Are Drivers Less Courteous to Cyclists in Winter?

[Artista]

These are a lot of good points. When I returned from my ride yesterday, I was so surprised by being treated rudely that I forgot about all of the other times I've ridden this winter when the drivers around here were their usual, courteous, selves.

I think that yesterday was just a culmination of Denver-ites' frustration with a few weeks of bad driving conditions. Besides, it must be far more satisfying to honk at, or flip off, a cyclist than it is to be rude to snow banks & ice patches.

Thanks for helping me put this experience into perspective. Hubby & I are going to try riding the paved trails today, (they were still too snow packed yesterday). We'll wait to get back on the roads until drivers find their good manners again.

[MCAP]

Today was my first ride outside this year. DH and I were going through a town and church must have just let out. We had to get into a roundabout on a side street to get to where we were going. It is a little street that only services the church and a few small businesses. There were cars pulling out of the church and onto the roundabout. We were on the roundabout and had the right of way, but a car pulled out and then nearly stopped in front of DH. He had to slam on the breaks not to hit the car that pulled out in front of him. Then another person pulled out and honked at us and kept going on the roundabout when we turned off. That was not very churcy behavior!!

[Artista]

So much for "Do unto others..."

[jessmarimba]

I hope you managed to get out for a ride today! I must've passed 20 or so cyclists just between my office and Target this afternoon. Beautiful day.

[Artista]

No, I didn't have time to ride on Monday It WAS beautiful out there...a prime example of why I love living in Colorado!

Were you on your bicycle when you passed all of those people?

We did do a bunch of laps around Washington Park on Sunday. The park was packed with people, but surprisingly few bicyclists.

This morning will be good for a short ride around the neighborhood before work. The time constraint will be ideal to keep me from getting too far from home in case my new saddle doesn't work out so well.

[zoom-zoom]

I don't yet have a bike that I can ride outdoors during our MI Winters, but drivers are MOST DEFINITELY less considerate of me when I'm running. Right now we have massive snowbanks on the side of the roads and no shoulder...so I either run ON the road or dive into snowbanks. More cars than not refuse to get over, even when there are NO cars on the opposing side. I've had several cars give me so little room that I am nearly clipped by their side-view mirrors. Last week an a$$hat with a plow on the front of his truck nearly took me out with his plow. Needless to say I was furious. I wish I'd had the presence of mind to take down his license plate # after he passed.

[Artista]

Wow, zoom-zoom. I'm sorry that this is a dangerous & on-going problem for you. I agree with Bike Chick that maybe people are just grumpier in the cold & snow. The drivers around here stopped being rude once the snow melted & the weather warmed up again. Fortunately, the warm & clear winter days out number the bad ones here in Denver. I'm just going to avoid riding on the roads on the bad days from now on.

I'm sending warm weather vibes your way