Cant stop remonstrating with drivers

[fossyant]

Just think, it's not you who has just had the blood pressure go through the roof. We're supposed to live longer (with injuries ahem) - they are another step closer to the big 'gates'.

I really hate lots of driving now - I used to do a fair amount, and took the stance of 'don't join the idiots' - cos non of us are going anywhere - stereo up, and sit in a jam. Now, I'd rather stick a pen in my eye than drive in traffic.

 

[Crankarm]

It is not worth it - retaliating verbally or physically. Take out the confrontation aspects neither is it worth cycling on UK roads as the risk of dying is just too great whether through genuine inattentiveness or incompetence of motons or actually being deliberately run down. I gave up commuting, road riding, for good back at the start of this year and my life is now a immeasurably less stressful and enjoyable. Yes I do drive pretty much everywhere I used to cycle unless if travelling very locally where I now walk, but it's a pity I don't cycle any more save off road or on trails which unfortunately is very infrequently, next to never. There is a lot more to life than cycling which is just as fulfilling and definitely less risky than being exposed to the daily gaunlet of riding UK roads. You are all welcome to it. I will give you lots of room as I pass wide in my car. There at least have to be some courteous drivers to cyclists. Stay safe.

 

[BentMikey]

Crankarm, I'm sorry you continue to confuse intimidating with dangerous. Cycling is not particularly dangerous - regular cycling causes the average person to gain 2 years of life expectancy in the UK, despite experiences such as yours.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Crankarm, I'm sorry you continue to confuse intimidating with dangerous. Cycling is not particularly dangerous - regular cycling causes the average person to gain 2 years of life expectancy in the UK, despite experiences such as yours.

Maybe we have to accept that some experiences scar us too deeply to move on from.

 

[XmisterIS]

There is a lot more to life than cycling

WHUT???​

 

[lukesdad]

It is not worth it - retaliating verbally or physically. Take out the confrontation aspects neither is it worth cycling on UK roads as the risk of dying is just too great whether through genuine inattentiveness or incompetence of motons or actually being deliberately run down. I gave up commuting, road riding, for good back at the start of this year and my life is now a immeasurably less stressful and enjoyable. Yes I do drive pretty much everywhere I used to cycle unless if travelling very locally where I now walk, but it's a pity I don't cycle any more save off road or on trails which unfortunately is very infrequently, next to never. There is a lot more to life than cycling which is just as fulfilling and definitely less risky than being exposed to the daily gaunlet of riding UK roads. You are all welcome to it. I will give you lots of room as I pass wide in my car. There at least have to be some courteous drivers to cyclists. Stay safe.

Thats a shame Crankers. Get out on the trails more if you can. Thats where the real grin factor is in cycling theses days.

 

[BSRU]

It is not worth it - retaliating verbally or physically. Take out the confrontation aspects neither is it worth cycling on UK roads as the risk of dying is just too great whether through genuine inattentiveness or incompetence of motons or actually being deliberately run down. I gave up commuting, road riding, for good back at the start of this year and my life is now a immeasurably less stressful and enjoyable. Yes I do drive pretty much everywhere I used to cycle unless if travelling very locally where I now walk, but it's a pity I don't cycle any more save off road or on trails which unfortunately is very infrequently, next to never. There is a lot more to life than cycling which is just as fulfilling and definitely less risky than being exposed to the daily gaunlet of riding UK roads. You are all welcome to it. I will give you lots of room as I pass wide in my car. There at least have to be some courteous drivers to cyclists. Stay safe.

Before cycle commuting I rode around on 1000cc motorbikes, significantly far more dangerous than cycling but that was never going to stop me doing something I enjoy. I never had a crash and any hairy moments I had were all self inflicted.
There was a statistic I was told when learning to ride, which probably has some truth behind it, that is a car driver on average should expect to have a fatal crash after 200,000 miles whereas a motorcyclist only has to ride 8000 miles before a fatal, so every year I should have had at least one fatal crash.

 

[Dave Davenport]

There are quite a few loonies out there, so best not get too worked up.

Yep, and some of us are on bikes

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Before cycle commuting I rode around on 1000cc motorbikes, significantly far more dangerous than cycling but that was never going to stop me doing something I enjoy. I never had a crash and any hairy moments I had were all self inflicted.
There was a statistic I was told when learning to ride, which probably has some truth behind it, that is a car driver on average should expect to have a fatal crash after 200,000 miles whereas a motorcyclist only has to ride 8000 miles before a fatal, so every year I should have had at least one fatal crash.

Are you Doctor Who? : D

 

[BSRU]

Are you Doctor Who? : D

Maybe I'm really a cat .

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Maybe I'm really a cat .

If so you can manage 720000 miles

 

[Seigi]

I often get angry with motorists, it's kinda ironic because I'm often the one in the car to tell my parents to calm down when another motorist does something silly. Quite an annoying thing happened the other day though, I said thank you (by waving) to a HGV driver for not pulling out of the junction in front of me, and then about 5 seconds later he's right on my behind, tailgating, and passes me just before a traffic island almost smashing it to bits, all the while I'm just like "I should have just let him go in front, he's a maniac".

Another time I was passed too close for comfort by a taxi driver, who then, about 200metres ahead got stuck in a massive traffic jam and I was just thinking "Was it worth it?", I had the last laugh though, with being able to filter through all the traffic smugly

 

[cycleruk]

It is not worth it - retaliating verbally or physically. Take out the confrontation aspects neither is it worth cycling on UK roads as the risk of dying is just too great whether through genuine inattentiveness or incompetence of motons or actually being deliberately run down. I gave up commuting, road riding, for good back at the start of this year and my life is now a immeasurably less stressful and enjoyable. Yes I do drive pretty much everywhere I used to cycle unless if travelling very locally where I now walk, but it's a pity I don't cycle any more save off road or on trails which unfortunately is very infrequently, next to never. There is a lot more to life than cycling which is just as fulfilling and definitely less risky than being exposed to the daily gaunlet of riding UK roads. You are all welcome to it. I will give you lots of room as I pass wide in my car. There at least have to be some courteous drivers to cyclists. Stay safe.

If you let things like bad driving get to you then then it will get more stressful and less enjoyable , when i first starting cycling properly on my own (a long time a go now

) i used to get high rate and feel like rubbish and all sorts even to the point where i never wanted to go for a ride,even to day i still get rubbish over takes and things thrown at me, but now, i just have a small word with my self under my breath and have a laugh and giggle about it and i feel better then i ever did

and in fact despite all the rubbish that happens i love cycling more then i did in the past!

 

[400bhp]

I gave up commuting, road riding, for good back at the start of this year and my life is now a immeasurably less stressful and enjoyable.

Shame.

I guess, with the boot on the other foot, I have cut down on my driving and my life is now measurably less stressful and enjoyable.

 

[downfader]

In the last couple of weeks I've seen some really aggressive and appauling driving -- someone passing me 30mph faster leaving about 6 inches. Today someone 'overtaking' me on the lhs as we turned right at a junction casuing me to swerve.

The problem is that I beleive for my own preservation I should let it pass but I keep remonstrating with the drivers in the heat of the moment. This escalates the situation, and although nothing serious has happened Im worried Im going to end up assaulting someone or criminal damaging their vehicle or getting beaten up myself.

Does anyone have advice on how to keep cool?

Maybe I should invest in a camera so that next time I can let it pass knowing that I can report the driver to the police? Is the likely to have any effect?

Sorry bit late to this...

We can all understand why you're upset, god knows we'd be upset too. As others have said try and keep your cool. A camera has helped me as I can now know that if something bad happens it might end up on film and I can attempt to get something done about it.

Try to look for positive things that are the reason you commute/ride. I went through a period recently where I tried to count the good drivers who gave me space - I lost count. Did you do a good time? Did you lose a couple of pounds this week? Did you feel great when riding downhill at speed? Etc...

Also I find it remarkably cathartic to send letters and emails to the papers and officials. If we can influence change that can be a good thing. If we can influence attitudes that will be better.