Drivers in Your Town

[SouthernBelle]

I live in town in a somewhat rural area and overall I think I have been well-treated by drivers here. I've had younger guys honk or yell, but I think it's because they don't know there is gray hair under the helmet. If I'm stopped to have a snack or catch a breath, I've had people stop & ask if I was ok.

It seems that the drivers I've had the most trouble with are young women and the elderly, as in failing to give right of way or cutting me off or riding too close.

[Geonz]

Our drivers are pretty civil, too.

I think, however, that it has a whole lot to do with the road conditions, and not as much with their "natural demeanor" as I'd like to think. Seems suddenly if I'm on a busy road at a busy time, a lot more drivers are cantankerous. And I'll never forget the amazing difference in drivers when I was doing a century - when we were hugging the shoulder, they were cutting close and zipping by and basically acting ignorant and scaring us to death... as soon as we went two feet out into the lane, they were slowing and passing appropriately. After lunch when I forgot, suddenly the drivers were rude and ignorant again.... until we moved back out. I concluded that the same drivers simply respond almost automatically, and differently, depending on where I am.

ON the otehr hand, drivers around here simply seem more *knowledgeable,* as in they are less likely to swing around and turn right, or misjudge my speed. I think this is because we have a lot of cyclists and other odd vehicles (tractors, farm vehicles, etc).

[Haudlady]

I live in a small rural town, with small cities to the south and north (each about 12 miles from my town). The city to the south is great - courteous drivers, lots of other cyclists... The city to the north is much rougher - drivers don't seem to have eyes!

I wonder how they can be so different. It seems crazy! It's amazing what different characters the two cities have.

My small town is GREAT to ride in... with the exception of the out-of-state traffic that comes to visit a nearby historical site. Nine times out of ten - when a driver zips past my house at excessive speed, they don't have a native plate!