Cant stop remonstrating with drivers

[Dragonwight]

Puny motorists

 

[Jezston]

I'm conflicted about what to do in such instances.

Part of me feels that having a go at someone, despite them likely just being defensive and saying they did nothing wrong, will have a more positive impact than doing nothing. They may be all like "what's his problem? Bloody militant cyclists" as he drives off, but I think they'll remember it and be more considerate in the future, if not just to avoid the grief.

Part of me also feels that just waving or blowing a kiss while certainly diffusing anger reinforces some people's ideas that we ARE deliberately getting in their way to piss them off.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Puny motorists

Hulk Smash!!!!

 

[Dragonwight]

Hulk Smash!!!!

Cake or Death

 

[Matty]

I'd say it's just experience. Of course depends what mood you are in yourself. I've been recently been using the line 'would you like to swap places - you get on the bike and I'll drive at you' seems to work.

 

[Melonfish]

Cake or Death

"well we're out of cake!"
"so my choices are, death?"

btw have you got any muscles in your arms?



as for cycle rage, i'm afraid i do get a bit, close passes or more to the point people overtaking when it isn't safe only to dart in again to miss the traffic island by mere inches and damn near splatter me across the road, yeah them. thing is i know this is going to happen, you can hear the engine revving up as they go for the overtake and you think to yourself "you bleedin eedjit" and watch it unfold with a tedious inevitability...

still doesn't stop you going all hulk tho, especially when you think about them putting your life in danger for 10 seconds less time off their oh so important journey.

Calibanzwei has the "Dissaproving finger of doom" which can be deployed to admonish the guilty, my response it usually to throw my arm in the air and shout out about them being a [deleted expletive] who [deleted expletive]'d their [deleted expletive] with a [deleted expletive] whilst someone else [deleted expletive] them from a great hight with a [deleted expletive]
if you get my drift.
pete

 

[Dragonwight]

"well we're out of cake!"
"so my choices are, death?"

btw have you got any muscles in your arms?



as for cycle rage, i'm afraid i do get a bit, close passes or more to the point people overtaking when it isn't safe only to dart in again to miss the traffic island by mere inches and damn near splatter me across the road, yeah them. thing is i know this is going to happen, you can hear the engine revving up as they go for the overtake and you think to yourself "you bleedin eedjit" and watch it unfold with a tedious inevitability...

still doesn't stop you going all hulk tho, especially when you think about them putting your life in danger for 10 seconds less time off their oh so important journey.

Calibanzwei has the "Dissaproving finger of doom" which can be deployed to admonish the guilty, my response it usually to throw my arm in the air and shout out about them being a [deleted expletive] who [deleted expletive]'d their [deleted expletive] with a [deleted expletive] whilst someone else [deleted expletive] them from a great hight with a [deleted expletive]
if you get my drift.
pete

The izzard sketch had it at "or death" i believe but then relented with the option of chicken as they were church of england.

"btw have you got any muscles in your arms?" Strangely yes i also have work to do.

 

[SW19cam]

I find myself swearing under my breath a lot. But I can't be bothered with a lot of confrontation. When I catch up with said driver, I'll say something like 'That was a bit close, wasn't it...' just so it's been pointed out to them. If they disagree, the headcam footage is cut up for Roadsafe, if they agree (It doesn't happen too often!) I'm unlikely to do anything other than smile back and be on my way~!

I've never been one for the headcam bravado of the 'I've got you on video' and 'I'm putting this on youtube' conversation. That just puts people on the defensive. (Although there is merit on putting it up... maybe they will see what they have done...)

Of course, every now and again someone will really risk your life so they can get to the white line first, and something just snaps...

 

[skudupnorth]

A year ago i would be wanting to rip them out of their tine box's for anything that i thought was wrong but now i just let it go,it's not worth you breath ! I see the same sort of crap when i'm driving so it's not just us that get bad drivers around them.
Nice and calm and they will be gone or you pass them at the next congestion line

 

[BSRU]

As I recently found out, the problem with any gestures, even if there not vulgar or offensive, is that it is far too easy for the driver to misinterpret them, for what ever reason, then the red mist descends.

I've started riding with my hands tied to the brake hoods, to ensure no further misunderstandings occur.

 

[Nigeyy]

Now I'm not saying this is always true, but I think a more experienced and educated cyclist tends to get into less confrontations because they know how to negate some of the bad stuff (e.g. road positioning). If you need to shout and swear at motorists every commute, I'd venture to say there might be something about your riding style or choice of roads and positioning.

I ride and always expect bad stuff, and usually I'm not disappointed which really heads off any real anger. I also find that accepting that people make mistakes also helps -very often people just do make mistakes and there is no malice to their driving. I also try to appreciate that in these cases, shouting and swearing really isn't going to help the situation. That's another thing: what do you want out of a confrontation anyway?

However.... what really riles me is the intentional or blatant disregard of another road user. I do find I have to count to 10. From my experience, I've had a few occasions where I would have lost it had I caught the person -usually people who overtake you and then hang an immediate turn in front of you -they saw you (you were in primary but they didn't run you over), but oh bludger it, they can't be ar$ed to drive properly or wait milliseconds so they just turn into the junction anyway. That really troubles me -and I don't mind admitting, I would kicked their cars (and most likely regretted it afterwards) so I count myself lucky.

I do recall losing it with a driver of a caterpillar who overtook me and then subsequently pulled in when he was halfway through the overtake -I totally lost it when I caught up with him and exchanged more than a few words of the Queens English. in retrospect, it probably a good idea he didn't get out of his cab as he didn't look like a nice customer and I'm a total wimp anyway!

 

[kedab]

i have recently stopped berating motorists for all they do that bothers me - the other day, i pass under a low bridge taking primary cos there's an island coming up and they love to squeeze through there with me if i don't...mr volvo estate (a freakin volvo estate!) has had to wait behind me and isn't best pleased but he doesn't get right up my chuff so i think, fair play to the man - nothing wrong with a bit of revving the old engine to let me know he's there, i prefer it to a toot as that nearly always makes a bit of wee come out...anyway, past the island, over the humpback bridge and down the other side we go where, as luck would have it, there is another island - i love this descent as i can get up a decent speed before heading out on to the A-road proper feeling like i'm bradley wiggins without a busted shoulder. so! volvo estate man has to wait behind a bit longer cos he can't see over the bridge and cos i'm doing my best impression of a decent cyclist on the other side, he can't pass me cos i'm so freakin fast right! and there's the island approaching rapidly and then i hear him...i'm in primary and i'm very close to the pinch point and i'm thinking 'don't you flippin well dare you rascal, don't you dare you may very well cause me an injury if you do'...and what does he do? he goes past me totally in the other lane, around the other side of the island with the volvo begging for mercy in 2nd gear or so! i was flibbertygibbered i can tell you, so much so that i just had to sit up and clap him as he finally found 4th or 5th and shot out of sight around the bend...some people eh?!

 

[fossyant]

'flibbertygibbered' - love it !

 

[400bhp]

Volvo drivers are an odd bunch.

Usually a box of tissues on the parcel shelf.

 

[cycleruk]

There are quite a few loonies out there, so best not get too worked up. It never works engaging them is discussion. No-one is ever wrong !

What you may have thought was way too close (eg elbow brush) they thought they gave you loads of room.

Smile and wave !

cute and cuddly and smile and wave boys!