Objects thrown at you

[beancounterbeth]

So last night I went on the group ride. Since it is getting dark earlier these days I decided to cut out one of the loops on the ride to get back earlier. So I'm all alone riding about 4 miles into the ride when a car drives by me and throws food out the window at me. This is the first time this has happened. Other people have said that they have had beer bottles thrown at them. I proceeded to do something extremely stupid. I fipped them the bird. It was just an instinct but I immediately regreted it because as I stated before I was all alone on this stretch of road. Usually a cyclist will ride by every few seconds but I had taken a different route to cut down the mileage of my ride last night so absolutely nobody else was out there with me.

This proceeded to ruin my ride. I spent the rest of my ride feeling so lonely out there and for the first time worrying about my safety.

Now today at work when I told the story to a couple of non-cyclist co-workers they actually had the nerve to go into how annoying cyclist can be and that the people in the car had probably just had it with cyclist and that is why they threw the food at me. Can you believe that?! As if I deserved what I got. So, now here I sit trying not to cry and not lose all faith in humanity.

[Nokomis]

Mean people suck. You didn't do anything wrong. Your coworkers have a sad, sad little view of their world.

Thank goodness there are kind, compassionate, active people like you to balance out the universe.

[Aggie_Ama]

Soda can, bottle of water, firecracker so far. Someone told me I should only ride on the 3 mile boring Veloway because roads are made for cars and I am a nuisance. They said they and their spouse lay on the horn as they pass cyclists. I told them the law was very different from their impression, passing doesn't take that long and honking usually just scares them and could cause a wreck. Then I reminded them that the cyclist is a person someone's son or daughter, how would he feel if someone treated their daughters that way. Oooooh that struck a nerve, only thing they are truly sensitive about.

[Eden]

Someone told me I should only ride on the 3 mile boring Veloway because roads are made for cars and I am a nuisance.

It never works to tell motorists this.... but did you know that the paving of roads in this country began not because of cars, but because of the lobbying of the League of American Wheelmen (which means bicycle wheels, not auto wheels).... Yup indeed all of those nice paved streets, no more muddy mess, because the cyclists wanted a place to ride.

The League was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880. Bicyclists, known then as "wheelmen", were challenged by rutted roads of gravel and dirt and faced antagonism from horsemen, wagon drivers, and pedestrians.

In an effort to improve riding conditions so they might better enjoy their newly discovered sport, more than 100,000 cyclists from across the United States joined the League to advocate for paved roads. The success of the League in its first advocacy efforts ultimately led to our national highway system.

So no indeed - roads were not originally made for cars, they were made for us.... motorists should be irritated by bikes, they should be grateful, we literally paved the way for the rise of the automobile.

[Jiffer]

honking usually just scares them and could cause a wreck. Then I reminded them that the cyclist is a person someone's son or daughter, how would he feel if someone treated their daughters that way. Oooooh that struck a nerve, only thing they are truly sensitive about.

Yeah, next time maybe elaborate on what that accident could mean. That someone's son or daughter could easily fall and hit their head, get hit by a car ... umm .... die???

Luckily my area in So Cal seems to be fairly bike friendly. Every now and then we'll hear someone holler something from a car that we can't quite make out. So, I just always assume they're yelling something wonderful!

[7rider]

The League was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880. Bicyclists, known then as "wheelmen", were challenged by rutted roads of gravel and dirt and faced antagonism from horsemen, wagon drivers, and pedestrians.

So, great. Bicyclists have been challenged, antagonized, and harassed for over a hundred years! We just can't buy a break!

As for me, I recently had a black walnut fruit chucked at me, which hit me soundly on the arm. I was also shot in the leg with a pellet gun.

Yeah. People are stupid.

[arielmoon]

That is just rude no matter what the circumstance.

Sorry this happened to you and ruined your ride.

*hugs you*

[Tokie]

Beer bootle here. Just remember, as they say on the open seas, "tonnage rules" that, and anyone that is rude or dangerous driving by you could be totally impaired on drugs or alcohol, insane, or very angry and looking to take it out on someone.Try to avoid getting any more of their attention....nothing good will come of it. Tokie

[Blueberry]

Beer bootle here. Just remember, as they say on the open seas, "tonnage rules" that, and anyone that is rude or dangerous driving by you could be totally impaired on drugs or alcohol, insane, or very angry and looking to take it out on someone.Try to avoid getting any more of their attention....nothing good will come of it. Tokie

And get a picture of their plate if you can - and send it to someone immediately.

CA

[Aggie_Ama]

For the yellers my husband and I wave a very eager wave and smile. We like to think it confuses or annoys them. For the throwers get a plate (partial works in TX if you are pretty sure the type of car) and call the police. I have reported a couple but never had a partial plate, just description. I now practice memorizing all or part of a plate.

[SouthernBelle]

As to someone coming up behind you and honking for the purpose of startling you; in Tennessee it's illegal to do that to someone on horseback or to a cyclist. (And a couple of others I can't remember right now).

Check your state.

[Norse]

Back when I lived in So. Cal, a water balloon thrown by a car of juvenile males. It hit my back with such force that I was almost knocked off the bike - I thought it was a rock. Here in MN, only yellers so far.

[badgercat]

For the yellers my husband and I wave a very eager wave and smile. We like to think it confuses or annoys them.

I also like this strategy. One of my favorite teachers in high school (incidentally, a religious Sister) said she always did this when she was driving and encountered road rage-y drivers (a pretty common thing around Chicago!). She encouraged us to use the same "turn the other cheek" strategy.

I've had a full, unopened can of pop chucked at me from a moving vehicle while I was walking, once, but fortunately, I haven't had anything thrown at me while cycling *knocks on wood*. If that did happen, I'm pretty sure the next thing to be thrown would be me off my bike, because I startle pretty easily.

[wildhawk]

I have been lucky so far - only a carload of rude teens shouting as they drove through our neighborhood. I remember having trouble when I used to ride my horse - jerks like to try and startle horses. I am sure however, the day will come when I get harassed on my bike - and I will be more than happy to take down their plate no. and turn them in. The best response is to ignore the driver - responding with flipping them off, cursing, etc. can result in you getting seriously harmed. A bike is no match for a car. I am lucky in that we have a lot of cyclists here in Pinellas County and cars are used to seeing them constantly. I imagine it would be worse on a lonely stretch of road and that would be a scary situation. I only ride alone on well-lit and well-known routes - and I keep my mace and cell phone within easy reach “just in case”. Sorry that happened to you and hugs.

[sundial]

.....from the combine.