Staying calm during an altercation?

[Maz]

Many drivers have wound the window up and waited for me to go away.

How long did you wait before going away?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

How long did you wait before going away?

Never go away. If you can avoid doing so don't put yourself in front of a car driver you've had a run in with. Just in case their red mist takes longer to clear than yours. Let them leave first and get well away from you before you set off. and if you catch 'em in traffic later on, ignore 'em. just ride on by.

 

[martint235]

How long did you wait before going away?

Varies. Depends how angry I'd got. Sometimes a minute, sometimes long enough for a traffic queue to form and the guy in the second car to get out and ask me nicely.

 

[I like Skol]

I got left hooked earlier in the year and got up chuckling because I was so surprised/amused that I had been caught out in such a simple way. The guy was really concerned and must have thought he had concussed me as I calmly routed through my panniers for a pen and paper before swapping details and taking time to check my bike over. The most aggressive statement I came out with straight after getting up off the floor was "Blimey mate, could've done with you indicating before you turned to give me a clue!"

Anger rarely helps and usually isn't necessary.

 

[Sara_H]

My lovely OH had a terrible road rage when we were out together a couple of years ago. Completely took me by surprise as he's not generally an angry person. I just rode off and left him to it. I was very embarrassed!

 

[Dmcd33]

I can sympathise with you on this. Touch wood, I've not had a major incident for years, but on my daily commute I do sometimes see red when a car tries to take me out intentionally. I use the word intentionally becauses everyone makes mistakes/can't see you fully, but I once had a guy look me in the face as I rode past and then proceed to use his car to bully me accross the road. I banged on his window and said "what the £$%% are you doing" he just smiled at me and said "sorry, sorry". For a split second I nearly considered taking his bumper off with my hardened shoes and adrenaline, but I managed to tame my Chimp brain (Ive read the book mentioned above) and ride off saying "thanks for that mate!"
In hindsight, I could have ended up in a police station rather than eating my diner that evening and the driver would have played the "I didn't see him card". No winners overall!

 

[Maz]

Last time I got knocked off my bike was at a roundabout (car went into the back of me). Driver got out and we swapped details. Get this...the driver's name was Hitim.

 

[Matthew_T]

The OP's circumstance sounds very similar to this:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYj2lih8Hs

However, I didnt shout at the driver and he didnt drive off. There was no damage to the bike either so I didnt bother contacting him. The guy was nice and accepted that it was his fault because he was watching the car turning behind him and just didnt notice I had stopped.
No harm done and we both went on our ways.

 

[_Jim]

Never go away. If you can avoid doing so don't put yourself in front of a car driver you've had a run in with. Just in case their red mist takes longer to clear than yours. Let them leave first and get well away from you before you set off. and if you catch 'em in traffic later on, ignore 'em. just ride on by.

I quite often find myself in a 'discussion' with a motorist on my commute in every day.......I find it very frustrating that car drivers always seem so desparate to get past you as soon as they see a bike in front of them and are happy to take a risk or cut you up to do so.....despite the fact im on a roadie and will always end up catching up with them further down the road through the traffic.

I did exactly this......letting them go past and not doing anything when I caught up with a motorist again the other day, despite taking a load of abuse and being tailgated after I dared to slow the driver down after coming out of the cycle lane to go past a parked car (I made sure I dod so with plenty of room/time and not pulling out at the last minute in front of anyone).......afterwards I thought I should have said something along the lines of 'you need to think more about cyclists or youre going to kill someone'......i felt like by not saying anything you kind of let them kind of feel theyre in the right and they will probably continue to try to intimidate me or other cyclists out of the way on another day......then again I dont like being in a proper altercation as it leaves you feeling pretty unsettled for the next hour or so.....its a difficult one for me!

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Only had one yelling session, at a taxi who pulled out of a side road in front of me then slammed the brakes on for no reason, then floored it. Don't know what I'd do face to face.
Used to ride with an ex-army fitness fanatic who was knocked off by a car on one of our rides. The driver got out to do battle... then realised the error in judgement, got back in, locked the doors and wound up the windows apologising all the while as my mate flew at him. A few tours on the Berlin wall and in Northern Ireland seemed to have eroded his calm negotiating skills a little.

 

[martint235]

[QUOTE 2664281, member: 9609"]How many incidents have you had ?[/quote]
I went through an angry phase towards the end of last year when it was about once a week. To be fair a lot of them was the kind of guff that gets posted on youtube where to be honest, they hadn't come close (by London standards) at all but I was on a hair-trigger. I've calmed myself down a bit now.

 

[Black Country Ste]

I've got a vile temper that comes out when I'm put at risk while cycling. Trouble is I'm shouty without the punchy to back myself up if necessary. Thankfully it hasn't come to that apart from lizard man, which was unprovoked.

It's not 'road rage' or 'bike rage', it's fear for my safety, adrenaline and being out of breath - I go straight on the offensive. When driving I'm entirely passive-aggressive and it stays within the car.