What to do about crazy cyclist-driver confrontations?

[xeney]

I'm not really understanding what your group did to instigate the conflict. It sounds like the guy in your group didn't back down, but I don't understand what you think the women should have done differently. Just worried more? Panicked? Fled? I'm not really sure how any of those choices would have helped the situation.

I think it's a really bad idea to go around starting fights, but I also think it's not smart to live your life in fear of the worst possible outcome. Road rage is a real thing but it's still a fairly remote possibility, usually, that somebody is actually going to shoot you.

[missymaya]

Let me clarify: the group as a whole did not instigate, only the guy in our group did. The reaction that got me was not the response to the incident, such as fleeing or whatever. The reaction Im considering is that the group was more like "the driver was in the wrong", which he was, but not considering the other side, our guy also insulted and cussed out the driver, instigating as well.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I've only had one experience like that in all of my years of cycling. I was happily riding down the road when someone drove by, rolled down their window, and threw some trash at me. Unfortunately I was too busy making sure I didn't crash to catch their license number, so I wasn't able to do what I wanted to. I really wanted to report the driver to the police, but without a license number as identification I figured it wouldn't do any good.

You clearly were not in the wrong here. And I would also attempt to avoid confrontation - it sounds like the guy in your group may have caused the situation to escalate. But reporting the driver to the police might help.

--- Denise

[Grog]

I'm sorry about that incident...

One thing that helps in coordinating a paceline while riding on a street with a not-so-broad shoulder and some traffic is to keep the lead changes to a minimum until there is less traffic/a broader shoulder but, if that is not feasible, to have the person who's dropping back do so from the right-hand side, i.e. on the outside of the road. Hence what the drivers coming from behind see is always ONE line of cyclist, and the lone cyclist dropping back is "protected" by the paceline.

I could imagine it would be harder for a car (and somewhat unexpected) to see a single cyclist against the background of the paceline...

I also agree that we should be polite, firm, but non-confrontational. I'm not too concerned with people carrying guns but then if I was in Florida I probably would be.

Good luck on your next ride...

[mimitabby]

Sometimes just seeing the bikes makes some people see red.
I don't think there was anything you could have done to make it better
or different except for get the guy's license plate #.
Also, tell your friend the bicyclist to cool it next time.
(but who knows what the van driver said or did that set him off?!)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Maybe when changing lead and going doubled up, cyclists could first check to wait for a traffic gap so the doubling can be done when no cars are going to be passing? Just a thought.

[Kitsune06]

Another good reason to have one of those handlebar holsters for mace. Mace that works on dogs will work on people. We're fortunate, as women, that men don't get their hanes in a knot and decide to pick fights. But we're unfortunate, as women, in that if they don't want to pick fights....

mace, ladies.
and always be careful out there.

[Geonz]

When stuff like that happens, a group tends to form One Opinion as an initial response, and heaven help anybody not on their side. I'm with you - diplomacy could have gone a *long* way. It may not be "wrong" if "the other guy started it" - but that doesn't make it smart. OTOH, guys have that radar that *usually* tells 'em when they should be diplomatic... on the third hand, who knows how that driver is feeling right now. If he came upon a lone cyclist in five more miles...