I took the lane, but it scared people

[fidlfreek]

I'm excited because the Texas legislature has recently passed a law that would reinstate cyclists right to the road and require cars to pass at least 3 feet away from bikers as well as not pull in front only to turn right immediately etc

In my part of Texas there are so many idiot rednecks in freaking huge earth killing diesel trucks that I have at least 2 friends who have been hit by side mirrors. Seriously. Take the lane. Don't risk letting them push you off the road or hit you with a mirror.

[PamNY]

I'm curious -- what do you do or say in your mind to stop from responding to a hostile driver/pedestrian?

Honestly, fear would keep me quiet in case of true road rage in a suburban or rural setting. What would happen in my mind after that I don't know.

The stuff I deal with is just New Yorkers being mouthy. A few drivers sound nasty, but in NYC they are used to cyclists and aren't likely to actually do anything.

Pam

[shootingstar]

Not totally convinced I could ever have the confidence to take up a lane in a recumbent in front of a bus/truck.

I have taken up the lane in front of a bus at different times..often I don't realize it above roar of traffic, until the bus is behind me and driver is bunny stopping along the way, to slow down for me.

[OnTerryOh]

Honestly, fear would keep me quiet in case of true road rage in a suburban or rural setting. What would happen in my mind after that I don't know.

The stuff I deal with is just New Yorkers being mouthy. A few drivers sound nasty, but in NYC they are used to cyclists and aren't likely to actually do anything.

Pam

I was thinking of a time recently when a passenger in a car yelled at me "Get up on the sidewalk!" I was riding in a safe, legal part of the street and had as much right to be where I was as the people in the car. In fact, it's illegal for bicyclists over age 12 to ride on the sidewalk in my city.

I shouted "No!" as the car was driving off, and someone in the car shouted back at me. The incident and others like it leave me feeling a bit shaken and annoyed.

So when Lisa said "Don't pay any attention to people who don't even ride bikes and have no clue- just do what's safe," that got me wondering what techniques people use to feel less negative about these encounters.

Maybe it would be helpful for me to say to myself, "They're clueless. They don't even ride bikes."
.

[msincredible]

I usually smile and wave (while muttering something to myself), it confuses them.

[Jones]

I usually smile and wave (while muttering something to myself), it confuses them.

That's the same method I use.

[Reesha]

Smile and thumbs up is always a good response too

[OnTerryOh]

Smiling and waving --- I like it. Thumbs up, too.

[PamNY]

Thumbs up might be okay if you are sure you're dealing with Americans or Europeans. I've read that it has a negative connotation in some cultures, so I don't use it.

Pam

[Geonz]

I've heard that smiling gamely and saying "I love peanut butter!" can disconcert an otherwise hostile soul. Not sure I could pull that one off.

When I was vacationing and going on my former club's rides (but it's been years; these guys didn't know me), I wrote a note and put it on the windshield of a cyclist who'd given me bad directions and sent me off to "go right and catch up" to the slower group (because he was sure I coudln't even draft off his group). It occurred to me that the guy could escalate and slash my tires... and that I was escalating with the note. I should have simply told him "I'll hang with you guys 'til you catch up to them or I drop off." So I took it off... but I did 'splain to the other folks returning from the ride what had happened...

[Loraura]

I'm curious -- what do you do or say in your mind to stop from responding to a hostile driver/pedestrian?

I just remind myself that half the people on the planet are below average intelligence!

[OnTerryOh]

I just remind myself that half the people on the planet are below average intelligence!

Good point. I'll remember to tell myself that in unfriendly encounters.