Why Are Drivers So Mean???

[ladyjai]

They're jealous to be locked behind their metal cages while we're out there, getting fit, healthy and just having fun.

as a commuter in phoenix, I've experienced alot. i think the full range. I find it more interesting to note how they have gotten more mild as time went on. i'm sure there's quite a few who recognize my bike. Perhaps the increased comfort in my travel zone is part of why I didn't realize the car was going for skin. I've experienced more honking and nastiness when I was alone or with one other rider. If the person is annoyed by the bicycle, and willing to act on it, chances are they are a bully at heart. by only having one victim, the bully is more likely to act.

I'd say the vast majority of vehicles are actually respectful, or at least don't act on their annoyance. Actually, my biggest concern with cars is not the malicious vehicles, but the negligent ones. Frankly, a car who wants to scare me off the road could just as well have issue with me any other place. I think that the number of accidents 100% created by these cars, and where the cylist didn't get scared into crashing are few. i could be wrong, but you are most definitely more likely to be damaged by an auto-pilot driver. I've had a woman sitting at a bus stop call me a ***** as i pedaled by on the street. i still cant figure out what or why,
However, the negligent ones kill more. they're the ones text messaging, talking on cell phones, doing activities geared more for the bathroom sink, yelling at the kids in the back, and just not paying attention to the road. they're the ones running late. no insurance, and high on caffeine, drugged up with medical drugs or others. drunk drivers.
Angry drivers might hit you, but usually they are not going for flesh, just want to scare you really really badly. those, yeah, yelling doesnt help.

i have 2 methods to deal with the honkers. (first I establish the type of honk. the frantic, beepbeepbeeepeeepepeepepe!!!!!!! IKnowYouIKnowYouIKnowYou! wave and smile as possible. second, the BEEEEEEP! I-want-you-to-know-that-you-are-an-extreme-pest! honk. Once again, wave and smile. depending on the ferocity of the honk, yelling the kindest well wishing that comes to mind, "I hope you have a wonderful day!" or if a smart aleck response such as "thank you!!" occurs to me. I try not to use sarcastic tones, just grin and act as though I know them, and am excited to see them too. Even if it doesn't annoy them, it makes me laugh to imagine it annoying them. Usually, I'm grinning and enjoying myself before they're well out of sight.

Now, if they do something that really scares me, and I can't let it go, I pray for them. In essense, they're gone. i'll likely not ever see them again, and chances are, if I do, I wont know it. no reason to let it ruin my day, or the rest of my ride.

I do not skitter offroad for any honker. there's usually a curb and road bikes weren't made to jump curbs. Usually, they're annoyed and just need to express it. by leaving the road, I train them that they can scare cyclist off the road, and they'll be more likely to try it again with another cyclist. the folks who come too close, usually tell me, I'm riding too close to the sidewalk. check for cars, and pull out another 6-12 inches into traffic.

RM, it looks as though you have the same issues with negligent drivers. Cars create accidents for each other for doing the turning stuff. left and right in front of oncoming traffic. so, you can't take that personally - they're treating you like a vehicle

Oddly enough, by taking more of the lane (I think the recommendations are within 3 feet from the side of the road. The road ends with the end of the black stuff, or where there is a white line. I usually aim for 1-1.5 feet to the left of that(my tire residing, thus keeping the whole of my body in the 3 ft range. On roads with really busy traffic, then I'll be .5-1ft from it. However, if the road is clear, claim more of the lane. Make the drivers change lanes to pass. changing lanes on an empty road is not an inconvenience, but some won't do it, if you don't press the issue.

[MomOnBike]

I don't know if the police actually act on one person's word that a driver was threatening. However, if they log the call (as I assume they do) and if there is a pattern and if Something Really Bad happens, your report could be used as some sort of evidence. Cold comfort, I know, but better than nothing.

What I'm saying is that I'm inclined to report in the hopes that it will be used. And who knows, the cop just might be looking for an excuse to go talk to the guy.

As for the negligent ones, um, watch out? I can't think of a better way to deal with them.

[doc]

If you think about it, it's not drivers that are so mean. It's just some people. There are people out there who hate everyone else, feel the world has imposed upon them and they deserve better/more. They are just angry timebombs. It just so happens that when you are on a bike and they are in a car, it is life threatening. You run into them all the time elsewhere, it just isn't as scary. I try to calm myself down as quickly as possible and I can usually do that by feeling sorry for them. After all, how much does your life have to s*ck for it to be worth scaring/hurting a stranger?

[Tater]

I agree with Doc on this one; it seems that there are just a few people that are mad/hate/pi$$ed at everything and everyone. All last year, commuting by bike to work and class, it seemed the only problems I had were from the teenaged set. I had one carload of girls come up behind me, passenger rolls down her window and literally screams at me. Don't they realize how dangerous that is? Then of course, there is the obligatory redneck truck that has to pass me, but while doing so, stomp on the gas so that his non-mufflered heap goes off like a series of gunshots.

I also think that some people don't have a clue as to why some of us choose to ride our bikes, rather than drive. To drive is such a part of our society, those of us that don't do it on a regular basis are not seen as 'normal' and are therefore subject to ridicule.