What I want to yell at cyclists when I drive past them

[ny biker]

You know those annoying drivers who yell at cyclists as they pass them on the road? The ones who tell you to get out of the way because you don't belong there? Yeah, I hate them too.

But here's what I want to yell to some cyclists: TAKE THE LANE!!!

I thought of this tonight as I was driving home from work. The road was two lanes in each direction with no shoulders. I saw a guy riding in the right lane, hugging the edge of the road for all he was worth. I watched a car pass him by moving into the left lane. But how many others stayed in the right lane and came within inches of him because they thought they had enough room?

He could have used a bigger red blinky light, too.

[Zen]

He could have used a bigger red blinky light, too.

That bugs me too.

What I would shout-

1- get some lights

2-wear a helmet

and

3-Hey Sweet Cheeks

[Onix]

But here's what I want to yell to some cyclists: TAKE THE LANE!!!

.

Me too! So many cyclists make me so darn nervous!!

That bugs me too.

What I would shout-

1- get some lights

2-wear a helmet

I'm with you also Zen. Drives me crazy when people bike without lights/helmet. I almost ran over a 20 something hipster girl at 9:30PM a few nights ago. No lights, no helmet. Riding on a fairly busy (but not well lit) connector road. I am verrry cautious to look for cyclists...but I didn't even see her until it was almost too late. Scared me to death!

[Pip]

I nearly RAN into a cyclist a few months back. I was coming down off Mt Victoria, here in Wellington, jogging in the dark on the right side of the road (we drive on the left here). It's an area with no street lights but the road is fairly level so I was running fairly quickly. Out of the darkness I came across a young guy climbing up the hill on his mountain bike, helmetless and in jeans and a black t-shirt. No lights or reflectors what so ever. I had to swerve to avoid slamming into him. I commented that he was braver than me and I think he thought I was complimenting him on his hill climbing skills because he smiled. However I then added (as I ran past him) that if I wasn't able to see him running then any car wouldn't have a chance.

Cyclists without lights really annoy me.

Edit: I might add that I was also aware of my own lack of visibility, hence the running on the right side of the road, and being alert for any approaching cars. I was ready to jump onto the verge at the first sign of any oncoming traffic. I won't go back that way until I get myself a head lamp!

[cylegoddess]

Concerning '3-Hey Sweet Cheeks'.

Zen. when we are old( like SUPER old) women, will you let me visit you? We can get banana loungers and drinks and set them up on the side of a palce where lots of hot guy cyclists ride by.
Or even better, lets go rise where they are when we are like 70 and stuff and yell that, as we pass them of course like they were little girls!!


I always want to yell, 'allez allez!'

[Kiwi Stoker]

"You're wearing your helmet backwards!" -true, the lady had the helmet on the back of her head, upside down (front facing the ground).

"You're crazy"- also true to a man cycling while talking on his mobile phone, riding down the wrong side of the street.

[marni]

I like all the various messages people want to yell and understand that they are all well intentioned, however I would like to remind you that if you are in a car driving by a bike rider, unless you slow down, roll down the window and speak slowly and clearly, or pull up to them at a stop light, the chances are that they won't be able to understand or hear what you are yelling clearly over the wind in their ears and the traffic noises.

It's like teaching a pig to dance, it doesn't work and chance are you''ll just annoy the pig.

Of course since I ride in and around the burbs of Houston which is distinctly biker unfriendly, and am used to having things thrown at me, being sworn at, cussed out and edged off of the shoulder, and told to ride on the sidewalk (this in the middle of a 10 mile farm road with rice paddies on each side) by passing cars and ford f 150's, perhaps I am a bit gun shy. Last week I actually started looking for a way to unclip, dismount and and bail out when a car pulled up next to me at a stop light and rolled his window down. It turned out that he just wanted to know how far I had ridden, so I guess it was that old darwinian training kicking in. He was definitly an exception to the behavioral rule.

marni

[PamNY]

1. Get out of my lane (on the bike path)
2. You are going the wrong way (on the street)
3. Thank you for yelling at me when I forgot to turn on my rear blinkie
4. Thank you for singing "Woolly Bully" as you ride your bike. Made my day.