What would be your response?

bcps said:

he shouts to me in a nasty tone,
"Why don't you get a f---ing car!?".

The last time a motorist yelled something similar at me was the
passenger in a van. He leant out the window to yell it as the van
went past me. I had the good fortune to take a shortcut avoiding a
queue I knew he'd be in. As I came back to the queue I saw I was
ahead of him (he was in a liveried van - very distinctive).

Half a mile further on I turned off the road, so stopped in the turn,
stood up and as the van drove past gave it an exaggerated slow
hand-clap.

The passenger didn't look remotely amused, but the driver was laughing
so hard I worried he'd drive into the car in front.

More commonly, if someone screams abuse I blow them a kiss. Sometimes
they look like they're going to blow a blood vessel after that.

The other alternative is to respond with a happy wave and a cheery
grin - pretend you think they were making a friendly greeting. This
also seems to upset some people more than any 'smart' or 'in kind'
response does. Those it doesn't upset, it confuses - I like to think
they then spend some time worrying they might know me and I've
recognised them.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

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

Quoted message said:

bcps said:

he shouts to me in a nasty tone,
"Why don't you get a f---ing car!?".

The last time a motorist yelled something similar at me was the
passenger in a van. He leant out the window to yell it as the van
went past me. I had the good fortune to take a shortcut avoiding a
queue I knew he'd be in. As I came back to the queue I saw I was
ahead of him (he was in a liveried van - very distinctive).

Half a mile further on I turned off the road, so stopped in the turn,
stood up and as the van drove past gave it an exaggerated slow
hand-clap.

The passenger didn't look remotely amused, but the driver was laughing
so hard I worried he'd drive into the car in front.

More commonly, if someone screams abuse I blow them a kiss. Sometimes
they look like they're going to blow a blood vessel after that.

The other alternative is to respond with a happy wave and a cheery
grin - pretend you think they were making a friendly greeting. This
also seems to upset some people more than any 'smart' or 'in kind'
response does. Those it doesn't upset, it confuses - I like to think
they then spend some time worrying they might know me and I've
recognised them.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Excellent response. It is not good for an individual, on something as
fragile a pedal vehicle, to get tight with a nutcase, a motor, and 2 or more
tons of metal.

But still... what would you have liked to say?

I totally respect your attitude and I think it is a very good attitude to
have.

In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:59:22 -0400

bcps said:

But still... what would you have liked to say?

Most of the time the yells are incomprehensible.

Sometimes I can just make out "nice bike" but the ones who yell abuse
seem to have problems with consonants so I just hear "aaaooouuerriii"
or something like it.

If I heard "why don't you get a car" and I wanted to give a smart
remark I'd probably just say "what, and spend all that money to sit in
a traffic jam?"

It's like my usual response to people who say "but aren't you worried
about the traffic?" which is "why? they are mostly stopped after all!".
That usually gets a grin and a "you have a point".

But mostly I seem to get thumbs up and "nice bike" and people winding
down their windows at lights to have a chat about it. The price of
the thing usually boggles them alas. Most people think "bicycle, can
get one at kmart for $99". If I get a chance to talk for longer and
they say "I could buy a car for that" I ask them how much the one they
are driving costs. It's usually more like 20 than 3, and that makes
them think.

Of course the best answer is probably "Because I'm having so much more
fun than you are!"

Zebee
- who needs a sign for the bike in winter "yes I'm cold and I'm wet
and I'm *still* having more fun than you are"

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

Quoted message said:

In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:59:22 -0400

bcps said:

But still... what would you have liked to say?

Most of the time the yells are incomprehensible.

Sometimes I can just make out "nice bike" but the ones who yell abuse
seem to have problems with consonants so I just hear "aaaooouuerriii"
or something like it.

If I heard "why don't you get a car" and I wanted to give a smart
remark I'd probably just say "what, and spend all that money to sit in
a traffic jam?"

It's like my usual response to people who say "but aren't you worried
about the traffic?" which is "why? they are mostly stopped after all!".
That usually gets a grin and a "you have a point".

But mostly I seem to get thumbs up and "nice bike" and people winding
down their windows at lights to have a chat about it. The price of
the thing usually boggles them alas. Most people think "bicycle, can
get one at kmart for $99". If I get a chance to talk for longer and
they say "I could buy a car for that" I ask them how much the one they
are driving costs. It's usually more like 20 than 3, and that makes
them think.

Of course the best answer is probably "Because I'm having so much more
fun than you are!"

Zebee
- who needs a sign for the bike in winter "yes I'm cold and I'm wet
and I'm *still* having more fun than you are"

I usually respond with "when my legs and heart are too old and feeble to
peddle, I may consider it. Fortunately the "cool bike" and "rad dude"
comments are far more common. Having said that, I do get some off colour
comments as I whizz down a bike path at 35 or 40 kph dinging my bell and the
dog-walkers and strollers taking up the whole width of the path actually
have to move to the right as per signage. When someone comments or there is
confusion (on their part) as to which side of the trail to move to I
generally tell em "keeping right is generally safest", even the signs say
so..

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

Quoted message said:

In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:59:22 -0400

bcps said:

But still... what would you have liked to say?

Most of the time the yells are incomprehensible.

Sometimes I can just make out "nice bike" but the ones who yell abuse
seem to have problems with consonants so I just hear "aaaooouuerriii"
or something like it.

Yes, lots of people stop me to talk about the bike. Two questions are a tie
for first, "How do you steer it?" and "Did you make that yourself?"

Quoted message said:

If I heard "why don't you get a car" and I wanted to give a smart
remark I'd probably just say "what, and spend all that money to sit in
a traffic jam?"

Add to that, Palm Beach is one of the top 4 counties on the list of traffic
accidents in the nation.

Quoted message said:

It's like my usual response to people who say "but aren't you worried
about the traffic?" which is "why? they are mostly stopped after all!".
That usually gets a grin and a "you have a point"

I am very worried about the traffic. Lots of people seem to say to each
other, "What's that?" "I don't know, but let's run over it!"

Quoted message said:

But mostly I seem to get thumbs up and "nice bike" and people winding
down their windows at lights to have a chat about it. The price of
the thing usually boggles them alas. Most people think "bicycle, can
get one at kmart for $99". If I get a chance to talk for longer and
they say "I could buy a car for that" I ask them how much the one they
are driving costs. It's usually more like 20 than 3, and that makes
them think.

"How much?" is most popular question and comment #3... #4 is, "How is it on
your back?"

Quoted message said:

Of course the best answer is probably "Because I'm having so much more
fun than you are!"

A fair and true answer. And they don't know the half of it. I was riding
along the sidewalk at the beach a few days ago. There were two beautiful
girls in bikinis in front of me. I didn't want to frighten them because
they might stumble and skin a knee, so I just pedalled really slow ;-)
Perfect eye level... This guy walked by the opposite direction and I looked
at him and said, "It just doesn't get any better than this..." He busted
out laughing.

Quoted message said:

Zebee
- who needs a sign for the bike in winter "yes I'm cold and I'm wet
and I'm *still* having more fun than you are"

I've thought of so many signs. "Your ad here - call #########" On the
bike, "My other ride is a BMW." On the BMW, "My other ride is a Penninger."
"I'd rather be... Hmmm... never mind."

bcps said:

This is almost too stupid to be legal...

It was a beautiful day. I was riding my beloved Penninger on the sidewalk
in Delray Beach, Florida (no, the police don't bother me because I'm a
traffic hazard if I ride in the street and, besides, riding in the street
down here would be suicide). Anyway, I'm stopped for traffic at an
intersection (totally on the sidewalk, mind you) because I have to be really
carefull in this area - ride slowly, watch every driveway and intersection -
this trike is inherently dangerous, many tourists, people who think it is
illegal to use turn signals, and blind drivers (read - old farts). So here
comes this guy in his late 50's or early 60's driving an SUV (I hate those
things...). Remember, I'm still on the sidewalk and totally out of the
street. Out of the blue, as he is stopped right in the middle of the
crosswalk of the street I want to cross, he shouts to me in a nasty tone,
"Why don't you get a f---ing car!?".

I was stunned... All I could do was say "why?" then shrug him off. So I
peddled on down the sidewalk to the beach as I thought of other responses.

Here are some of the things I thought of so far:

I don't want to be like you...

There are too many [censored] in SUVs on the road...

As long as you are on the road, I want to be on the sidewalk...

Your SUV sucked up all the gas...

My Beemer is in the shop... (that's a lie - it is sitting in my driveway
collecting dust and bird [censored])

I don't have room on this thing for my cooler AND a car...

Cars are really hard to pedal...

My mother drives on these roads...

I'm afraid of heights...

(hold up a little matchbox car found by the road) got one ...butt... thanks
for asking...

I'm sure there are much more creative responses and I would really
appreciate it if someone would add to the list because, judging from my
experiences with people in this area (I just moved here 3 months ago),
someone else is bound to make a similar comment in the future and I want to
be ready for it ;-)

WHAT ... and miss this opportunity to make your acquaintance???
Smile, and ride off leaving the driver bewildered.

Jim McNamara

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

Quoted message said:

This is almost too stupid to be legal...

It was a beautiful day. I was riding my beloved Penninger on the sidewalk
in Delray Beach, Florida (no, the police don't bother me because I'm a
traffic hazard if I ride in the street and, besides, riding in the street
down here would be suicide). Anyway, I'm stopped for traffic at an
intersection (totally on the sidewalk, mind you) because I have to be
really carefull in this area - ride slowly, watch every driveway and
intersection - this trike is inherently dangerous, many tourists, people
who think it is illegal to use turn signals, and blind drivers (read - old
farts). So here comes this guy in his late 50's or early 60's driving an
SUV (I hate those things...). Remember, I'm still on the sidewalk and
totally out of the street. Out of the blue, as he is stopped right in the
middle of the crosswalk of the street I want to cross, he shouts to me in
a nasty tone, "Why don't you get a f---ing car!?".

I was stunned... All I could do was say "why?" then shrug him off. So I
peddled on down the sidewalk to the beach as I thought of other responses.

Here are some of the things I thought of so far:

I don't want to be like you...

There are too many [censored] in SUVs on the road...

As long as you are on the road, I want to be on the sidewalk...

Your SUV sucked up all the gas...

My Beemer is in the shop... (that's a lie - it is sitting in my driveway
collecting dust and bird [censored])

I don't have room on this thing for my cooler AND a car...

Cars are really hard to pedal...

My mother drives on these roads...

I'm afraid of heights...

(hold up a little matchbox car found by the road) got one ...butt...
thanks for asking...

I'm sure there are much more creative responses and I would really
appreciate it if someone would add to the list because, judging from my
experiences with people in this area (I just moved here 3 months ago),
someone else is bound to make a similar comment in the future and I want
to be ready for it ;-)

By now you realize there is NO response that would make any difference. If
you use acerbic wit to issue a scathing sarcastic reply, the person you are
wasting your breath on is such a dullard that the carefully crafted badenage
would be wasted. A nasty or threatening reply may exacerbate the situation
and if the driver is borderline road rage the consequences could escalate
and the result might be unpleasent or dangerous to you. I've come to realize
the futility of the situation and in similar situations now I just smile and
wave (with MORE than one finger) and think to myself that at least I'm
exercising more than just my mouth.

Cretins who yell epithets from moving cars are probably suffering from tiny
[censored] syndrome, including the soccer moms. They are trapped by their
impotence and you riding a bike are a symbol of the freedom they lack. They
feel compelled to lash out as if the effort at making themselves a bit more
important than someone else will change their miserable plight. Others are
just fools and one can only hope that late at night with their belly full of
cheap beer they will drive solo at high speed into a large and immoveable
object, removiing themselves from the gene pool.

If, OTOH they do something like swerve at you or throw something, try to get
their license number call the police on your cell and report a road rage or
intoxicated driver incident.

Above all, relax and enjoy the rest of your ride.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

bcps said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

he shouts to me in a nasty tone,
"Why don't you get a f---ing car!?".

Quoted message said:

Excellent response. It is not good for an individual, on something as
fragile a pedal vehicle, to get tight with a nutcase, a motor, and 2 or more
tons of metal.

Quoted message said:

But still... what would you have liked to say?

Pretty much whaat I think whenever I see a SUV driver alone in a SUV:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Why don't you get a f---ing car!?".

Why don't you?

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...