Met my 'don't stop' road rager today

[GrumpyGregry]

Really? Isn't that just retaliation by proxy? If you are going to have a pop at someone, at least have the stones to do it yourself.

Do you honestly think that, in the unlikely event of, someone seeing a video of themselves broadcast on the internet, they will be "educated"?

Best post I've read that you've ever written. Video posting is still retaliatory, still vengeful, and in a small town, potentially escalatory behaviour of zero educational benefit.

In Sussex just refer them to Operation Clampdown...

 

[BentMikey]

Best post I've read that you've ever written. Video posting is still retaliatory, still vengeful, and in a small town, potentially escalatory behaviour of zero educational benefit.

In Sussex just refer them to Operation Clampdown...

Report them to the police? Isn't that vengeful and potentially escalatory? Haven't you got the stones to do it yourself that you have to rely on big hairy policemen?

 

[BentMikey]

p.s. that post isn't entirely serious. :P

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Best post I've read that you've ever written. Video posting is still retaliatory, still vengeful, and in a small town, potentially escalatory behaviour of zero educational benefit.
In Sussex just refer them to Operation Clampdown...

If only ...

 

[lejogger]

It's a vicious circle to be honest. I've often had road rage after being the victim of poor driving, but there have only been a handful of cases where I've actually caught up with the driver afterwards, and none of those have been the severe cases where the 'red mist' has set in. So usually a stare through the window while I pull alongside has been enough to let them know I'm unhappy and make me feel like I've vented a little. They generally realise they're in the wrong and stare straight ahead ignoring me anyway. Only on a couple of occassions have I felt the need to have words, and I've always made sure that I politely asked them to leave a little more room next time... they may have genuinely thought they'd left enough, or not understand how it feels to be overtaken closely at speed.

So while I've not had particularly aggressive confrontations on the road, I certainly have on the football pitch, and while the times that you don't retaliate play on your mind for a day or so, on the times when I have had genuine red mist on the pitch and retaliated or been aggressive towards someone, as soon as the mist goes away I've felt ashamed and like I'd been a total d*ck. On the football pitch at least you have the chance to shake hands at the end, walk off as mates and buy each other a pint - putting it all down to the 'heat of the moment'. If you started swinging by the roadside then I'm afraid there's little comeback, and no matter how justified you are to be angry, you'd probably severely regret any action.

 

[lejogger]

To be honest, what better way is there to get over it than by writing your account on this forum? Playing back the incident and writing the details down is cathartic in itself, then having like minded chaps sympathising if required, or pointing out what you might have done differently can be helpful, and it's appreciated because you know they've been in the same situations.

 

[Jezston]

[QUOTE 1686153, member: 45"]
I don't see any benefit in reporting this to the police, as it's my word against his. Given that his account is likely to include me being aggressive and expletive-ridden, they won't know who to believe.[/quote]

I think it's worth phoning your local copshop, and ask to have a word with a traffic officer. I had a similar incident with a taxi driver a year or two ago and reported it to the police. The next day a policeman phoned me a up and said he was coming over - at the time after the adrenaline had settled I was suddenly very worried he would think I was wasting his time and get a bollocking, but he was patient, understanding and was totally on side.

He then said he'd go over and have a word with the driver, if I were happy that this was as far as it went. One persons word against another would certainly make it difficult to get a prosecution, but having a policeman turn up at your door wanting to have a word about your driving would have a pretty major effect on most people, especially if their family were there!

And then there's having a camera...

And there's always the consideration that this is his regular commute and we'll meet again one day. I still don't know how much of an ape he is, and would rather not have him come looking for me.

I've often feared this after incidents - one on my first ever bicycle commute where I got into an argument with some boy racers after his passenger tried to make me fall off, that I was utterly terrified of running into them again. But I have never, ever seen them or anyone else I've had an altercation with again, EVER.

Also them you just look like a cyclist, we all look alike to people who don't get it.

Don't worry, you'll never encounter them again.

 

[Arjimlad]

Well done for not rising to the bait/descending to his level.

You could just sneeze on his windscreen though !

There is a goon in a Nissan Micra round here, who canes it along a single track road with passing places (Swan Lane, Winterbourne), and forces bikes off the road by driving exceptionally close at high revs. I have seen him do it to others and it happened to me once, but I don't have his number yet. He sets out to make you believe he wants to run you over.

I don't go that way home any more (because it is only 4 miles and also, muddy, with impatient drivers). If I see him again I will simply report him. No point getting into a fight.

 

[The Horse's Mouth]

Im afraid I would find myself having a word. I have found that many of these people are happy having a go when they are surrounded by metal but less sure of themselves when they are out of it. Luckily for me, Im a large overweight gentlemen with a skinhead who LOOKS more than able to handle himself. I have found that when i get off my bike to chat that these people are suddenly less talkative.
I would like to point out that I would never use my fists to settle an argument like this and luckily so far I havent needed to but personally I am unable to just listen and take abuse from some dipstick drivers.
I hope that driver will think again next time he shouts at a cyclist because he will never know who he might encounter.

 

[lejogger]

I've often feared this after incidents - one on my first ever bicycle commute where I got into an argument with some boy racers after his passenger tried to make me fall off, that I was utterly terrified of running into them again. But I have never, ever seen them or anyone else I've had an altercation with again, EVER.

Also to them you just look like a cyclist, we all look alike to people who don't get it.

Don't worry, you'll never encounter them again.

Not so sure about this. Just because you don't remember seeing them before it doesn't mean that they haven't been passing you every day for the past 5 years.

I see some cars day after day on my commute, and I only notice the ones that stick out because of a memorable number plate, a roof box, or the lettering on a van etc... I bet there are dozens of cars who see me every day thinking "there's that prat out in the rain again" but I wouldn't realise we crossed paths so much... This was proved at Christmas by the fortunate commuter who was lucky enough to get a card of a couple of girls who saw him daily. I bet he'd never noticed them once until that.

A car is usually just a car unless there's a reason to remember it, but on my commute there are rarely any other cyclists. If I'm at the same place at the same time every day then I'll be memorable because I'm the only one. Given the nature of commuting the same routes at the same times, it's highly likely that you could meet again.

 

[Archie_tect]

The threat of violence, retaliation or aggression is never appropriate. Ignore it and carry on- people make mistakes, so what?

 

[Bman]

If I can catch up with them and "discuss" (used loosely) what just happened, I will. I'll always keep an escape route if they turn out to be a nutter though.

The last driver discussion I had didnt turn out too well, I was angry(er) after the altercation than if I had just left it. But I'd still do it again.

He honestly thought that me, travelling at 32MPH in full primary position behind a lorry, was breaking the law. But he, cutting me up and squeezing into the 2 car-length gap in front of me, almost forcing me off the road, was not.

In retrospect, the amount he was foaming at the mouth is probably related to the anger he felt when he realised that I could keep up with him for an extra mile, just as easily as I was keeping pace with the lorry

 

[fossyant]

Smile and wave, or stick the finger up, and disapear into the traffic. Bye.

You can't argue with an idiot.

 

[400bhp]

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

 

[PpPete]

Smile and wave.... end of. Confuses the feck out of most of them.
At worst they think you are the village idiot and give you a wide berth in the future.