Riding with people driving!!

[indigoiis]

Smile and wave.
That's what I do.

[Kimmyt]

I agree, it is usually schoolbuses that are the worst. But then, they are carrying children, so are less likely to give you room and risk going in the other lane. I accept that it when I am on roads travelled by school buses, I will get encroached upon. I lower my speeds, as such.

It can be hard to 'take the high road' by not reacting to irate drivers, but I always try to remember that riding my bike makes me happy. Driving into work in my car makes me frustrated. I certainly don't want to be angry on my bike. So I try and just smile or wave or ignore them. If I'm really frustrated or the drivers are behaving particularly bad, I find that singing (out loud) a verse or two of a song I like makes me feel alot better and puts their angry actions out of my head.

[KathiCville]

When I'm riding on back roads, I try to smile and wave (or at least nod) as often as I can to all vehicles--whether they're coming toward me or passing me. I make a special effort to be friendly when I know that someone has been hovering behind me for at least a few seconds, waiting till it's truly safe to pass. I figure it makes 'em feel good to be acknowledged for 'doing it right' instead of trying to run me off the road, LOL! I'm also hoping in a small way to counter the lousy reputation that the cycling clubs have around here for hogging the roads, making obscene gestures and the like.

The other drivers---the ones who pass too close, show impatience, honk wildly, whatever---I haven't yet figured out a way to, uhhh, encourage them to improve their passing skills......I'm usually clinging to my handlebars and just trying to stay upright as they accelerate past me.

Addendum: I actually had an oncoming pick-up truck 'playfully' take aim at me this past weekend on a flat straight stretch of road-----came over into my lane, mainly I think to see what I would do. I slowed my pace a little bit but didn't stop. He moved back over in plenty of time. I smiled and waved as he blasted past---figured it was best not to show annoyance.

[GLC1968]

School busses are a tough one. They are not allowed to cross the center line, under any circumstances. So if you encounter one on a lane where there isn't room to pass, they take unnecessary risks. Their first responsibility (as it should be) is to the children they are transporting. I do think the laws are going to need updating as more and more people bike to work.

DH would run into the same school bus every day on his old commute. Once he figured out why this was such a bad interaction, he got in the habit of pulling into a driveway to let the bus pass. Once the bus figured out that DH would do this for him, the bus driver learned to wait for DH to do this, instead of zooming right past him. Of course, that was an unusual situation.

Oh, and road rage on bikes? Yeah, it happens. I've seen both my DH and a few other riders I know (all male, come to think of it), chase down cars that drove like jerks. Personally, I agree with being the ambasador and I make an extra added effort to visually thank those drivers that do the right thing. Positive reinforcement!!

[Crankin]

My husband has pounded his fist on the sides of cars that come too close. He doesn't do it anymore; last time was 2 years ago and we were on a group ride right near our house. The driver was very much in the wrong and oblivious, but I convinced him his actions wouldn't solve anything.
My best one is the very first time I commuted from the house I live in now. I took a longer route home than I do now and at one point there's a road that merges into the road I am on right after you cross a highway with a light. There's a yield sign at the merge and it's busy with people coming from nearby medical offices and a hospital. I*knew* this one car wasn't going to stop, so I slowed down and he zoomed out, cutting me off. Of course, I anticipated it and I raised my hand, gave him the finger and screamed "a$$hole." The people in all the other cars around me started clapping!

[F8th637]

My husband has pounded his fist on the sides of cars that come too close. He doesn't do it anymore; last time was 2 years ago and we were on a group ride right near our house. The driver was very much in the wrong and oblivious, but I convinced him his actions wouldn't solve anything.

I'm glad you convinced him of that. I'm not a fan of slapping the cars either as I feel like it just makes them hate cyclists all the more.

[mimitabby]

I'm glad you convinced him of that. I'm not a fan of slapping the cars either as I feel like it just makes them hate cyclists all the more.

and they might shoot you.

[Eden]

while its certainly not very ambassadorial.... I like the idea of sticking magnets or clings that say "This driver nearly hit a cyclist today" (not stickers, so that there would be no claims of damage) to cars of drivers that pass too close or do something else stupid....

yeah - it would be a pretty impractical thing to do in most cases, though I have to say many of the people who have passed me unsafely have done it only to have to stop a few yards later for a light or stopped traffic, so there'd be plenty of opportunity to stick something on the car..... Oh well, I can dream a little right? (I think the person I saw who originally suggested this, thought magnets might work as you could toss them in the general direction and hopefully they'd stick")

[F8th637]

while its certainly not very ambassadorial.... I like the idea of sticking magnets or clings that say "This driver nearly hit a cyclist today" (not stickers, so that there would be no claims of damage) to cars of drivers that pass too close or do something else stupid....

That's fairly passive-aggressive... I like it.

[lauraelmore1033]

while its certainly not very ambassadorial.... I like the idea of sticking magnets or clings that say "This driver nearly hit a cyclist today" (not stickers, so that there would be no claims of damage) to cars of drivers that pass too close or do something else stupid....

yeah - it would be a pretty impractical thing to do in most cases, though I have to say many of the people who have passed me unsafely have done it only to have to stop a few yards later for a light or stopped traffic, so there'd be plenty of opportunity to stick something on the car..... Oh well, I can dream a little right? (I think the person I saw who originally suggested this, thought magnets might work as you could toss them in the general direction and hopefully they'd stick")

You could keep 'em in a bento box at the ready. It would be really easy to make such a sticker with the rolls of sticky magnetic sheets Michael's sells...

[Jen-Jen]

Thank you for all your advice and stories. I guess I never really thought about taking a different route to work because I am used to driving that route to work. My only true problem is not adding the extra milage, I only see that as a plus, but I work one one side of the highway and live on the other side. The two main roads to work are both equally busy. I just might have to take a discover ride this weekend with DH and see if we can't find a solution.

I know you are all right about me being the bigger person and take the highroad, that and you made my hubby correct, I can do bike rage! But, sadly over the last 12 years with DH, he is teaching me my manners and this time I did take the highroad! Can't say to much about the future, my middle finger gets a little itchy sometimes and it must make a comeout!

I will be checking out that book as well.

Thanks guys!

[NbyNW]

I stand corrected about the road rage thing . . . although I do believe there is a fine line between asserting your rights on the road and actually raging.