Has anyone made you so mad......?

canada16

Hey

I know its against the law, and should not be talked about it, but here it goes.

Have you been so mad and red-faced that you felt like either kicking a car or hitting the wing mirror off, or just a plain ol fashioned key out of the pocket job.

The reason I ask is becuase I have a short temper, and I have thought about it on many occasions.

Some motorists are so in-considerate and it seems like some of them could care less wether they hit you or not, just as long as they get past you, but then you catch them up at the lights.

What do you guys do to vent your frustration on @sshole motorists?

I own a car and I am very weary of cyclists as I am one, and dont mind staying behind until the road is clear, but others will come like an inch beside you just to get around you, and sometimes they are coming up to a light, so beats me why people do this.

Motorists need to realise that it takes me 15min to get to work, but if I took the car its almost 30 min, so im not sure what their rush is.

Anyway guys would like to know your thoughts and how mad you get and how you deal with it, as it puts me in a bad mood, even though I need to face it, a lot of motorists are jerks, (only some.

Thanks again

linsen

Deep breath, count to ten, shout at them safe in the knowledge that they won't hear me properly and come and beat me up, then ride off smugly knowing that I will beat them to the destination....



Keep your temper, it's not worth it.. unless you get damaged

whyamihere

An open handed slap on the roof is pretty effective. It's not going to do any damage to the car, but it lets the driver know just how close they are to you, they generally move away in my experience.

chuckcork

canada16 wrote:

I own a car and I am very weary of cyclists as I am one

Hopefully you are more careful around cyclists than tired of them.

Its just the modern, I'm in a car so I'm more important that you, attitude, which I see coming across as being cars are for grown up's, bikes are for kids, and grown up's have right of way. Yep, downright arrogant but it is also the product of a selfish society which of course according to the government doesn't exist, unless of course it wants it to.

Is there really any difference for example between bad driving as you describe, and the 50-year old woman who brushes past me in her rush to get to the checkout that I was queueing for, when the live moves forward finds a gap and then pretends I don't exist? Or the one who just steps in front of me when there is a long queue because I made the mistake of leaving 2' of personal space between me and the person in front?

But on the bright side, while its is a ignorant and very dangerous minority who clearly deserve a smack (I think the term is Sociopath?) there are a lot more around who are careful and considerate.

Deep breath as Linsen says....

tailwindhome

You want to make your way over to the revenge fanasties thread and let it all out.

Someone smarter than I will post a link I'm sure.

rgarner

Going to have to play devil's advocate here.

Last year I was working at a place in Leeds city centre, I was driving in daily at the time (so I could drop my missus off beforehand). There was a right turn into the road where I worked. Frequently there'd be a long queue for the right turn.

I'd indicated and already started to turn right when I noticed a cyclist in my mirror attempting to overtake me *and turn right into the same road at the same time*. I jammed on the brakes and jammed on the horn in equal measure - he had absolutely no right of way and what he was attempting was dangerous in the extreme.

He then starts yelling obscenities at me and ramming his front wheel repeatedly into my door, causing much scratching and denting. I resist the temptation to get out, figuring that not only will I end up on the receiving end of whatever anger he felt necessary to vent, but also the receiving end of the opprobrium of a large queue of drivers behind me. I simply turned into the road I would normally turn into.

At this point he turns into the same road as me and keeps pace with my door, shouting "tw*t" repeatedly. At this point I stop the car and get out, and he turns round and belts off up a side street.

So having been on the receiving end of (IMO entirely undeserved) cyclist rage, I'd be much happier generally if it didn't happen in either direction, and I modulate my behaviour on the bike accordingly. Of course, this doesn't mean there aren't total twits around who don't make me feel like it, but overall, I just try and remember we're two people trying to get somewhere. I *try*. Although mostly I end up having the same revenge fantasies as everyone else

canada16

What a world we live in eh!

I think we all need to take a deep breath.

Its not hard to wait 2 seconds for that car to pass on the other side, instead of just trying to squeeze pass me and the a bus on the other side if the road, were that car misses both of us by inches.

I find drivers far more agressive over here than in canada, but then again canada does have a big bike scene, or maybe its just society like you guys say.

Anyway,now thats off my chest, I can take a deep breath and relax.

Thanks guys.

rgarner

canada16 wrote:

I find drivers far more agressive over here than in canada, but then again canada does have a big bike scene, or maybe its just society like you guys say.

I think we've a way to go over here. Like anyone that's gone two-wheeled, I dream that there'll be many more cyclists and far fewer petrol vehicles on the road sooner rather than later. When every family in the UK has at least one cyclist that they worry about, maybe we'll come to a better common understanding. In the meantime, I enjoy off-roading far more and don't really feel safe on the roads (heck, if I can break ribs/feet on a forest floor, think what a kerb'll do to me!).

chuckcork

canada16 wrote:

What a world we live in eh!

I think we all need to take a deep breath.

Its not hard to wait 2 seconds for that car to pass on the other side, instead of just trying to squeeze pass me and the a bus on the other side if the road, were that car misses both of us by inches.

I find drivers far more agressive over here than in canada, but then again canada does have a big bike scene, or maybe its just society like you guys say.

Anyway,now thats off my chest, I can take a deep breath and relax.

Thanks guys.

More people in more cars in less space, on roads a considerable number of which were laid down when there was only a fraction of the present numbers on the roads, it is just going to go wrong, coupled with the level of selfishness in society that there is more aggression is not suprising.

Sure enough there are twits around where I am but they are few and far between. I put it down as much to a different culture (majority of motorists wave to me on the smaller roads I ride on!) as the lack of vehicles and pressure on road space.

Pity the government doesn't have the b*alls to really get tough on congestion by reducing numbers of cars, only way to really solve the problem. I'd say high fuel prices would be the key to getting more out of cars, but the present economic slump is seeing those falling as well....

gtvlusso

As a motorcyclist and cyclist, I have punched off too many wing mirrors (on the pretence that; you don't use it, therefore you don't need the extra weight on the vehicle) and kicked in too many doors to count - I was an angry young man. I have even punched out a van driver - see previous threads on that story.

It is not big and it is not clever and I am ashamed (I am particularly sorry to the salesman in the brand new (then 02 reg) red Golf who ran into me on my motorbike - your wing mirror is in the car park of the sports centre opposite the incident, crying really is not gonna help you in that situation - did make me laugh when you blubbered though!!)

I have caused an awful lot of damage over 17 years of bike and motorbikes - however, in the last 5 years I have completely calmed and gone the other way, I don't rise to anything, just pedal harder and go on my way.

So, I do apologise to all (apart from the woman in a Mercedes who knocked me off my bicycle on a round-a-bout and drove off without stopping - that £15k came in handy for the new kitchen and that 1 year driving ban really will have stuffed your career!)

Dolphins mate - think Dolphins - calm seas!

Bassjunkieuk

I've often found that it's only when I've had to take evasive action now that I get properly annoyed as I have come to expect people to try and pass at pinch points giving me little or no room.

I find the best tactics are either to ride assertively in the first place to try and discourage the drivers from overtaking me, listening for the tell tale signs of someone trying to get past, i.e revving engine or using the bike to ride off my stress. The adrenaline rush can be a handy little short lived turbo :-D

I've had one instance where I blew up properly at a motorist who kept undertaking huge amounts of traffic by speeding down the bus lane in Brixton. I ended up having to make a quick exit as the passenger got rather aggressive after I called the driver a rather colorful name :-) I've also slapped the window of a people carrier and black taxi that have changed lanes practically on top of me and tried to turn left across me before.

As some of the other posters have said the important thing to remember is how few drivers actually get you this annoyed and that there are generally good drivers on the road who do give you plenty of space and aren't out to try and kill you!

ansbaradigeidfran

canada16 wrote:

I find drivers far more agressive over here than in canada, but then again canada does have a big bike scene, or maybe its just society like you guys say.

I'd agree that people tend to be more polite in Canada (Southern Ontario at least), but I've only ever been a passenger on Canadian roads, so can't give a good observation on road rage etc. One huge difference I see is the size of the roads: they're so much bigger over there! My mother (a cautious driver at best) took about fifteen years to work up the courage to learn to drive over here having left Canada.

Surf-Matt

Someone nearly knocked me off my bike a while back on a very narrow country lane - beeped horn, shouted, etc for me to get out of the way (there was nowhere to go!)

Eventually aggressivly overtook me where there was NO room - I veered out of the way and clipped the hedge, stinging myself to bits.

Being a nerd, I clocked the car type and reg no.

Two weeks later I was driving a van and stopped to take a phone call - the same car came along the road.

I chased it for about a mile, into a car park, did a snazzy Police "block" with the van and got out.

The guy (about 25ish) started off being quite aggressive so I gave him two options - Police report or short but sharp violence.

He apologised profusely and won't be doing that again...

Moral of the story - Do NOT drive aggresively in Cornwall - it's a small place and you WILL get seen again.

ride_whenever

It's the people who drive really inconsiderately that bug me the most. I'd stopped at a zebra crossing to wave two cars through (it's a pinch point as well) and I'd just started moving off as there was nothing else waiting. Car accelerates towards me and forces through the pinch point, at which point i don't stop because he bl**dy well should have, he ends up mounting the curb of the pinch point to avoid me, if he hadn't i've had smashed his wingmirror off.

On that note, what is the best way to take one off if the car is coming towards you, downwards smash or just slamming it flat back against the car?

Surf-Matt

Ride -

Whacking it back will just fold it. If you want to break it, hit it forwards. But be very careful as you could easily hurt yourself. Not that I'd condone such behaviour of course...

always_tyred

Okay people - just so you know - the hand contains lots of small and easily fractured bones and it is NOT a good idea to go around hitting hard objects. Furthermore, wing mirrors contain glass.

Slapping the bodywork of a car is really very effective (get in your own car and have someone do it - trust me its effective) and if you absolutely have to cause damage, the middle of body panels will deflect before your hand breaks. The corners will not.

Surf-Matt

I'd use my foot, not my hand (helps that I'm an advanced level kickboxer...!)

I got in a total rage with an utterly terrible car I had (Morris Marina) - wouldn't start for the millionth time so punched the door - and nearly broke my hand without denting it at all. However a good kick worked wonders. Bit like Basil Fawlty...!

ride_whenever

Thanks for the tips guys...





Must take up kickboxing

cee

I got my handlebar clipped by a bus (I stayed on...lucky!!!) and when I ended up in front of him I decided no more chances.....stay in primary.

He got a bit miffed by this and started trying to overtake me again, when there were traffic islands coming and there was no way he was getting passed!

I managed to spot the bus stop ahead and accelerated, filtering through a bunch of traffic and ultimately getting to the bus stop so that I could have a little chat with the driver.

I just told him that driving like that was likely to kill someone and took a mental note of the service number. I complained to the bus company, but nothing came of it. still

Kieran_Burns

I have (as noted in other threads) punched a Carina rear wing and left a sizeable dent. I was maintaining position and was easily able to hit the car without having to lean or stretch - I think that caused a nice expensive fix for him

Then there was the merc I scratched the entire near side of.

Yeah i get angry at inconsiderate people,it is truly is my one inflammatory action... most anything else I can brush off, but when people simply treat you nothing... that sets me off.

I know we should keep calm and not react but people DO need to be told. We do have a responsibility to maintain societies values and that means enforcing as well as obeying them. No, I don't mean vigilante style justice, I mean reporting, explaining and not just meekly accepting.

Bassjunkieuk

I had to bite my tongue the other day as 2 work collegues (on a client site, 1 quite senior) discussed how it annoys them when "cyclist ride down the middle of the road, knowing the cars are behind them and I have to squeeze past......."


ARGH!!! If you have to squeeze then guess what??

YOU SHOULDN'T BE PASSING!!!!!!!!!

At no point did they consider that the cyclist might be doing it for their own safety, but seemed to imply that it was done to intentionally slow them (in their cars) down.

I felt slightly better when they start moaning about how they hate being stuck in traffic and how much it costs to fuel their cars tho :-)

Surf-Matt

I find it slightly better when anti cyclists drop down dead from obesity/heart disease/whatever.

Pretty much every grumble/rant/shout that's been directed at me when riding has been by a fatty.

giltkid

Not proud but I once, in a 'red mist' kicked in the door of a car that pulled out on me - I had to brake so hard that I very nearly went over the bars. In mitigation (m'lud) the driver (blonde, stupid looking, essex-y) was on her mobile at the time - it wouldn't surprise me if she was doing her nails as well.

ride_whenever

All about cycling into these tw*ts who don't look. Generally rolling onto the bonnet and sliding down it is the best plan.

secretsam

Gobbed on an X5 is as bad as I've done

canada16

LOL

Thats some good stories.

At least I know im not the only maniac on the raod, well I say maniac I mean just red faced all the time when people are in a rush to get to work.

We all need to get to the same place at the same time, and I think we should all have consideration for each other.

Not all people can bike, some have back problems and leg problems, so be it, but dont be a tw"t on the road.

WHY CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!!!!!!!

simple_salmon

I just spent a week at Center Parcs; it's a cycle heaven but you start to realise that all those people on bikes are the same people who usually drive cars - and they cycle just as stupidly.

It just shows that it's not cars that make people selfish and stupid - they just are.

janm399

A red mist (or perhaps a blue mist -- I had to deal with Windows a bit earlier) descended when this twit decided that he's going to teach me a lesson. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=328X4ZiOl8o.