Those stubborn ones

[Kimmyt]

I was walking down the hall at work today to give a paper to my fellow cyclist/coworker and heard a guy talking at her about how it is WRONG for cyclists to take up a full lane and how they insist on doing it and of course drivers get angry over this because cyclists are in the WRONG, so of course I interrupted loudly and said, "Actually, according to the law cyclists are able to take up a full lane if the conditions merit it". He cut me off and proceeded to tell me that I could not involve myself in this conversation unless I supported his side of the argument.



So I sent my cyclist friend who had to listen to his silly shpiel a pdf file of the PA Bike Law that clearly states that when possible cyclists should ride on the shoulder or righthand side of a lane except for when safety dictates otherwise, and that bicycles have the same rights to the road as motor vehicles.


She forwarded it to him.

I'm just wondering what is it about some people that just get belligerent when it comes to cyclists. Some people don't like cyclists on the road, but they don't get aggressive about it. Then there are those who act like by being a cyclist on the road you are trying to kill their mother. I don't understand why some people get so riled up about cyclists!

[madscot13]

Then there are those who act like by being a cyclist on the road you are trying to kill their mother. I don't understand why some people get so riled up about cyclists!

sometimes, I think they are trying to kill a future mother- me!

[Zen]

You're pregnant?

[Aggie_Ama]

Zen- You make me laugh!

I always wonder why when I put on a helmet and hop on a bike I stop being a human. I can only think that is the case when people take aggression out on cyclists. I am someone's daughter, granddaughter, sister, wife, best friend and maybe one day mother. All of the aggressive drivers probably have at least one of those types of people that mean something to them but when they see us they do not connect that.

[redrhodie]

Do you know this guy? Is this atypical of him, like he's usually the nicest guy in the office, but get him near a cyclist, and he goes all neanderthal?

I'm willing to bet that it's not just cyclists. He's probably as easily angered by old ladies crossing the street, little kids coming off the school bus, but he'd look like a a$$hole is he expressed his true feelings about them.

In any case, the best response to him during his tirade is "boy, it must suck being you" said with a look, not words.

[Kimmyt]

No, I don't know him that well, but he is in a pretty high-up position in my company, which would mean that he is most likely 1) aggressive 2) driven and 3) stubborn.

I have a feeling he's just one of those 'I'm always right' guys. Our industry kind of breeds them. I don't care one way or another and once he said those things yesterday i realized that i really have no interest in getting to know him after that. The only thing that upsets me is that he was spreading incorrect information that could directly affect how people might treat me on the road, which is why i interrupted him when i did.

It always feels like the ones that are the most vocal/vehement about how bad cyclists are, they are the ones I'm worried will just SNAP one day. Becuase it does feel like they don't get that we're still people once we get on those bikes. It's weird.

[indigoiis]

Invite the dude out for a ride some night. Flatter him by saying "you look like you could kick some *** on a proper road bike" and then show him how much fun it is.

Sometimes that's all it takes.

[Lucky, Fabulous]

I must work on my "boy, it must suck to be you" look!

[Grog]

No, I don't know him that well, but he is in a pretty high-up position in my company, which would mean that he is most likely 1) aggressive 2) driven and 3) stubborn.

Sounds like good qualities for a road cyclist to me.

+ 1 what indigoiis said! Take him out for a ride.

[beccaB]

Is there anything actually wrong with saying " it must suck to be you" ? Do I have to imply it with a look? I used to be polite to people but I am closer now to 50 than 40, and I kinda like the new me.

[Melalvai]

The only thing that upsets me is that he was spreading incorrect information that could directly affect how people might treat me on the road, which is why i interrupted him when i did.

Good for you. The best way to counter the spread of incorrect information is by spreading correct information.Chances are next time he mouths off---he'll check first to make sure you are not around!

[indigoiis]

I don't care how old you are, people (especially nasty ones in high-up positions) will find a way to make you suffer if you are one degree below the nicest of polite. I wouldn't do it.

Another way to say "it must suck to be you" is to not give his opinion much credit. He's just one guy, and most people don't listen to negative whiney opinion (or take it that seriously.) You can't change people. You can only show them how cool it is to be a cyclist. Show, rather than tell, is key.

[Trek420]

Invite the dude out for a ride some night. Flatter him by saying "you look like you could kick some *** on a proper road bike" and then .....

dust him

[redridinghood]

I was walking down the hall at work today to give a paper to my fellow cyclist/coworker and heard a guy talking at her about how it is WRONG for cyclists to take up a full lane and how they insist on doing it and of course drivers get angry over this because cyclists are in the WRONG, so of course I interrupted loudly and said, "Actually, according to the law cyclists are able to take up a full lane if the conditions merit it". He cut me off and proceeded to tell me that I could not involve myself in this conversation unless I supported his side of the argument.

I was riding my bike home today and I took up the lane because I needed to turn left pretty soon and there were too many parked cars, I didn't want to get "door-ed". The people in the car behind me honked at me, then a few feet later they proceeded to park just so that the guy in the front passenger seat could get out to tell me how it was wrong for me to take up the "whoooole laaaane", as Mr. Drama put it. I just told him that I could do that if I wanted and that they should read their driver's handbook again.

It happens mostly near my house, it might be because we are close to a freeway exit. I expect it to happen more often in the summer weekends since I live in a very touristy town. Most locals are actually quite bike friendly, but then there's always those few angry ones. I'm actually thinking about putting a patch on my backpack with something like "It's my lane too, learn to share it", or maybe something a little snarkier

[TahoeDirtGirl]

OMG.

I grew up in SE PA. Avondale to be exact. We have signs on rt 41 that say "Be Aware of Aggressive Drivers" and they even put in dots to get you to pace 2 dots behind a car. I get behind the wheel there and I have to pull over sometimes (especially with a beautiful mtn bike on the back of your car!) because I'm afraid I'm going to get rearended. Not everyone is like that there, but there is enough tense people there that make driving a bit..uhhh...stressful!

When I go to see my dad I don't ride on the road that much. Not like I ride in Mass. Mass people seem to be a little nicer here in the countryside. Not all of them, but enough of them. I don't get nervous about people behind me, only at intersections. They don't seem to see you. In PA I'm nervous just being on the road.

As for that guy, not sure how the whole conversation went, but I have gotten behind a couple of cyclists riding 2 abreast without a care in the world-maybe he had a bad experience? While I'm logging more miles now than I actually drive, I can see why people would get mad. I did block traffic up on Acushnet Ave in New Bedford because there was only half a road there. No one beeped. In that case, yeah, you can't avoid it. Maybe if you got him on a bike it might change his mind. I find people that don't own a bike (or should I say...ride a bike!) are kinda tense.