"Just the sight of a bicycle makes me angry!"

[trista]

Well, I didn't really mean funny ha-ha.

[marni]

yes they are idiots and addicted to that little testosterone rush that they get when they dis a bike with their mighty car. One thing to remember is that if they are ahead of you after zooming out, scattering old ladies, children, animals and other drivers, remember that you at least can stop and avoid them. Also take comfort in the fact that if they cause an accident, you are in a perfect position to write down their plate number and car make and can report that information to the appropriate individual (police, owner of other car,etc.) Sort of a variation of "I can't necessarily make you behave, but I can make you sorry your were such an ***." Revenge is a dish, best served cold.

been through it more than I care to remember and survived the brush with only broken ribas, concussion, and a few months off the bike.

marni

[Grog]

I'm sure that you are right and that there are such people out there.

But I also think that most of the time when we witness erratic behaviour from drivers, such as speeding up to pass us and then slamming the brakes, it's mostly due to ignorance and fear rather than anger.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm sure that you are right and that there are such people out there.

But I also think that most of the time when we witness erratic behaviour from drivers, such as speeding up to pass us and then slamming the brakes, it's mostly due to ignorance and fear rather than anger.

On the rare occasions when I do see bad behavior they don't seem all that fearful. Lots of gunned engines or the guy who laid on the horn for a good quarter mile as he passed a line of riders going single-file on rural road without a lot of traffic (so we were in no way an obstacle, he was just an a-hole redneck in a jacked-up pick-up with intentionally obnoxious exhaust).

[Tri Girl]

On the rare occasions when I do see bad behavior they don't seem all that fearful.

agreed! I don't think the rednecks that try to run me off the road are fearful, but I sure am!!!
I think they are just jerks. Probably the guys who picked on the "nerdy" kids in school and are just general d-bags.

[westtexas]

I think a lot of it is ignorance.

I love how I come to a stop sign and actually stop and cars are paralyzed as to what to do. Normally they blow through stop signs with a tap of the brakes. But a cyclist? Holy crap we all have to stop and stare at the anomaly that might... follow the rules of the road? I have no idea.

But I do chuckle at people who pass me at full blast in a very aggravated manner and then I see them at the next stop light and wait with them until it turns green. Just shows you don't really get anywhere faster!

[zoom-zoom]

Heh, a friend of mine posted this on FB:

[marinerider]

I think a lot of it is ignorance.

I love how I come to a stop sign and actually stop and cars are paralyzed as to what to do. Normally they blow through stop signs with a tap of the brakes. But a cyclist? Holy crap we all have to stop and stare at the anomaly that might... follow the rules of the road? I have no idea.

But I do chuckle at people who pass me at full blast in a very aggravated manner and then I see them at the next stop light and wait with them until it turns green. Just shows you don't really get anywhere faster!

I for one love the fact of how many drivers have no idea of the laws and how they pertain to a cyclist being on the road. I love the funny looks I get when I pull into a turning lane with the vehicles to keep from being hit. Here in the Detroit Metro area, if you don't ride like that, they act like they don't see you.