I don't want to die. Today for the second time this week a car almost ran me over while I was commuting to work on my 29er. I can see it in their faces as they rage and drive and kill. Seriously, I make eye contact with these people as they look at me and try to run me out of their way. This morning started out great, ten miles of groovy singletrack, some hill climbs, and rolling on down into work by 8 AM as the sun started to warm the day. Here he comes, middle age in his mini van, charges me out of the stop sign from the right side of the 4 way, hit the brakes, I see the rage in his face. I continue on through and he buzzes by, accelerating aggressively, inches past my left elbow. Then he stops in front of me to turn again, I've got the ass and pound on his left rear quarter panel as I pass, now he pulls out again and aims for me and hits my left arm with his right rear view mirror, it folds back on it's hinges. He pulls ahead and trys to block my passage, swerveing and braking. Now I'm really hoping paunch boy will stop and get out of his mini van so I can really pound his f*&^$%g head in. He speeds off, ****, he's yapping on his cell phone too! Really, this was my morning. Not to mention the other car that intentionally made a right turn in front of me and ran me off the road last Tuesday. Look up all the cyclists that get killed by cars, there's plenty of them. One definition of madness is to do the same activity day after day and continue to expect the results will be different. Car culture does not care about your life or health. To the driver, you may as well be a possum on the side of the road. Old Man, your right on, "the road to hell is paved" . Goodbye pavement. Hello dirt. I'll never leave you again. That's my rant.
Sorry brother...I understand...I have been thinking about selling my Indyfab Crown Jewel to purchase my Nomad much for the same reason. Trees feel no rage and it is your fault if you run into them. Lardasses with attitudes, soccer moms with aggro schedules....yeah...I understand.
I don't want to die. Today for the second time this week a car almost ran me over while I was commuting to work on my 29er. I can see it in their faces as they rage and drive and kill. Seriously, I make eye contact with these people as they look at me and try to run me out of their way. This morning started out great, ten miles of groovy singletrack, some hill climbs, and rolling on down into work by 8 AM as the sun started to warm the day. Here he comes, middle age in his mini van, charges me out of the stop sign from the right side of the 4 way, hit the brakes, I see the rage in his face. I continue on through and he buzzes by, accelerating aggressively, inches past my left elbow. Then he stops in front of me to turn again, I've got the ass and pound on his left rear quarter panel as I pass, now he pulls out again and aims for me and hits my left arm with his right rear view mirror, it folds back on it's hinges. He pulls ahead and trys to block my passage, swerveing and braking. Now I'm really hoping paunch boy will stop and get out of his mini van so I can really pound his f*&^$%g head in. He speeds off, ****, he's yapping on his cell phone too! Really, this was my morning. Not to mention the other car that intentionally made a right turn in front of me and ran me off the road last Tuesday. Look up all the cyclists that get killed by cars, there's plenty of them. One definition of madness is to do the same activity day after day and continue to expect the results will be different. Car culture does not care about your life or health. To the driver, you may as well be a possum on the side of the road. Old Man, your right on, "the road to hell is paved" . Goodbye pavement. Hello dirt. I'll never leave you again. That's my rant.
Why is it that where I live (everywhere that I've lived in fact) there are a few idiots but most drivers at least try to be accomodating and share the road, while where everyone else lives every driver is out there actively trying to kill them?
I think it is the "few" idiots that get your attention. They get your attention when you are in a car, in line at a store... too, just not near so dangerous. Probably a miniscule amount of drivers are this way, just more noticeable on a bike!
My wife and I sold our road bikes last February and used the $ to buy a Kettler ErgoRacer indoor trainer with Nethalon virtual software -- for rainy days it very motivating and a heckuva workout. I got tired of seeing friends get hurt -- mostly by dogs and paceline errors. Also got tired of being brushed off by pickups pulling trailers. As a MTB racer I was concerned about losing the road training but I've found that there is nothing magical about training on the pavement. Other than intervals and riding ST we ride twice a week on rolling double track, non-technical, and zero traffic. I can get up to LT and hold it as long as I'm willing and get the same benefits that come from high intensity group rides. I don't miss it. Right now I'm about as happy as you can get as far as riding goes -- I've got the Levi for ST riding and racing and the Mooto-X for the aforementioned "road riding."
I think it is the "few" idiots that get your attention. They get your attention when you are in a car, in line at a store... too, just not near so dangerous. Probably a miniscule amount of drivers are this way, just more noticeable on a bike!
Agree
I found on my commutes and RR's most drivers are courteous, but its a small percentage that are aggressive that you remember. I tend to feel safer riding alone on the road vs a group. Seems like drivers have a harder time with multiple riders.
It is so strange to read stories like this. We, as europeans, think you can get sued in the states for making the hammer that is used for a murder when the manufacturer did not mention the hammer should not be used for smashing someones head.
For me this was an attempt for murder, isn't is possible to go to the police with this story and his license plate number??
Things like this would drive me mad...
Off course stupid thing happen here, but most of the time that is from drivers not seeing another road user (cyclist/walker), intentional driving into cyclists is , thank God, not 'common'.
Keep riding the roads, the eyes of people should be opened!
Agree
I found on my commutes and RR's most drivers are courteous, but its a small percentage that are aggressive that you remember. I tend to feel safer riding alone on the road vs a group. Seems like drivers have a harder time with multiple riders.
Huh. My experience with aggresive wankers is the opposite. They don't seem to feel as free to take chances with my life when there are 20 witnesses, or possibly allies, riding with me...
Just another nighthawk at the diner
Rock -n-roll means well but it can't help tellin' young boys lies...
I know exactly how you feel. The same kind of thing happens around here on a regular basis too. The town I live in is a blue collar-work hard for your money-go buy smokes and head to the bar, kind of place. There is really very little emphasis on healthy active lifestyle. Many of these people don't understand why you would even ride a bike for fun.
The other problem we have around here is that many of the "serious cyclists" around here don't deserve much respect from motorists IMO. These guys that I'm referring to wouldn't even consider stopping at a 4-way stop. Unfortunately, the rest of us reap what they sow.
I have a new 22mag derringer. great for popping out rear windows!!! lol
Actually, Here in Gods Country (North Louisiana) people are pretty good. The part of town and country roads I ride people are very friendly. We get the occasional kid that will holler at you. Our problem here is more during hunting season. Hunters dont like us riding in areas that are typ posted as safe zones and No Hunting allowed. They have been known to shoot a tree near you to deter you from coming back..This is common for the trash that typ hunts in the Free Core of Eng hunting areas.
I have had a few instances of "road rage". Really, not as serious as is described by the original poster, though. I'm aware that it could happen, and I actually try to keep an eye out for it, but you can't always see it coming, as it were.
I think these individuals that participate in this behaviour with their automobiles are really cowards. How much moxy does it take to point your two and a half ton auto at a cyclist to "scare" him, or brush him off "your" roads! It's an ingrained part of our culture that you have a "right" to an automobile, and that "no one" can impede your way. I get a kick out of when motorists give me that annoyed look, because I took three seconds off their commute time when they had to wait for me to go around a corner! It's crazy!
I say don't give up. Look out for your safety, yes! Look into a different route, yes! But don't give up riding your bike. You don't know if you might be the one to inspire another to take up a bike, and join you. You shouldn't let that driver win, it enables the rest of the herd to do the same and more. Okay, well maybe I'm getting a little too "rant-ish" here. Sorry! Do what you've gotta do! I hope you don't stop riding! Good luck!
Thanks but of course I won't give up riding. Besides yesterday's incident, I had been putting on a lot of road miles recently in the belief that it would help to bring my xc racing up to the next level. Most drivers are courteous, give you enough room and pass when it's safe. On every ride there are several who threaten your life. I think even Lance has been hit by a car. I read that he has a blocking vehicle follow behind him to protect his life when he trains. Well, I'm not going to martyr myself for cycling. If this country ever gets serious about alternatives to carbon fuels we'll see a fundamental change. How many bike paths do you think could be built with Alaska's 670 million dollar "bridge (for cars) to nowhere"?
My fellow co-worker kicked in a door yesterday. He said the guy pulled a similar move putting him into a curb. When he caught the guy at the light he asked if the driver saw him. The driver gave him a "fu!k you" which enraged my buddy at which point he put him foot in his door. The funny thing is said cyclist thought it would just put a scuff, but the door colapsed pretty significantly. He took off down the sidewalk leaving the motorist stuck in traffic.
My fellow co-worker kicked in a door yesterday. He said the guy pulled a similar move putting him into a curb. When he caught the guy at the light he asked if the driver saw him. The driver gave him a "fu!k you" which enraged my buddy at which point he put him foot in his door. The funny thing is said cyclist thought it would just put a scuff, but the door colapsed pretty significantly. He took off down the sidewalk leaving the motorist stuck in traffic.
if i were your co-worker, i'd change my commute route pretty quickly. wouldn't want to cross paths with that guy again.
"Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling" ~James E. Starrs
It is so strange to read stories like this. We, as europeans, think you can get sued in the states for making the hammer that is used for a murder when the manufacturer did not mention the hammer should not be used for smashing someones head.
For me this was an attempt for murder, isn't is possible to go to the police with this story and his license plate number??
Things like this would drive me mad...
Off course stupid thing happen here, but most of the time that is from drivers not seeing another road user (cyclist/walker), intentional driving into cyclists is , thank God, not 'common'.
Keep riding the roads, the eyes of people should be opened!
JJ
I agree, call the police with his licence number, get them involved. Especially if this has happened before with the same person. In most states, if not all states assault is what happens when a person makes you think that you are going to be physically harmed in some way. There does not have to be any actual contact, just that you reasonably think that there may be. This is a Tort and he can be sued civilly. There are also criminal ramifications most likely. Incidentally you are not allowed to commit assault or battery back unless it is to protect physical harm to yourself. So the fact that you threaten him does not help your cause. I know you want to, but kicking his ass is not the answer long term. Call the police...
I'd still rather ride than drive! On Tuesday I had to drive in to work for the first time in several weeks, and I couldn't believe how stressed and angry I was when I got home. People drive like sh*t! They have little consideration for one another, employ dangerous manuevers to gain a meager car-length or shave a few precious seconds off of their commute. While on the bike, I've not personally experienced the kind of predatory motorist behavior described by others, but when driving I am constantly appalled at the behavior of my fellow motorist. From now on, except in "emergency" situations I'll either ride or take the bus. Cars do indeed suck.
Ugh, I hate that. Definitely puts a sour note on what is usually a nice routine. I've been nearly run over more times than I can count and actually run into a couple times. Nothing serious, but in both instances the driver saw I was okay and then rolled down their window to scream obscenities at me. What the hell? Getting run over in a crosswalk is my fault? I don't get people sometimes.
My worst one came after I gave a guy the finger for honking at me (while I was in a crosswalk). He pulled up next to me to yell at me and I told him to f**k himself. That blew his stack and so he swerved hard right on to me. I braked quick enough that he only got my front tire, but he put his range rover up on the curb right in front of me, leaving me no out. The first thing I saw was his license plate
ARMSDLR
Uh oh. Before I could even get off my bike, the guy was out of his car and in my face screaming and shoving me. It was unbelievable how furious the guy was. Seriously, I had to keep from laughing it was so ridiculous. With a bike between my legs and a strong suspicion that the guy was armed, I kept my mouth shut until he blew himself out. With one last shove, he got in his truck and took off. I see him in my neighborhood every now and again and I've always fantisized about blowing up his car, but I've never had a good opportunity. Maybe someday.....
Anyway, non-biker drivers are a dangerous lot that love to take out all their pent up emotional baggage on the dirty tree-huggin' bikers that pollute their rage infested morning commute. Thank god for bike trails.
My fellow co-worker kicked in a door yesterday. He said the guy pulled a similar move putting him into a curb. When he caught the guy at the light he asked if the driver saw him. The driver gave him a "fu!k you" which enraged my buddy at which point he put him foot in his door. The funny thing is said cyclist thought it would just put a scuff, but the door colapsed pretty significantly. He took off down the sidewalk leaving the motorist stuck in traffic.
I had a lady in a Firebird sped up and tryed to make a right turn in front of me. She didn't make it past me before she turned and my bar ends and pedals left a nice scrape all the way down the side. She got out of the car claiming I hit her and that she was calling the cops, when the cops arrived they asked her how did I get that close to her car and then gave her a ticket for hitting me.
A year later I have the same thing happen by a woman in a mini van except this time the cop said he did not believe that I could lean on the van to keep from getting run over by the front wheel so I must be lying about what really happened. Her insurance company bought me a new bike but the cop put on the report that I hit her not the other way around.
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Originally Posted by volpepazza
