He touched my car

[Gary E]

At a pub stop earlier in the Summer (think summer was on a Saturday?) I leant my bike carefully against an empty chair at our table in a pub garden (there were 5 of us on the ride). I went in to get the drinks and when I came out I found my bike leaning against a hedge (well mostly in the hedge) as the guy at the next table decided he needed an extra seat and all of the other spare ones were much too far away (about 20ft). I was absolutely furious and if it hadn't been for my girlfriend holding me back I honestly think I would have thrown the guy that did it over the hedge.
With hind-sight I can see now that my reaction may well (possibly) have been (ever so) slightly over the top but this was my best (mainly for show) weekend bike FFS
So it's not just car owners that can get a bit over-possessive

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm pretty sure that putting a hand on a car won't damage it.
Having said that, lean on my car uninvited and I may lean on your face. Fair's fair.

actually that's a decent summary as well

 

[marzjennings]

I'm pretty sure that putting a hand on a car won't damage it.

Having said that, lean on my car uninvited and I may lean on your face. Fair's fair.

+1 for this.

 

[Hip Priest]

A few years back I watched a documentary about road rage. One of the participants was a furious young egotist, who drove a yellow Fiat Punto and spent his days ranting and raving at anyone who so much as crossed his path.

He was completely unrepentant.

Rather chillingly, he said that if anyone were to touch his car, he'd kill them. At the time I wondered how on earth they'd sourced such a psychopath, but now I realise they probably found him on a cycling forum.

 

[addictfreak]

This is an odd one. I was driving 30 years ago and recall nobody leaning on my car at lights. I had a 2cv then, probably a car that invites hands more than most others.

I was also cycling 30 years ago (with rat cages) and do not recall needing to lean on cars. One might hang back and wobble, but not lean on cars.

I think motor cars have been a 'grand consumer fetish item' (your phrase) throughout those thirty years. For some people, but not for most of us.

I believe many car drivers would have objected thirty years ago to cyclists' hands and many still would today. Some might be the same motorists.

The 'road-ragey' aggressive nature of the objection might be a little more fierce these days, but the general ubiquity of objection is probably much as it was.

I agree with you that it's not a 'rights thing'. I'm not sure how it could be. It is a matter of manners. Like holding doors open for people and helping people with prams up steps.

It's not a terrible crime to lean on cars, ignore people following you through a door or let a parent with a pram struggle up steps on the tube.... It's just poor form.

For me it starts and ends with manners.

Probably the best post in 14 pages

 

[marzjennings]

You come across as an unhappy and violent lot you motorists.

The object is not important, be it car, bike, house, surfboard, what ever. Ask before and no worries, I'll allow the object to be used, borrowed, lent, shared. Assume and/or intrude without acknowledgment and I will not be a happy bunny.

 

[marzjennings]

Not happy and violent are not quite the same thing though.

True, one's reaction will depend on the initial action and current state of mind.

 

[dellzeqq]

thus far we've had stones through windows, knocking people on their arse, reversing in to them, hands on faces, scratching baby's faces and all sorts. It's been emotional!

 

[Norm]

My garden picnic didn't make the list!

 

[marzjennings]

. It's been emotional!

Yes, you were expecting some logical reasons?

 

[marzjennings]

It would be nice if it were possible. I do accept that it probably isn't though.

Sorry, many of us are just toddlers with jobs and grey hair who get upset when some one takes our rattle.

But all of us have a line in the sand past which personal space encroachment will not be tolerated. I guess mine starts at the shell of my car.

 

[screenman]

Adrian, I am a motorist however I do not fit into the sweeping statement you made earlier.

 

[middleagecyclist]

You are the first person to admit what I have said all along. It is bugger all to do with paint and everything to do with the car as carapace.

We're all Turtles?

 

[chewy]

You are Walnuts?

....wel, nuts at least!

 

[Gary E]

You are the first person to admit what I have said all along. It is bugger all to do with paint and everything to do with the car as carapace.

...in your opinion!

which, don't get me wrong, is absolutely fine but it's not everyone's opinion.


Life would be pretty boring if we all thought the same, but we don't. That's why we have things such as manners, flexibilty and tolerance so that we can all get along