As an aside, I once went to the cops about a pick-up truck driver who felt the need to follow me 8 blocks and then deliberately try to hit me (and stop to gloat about it) after he saw me scorn one of his pick-up brethren for driving in the bike lane. Basically this a-hole should have been booked — at a minimum — for any variation of assault.
The cops mailed him a letter…6 months later. A letter. W. T. F. ???
It’s not that I have overwhelming confidence that the police will actually do anything of material consequence to these drivers, but they might at least do something just to put an end to me annoying them.
Monday brings another commute and life goes on. Hopefully.
WTF! This is really a problem all over the work I think. There are bad drivers everywhere and bad bike users also!
There are a lot more bike users today than 10 years ago so more accidents have to happen for sure and I think most deaths are not from Cyclists (sport bike users) but from casual riders.
About those drivers that get my hair up whenever with no reason get pass by me too close, sometimes I shout sometimes I stay silenced but whenever there’s some real danger I get off the bike pick up my phone and write the plate number and the exact spot address and later I send them a gift home that takes them 120€ and the drivers licence for a month or two.
There’s no point in being aggressive in my experience (not that I haven’t been known to hurl abuse at a driver, I just recognise that doing so isn’t helping anything!). Being ranted at by an angry cyclist is highly unlikely to convince anybody to change their ways, it is however quite likely to make them think (or confirm them in their thinking…) that cyclists are a bunch of angry arseholes who shouldn’t be allowed on the road. Physical violence or damaging their car is just escalating the situation - at a minimum you’re picking a fight with a guy (or lady) who has a couple of tons of metal to run you off the road with, and for all you know they might have a knife, gun or other weapon in that car.
I do everything I can to avoid the issue. Pick routes and times of day to minimise the risk of dangerous driving. Avoid provoking drivers e.g. don’t ride in large groups on narrow country lanes, do pull in and wave cars through if a few of them have been stuck behind me for a while. Ride defensively e.g. take the middle of the lane on sections where it’s not safe for a car to overtake safely instead of hugging the kerb and encouraging them to attempt a close pass. Ride with bright flashing lights even during daytime. Wear bright coloured clothing on overcast days or on roads with a lot of tree cover. Assume that drivers haven’t seen me and don’t know how to use their indicators and ride accordingly e.g. don’t undertake a car that doesn’t have it’s indicators on and then get pissed off when it “unexpectedly” turns into me, instead I assume it’s going to take that turn and sit behind it.
The above all gets me in a lot less incidents and close calls than many riders I know. When incidents do happen I generally try to shrug it off or respond in a relatively civilised way with a “watch out” instead of a “f*** you!”, or by shaking my head in disbelief rather than flipping them the bird. If a driver wants to get into an argument with me I’ll try and keep it polite and make my point. If they get out of the car then I stand my ground or get my bike between me and them to use as a shield, and start scanning for escape options and potential allies.
Seriously considering getting front and rear cameras that record on a loop. In UK the police are getting pretty good now at taking video footage and acting on it where it’s clear. I know a few people who have submitted videos that have led to drivers being banned, fined and/or given points. That seems the best option to me - let the police deal with it, get the worst drivers off the road, and in doing so set an example so that others might start driving more considerately.
Yes, I take this same approach. All my road riding is now country roads, I can’t commute any more so when I’m on the bike it’s to un-wind (and train when and where it’s appropriate), so reacting to the minority of aggressive drivers (when it becomes a majority, I’ll stop too) doesn’t serve me or my precious free time very well. I fail at this often but I do at least try not to react.
Rather, I’ve learned that by shifting the focus to the majority of nice or at least neutral motorists and exchanging pleasantries such as a simple wave or a thanks makes me feel better, like there’s still hope for common decency. And I hope it does the very thing you suggested, makes them feel a little better about sharing the road with the next cyclist.
I do my fair bit of indoor riding as this is what I prefer. When I do ride outside is it on “safer” roads and feel more aware with my varia radar. Honestly though have been contemplating getting a mtn bike lately just to get off the roads more.
To their credit, I will say that the deputies I talked with were very sympathetic and were not being stand-offish in any way. They understood what i was trying to convey and ask for, it was like they wish they could do more to help but their hands are tied the way the law views traffic violations.
He did recommend going to the patrol station near where we ride and telling them about the problems we have, and they should be able to have more patrol cars out along the routes we ride on weekends. But again…if we’re going anywhere between 40-100 miles, what are the chances a patrol car will be at the right place at the right time to catch an offender?
I don’t know what country are you from and your traffic law but in my traffic law there’s an article that if anyone complaints about a traffic violation officers must open a traffic offense procedure and notify the driver about that question. Then he has to defend himself.
Apart from external responses, I try to internally convince myself about the driver in question: Wow! If a person riding a bike makes you behave like this, your life is pretty messed up.
Puts a thin veneer of compassion on top of my fed-uppedness.
I stay indoors some days (like today) now just because it’s more convenient, time efficient, and easier. But safety is another key reason - I’m married with two young daughters.
That said, I agree with @Captain_Doughnutman that we shouldn’t all just abandon the road. Then again, my common coaching/advice regarding riding in traffic to other cyclists is, “You can be safe, or you can be righteously indignant from a hospital bed.” In other words, behave as traffic would expect a vehicle to behave… and then some. When in doubt: (1) assume they don’t see you; (2) cede the right of way; (3) assume they’re going to cut you off when they accelerate past you.
When I assume that every driver out there doesn’t see me, and if they do that they’re going to do exactly what I DON’T want them to do, I react better. It takes a real act of negligence for me to yell or give the finger anymore. Last week, riding dead center in the middle of an otherwise unoccupied road, a van pulled out right in front of me from a stop sign (where I did not have a stop sign). Yeah, that guy got a “WHAT THE F____ man?”, but that was it, mostly because I expected him to do it and was watching for it. Admittedly, I need to get better about using my lights on every ride, regardless of daylight… I think if I had had a headlight on, this probably doesn’t happen. That’s on me, even though was high noon and I was wearing a bright kit.
I agree with others - there is little to be gained from confrontation. Instead, give positive reinforcement when people are kind and considerate - thumbs up, wave, “THANK YOU!” I think those go a longer way for all of us than giving offenders the finger.
I ride quite a bit on gravel in the countryside. I don’t come across much traffic, so I wave to every car or truck that passes by in both directions. Many drivers also wave back. I think people are generally more chill when out in the country, away from traffic, driving at 30mph (so I’m not slowing them down too much anyway!).
Riding on the road where I live also isn’t that bad. When off the main roads, there’s not a whole lot of traffic, and again, most people are pretty chill. If I lived in a typical American big city, I probably wouldn’t ride on the road (I used live in Chicago - didn’t own a road bike. Just MTB).
When I’m on the road in traffic I ride very defensively expecting the worst like @kurt.braeckel says above. But I also yell out loudly if a driver does something dangerous. Not swear. Just a loud yell. Thankfully, I’ve had no crashes or confrontations.
Less than a quarter of my rides are on the road. Partly because it’s more dangerous. Mainly because MTB and gravel are more fun.
After two close calls within a few days (from behind on wide roads) I sold my road bike many years ago. We just got daughter #3 and I simply decided I wanted to see her grow up. It sounds harsh but things have changed out there. I started riding in the late 80s but the last few years roads have turned into pure danger/war zones. As cars get ever bigger and cell phone coverage better motorist seem to be overwhelmed. And many simply don’t care.
I used to have a colleague at work. He was always complaining about cyclists, they would “randomly” show the middle finger and so. Then, one day, he gave me a lift. This guy was driving like nuts. Keeping absolutely no distance to cyclists. He was simply not aware of that he basically can’t drive.
These people scare me now.
These days I have a gravel bike. I still ride a lot on roads but a gravel bike allows me to avoid certain roads I deem dangerous. And we do have some sort of a sketchy bike infrastructure over here.
Yes, I feel we’ve lost the battle, they’ve driven us away.
De Marchi decides to pick narrow, steep and winding road that was closed off for his race to train on. Impatient wanker driving an Audi gets angry at yet another cyclist blocking the flow of traffic because he wants to get some training in on the same road.
I found it hard to feel overly sympathetic. (Your man in the Audi could not give a flying F about your letter De Marchi).
I spend a fair bit of time on the roads and have seen plenty. I even scraped up bits of my younger brother on the side of the road years ago after a bad motorcycle accident nearly killed him.
The other driver was very much at fault in that situation and to this day he gets angry if I even mention he take some responsibility for his decision to ride a motorbike in peak hour traffic every day.
Years ago I was arguing the point with someone about road rules. Someone had done the wrong thing and ran me onto a footpath at speed on my motor bike.
Response: You can be dead right or dead wrong. Both ways you’re dead.
That’s how I look at things now.
The best response to dangerous roads and drivers is to avoid them at all costs if possible. If you feel there should be better conditions then petition the local government to set up cycling paths/lanes. Find a different route.
There’s no happy outcome in an accident between a cyclist and and 99% of road users. Not for the cyclist at least.
If you feel the need to attempt an assault on a bad driver, verbal or through sign language, consider what the outcome might be? If they want to get physical you’re probably not in the best position.
You’re on a bike. You can’t get away from a car.
You’re wearing head to toe lycra and walk like someone in broken high heels.
You’re possibly on the light side up top and won’t fair well in a punch up.
While the helmet might help protect you from impact, it’s not a possible weapon like a motorcycle helmet. Are you willing to hit them with your lovely bike that you need to get away on after the fact?
You might even be the one who gets charged with assault if you decide to get physical. Are you sure you’re in the right?
Protect yourself and take responsibility for choosing to share the roads with heavy machinery. Accidents happen and it’s not always someone who’s deliberately trying to buzz you.
PS. Right now there’s probably a similar thread on every hiking/horse riding forum about MTB riders on shared trails. I’m a person that makes a point of slowing right down to walking pace when passing either. It’s a good chance to say hello and further the cause.
A bit like some people mentioned above, who let drivers pass them whenever possible. It fosters a positive interaction and better outcomes in the future.
Does anyone have an idea for a cheap “dash cam” type camera for the bike. I know it won’t stop the situation from happening, but at least I would have evidence. I don’t want to buy a GoPro, far too expensive for this use case.
I do feel safer with my Garmin Radar. If I forget to put it on after charging it, I do feel a bit naked on the bike. I would never use it for turning, but it is nice to know what is coming and more importantly how many.
What I have always found strange is winter kit seems to be black in the most part. I know jackets are brighter, but why aren’t winter bibs nice bright colours.
I refuse wearing black or any dark colors. You must be the most visible you can to at least prevent being unseen. We alreadt get frequent passes less than a few centimeters away beein visible its not necessary to make it even more dangerous by making us less visible.
Look up Cycliq on Facebook, they have a Black Friday promotion apparently. I don’t know what it is, you have to sign up and register then you will get notified. It’s what i use, front and back.
I use simple probabilities to reduce the risk. Ride early in the morning when traffic is lighter (even more so weekends). Ride less busy roads. Favor the ones with a cycling path or a paved shoulder. Stay away from downtown. Combine all of these, and the overall risk goes way down.
This said, when close encounters of the bad kind do happen, I’ve learned to behave as the village idiot. Buzz me, honk at me, I’ll wave and smile. Run me off the road, I’ll apologize and smile. You can’t win a fight against two tons of metal when you’re sitting on less than 10kg of carbon.
