Nasty incident a couple of weeks ago
- Thread starter benb
- Start date
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Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Archie_tect
De Skieven Architek... aka Penfold + Horace
- Location
- Northumberland
Riding progressively slowly uphill with sufficient space and time to pull in to let a car past shows an arrogance bordering on perversity.... getting angry and bolshy on here just confirms it.
mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
Someone told me the other that power trumps logic.
A sad state of affairs.
A sad state of affairs.
Big Nick
Senior Member
Where?
If you think the exchange between me and 400 is 'unwarranted aggression' you've led a sheltered life!! (but I will accept unwarranted sarcasm on both sides though!)
Dmcd33
Well-Known Member
I would have reacted the same. They were looking for conflict. If it wasn't you, they would have tailgated the next car and acted out the same little boy fantasy.
You were going at a good speed and had some give way lines up ahead where they could have pssed. Granted, sometimes it's better to just pull over, but why? Are you not "allowed" on the road. Is it ok to throw cans of drink at people. Maybe you should carry a can of drink and lob it at the next prat who beeps and tries to intimidate you. It's clearly ok in the eyes of the law? or maybe just deny it and say it was your mate on another bike riding behind you? You don't have to give his name apparently.
This case makes me feel unprotected by the law and further determined to ride more agressively to prevent prats close passing me and thinking they "own" the road.
You were going at a good speed and had some give way lines up ahead where they could have pssed. Granted, sometimes it's better to just pull over, but why? Are you not "allowed" on the road. Is it ok to throw cans of drink at people. Maybe you should carry a can of drink and lob it at the next prat who beeps and tries to intimidate you. It's clearly ok in the eyes of the law? or maybe just deny it and say it was your mate on another bike riding behind you? You don't have to give his name apparently.
This case makes me feel unprotected by the law and further determined to ride more agressively to prevent prats close passing me and thinking they "own" the road.
glenn forger
Guest
maybe go to the press and say "The police say they are not going to do anything", but then would that encourage can-chuckers?
Sara_H
Guru
I can understand the feeling of not wanting to give into bullies.
I had a recent episode where I was tail gated by a driver who was leaning on her horn for approx 30 seconds. I held my position (I had to anyway, I was in primary because there wasn't enough space for her to squeeze past due to oncoming traffic), but all the time thinking "what if this is the one time its going to be a nutter who ploughs into the back of me?".
When we got to the red (!) traffic light, she pulled up beside me and was absolutely furious, tried to explain but absolutely no point, she was intent on having her rant at me.
Agree it's safer on an individual basis to let idiots like this past, but at the end of the day it just reinforces bully by tactics.
I had a recent episode where I was tail gated by a driver who was leaning on her horn for approx 30 seconds. I held my position (I had to anyway, I was in primary because there wasn't enough space for her to squeeze past due to oncoming traffic), but all the time thinking "what if this is the one time its going to be a nutter who ploughs into the back of me?".
When we got to the red (!) traffic light, she pulled up beside me and was absolutely furious, tried to explain but absolutely no point, she was intent on having her rant at me.
Agree it's safer on an individual basis to let idiots like this past, but at the end of the day it just reinforces bully by tactics.
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vickster
Squire
Having been knocked off earlier in the year completely by accident, I certainly wouldn't want it to happen as a result of a deliberate act. Thus, I such a situation, I would concede position if safe for me to do so. Rather have such idiots ahead and out of my life than behind. Life's too fragile especially when on a bike versus a car
As a woman, I certainly don't need to respond to aggression with aggression (maybe that's a male testosterone fuelled reaction). I probably have more flight than fight in me!
As a woman, I certainly don't need to respond to aggression with aggression (maybe that's a male testosterone fuelled reaction). I probably have more flight than fight in me!
glenn forger
Guest
my Polish friend in London has just bought a Pashley but, very sadly, is too scared to cycle in London. The buses and taxis and car drivers are too aggressive, she saw a cyclist get left hooked on the Old Kent Road, the rider politely remonstrated and was met with a torrent of abuse from the van driver, I mean a sustained verbal assault. The driver had a female in the car, my friend thought he was trying to impress her or some stupid macho bullshit. It put her off, and I was sort of embarrassed for my country.
hennbell
Guru
- Location
- Lloydminster, Alberta , Canada
I totally understand the OP frustration. I think all bicycle commuters, due to our vulnerability, get very upset when our safety is put at risk for such trivial reasons.
Unfortunately you might as well try to have a well reasoned discussion with a monkey than those two. I would not have immediately pulled over but at the right time I would have let them pass. I very well might have used a hand gesture and foul language, but regretted it once done. But with this type of person never ever stop to have a discussion unless you want to fight them, they are stupid and it is only going to escalate. I find it is best to feign lack of understanding in this type of situation. When he gets on the horn when you cant possibly move over, stay right where you are, do not slow down, and look back at him quizzically and shrug. When you have ample space move over and wave him through. When you pull up with him at the next red light give a polite, non sarcastic, wave.
Unfortunately you might as well try to have a well reasoned discussion with a monkey than those two. I would not have immediately pulled over but at the right time I would have let them pass. I very well might have used a hand gesture and foul language, but regretted it once done. But with this type of person never ever stop to have a discussion unless you want to fight them, they are stupid and it is only going to escalate. I find it is best to feign lack of understanding in this type of situation. When he gets on the horn when you cant possibly move over, stay right where you are, do not slow down, and look back at him quizzically and shrug. When you have ample space move over and wave him through. When you pull up with him at the next red light give a polite, non sarcastic, wave.
Big Nick
Senior Member
A dangerous game to play for the cyclist I would suggest.
'Road rage' makes people act in ways they normally wouldn't and can lead to all sorts of escalation including death at the extreme end of the scale
If you get deliberately rammed off the road by some psycho in a car/van etc because of riding 'aggressively' you may be seriously injured or worse, it's simply not worth it when balanced against adding a few seconds to your journey time now and again (when you meet such idiots on the road)
It's your choice and your life but I think you're massively increasing your chances of getting hurt
Well, I fully expected them to drive off once I had pulled into the gap - it was them who stopped for a discussion.
Well, I say discussion, but they just wanted to shout at me.
