S.Giles
Guest
I very rarely have altercations with vehicle drivers, but unfortunately a long run of good luck was broken today. A woman driver felt the need to shout 'use the cycle path!' in a very unfriendly manner as she overtook me (there was plenty of room to do so, by the way - my presence on the road wasn't impeding her journey in any way).
She should have checked that the traffic lights ahead hadn't just turned red, though. I pulled up alongside her and explained to her in no uncertain terms that I was just as much within my rights to use the road as she was. At this point she changed tack somewhat and intimated that I was foolish not to use the cycle path and it was ok with her if I didn't mind being run over (ie, she feigned a kind of faux concern for my safety).
I've heard reports of this kind of exchange on this forum, but previously could never quite bring myself to believe these people really existed. I guess humans are essentially tribal in nature, and as a member of the four-wheel tribe, she felt it was her duty to be aggressive towards a member of the rival two-wheel tribe. (She claimed to be a cyclist herself, BTW, but I very much doubt that).
I've been cycling on and off for forty-six years, and don't need a car-driver telling me I'm doing it wrong!
Steve
She should have checked that the traffic lights ahead hadn't just turned red, though. I pulled up alongside her and explained to her in no uncertain terms that I was just as much within my rights to use the road as she was. At this point she changed tack somewhat and intimated that I was foolish not to use the cycle path and it was ok with her if I didn't mind being run over (ie, she feigned a kind of faux concern for my safety).
I've heard reports of this kind of exchange on this forum, but previously could never quite bring myself to believe these people really existed. I guess humans are essentially tribal in nature, and as a member of the four-wheel tribe, she felt it was her duty to be aggressive towards a member of the rival two-wheel tribe. (She claimed to be a cyclist herself, BTW, but I very much doubt that).
I've been cycling on and off for forty-six years, and don't need a car-driver telling me I'm doing it wrong!
Steve