drivers have all been great, in fact I've had some good runs with them going up Anzac Pde, as they stop to pick up the plebs at 0630 and then again in rush-hour on the way home. They always go wide on the straight runs and come up slow with no pressure into a stop.

But watch the cabs and the idiots with no peripheral vision and pudding-basin haircuts, and no sense of distance. (you know, the one's who pull up 10 metres from a traffic light, and who are always driving the car at the front of a line of nose to tailers!) Both these will pull up and have been known to cut in at no-notice to get round that next corner only metres in front of you at 30+ KM/HR. The bar-end rear view mirror gets a good workout, and I have to replace the brake pads every 1000k's, but I wouldn't miss the daily buzz for quids. Something about the return to the primeval and the need for adrenalin.

But you always have to remember, only two wheels, reflexes, and alertness to keep you upright and a brain bucket to save you if you can't beat the odds.

Good luck and safe rolling. 😎

Quoted message said:

If I'm in a car, going the speed limit and someone starts >tailgating me, I'll usually slow down.
On a freeway, getting tailgated, I'll flash my brake lights - that >usually works in getting them
to back off.

That's reactionary. Not good. If they're travelling too close and no idea of the speed limit then let that be they're problem. They WILL have an accident and probably already have at some point. They may even be doing it purely to get a reaction from you in which case you've given them something. Be aware of them remembering that ignorance is bliss and that in your doing nothing at all they're only getting more and more frustrated, all the while being completely in the wrong. Being ignored can be soooo frustrating.

amirm said:

Suzy Jackson said:

"Arpit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:lj9elvs-
[email hidden]:lj9elvsb85g6l90ff7ig7vhtfqu7ldo- [email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely
pass you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

What I hate more is when there _is_ enough room to pass, but not a hell of a lot, and the
f^&wit won't go round, but instead sits two inches off your back wheel. You just know that
their frustration level's going to rise to the point where they'll do something stupid. West
end of Mowbray road is a typical example. When that happens, I deliberately slow to a snails
pace. Once or twice I've actually stopped, and then they suddenly realise there's a whole road
there and take off. Regards, Suzy

I take your point. But do you think some drivers would have different attitude depending whether
the rider is a male or a female?

Oh I dunno, thats pretty much what I do, even if there isnt enough room to pass me, but if they are
honking at me. I just do that untill they stop honking

Arpit said:

amirm said:

Suzy Jackson said:

"Arpit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:lj9elvs-
[email hidden]:lj9elvsb85g6l90ff7ig7vhtfqu7ldo- [email hidden]...
> WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely
> pass you, but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?
What I hate more is when there _is_ enough room to pass, but not a hell of a lot, and the
f^&wit won't go round, but instead sits two inches off your back wheel. You just know that
their frustration level's going to rise to the point where they'll do something stupid. West
end of Mowbray road is a typical example. When that happens, I deliberately slow to a snails
pace. Once or twice I've actually stopped, and then they suddenly realise there's a whole road
there and take off. Regards, Suzy

I take your point. But do you think some drivers would have different attitude depending whether
the rider is a male or a female?

Oh I dunno, thats pretty much what I do, even if there isnt enough room to pass me, but if they are
honking at me. I just do that untill they stop honking

Heheh, i didnt read the drivers bit :p

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Arpit
WHat do you poepl do if you are on a road where there isnt enough room for a car to safely pass you,
but is stuck behind you and driver is getting [censored]?

Well, this happens to me all the time. I am peddling my way into work and for around 10 kms of the 17km trip I am stuck behind cars that are hardly moving. They do not generally move out of the way! In fact many of them intentionally block the cycling lane.

If the boot was on the other foot of course I would move over!

The interesting thing about this is that car drivers tend to get upset with a slow moving cyclist yet put up with a slow truck or bus.

Kevin

SteveDel said:

Oh so true. Commuting daily in Sydney is a good way of coming across all the reminders that this
fact. I have found that the Bus lane / Transit lane in the South Eastern burbs is the safest place
to be. The Bus drivers have all been great, in fact I've had some good runs with them

the Canberra buses are positively hostile, stopping at the lights in the gutter, and squeezing you
as they pass; vs my Adelaide memories of caring sharing buses.

AndreS.au ===> I ride therefore I am