Shouting at drivers
Comments
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They can't hear you. You have to hit a deformable panel on the car. Vans are best - I hit two today, but that's unusual. Otherwise hit the roof. If your hand doesn't hurt afterwards, you're not doing it right. Best done without dismounting. Only do this if they are trying to kill you. Your mileage may vary.
Calm is an arm.
Calm is an arm.0 -
Speaking of banging vans. Have you seen the monkey noise thing that they do? Lean out the van window, bang on the door panel with their swinging arm and make an ape sound.
Tom.0 -
Well, you can't buy class.
My methods have evolved since banging those vans. I now photograph them, or appear to do so, with my phone. Just follow them to the next set of (edit: red) lights and overtake. The look on their little faces as you cruise past their window shouting, "Smile, baby, you're on the web" is worth a thousand words. On both occasions I've done this the bacteria knew exactly why, because they'd just wilfully cut up a cyclist (in neither case me, as it goes).
Obviously, do not put yourself in any more danger than usual, but I thoroughly recommend this improved method as a very 21st century solution to a very 20th century ill.
Calm is an arm.0 -
Got to agree, putting them on camera, esp video camera, really does moderate their behaviour rather nicely in most cases.0
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On my very first commute (Monday) I had cause to advise a driver that he was too close. Normally I wouldn't have bothered, but another inch to the left (or if I wobbled) his wing mirror would have clipped my handle bar and I would have been under his wheels.
This was an older guy, not an old boy, but possibly retired. His wife was in the car too, and I didn't shout partly because it's not in my character and partly because she had done nothing wrong. I knocked on the window (which the wife wound down) and addressed her husband directly. I politely told him he was too close - to begin with he didn't know what I was talking about (so he didn't see me at all) and then told me I should keep further to to the left (that would have been not on the road then).
At this point I was cross - and a little shaken up - and so my politeness may have waivered. I told him he should read his highway code about giving cyclists space, at which point he told me to **** off. I did exactly that as his power of argument was well beyond mine.
My point in all this? I'm not convinced that addressing motorists directly is necessarily the best way forward... I certainly wouldn't do it again. As I said, this was an older guy but the anger in his eyes when he swore suggested to me that he quite possibly would try something when he caught me up further down - I made sure to get off the road in case he did.
While I like to think that his wife admonished his behaviour I quite frankly doubt it.
I think the only thing that would really work is an awareness campaign. Give friends and family "Give Cyclists Room" car stickers, write letters to the local press about near misses describing the vehicle that sort of stuff. I can't help but think that banging on cars and shouting just gives a reason for people to get their hackles up, even if they're not in the "right"
Just my two penn'orth.0 -
In that situation, if approached correctly, I do get a "Fair play mate" at least half the time. It's as much about how you tell them as anything else. And as in another topic, if you take a picture or video of them after they get angry, that usually stops all further confrontation.0
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BentMikey wrote:In that situation, if approached correctly, I do get a "Fair play mate" at least half the time. It's as much about how you tell them as anything else. And as in another topic, if you take a picture or video of them after they get angry, that usually stops all further confrontation.
I don't think he would have given a "Fair play mate" no matter which way it was handled. In his eyes he had done nothing wrong, but by being there I had... and I even had the audacity to confront him!0 -
I don't think it's acceptable to shout abuse at another person on the road whether you are a cyclist, pedestrian or car driver. Some people are highly critical of RLJ's because going through a red light antagonises car drivers but shouting obscenities at them is far worse0
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No. Threatening death and injury with a motor vehicle is far worse.0
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Was passed close this morning by white van using his screen wash at the same time - result my glasses get a rinse too. It's hard not to think they're provoking you. Unfortunately he'd left the round about before I had time to 'discuss' the matter with him!0
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Sailing7 wrote:Was passed close this morning by white van using his screen wash at the same time - result my glasses get a rinse too. It's hard not to think they're provoking you. Unfortunately he'd left the round about before I had time to 'discuss' the matter with him!
More than likely deliberate. I've lost count the amount of times people just happen to be using their screenwash as they are passing you, or when you are flitering past them!!0 -
Accidentally ride through their wing mirror when you pass!0
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<i> I told him he should read his highway code about giving cyclists space, at which point he told me to **** off. I did exactly that as his power of argument was well beyond mine.
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Some people, even if they are perfectly reasonable in other aspects of life, cannot take constructive criticism of their driving.
I think if you are calm and they start swearing in that situation then you are the one with your dignity. In the situation that you describe then I think I might react by shaking my head sadly, turning to his wife and saying "you must be very proud" or "when he calms down, try talking some sense to him" before turning on my heel. If the driver is on their own then a calm " come on mate, act your age" might suffice.
J0 -
jedster wrote:Some people, even if they are perfectly reasonable in other aspects of life, cannot take constructive criticism of their driving.
I think if you are calm and they start swearing in that situation then you are the one with your dignity. In the situation that you describe then I think I might react by shaking my head sadly, turning to his wife and saying "you must be very proud" or "when he calms down, try talking some sense to him" before turning on my heel. If the driver is on their own then a calm " come on mate, act your age" might suffice.
J
I purposefully didn't address his wife, as she hadn't done anything wrong - there was no need to involve her.
"Come on mate, act your age" may be one to remember.0 -
Just a comment on shouting. It does no good. They are in the car with the radio on. They can't hear you.
Several years ago, I realised this, and started just mouthing what I wanted to say. It saves breath, prevents sore throats and, combined with facial expression, gets the message across just as well. Eyeballing them in the rear view mirrors and shaking your head also works.
Why waste your breath?0 -
I find myself saying " you ****" under my breath and sometimes aloud when someone passes me too close
If I catch up with them, mindful that we may be playing leapfrog subsequently, I give them a little tinkle on my bell, which means " you ****, there you are stuck in traffic and there was no need to endanger me, in my opinion, by coming so close to me" and I think that is clear to the driver. if not, then there was no point stopping to waste my breath on them
if someone steps out in front of me, I find myself going "WOAH!" and this gets their attention, avoiding impact (so far). my hand is commonly on my chinese bell, partly because I ting along with a tune in my head (currently "Hells Bells" ACDC)0 -
Getting used to being shouted at by motorists, 'yer wheels are going round' or 'oi mate yer tyres flat' even my favorite one 'get off the feckin road' , i was ready when a car pulled up slowly beside me and the passenger said something out the window, i turned just about to give my usual reply to go forth and multiply, when i realised it was my parents saying hello !! :roll:0
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I commute pretty early in the morning (5:30) . Some stupid woman nearly rammed up the back of me on a roundabout. I shouted very nasty things :oops:
Went past a bush shelter full of people waiting for the first bus 10 yards up the road.
They heard and saw everything...
They looked really scared of me :twisted:
Need anger managment
Tux0 -
tuxpoo wrote:I commute pretty early in the morning (5:30) . Some stupid woman nearly rammed up the back of me on a roundabout. I shouted very nasty things :oops:
Went past a bush shelter full of people waiting for the first bus 10 yards up the road.
They heard and saw everything...
They looked really scared of me :twisted:
Need anger managment
Tux
Early morning commuting is fun isn't it? It's so much quiter than normal so any abusive shouting carries a long way, I find the drivers notice it better too....0 -
Some teeenager tried to make me jump the other day by shouting at me from his car I shouted some abuse back just as I was coming up behind some old dear walking on the pavement. She nearly jumped out of her skin with shock. I had to stop and appoligies to her.0
