Cyclists: Ever have weird encounters with motorists?

[LateFan]

Yeah, that's what I figured. And I'm definitely not the only one on the sidewalk. Its a lot safer than riding on the street with these maniacs.

Just make sure you aren't trying to be both a car and a ped and piss them off. "I'm a vehicle on the street so treat me like a car." "Now I'm a pedestrian on the sidewalk so I can do whatever I want."

I do a lot of urban commuting, and you have to be on guard, on edge, and aggressively act like a vehicle in traffic. Be consistent, be clear about your intentions, and look them in the eye to see that they see you. I don't bother with silly little hand signals - I have sometimes looked in the windshield, yelled "I'm turning THAT way" and pointed with my arm. I've come through an intersection looking right at some woman waiting in an suv, and sure enuf she turns almost right into me - never even saw me. "What the hell are you doing?!" is my usual reaction, through their side window. She looked freaked.

All of that is good for normal drivers who just don't pay attention - yayhoos with an attitude are another matter. I'm with you - there's a reasonable limit where it's just not worth it. Angry drunks in trucks are no match for a puny bike and a guy in lycra. Riding alone on the highway makes me pretty nervous now - strength in numbers helps. Even then, I remember an idiot plowed into the back of a big group ride in Seattle and killed the last guy. He was riding at the back to help the newbies and slow riders, and that's what he gets for being the good guy.

My son's university club team goes out on the 2-lanes with maybe 8 to 12 guys. They get buzzed once in a while by a redneck blowing diesel smoke all over them, but so far nothing worse than that.

[ttrousdell]

Just carry an AK on your back. Nobody'll say shit.

Police might. When we were younger a water bottle was thrown out of a car going 40 in the opposite direction of my friend and i. Potentially dangerous. Drivers really dont give a shit about cyclists.

[AndrewBird]

Just carry an AK on your back. Nobody'll say shit.

[rzerob]

I was riding my Specialized road bike and a pickup truck was driving right next to me. They were yelling about how fast I was going and how cool that was. It was obvious they had been drinking. And to confirm this, one of them hands a can of beer out the window to me and asks if I want one. So I crack open the beer, tip it back and chug it empty. I got some on my chin and shirt but that was inevitable.

They were yelling even more as I chugged the beer. When I was done I crushed the can in my hand and threw it in the back of their pickup truck. I was praised once more as they were laughing and drove away. That is the only time I have ever had an experience like that.

[Codym42]

Well you really shouldn't be riding on the sidewalk. Bicycles are a vehicle and as such they are required to obey traffic laws.

With that said, I have encountered assholes while riding. People just like to mess with cyclists, not really sure why.

Yeah, that's what I figured. And I'm definitely not the only one on the sidewalk. Its a lot safer than riding on the street with these maniacs.

riding a bicycle where teens can also drive 4k+ pound SUVs while blasting Iggy Azaela and texting is like bringing a knife to a gunfight... just learn to deal with it.

*i deal with similar shit, only on motorcycles, though at least i can keep up with traffic and outrun most of the assholes in cars :D

I don't mind people yelling shit at me but when someone shoots something at me, that's where I draw the line. I feel like parking the bike and riding the bus/e30. Only issue is the bus is slow and parking on campus is terrible.

[packratbimmer]

Rogue riding rules! I've had McDonald's bags throw at me. I had someone swerve at me in oncoming traffic. My friend had a gun pulled on him out on a road ride - then the car sped off. Stay your ground and ride on the road when it is safe to>>>

[jalopi]

riding a bicycle where teens can also drive 4k+ pound SUVs while blasting Iggy Azaela and texting is like bringing a knife to a gunfight... just learn to deal with it.

*i deal with similar shit, only on motorcycles, though at least i can keep up with traffic and outrun most of the assholes in cars :D

[Joe G]

Well you really shouldn't be riding on the sidewalk. Bicycles are a vehicle and as such they are required to obey traffic laws.

With that said, I have encountered assholes while riding. People just like to mess with cyclists, not really sure why.

[Codym42]

So, I'm riding my bike back to my dorm from school tonight and I come to a 4 way stop. I'm riding on the sidewalk and cross the 4 way using the crosswalk. A driver turning right isn't paying attention and quickly stops after seeing me coming. I proceed to cross and ride along the street he is driving on. I turn onto another street (still on the sidewalk) a little later. Then, as I'm riding and minding my own business, a car comes along and the passenger shouts something at me and I hear a pop. It sounded like an air soft gun or nerf gun or something. Then they keep driving. I'm just like wtf was that. I have no idea whether it was the same car from the other intersection.

Does anyone who rides have things like this happen to them? The only other time something like this happened was when someone shouted something vulgar at me. Maybe I should just expect this but it really pisses me off sometimes.

/rant