Does anybody else get abuse from passing cars?

webbhost

Lmao I love that one they got your dad so you got em back! Class

STEFANOS4784

Nuggs wrote:

doktorsteve wrote:

Stuff

It sounds like the guy was riding like a weapons grade nob. It goes to show that a nice bike does not a good rider make.

Not sure what I'd have done in those circumstances. You got past him (and, more importantly, away from him) safely and that's the main thing.

Actually taking over on the inside is called under-taking, i don't drive and i know this so try reading the high-way code, granred the bloke on the bike was a n0b though!

FJS

I'm from The Netherlands and have been cycling here for a year, and I have to say the amount of abuse and dangerous driving you get is more than anywhere I've been on the continent. I guess most is just unfamilarity with cyclists and not having any cycling experience; you get also many drivers that give you ridiculously pleasant amounts of space when passing, going as far out around you as they can. But also adolescents and stupid people in general amused by someone on a bike shouting abuse and sometimes throwing stuff. And I have to say theer are also plenty of nice drivers that give you space on a steep hill for instance. I ride in the Sheffield/Peak District area.

CrookedCucumber wrote:

JWSurrey wrote:

At what point does abuse become assault / something the police are willing to deal with? Would be interesting for Cycling Plus to interview the plod and ask them at what point something is reportable.

An assault, by (legal) definition, is an action that puts a person in apprehension of immediate violence. The apprehension and the possibility of violence are necessary elements of the offence.(

Just this weekend I had a partcularly nasty incident with car come up behind me, beep from close range to get me out of the way to pass on a spot they couldnt safely pass me anyway. I reacted to this with a hand signal that I confess is rude, to which the car drove up next to me, shouting abuse, and, suddenly steered the car quickly towards me as if wanting to push me off, and back just before hitting me.
I was all the more shocked because it wasn't some 19-your old lad in a power Subaru, but what appeared a normal family with two kids in the back, and extra shocked by the guy's argumentation in line of 'I'm more powerful in the car so you should watch out' and 'You realise I could have pushed you off your bike?'
I don't mind verbal abuse too much, and would even be ok with someone getting out of the car for a fist fight, but am still shocked by someone using the car as a weapon against a cyclist, even if just in a move to threat and intimidate. To me this is akin to pulling a knife and threaten with it in a verbal argument. There was no physical harm done, but would people say that this is something reportable? (I know the car and residence as they parked just 200 yard further up).

ride_whenever

Torch their car...

Head out for a 'training ride' in one set of kit, with a change of clothes with you, change clothes, torch car, change back and return. Then destroy evidence.

chriskempton

FJS,

Yes that's reportable. Assault is anything that causes the victim to feel in threat of physical harm. He said something that could be interpreted as a threat of violence, and you apparently felt a threat of violence, so that was an assault.

synchronicity

I used to get this ALL the time in Australia (sydney suburbs). :x

It finally figured out it was usually worse when there was a long stretch of open road, 'cause it gave a chance for the morons inside the car to plan something ahead after seeing me 500m down the road.

I even had firecrackers thrown at my wheels once.

I definitely lost a few of my nine lives... encounters with semi-trailiers (trucks) on bridges brushing past my shoulder, etc. :evil:

On the other hand, here in Spain, this sort of behaviour never happens. That's one good reason to stay here. They'll actually shout out 'INDURAIN' or 'VIRENQUE' instead! I find that sort of thing encouraging... not at all offputting...

redvee

Had a sandwich launched at the van today courtesy of a chavmobile. One minute driving along minding our own business, the next a tune mayo sarnie hits the windscreen and made both of us jump. By time we realised what happened it was too far away to see the car or get a reg. :x

chuckcork

Stewie Griffin wrote:

Little bit of justice follows, make sure you get to the slow motion bit if you read the comments it appears he survived;

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3aBevFpt3 ... re=related

Karma payback indeed.

chuckcork

synchronicity wrote:

I used to get this ALL the time in Australia (sydney suburbs). :x

On the other hand, here in Spain, this sort of behaviour never happens. That's one good reason to stay here. They'll actually shout out 'INDURAIN' or 'VIRENQUE' instead! I find that sort of thing encouraging... not at all offputting...

I keep telling my missus that I'd love to go cycling in France or Spain, that its a national sport.

I wonder how much damage the chav's do to the national income of the UK? Who would really want to cycle there (from abroad) to put up with the kind of nonsense that is seen to be perfectly acceptable, not only to the chav's but Mr Plod?

Mossrider

ColinJ wrote:

cexton wrote:

It seems I get abuse everytime i go out riding! I haven't done anything wrong its normally young lads in cars shouting as they go past.

Over the years, Ive...

Had White Van Man slow down when overtaking me so that his passenger could lean out and do a full green gob in my face. Had eggs thrown at me. Had bottles thrown at me. Been screamed at by someone who leapt out at me. Had a bucket of water thrown at me. Had a lunatic and his drug-crazed mates try to run me off the road when I was impertinent enough not to stop instantly from 30 mph when he decided to pull out directly in front of me. Been attacked by dogs many times, but it's always okay because they "don't bite"! And so on and so forth...

Such is cycling in built-up areas in the UK these days.

Crikey, I live nearby but i rarely get this level of abuse (although some chav in Bradford once tried to shoot me with a bb. He didn't appear so clever in front of the magistrate though...)

Juju_uk_68

I must admit, I've never really suffered any abuse really. I used to very recently cycle in football shirts as they are still practical sportswear. As a Aston Villa fan, in Surrey, no one ever bothered with abuse, although whilst puffing up a steep hill, long distance lorry drivers (usually of midlands based transport firms) would usally give me a cheer!

But today, I got wolf whistled by three blokes in a passing car (yes I was in cycling shorts) and a female passenger in another car shouting that "she thought I had a nice arse".

I am a bloke by the way. I've never had comments like these before, but hey, I might wear added lycra more often if its going to get that sort of result!

redvee

Juju_uk_68 wrote:

I must admit, I've never really suffered any abuse really. I used to very recently cycle in football shirts as they are still practical sportswear. As a Aston Villa fan, in Surrey, no one ever bothered with abuse, although whilst puffing up a steep hill, long distance lorry drivers (usually of midlands based transport firms) would usally give me a cheer!

But today, I got wolf whistled by three blokes in a passing car (yes I was in cycling shorts) and a female passenger in another car shouting that "she thought I had a nice ars*".

I am a bloke by the way. I've never had comments like these before, but hey, I might wear added lycra more often if its going to get that sort of result!

If you want more comments like above from the ladies, don't forget the extra socks :roll:

Juju_uk_68

Yes, someone suggested I pop a sock down the shorts.

Well, I did and everyone laughed. Apparently its meant to go down the FRONT of the shorts.

synchronicity

redvee wrote:

Had a sandwich launched at the van today courtesy of a chavmobile. One minute driving along minding our own business, the next a tune mayo sarnie hits the windscreen and made both of us jump. By time we realised what happened it was too far away to see the car or get a reg. :x

At least it wasn't hurled in your face while you were riding. *sigh* yet another victim of sandwich abuse speaks out here...

Sometimes I wonder how UK/USA/OZ riders even win any olympic medals when they have to put up with the same kind of treatment.

Do you people find you get abused/attacked less early in the morning, or more at other particular times of the day (evening for instance)?

James1823

7 pages of answers to this post. I think that provides some indication of the problem.

I have had:

1. Countless close shaves and/or shouted abuse from lads in beaten up old cars.
2. Sandwiches thrown at me
3. Squeezed into the side of the road by Lorries, camper vans.

On the other hand in France I had a pleasant time on the roads. It's suprising when you hear a car behind that's not revving it's engine to try and get you off the road.

sunking13

This is a truly terrible collection of experiences, and a sad insight into the idiot species we are forced to share the roads with. Either I have been very lucky, or happen to live in a relatively polite area, but I have managed to avoid road abuse in my many years of cycling. To counter this, I have dished out my fair share of road abuse when overtaking motorists have deemed 4mm a sufficient-sized gap.

Rather than Saxo-boy trying to impress his hareem of giggling 14 year olds in the back seat, I am more aware of midlife crisis man in his egomobile, revving impatiently on your back wheel and screaming past on a blind bend before grinding to a halt to make a right turn 3 yards along the road. And arrogant horseriders who will acknowledge with a wave cars that slow down from 50 to 30 as they pass, but will scream for you to slow down to avoid worrying their precious nag even though you have worn your brake rubber away so as to crawl past at 10 mph.... Now you've got me started :evil:

Rich Hcp

It's not always that bad, I've had a couple of experiances latley where they have overtaken and been cheering and I thought the car full was being sarcastic.

After all they were youngsters

I've seen the same car outside a house then they've gone past again and waved, cheered etc

Then they stop somewhere else and then catch up again at a junction, they pull along side, just driver and one passenger left, both girls 8) passenger says, "you're going really well", I'm so surprised that I nearly forgot to say thanks.

A week ago I was getting well dones and cheers from a passing car

A few weeks ago a micra pulls alon side as I'm peddling along, window goes down, I think here we go

He asks for directions!

See?

So it's not all bad, we remember the bad ones for longer