Get honked for no reason?

khisanth

Do many people on here get honked by drivers for NO reason at all ? Thought that might have happened today, but not sure. Heard a honk from somewhere behind me and the missus riding single file close to the kerb not in anyones way. 3 cars go by and some kids yells something out the window as they pass the wife in front. It's possible they were shouting at the car in front, but wasnt sure.

I know there are idiots out there, but whats their reasoning for honking? Do they think cyclists are not allowed on the road?

daviesee

khisanth wrote:

Do they think cyclists are not allowed on the road?

Some think we shouldn't be there. After all, it is a heinous crime to hold them up for 5 seconds.

Frank the tank

It happens on occassion. BTW, DON'T ride in the gutter it's not safe.

chrisaonabike

Used to get this as a runner (and not even in the road) from time to time. Just get used to the fact that a lot of people are ill-mannered, uneducated, inconsiderate, aggressive, intolerant, small-minded, unintelligent, self-obsessed morons that should never have been allowed to breed, but sadly already have...

... and ignore it.

rolf_f

Funny you should say that.

I was riding along a straight road this afternoon. Big Merc starts reversing out of a side turning into the road that I am riding down. Car backing towards me as it wants to set off in my direction. As I watch it, the car gets further out towards the middle of the road (and so do I). I'm puzzled by this as if I'd been doing the manouvre I'd have left at least half a cars width of space on the lane but big Merc wants to take up the whole road. So as I pass I have to move across into the oncoming (empty lane) to get past.

Moments later, as the Merc briefly passes me before the next queue it hoots me. I assume it was for no reason though they looked annoyed at me - more so when I shook my head at them disdainfully. But it must have been for no reason as:

1) I had priority - I was on the main road, she was reversing out
2) I legally overtook the incompetently handled car on a broken white line
3) Highway code says you should reverse from big road to small road so obviously consciencious driver that she was she was being extra careful having bolloxed the manouvre up already
4) It wasn't my fault she can't use the steering wheel properly.

Some wierd people about. Maybe she just expected me to stop for her me being a lowly cyclist. Or maybe she wanted to start blocking the oncoming lane as well and I got in the way of that. Sadly, I'll never know.

Escadrille Ecosse

There are folk like that.

If it was your wife, then maybe they were just appreciating her ar*e. Presumably that's what you were doing by following her

nunowoolmez

I ride in London & there a LOT of f**k wits about. Hard to ignore i must admit. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire!

khisanth

Escadrille Ecosse wrote:

There are folk like that.

If it was your wife, then maybe they were just appreciating her ar*e. Presumably that's what you were doing by following her

hehe well if I go in front I find it hard to keep to a speed she will keep up with.

Since I started cycling I have been so much more aware of cyclists on the road when I am in the car.

eede

Some people think it's safer to warn a cyclist that a car is approaching and is about to overtake them. It's not always malicious, if perhaps misguided.

capt_slog

eede wrote:

Some people think it's safer to warn a cyclist that a car is approaching and is about to overtake them. It's not always malicious, if perhaps misguided.

Yup. Some people actually use the horn as intended, a warning of their approach.

But as it's primary use in the UK is as a bollocking instrument, everyone thinks they are being bollocked.

random man

Capt Slog wrote:

eede wrote:

Some people think it's safer to warn a cyclist that a car is approaching and is about to overtake them. It's not always malicious, if perhaps misguided.

Yup. Some people actually use the horn as intended, a warning of their approach.

But as it's primary use in the UK is as a bollocking instrument, everyone thinks they are being bollocked.

I agree. My attitude now is to wave gratefully to drivers for having warned me that they were there. If that was why they used their horn, they will be pleased to be acknowledged, if not, who cares?

pinno

I'd like to think of it differently. If its a female driver honking, its 'cos she cannot resist my pert cycling bum or is envious that whoever she has laid/will lay is never going to last as long as a cyclist can and will probably not get her hands on an 4rse like mine anyway because main stream society has outcast the lycra (or worse - Spandex) leg shaving weirdos so there would be no street cred gained in shagging a cyclist .
If its a bloke, its jelousy becuase he cannot shag 'long-time' and his legs are atrophying unlike mine.
People who drive Chelsea tractors have little d'ing-a-lings'/require viagra and are prone to honking to make up for it.
People who honk to warn you they are coming are egotists trying to show you how clever, important and consciencious they are.

fevmeister

Usually they let off a quick beep to let you know they're there and about to come past.

y33stu

I had a daft bus driver honk at me on Friday night. Only after he nearly killed me. Was riding down into my housing estate, around 25mph, a I knew there was a bus behind me, and I also knew the bustop he was stopping at was only 200 yards ahead, so why he decided to overtake me at 35mph, swerve in front of me and slam his brakes on before stopping was a mystery. I had to brake hard and swerve right out into the road to miss him. The daft cnut. So as I rode past I punched his window to express my anger. hence he honked at me.

capt_slog

random man wrote:

Capt Slog wrote:

eede wrote:

Some people think it's safer to warn a cyclist that a car is approaching and is about to overtake them. It's not always malicious, if perhaps misguided.

Yup. Some people actually use the horn as intended, a warning of their approach.

But as it's primary use in the UK is as a bollocking instrument, everyone thinks they are being bollocked.

I agree. My attitude now is to wave gratefully to drivers for having warned me that they were there. If that was why they used their horn, they will be pleased to be acknowledged, if not, who cares?

On the same theme, I just give a wave to say 'thanks' if they've waited behind for me to go through a pinch-point rather than trying to make a dash for it. I know that they're supposed to do that anyway, but a little courtesy costs nothing and goes a long way.

peat

y33stu wrote:

I had a daft bus driver honk at me on Friday night. Only after he nearly killed me. Was riding down into my housing estate, around 25mph, a I knew there was a bus behind me, and I also knew the bustop he was stopping at was only 200 yards ahead, so why he decided to overtake me at 35mph, swerve in front of me and slam his brakes on before stopping was a mystery. I had to brake hard and swerve right out into the road to miss him. The daft cnut. So as I rode past I punched his window to express my anger. hence he honked at me.

I had the misfortune to ride a bus the other day and the driver did that to someone. He also had a habit of accelerating towards red lights and then slamming the anchors on. To think that he was classed as a 'professional driver' makes me wretch.

y33stu

Peat wrote:

I had the misfortune to ride a bus the other day and the driver did that to someone. He also had a habit of accelerating towards red lights and then slamming the anchors on. To think that he was classed as a 'professional driver' makes me wretch.

To be fair I haven't had any other issues with bus drivers in the 6 months I've been commuting by bike, but this one was unreal. If I hadn't been paying attention I'd have been killed. Should have reported him but I'll leave it this time.

Escadrille Ecosse

Peat wrote:

I had the misfortune to ride a bus the other day and the driver did that to someone. He also had a habit of accelerating towards red lights and then slamming the anchors on. To think that he was classed as a 'professional driver' makes me wretch.

Professional just means they do it for money, no requirement to be any good at it

Escadrille Ecosse

pinarello001 wrote:

I'd like to think of it differently. If its a female driver honking, its 'cos she cannot resist my pert cycling bum or is envious that whoever she has laid/will lay is never going to last as long as a cyclist can and will probably not get her hands on an 4rse like mine anyway because main stream society has outcast the lycra (or worse - Spandex) leg shaving weirdos so there would be no street cred gained in shagging a cyclist .
If its a bloke, its jelousy becuase he cannot shag 'long-time' and his legs are atrophying unlike mine.
People who drive Chelsea tractors have little d'ing-a-lings'/require viagra and are prone to honking to make up for it.

+1 to this

Herbsman

Yes, it happens. In other shocking news, the world is not perfect. Accept it and move on.

lucan2

khisanth wrote:

... me and the missus riding single file ...

This thread needs a pic of the OP's wife in lycra

cougie

This year we had a close shave - riding two up down quiet country lanes. Coming round a bend and a BMW is coming the other way - half way over onto OUR side. We nip in to avoid him- and he beeps US ?!