Got called an "peanut" today...

[threefingerjoe]

...by a motorist on my morning commute. First, let me state that I live in USA, so we drive on the right side of the road.

I was on a cyclepath that crosses a busy street at a busy intersection. Since the path is only on one side of the road, I was going against traffic while riding to work. Path is a multi-use, dedicated path, completely off the tarmac. I stopped at the junction, as the crosswalk light was against me. The left turn arrow was on. When the arrow turned off, the traffic going in my direction turns green, and I get the "walk" light to cross. A left-turning car failed to yield to the crosswalk, (plus, left turning traffic over here must yield to EVERYTHING) and crossed in front of me, saw me at the last instant and yelled, "You better watch where you're going, peanut". Now, I anticipated that he was going to cross in front of me, and had slowed to let him, even though I had the right-of-way, but, I also had to watch that someone in the left turn lane that I was crossing, didn't stop across the crosswalk. I was actually kind of proud of how I was able to anticipate that some idiot was going to do what he did, and wasn't even surprised that he thought that he was right!

This is one of the biggest problems with cyclepaths. The transitions from path to road, and back again. I usually feel safe on the road, but, this particular road is 2 lanes each direction, narrow, with no shoulder, legal speed 40 mph, but average speed about 60. The kerb is all broken up from cars running off the tarmac all the time. Law enforcement? Forget it! Police are afraid to park on the grass along that road, for fear that cars will run off the road and hit them! There have been MANY fatalities to motorists over the years on that road, even though it runs through a residential area in a big city.

 

[mickle]

When I lived in LA I never had a confrontation like that, motorists were generally easy going and considerate. The trouble was that many people simply didn't look out for cyclists because there were so few of us that they didn't expect us. Not antagonism just ignorance. Don't let it get you down Joe, we know who the real peanut is.

 

[Nigeyy]

Now come on, I bet you were called an "a**hole rather than that!

Sorry to hear about that, it really is depressing when it happens to you. Is there any chance you can avoid that road, or is it the only practical route you have?

 

[threefingerjoe]

It's really the only practical route. I've been riding it for years, all weather, and most of the time, it's really not bad. In fact, I've had very few run-ins with motorists. It's just that the few that occur are memorable. He's not going to scare me off the road. I just found it rather amazing, that he really thought he was in the right! As one cycling friend once pointed out, most of the "peanuts" that terrorise cyclists aren't particularly against cyclists...they are peanuts to other motorists, too. That's just the way they drive.

 

[PBancroft]

This is one of the biggest problems with cyclepaths. The transitions from path to road, and back again.

In my experience, it is the biggest problem. Motorists just aren't looking for cyclists moving across the road (even if they have right of way). They slow down the cyclists journey, forcing them to give way much more often than they would on the road. They are often badly designed and cause confrontation with pedestrians unnecessarily because the transitions cause bottlenecks and collision points. They also reinforce the idea that cyclists aren't allowed to be on the road, and need to be on the pavement and behave like pedestrians.

 

[yello]

As one cycling friend once pointed out, most of the "peanuts" that terrorise cyclists aren't particularly against cyclists...they are peanuts to other motorists, too. That's just the way they drive.

An astute friend I would say!

 

[MancRider78]

on my commute there is a cycle path that just ends, and when you try to join the road you have no chance. the path ends on one side of a driveway into a chemical plant. Absolute pain.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

on my commute there is a cycle path that just ends, and when you try to join the road you have no chance. the path ends on one side of a driveway into a chemical plant. Absolute pain.

Don't use it then. Simples.

 

[Brains]

Personally I sympathise, having lived in CT in the late 90's I appreciate how un-cycle aware Mr Joe Public is of cyclists.

I afraid the USA is in for a major shock in a decade or two when they are forced to change from their (oil) hunter/gatherer lifestyle to that of the (fuel) farmers

That is when the bicycle will be king, and the USA will shrink into multiple sub-kingdoms

 

[Tynan]

had a car turn right very in front of me and then complete the manouvre at 5 mph while staring stright ahead

my fairly emergency stop to within inches ended with a titasnic howl of 'you stupid c**t of a woman' to a generally quiet Leytonston High Road'

to a shout from the pavement of the immortal retort 'yeah your mother is'

made me smile

 

[MancRider78]

Got soaked by a white van man and then to add insult to injury another one sat on the kerb to stop me coming up to a cycle path until he could go at the lights. The bigger the vehicle the more they go out of their way to make your ride miserable or dangerous, except for buses I have found

 

[purplepolly]

another one sat on the kerb to stop me coming up to a cycle path until he could go at the lights.

The correct response to that is to dismount, walk along the pavement around the obstruction, wheel bike back onto road and mount. If you're feeling particularly evil then when the lights change, start off slowly with a good wobble.