When a Driver Honks their Horn at you....

[mr_cellophane]

I got hooted at here tonight http://tinyurl.com/nrp6kd in Ravenscourt Grove heading to Hacton Lane. I just turned round the first of the S bends and some idiot in a black Galaxy (?) decided that was a good point to pass me. He was obviously in a hurry to wait at the junction. He shouted something at me, but I couldn't hear him. I don't think he heard me ask it it was the only horn he ever got. Still I'll save that for another idiot.

 

[ketka82uk]

I've only been commuting a few months so the only recent incident I can recall is when I was too busy fiddling with my watch at the lights and completely missed them turning green. Obviously the reaction to that particular hoot was an apologetic wave.

I have found, though, that I'm FAR more chilled on the bike than I was in the car. I don't know if it's because I'm more visible, more audible or just too knackered to care, but I find myself letting the most stupid acts of idiocy go. In my car I'd be hooting and swearing like a mad thing!

True what an earlier poster said about use of cycle lanes, though. I freely admit that until I started commuting by bike myself I couldn't understand for the life of me why cyclists didn't use (what seemed to be) a perfectly good cycle lane close to my house. As it was a multi-lane road, cyclists in the inside lane seemed a crazy and highly annoying proposition. I never beeped or yelled at them but as a driver it used to rightly p*** me off.

That was until I started using said cycle path myself! Only then did I appreciate just how useless off-road cycle paths truly are, despite the pretty green tarmac and nice pictures of bikes all over them. A few weeks and a couple of cars-turning-left-right-in-front-of-me close shaves later and I'm using the road with the rest of them!

 

[Black Sheep]

After only four weeks? What are you doing, meditating?

The correct response to beeping at a junction (not abuse which is better ignored) is to put both feet on the ground, turn round confusedly and look around for the source of the commotion. Then remount and set off slowly on green. For the full effect through in a starting off wobble.

unless the light is red and will be for some time

if so, get off bike, move to side and bow and wave them on politely while shouting "sorry sir, after you"

get bike and mount up back in the exact same position since they can't go due to the red light.

 

[Joe24]

Ive done the, "what? What do you want me to do?" reply and just get more abuse.
Now, i just turn and look at them. Sometimes i wil smile, sometimes i will slow down and keep looking at them, sometimes i will keep looking behind and just glare at them, and watch them come past. Just depends how i feel.
Theres no point in shouting abuse back, just gets you more stressed, and them more of a reason to get more annoyed
Just look back and look confused(which is something i pull off pretty well)

 

[montage]

.....what is it they want you to do????

Yesterday as I came back into town after a Sunday morning blast this happened to me. The road narrows slightly as there's a central crossing place for pedestrians, as I cycled through it a 4x4 came up behind me and started beeping away at me - short of launching myself and my bike onto the pavement so's not to hinder his progress any further what on Earth did he expect me to do?

I gave him a cheery two fingers and a hearty Foxtrot Oscar and away he went, the twat!

A pair of flat tyres if I find where the car parks.

 

[Crankarm]

I got tooted a couple or years ago. As she drove by in her open top car she and her female passenger both gave me a waive and big smiles shouting "Nice arse!" Charming I thought, but then I didn't complain .

 

[vavavikki]

After only four weeks? What are you doing, meditating?

Hypnosis, inside my head are tweeting birds and a bubbling brook...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Couple of lads in a workvan pulled up behind us several months ago and beeped as I was just pootling along, heading straight, a foot or 2 from the kerb, doing nothing wrong. So, stock response, I glanced back and gave them the finger. They pulled up in front and pulled down the windows they said they just let me know they were passing and seemed genuinely shocked. Oh dear. I don't bother anymore, aside from the rights and wrongs, they could just as easily got out and filled my head in too.

For this very reason, my usual response to a horn is a "thank you" wave. If it's not an agressive honk, it's a nice response, and if it is an agressive honk, well, it'll just annoy them all the more. Either way, I keep the moral high ground.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Sadly, didn't hear a word of it because I was listening the the In Our Time podcast.

Blimey. I'd sooner hear abuse from motorists.

 

[Bodhbh]

For this very reason, my usual response to a horn is a "thank you" wave. If it's not an agressive honk, it's a nice response, and if it is an agressive honk, well, it'll just annoy them all the more. Either way, I keep the moral high ground.

Hah, this is probably a good approach. I try to take it philosophically and not to react either way nowadays. I think also when you're going mad with the fingers it can be a sign you're letting the idiots get to you a little bit and in danger of turning into one of them.

 

[hackbike 666]

Rarely happens to me but I do honk my horn(s) when I think they have passed to close or dangerously.

 

[Cubist]

I'd advise not doing the finger etc, at least not routinely

I was twice attacked after doing that, one car went up the pavement to chase me, once he got out his car after passing me and punched me

I'm sure we've all read stories in the papers

Best to let it go or as others say, keep it civil

Good advice! In my book giving the finger is an invitation to a bit of ballroom. Unless you are willing to back it up standing toe to toe, then leave your hands on the handlebars.

 

[col]

Good advice! In my book giving the finger is an invitation to a bit of ballroom. Unless you are willing to back it up standing toe to toe, then leave your hands on the handlebars.

The ones who have the mentality to do this will still do it, but when reality shows its face and they get threatened or hit the excuses will start. Like I was pointing or went to adjust my helmet

 

[astrocan]

My jesticulaton of choice is to waggle my little finger at them in a 'small c*ck' style.
It is a change from the usual, could be interpreted a variety of ways and is singularly appropriate for aggressive drivers in general and 4x4 drivers in particular.

 

[Plax]

I occassionally get beeped at, but it's usually a work colleague doing a friendly toot as they go past so I wave at them in response. Otherwise I just act completely oblivious to their existance.

Drove into work this morning. Gosh, I could feel myself getting wound up. I went home at lunch time and cycled back!