Abuse from car drivers
Comments
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nickyboy zz wrote:Been road cycling for about 9 months in which time I have done about 3,000 miles.
Never been abused by a car driver in that time. Maybe I'm lucky. But one thing I always do which I think helps is if I hold someone up (there are loads of hills and twisty lanes around here so this happens a lot) I give them a "thanks" with the hand as they are starting to pass me.
We're all road sharers.
I do the same, and also if it's a bendy road and I have better vision than the driver behind I'll let them know if it's safe to pass. I'd rather they were on their way just as much as they would rather they were, the key is that they do so safely.0 -
I got my first ever car abuse today from some girls in their mums corsa, well, they would probably say they were boys. They didnt hang around to discuss the matter unfortunately. Children eh?0
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I have had the odd bit of abuse, but honestly, i have had more waves of thanks than curses.
Most of my riding is on lanes, i don't like the busier roads. If i have people behind, i will try and pull over if possible, i'll give a thumbs up when its safe to pass on a right-hander i can see around but they can't etc and will thank them when they pass me safely.
I'll occasionally let myself down with a head-shake if someone passes too close or overtakes immediatley before a junction etc.
There's already enough negativity on the roads for me to add to it.
Go safe y'all!0 -
phreak wrote:nickyboy zz wrote:Been road cycling for about 9 months in which time I have done about 3,000 miles.
Never been abused by a car driver in that time. Maybe I'm lucky. But one thing I always do which I think helps is if I hold someone up (there are loads of hills and twisty lanes around here so this happens a lot) I give them a "thanks" with the hand as they are starting to pass me.
We're all road sharers.
I do the same, and also if it's a bendy road and I have better vision than the driver behind I'll let them know if it's safe to pass. I'd rather they were on their way just as much as they would rather they were, the key is that they do so safely.
Yeah me to. Also if I am going uphill on a small lane I'll pull over to let them by. It's just easier for them and safer for me.
Our club rides are getting hot on it. 'Car back' means get into single file and help wave the car on. Not mooch around two abreast having a chat.
It is just good polite etiquette on our part.0 -
First post. I'm astonished that I was able to log on with this name!!
On one occasion, when I had the old "You don't pay road tax" line, I looked down my nose at them and said "I assure you that I pay a lot more tax for my Ferrari than you do for your Corsa".
I don't have a Ferrari, but they weren't to know.
Usually though I find it best to try and ignore them.0 -
Last summer I was cycling through a village and two girls shouted "nice arse". Bizarrely I was wearing padded bib shorts."The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby0
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You could also reply that there are quite a few cars on the road now that do not pay any car tax, do they hurl abuse at them as well?0
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I have had 3 fights with bad drivers commuting throught the Medway towns, Gravesend and into Essex. All were due to the drivers not seeing me on mini roundabouts, ignoring my right of way and on one occasion one bloke actually hit my bike and had me off.
Stopped commuting now as it was too dodgy, my commute was always in daylight and chances are I was going to come off worst in any situation before long.
On my own rides now especially in country lanes, I will wave cars through when safe and thank cars for waiting behind. I always try to ride defensively but give cars an option and always make myself as visible as possible. I will always let a car go and be obvious to all other drivers by being obvious. If I can make one driver think that he saw a decent bloke on a bike then he may tell somone about it and attitudes may slowly change. As with the others, a smile, wave or a thank you can diffuse a lot of drivers/situations. What most aggressive drivers don't realise that most cyclists have cars as well, they just see us a cycling nazis with a chip on our shoulders, I think if we can dispel this we will be better off. Unfortunately there are too many idiots out there to really make a difference, but I can try.I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but I'm intercontinental when I eat French toast...0 -
A few years I was bombarded by abuse for almost a full mile by three young degenerates before they decided to find someone else to annoy.
Imagine my surprise when I got home, popped round to the local corner shop only to find their car parked and said idiots inside.
Not one for confrontation, and taking advantage of their indecision between Red Bull or similar refreshment, I bought a carton of milk and, on leaving the shop, threw the open carton through the opened passenger window.
I wonder how that smelled in the weeks and months to come.0 -
Guy in 4x4 gives me an oi you and a beep this afternoon. Pulls alongside me and winds the window down.... All my life flashes before me, bearing in mind that I was recently punched off my bike by idiot. Last will and testament, goodbye to wife and family
Guy sticks his thumb up, big smile, well done mate, keep pedalling and drives off... Me so surprised I nearly fell off. Heart stopping moment but quite a nice one ...0 -
Mikey23 wrote:Guy in 4x4 gives me an oi you and a beep this afternoon. Pulls alongside me and winds the window down.... All my life flashes before me, bearing in mind that I was recently punched off my bike by idiot. Last will and testament, goodbye to wife and family
Guy sticks his thumb up, big smile, well done mate, keep pedalling and drives off... Me so surprised I nearly fell off. Heart stopping moment but quite a nice one ...
All the same I'd prefer if they didn't!
I had to have words with a colleague who came up alongside me on a steep descent ... I was coasting down it and his bonnet appeared on my right - then didn't go past ... Apparently he was trying to encourage me to go faster!
The words were along the lines of "there are very few people I trust with my life ... and you're not one of them." ...
I still get a wave each time he overtakes
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The BiB probably can't be bothered to do anything, unless there's been an RTA. :roll:Silly Old Hector wrote:Suggest taking the reg number for this level of abuse and let the BiB "' 'ave a word "0 -
^ Don't waste your energy with the BiB.
They're as bigotted and 'Daily Mail' as anyone else. My brother in law is one and my personal favorite quotes are "I don't don't mind if people want to ride a bike, but if they get in the way, they deserve to get hit." & "I always like to try and overtake them without crossing the white lines - really sh!ts them up."
Moron in a uniform.0 -
Salsa wrote:I just tend to ignore people like that as it's never really worth the hassle of arguing with an idiot, especially not an unpredictable one in two tons of metal. It just gets me that car drivers think cyclists slow down cars, I often find that through town it's cars that actually slow me down on my bike. Do I throw a wobbler about it though, no
Hah I do...fkin slow arse cars!0 -
I generally avoid most confrontation by doing my training at 5am on week days or later than 8pm and early mornings at the weekends 6-7am - 10-11am depending on session length. Once you get out in the countryside I normally don't see a car for miles and when I do there's nothing coming they other way so they pass me nice and wide. I did occasionally ride at 4.30 - 7pm and its not so bad as I get out of the town by rush hour but it's still not great.
Its also great because at that time all the wildlife is still out and this time of year dawn breaks just before 6 and its very peaceful
Not had any serious abuse for a while but I've started just ignoring it and riding on. I used to go mental with swear words and stuff but it's just not worth it.0 -
Pantani98 wrote:A few years I was bombarded by abuse for almost a full mile by three young degenerates before they decided to find someone else to annoy.
Imagine my surprise when I got home, popped round to the local corner shop only to find their car parked and said idiots inside.
Not one for confrontation, and taking advantage of their indecision between Red Bull or similar refreshment, I bought a carton of milk and, on leaving the shop, threw the open carton through the opened passenger window.
I wonder how that smelled in the weeks and months to come.
That's payback of genius proportions.0 -
Many years ago and still at school when I first started doing club runs, an incident always comes to mind when I see these type of threads.
Must have been 12 or so riding 2 abreast. This bothered the following car driver so much that he overtook and waved us down. Opions were swopped and it was clear both sides were less than happy with the driver indicating that we need to be careful in the near future. We set off first and I was at the back of the group. I kept looking back as I expected the driver to come up behind us. After a few glances, the old boy next to me asks why I look so worried as he threw a set of keys into the hedge!0 -
Mikey23 wrote:Guy in 4x4 gives me an oi you and a beep this afternoon. Pulls alongside me and winds the window down.... All my life flashes before me, bearing in mind that I was recently punched off my bike by idiot. Last will and testament, goodbye to wife and family
Guy sticks his thumb up, big smile, well done mate, keep pedalling and drives off... Me so surprised I nearly fell off. Heart stopping moment but quite a nice one ...
Great little story! Maybe thought you were wiggo! 0 -
My biggest frustration with all of this is that do these people think that the cyclist is actually holding them up in the grand scheme of things? Over the course of an average car journey, 4 or 5 seconds waiting to pass a cyclist is considerable less time cost than say sitting behind a slow lorry/car for 2 or 3 miles.0
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2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 1050
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I think the majority of the problem is that most drivers have no idea on overtaking. I am still of the view that you approach something going slow, hang back wait for a gap big enough on the other side of the road and accelerate, then pull out and pass - thus avoiding getting to close and not being able to see past or being so close that if something goes wrong you can't avoid a potentially fatal accident.
I mean let's face it you can guarantee that most of these prats who direct abuse can't change a tyre or charge their car battery - thus rendering them poor motorists as well. My view is that unless you've got some idea on how it works and the physics of the vehicle you probably shouldn't be allowed one :roll:
I guess I'm the ultimate "road tax"
dodger , three bikes and two classic cars It's not just cyclists that are on the end of abuse, I must point out that if you drive a historic vehicle there will always been some bell end in a generic Eurobox hanging off your back bumper who will take any risk to get past. :roll: 0 -
There are some great posts on this thread, thanks for all of them
A little story from yesterday (no abuse, but it's my thread, so I reserve the right to hijack) ;-)
I had to take our VW campervan about 14 miles to a garage for some work during morning rush hour (Wycombe to Maidenhead). Being out of work at the mo' I am not doing any rush hour driving. I put the bike in the back of the van to cycle home. I went the scenic route home and didn't push the pace at all. It took about 10 minutes more than delivering the van.... the traffic was mental, far worse than I remember it. As a nation we have to do something to get vehicles off the roads0 -
I had to sign up just to tell my story, I couldnt resist when I saw this thread.
A few years ago I was sat at some traffic lights on my MTB, when a 7.5 tonne builders lorry with 3 blokes pulled up next to me. They started shouting abuse at me for no reason. Now being a biker (motorbikes) as well I'm no shrinking violet, so I told them to f off, got challenged to a fight & said come on then, but the lights changed & off they went.
Anyway I dont think they was very happy because they didnt get the desired response, they went round the block, & when they passed me again I got a bag of chips thrown at me (which missed), & off they went up the main road laughing & obviously very pleased with themselves. I on the other hand was absolutely furious. I saw where they went, & knowing the route & what the traffic conditions were like in rush hour, I knew they was going to get stuck in traffic up a big hill, & I knew an off road cut through that could get me there.
Now this next bit I have no idea why they do it, but I overheard a conversation in the local pub, & basically the local butcher keeps rotten eggs back for 1 particular bloke (unrelated). So I quickly went to said butchers, told him what happened, & he let me have 3 of these eggs for nothing.
I went through the off road cut through, & sure enough there they were, stuck in traffic halfway up this hill. It was a stinking hot day, I slowed down, got my eggs ready, they spotted me, the passenger door started opening as I got there...
I yelled "all right lads" threw my eggs which hit 2 of them & 1 smashed on the dashboard, & then pedalled for all I was worth down the hill.
Result!0 -
Peat wrote:My biggest frustration with all of this is that do these people think that the cyclist is actually holding them up in the grand scheme of things? Over the course of an average car journey, 4 or 5 seconds waiting to pass a cyclist is considerable less time cost than say sitting behind a slow lorry/car for 2 or 3 miles.
Problem is that sometimes - especially if you come across a group of riders - it isn't 4 or 5 seconds - not if you want to overtake safely.
Sometimes you can be several minutes waiting for a suitable point to overtake - not really an issue for most of us, but these days with drivers seeing speed limits as targets, any time below that speed is a delay - let alone a minute or two!
TBH, on roads around here I don't like a car sat behind me for more than 20-30 seconds .0 -
I used to get it quite a lot here in sunny North Devon. Particularly when riding defensively at pinch points such as central islands/parked cars etc. Moving into a primary position, even for just for a few feet to stop people overtaking in silly places which would give me less than a foot in space. I've had numerous beeps, close followers and one guy UNDERTOOK me in a bus stop layby just as was moving in to the left to let the guy pass, thus nearly hitting me the other side! He shouted lots of naughty words but was less inclined to comment at the lights!
I think it's something that will go on for a good while TBH. It's certainly my biggest worry for when we do LEJOG next year... I did send an email to a building company yesterday actually to say thanks for their considerate driving. Their 7.5 tonne+ flat bed behaved impeccably, waiting patiently behind at a safe distance until the other side of the road was clear. Even then he waited for me to move out to avoid a parked car half on the carriage way ( of course with a life saver and a signal) He then overtook leaving an entire lane of space and did so slowly. Maybe that is an approach that could work? One assumes that such a letter would be put on the notice board and hopefully would encourage other drivers to do the same. I think that unless you cycle and drive (like many of us) it can be quite difficult to have any sort of appreciation/empathy for the others position.
Yeah I've been held up in the car by club rides but what difference will it make to my journey if I'm slowed to 20MPH for half a mile? Damn site less of a difference than it would make to a cyclist and myself if hit them with my car!0 -
yep spot on here pinarellokid,just give them a little wave and a smile which makes them 10 times more angrier and you get the last last laugh,lose your head,lose the argument a wise old man once saidpinarellokid wrote:just give em a wave and carry on. not worth the argument with these ars*holes Lapierre Aircode 300
Merida0 -
Pantani98 wrote:A few years I was bombarded by abuse for almost a full mile by three young degenerates before they decided to find someone else to annoy.
Imagine my surprise when I got home, popped round to the local corner shop only to find their car parked and said idiots inside.
Not one for confrontation, and taking advantage of their indecision between Red Bull or similar refreshment, I bought a carton of milk and, on leaving the shop, threw the open carton through the opened passenger window.
I wonder how that smelled in the weeks and months to come. nice one!!!! Lapierre Aircode 300
Merida0 -
These situations just come with the territory to be honest, sadly. I probably get 1 or 2 instances of bad driving each ride, some days I completely ignore it and don't even react, but other days it really does get to me. Close passes and the attitude of having to get in front of me are the most common. Few little tales:
Just out on a mid-week fast 20 on a summers evening, dead quiet, wide road. Car overtakes me and whilst doing so decides to reel off every insult he could muster. Clearly a very angry little man in a car that was most likely compensating for a lack of something else. This was purely just because I was riding my bike on the road.
This one makes me laugh just thinking back at it: Starting to descend on a slightly downhill road with a few mates behind me, reached about 30mph when this car comes past and stays to the right of me, the front windows are wound down and there is a middle aged man driving, and a woman in the passenger seat, they just stare at me, not saying anything. I'm thinking this is a bit odd, I had no idea what to say (still traveling at about 25mph at this time). Few seconds later the rear window winds down, and there is a boy (probably late teens) who clearly has some mental disability (I assume), he starts shouting at the top of his voice "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, JESUS, KEEP ME ALIVE, OHHHH KEEP ME ALIVE". They then drive off while he continues to shout. Yeah, no bloody idea what just happened I thought.
Young woman accelerated out of a roundabout when I was directly in front of her, knocked me clean off. I'm lying on the ground, she stops a few metres further up the road, sticks her head out the window and looks at me with a clueless expression, then drives off. Nobody else was around to see that, and I couldnt believe what the f*** was happening. Luckily it was just the bike that had the scuffs.
Love car drivers </30 -
Hi
New to these forums but been a reader for a while.
I used to carry around a permanent marker pen in my pocket so if anyone ever gave me abuse I could scribble on their window while they were sat at the lights. Nothing like a big dick drawn on the rear window to exact revenge in busy commute traffic, especially if you can get away quickly in another direction before they catch you.0 -
as a truck driver for a living i see at least 20 instances of bad driving,from seeing cars passing cyclists at traffic islands to complete nutters jumping out in front me at junctions just so not to be held back by the lorry,and then invariably getting held up by the w4nkers then.zakstory wrote:These situations just come with the territory to be honest, sadly. I probably get 1 or 2 instances of bad driving each ride
i think waiting for a few secs until the cyclist passes the traffic islands or whatever is nothing compared to if they hit him and knock him off,possibly killing him/her to a long stretch in prison....never mind what mental issues it could cause you then by doing such a thing.
just gotta accept tho that the world is full of pricks!!!!!Lapierre Aircode 300
Merida0
