double whammy almost...

[smilingcat]

It was Tuesday morning training ride of sort.

I was on my way home after an easy ride . I was stuck at a stop light waiting for the light to turn green. When it did, I accelerated not all that fast. And out of nowhere this gal from Synergy went by. I was still accelerating when we exchanged "hi!" "HI!" By the time I was up to speed about 20ish she was already good 60 feet in front. She was in the bike lane and so was I.

I checked behind and no car behind me. (always maintaining my situational awareness). The rider in front was concentrating in front and out of the blue, a car pops out from a convenient store parking lot. I swerve into the #1 lane (fast lane to avoid rear ending into the gal and into the car. She swereved into the gutter area. She didn't make contact. Serious close call though.

She yelled something to the driver as I went flying by. Then I was looking back thinking maybe I need to turn around... I couldn't believe what I saw next.

The driver pulls his car out into the street, accelerates then makes a right hand turn in front of the same girl. I guess the driver didn't care!!! I heard her yelling some more. So I sat up and slowed down. When she came by me we exchanged few words about the driver.

She almost turned into a bug splat on a car twice in less than 100 yard distance. It sure is enough to ruin your day...

Never get angry and lose your cool. Stay away from clueless driver!! If you have to pass them using a passing lane do so. but don't fight for the bike lane. I've taken a fast/passing lane on many occasions and have had few things thrown at me but those have been really rare like maybe once every few years... I've been riding how many years and I can count the number of times I've had things thrown at me when I've taken the passing lane. Not to mention some idiot wanted to smack his hand my butt. Yeah it hurt but I think his elbow got more injuries.

Anyway, not good to get angry. At all times maintain your awareness of drivers around you.

ride safe.

Wed ride was uneventful. I'm actually a slow rider these days. Got passed by another knobby tired MTB. The guy wasn't all that young.

smilingcat

[Kiwi Stoker]

Last weekend our group was almost taken out by a passing car- it was trying to overtake us and had to pull back into the middle of the group. The area is by a beach and has speed humps so its signposted for no more than 50km.
Anyway we stopped in a driveway to regroup, calm down and let the traffic pass and the lady (in her new BMW with children in the back) decided to pull up and tell us to get off the road.

She just kept on yelling that we should be on the bike path (that's for kids, cruisers and walkers) and wouldn't accept that we were travelling too fast for the cycle path.

In the end we pointed out the huge queue of traffic she was causing and she drove off. I have never experienced someone wanting to yell at us, most drivers revv their motors and zoom off. But she wanted to make her point. Nice, and in front of the kids too.

[Miranda]

Glad both of you survived ok. I agree about not engaging with the drivers.

I've had things thrown out the window at me before too. My riding partner will yell at cars, or guesture if they pass close, etc. Makes me nervous.

Long time ago I did that. Until one day I had a car do a U turn and head back towards me. Kinda not a good situation when you are out in the country all alone as a woman. No more.

If the driver is idiot enough to do something in the first place to almost crash you, chances are they are going to be an idiot in conversation about not doing it again as well.

[tulip]

I always give a big, Hollywood smile and a friendly wave. That leaves the driver wondering if he or she knows you...and breaks their focus on being mad at you.

[PscyclePath]

Get that license plate number and vehicle description, and call it into the cops. Odds are that they'll pull that sort of stunt again, and when they do, now there's a records of previous misbehavior to refer to, showing it's not just an isolated hissy fit.

[beccaB]

I was on a solo ride, which I hate but not enough to not ride- well anyway, a person pulled up behind me at an intersection and beeped at me and said something. Usually the stuff people say goes like this - "get the &^$# off the road" So, since I was alone, I ignored person in car, and went across intersection when safe. Person in car turned left and was out of the picture.
I ranted to people I know for a day or two, about the rudeness that goes around. Came to find out, it was a co-worker who was saying hello to me. We had just been talking on the phone and she knew I would be out for a ride soon. I'm so glad I didn't give her the finger, and had just ignored her! Wow-what she would have thought of me! We school bus drivers can have a cranky disposition sometimes!

[jesvetmed]

Tulip -- I agree - I give the wave and smile. Granted, it's sarcastic, but it does keep it from getting worse. I ride with a guy who yells at everyone, even if they are just not being smart. Makes me crazy. That's not to say I haven't offered up a "bite me!" on occasion, but in general, I try to keep my mouth shut and maintain focus. I have never had the clarity of mind to get a drivers license! I'll work on it next time

[Bike Chick]

I learned this lesson the hard way. Out on a ride with hubby when a van came up behind us and then squeezed between us and oncoming traffic while honking their horn. It almost caused a collision with an oncoming vehicle. As I was giving them the one-fingered wave, I see a young lady in the passenger seat of the van waving back. That's when I realized it was a family from our church who recognized us on the bikes and was trying to get our attention to say hello. I no longer give the one-finger wave. You never know who is behind the wheel or if they will vent their rage toward you at the next bicyclist they see.

[andtckrtoo]

I learned this lesson the hard way. Out on a ride with hubby when a van came up behind us and then squeezed between us and oncoming traffic while honking their horn. It almost caused a collision with an oncoming vehicle. As I was giving them the one-fingered wave, I see a young lady in the passenger seat of the van waving back. That's when I realized it was a family from our church who recognized us on the bikes and was trying to get our attention to say hello. I no longer give the one-finger wave. You never know who is behind the wheel or if they will vent their rage toward you at the next bicyclist they see.

I did the same thing to my husband who was honking at me on my commute home. Fortunately, he thought I was waving.