people who do not drivewith brains

[gttimberline]

there was a post at www. bike league.orgabout a 7 bike rider in the state miss that where stuck by a person in a pickup and they wre hit 2 died 5 wre injured really bad the driver was not drunk he just driving like a stupid numskull why do theynot teach people about the bicyclist that use the road that they should give bicyclist 3 ft of space a whenperson is driving his stupid car i my self do not owna pollution dragon insureance is to much if everybody rode bicycle the world would be better off it,s heathly for you

[carlvoss]

The subject of a-hole drivers seems to be a common one among cyclists. Just yesterday I was harrassed twice by gutless wonders who for some reason find it necessary to drive up on my, lay on the horn and shout obsenities at me as they speed past. There really needs to be some education on a national level of motorists! There are several ads out there for motorcyclists, but I have never seen anything concerning cyclists. I like to think that these motorists are just ignorant and could be educated on the rights of cyclists, the laws concerning the passing of cyclists and just plain common sense. Something needs to be done before there are more casualties!

[Mauriceman]

Whenever some driver gives me 'tude, I just smile, wave and ring my bell, saying "Have a nice day!"

[carlvoss]

I agree, that is the best approach to avoid ugly confrontation, but it doesn't solve the problem. I wish I could get into their heads just to see what makes them do it. It's so bewildering to me. Are they jealous in some way? Are they really that angry about having move over a little to go around me? Do they just hate people on bicycles? Did they have some sort of childhood trauma associated with bicycles? It's frustrating to be a target and not even know why! I took a poll of a few of my non-cycling friends and found that NONE of them knew that they are required by law to give cyclists at least 3 feet of room when passing, NONE of them knew that it is legal for cyclists to ride 2 abreast, NONE of them knew that many times riding on the shoulder can be dangerous due to debris, potholes and (my favorite) warning bumps (you know the ones that wake drivers up before they go off the road). Just educating drivers on the 3 foot rule would go a long way to making the roads safer for everyone!

[Lockwood]

I agree that most people are ignorant to sharing the road and the proper laws. yes there needs to be some education done. But I think the problem goes much deeper than just regular old ignorance of the law. A lot of people simply lack basic common sense, responsibility and basic courtesy. These are most likely the same people who complain about how ugly litter is and then they are the first ones to toss the cigarette butt out the window.

[MrTB]

I did'nt realize it was legal to ride 2 abreast.Does'nt this differ from state to state?The groups I've ridden w/have always ridden single file on rural roads where traffic is present.When riding alone on these rural roads I'm generally treated well by drivers.Several bike clubs host rides in this area,and it is the small patches of riders that block the road that irritate drivers.A little common sense can go a long way in keeping the peace between rider and driver.

[carlvoss]

Yeah, I'm sure it does vary state to state. I was quoting the Minnesota State Law. I would encourage everyone to check out what their own state law has to say on the subject.

[Max]

I agree with Lockwood in the sense that people don't use common sense. We all have our days, but it just seems that drivers have more of them. I commute to work everyday, and I have my fair share of stories, but the underlining point is that drivers disregard cyclists, and they just aren't well versed in the art of proggressing foreward together in harmony. I also like Maurice's approach, but I only feel like that half the time, the other half of the time I feel as if I want to start packing heat. There's no easy answer, venting helps, and getting more and more people on two wheels, perhaps. In the mean time, ride defensively. Don't be afraid to get out there, but don't abuse the law yourself. Drivers will eventually come around, maybe in the next world.

[KENNEDIE]

Lockwood is right when he says it's a bigger problem: It's an overall cultural one. Hostile drivers are raging on bikes because of high stress levels, no physical outlet, and who knows, too much caffiene, maybe. The obvious size advantage of a car to a bike, and the "in your own world" bubble thing is a barrier for them to hide behind while taking out (more like compounding) their frustrations. And the U.S. is totally designed to accommadate the automobile, with all the obvious, AND more insidious effects. But I think road rage is more about lazy overworked people snapping during situations where their sense of power is way out of whack. I have the distinct feeling that hostile drivers are not, generally, people who are physically active. Even if they don't ride, people who do something appreciate being physical. This theory does not include the random alcoholic-wife beating-construction worker who certainly is physical and angry too. But the regular office working car commuter who drinks coffee all morning, eats badly, sits under fluorescents and watches T.V. from the time they get home until they pass out and get up to do it all again are just acting like bullies when they get on the road because they're bigger than us when on the road. And unfortunately, there's no shortage of this character nowdays.
As cyclists, I think we just need to stick to our guns and keep riding, lead by example n'at. Making inroads with community groups and local government is also important, as far as public awareness goes, but being out there on the road is the biggest statement, I think. At this point in my commuting career I'm actually beginning to look forward to future interactions with drivers as educational experiences. But let's all be careful out there, mmkay.

[carlvoss]

For all you in Minnesota, I found this website that you can use to report drivers that "harrass" you on your bike.
https://www.dps.state.mn.us/patrol/unsafe/report.htm

Of course, you will need the plate number!

Other state my have something similar.

Not much may happen to one time offenders, but if we start religiously reporting incidents, the repeat offenders can be identified and, hopefully, prosecuted!

[pghjon]

Found one other

CA -

(800) TELL-CHP telephone number goes directly to Sacramento, but each complaint is then filtered down to the local office where the traffic violation happened, he said. Then that local office mails out the letter to the suspected violator.
The letters are only warnings.
"In order to actually issue a citation for a traffic violation, (officers) have to see it in order to enforce it"

[Mauriceman]

I was taught to ride single file. Why aggravate drivers more by riding two abreast? Surely it's safer to ride single file.

[a2psyklnut]

What scares the crap out of me in todays society is when a police officer cites improper rules to you (the cyclists) about the rules of the road. Though rare, I've had the unfortunate instance of being told that I can't do something I know is within the limits of the law, BY a COP!

Was it worth the confrontation with an already excited and somewhat hostile person carrying a gun? No, I retorted and apologized and went on my way, knowing full well he was wrong. Rules of size and strength overrulled the rules of the highway!

I didn't get a name, but later discussed the issue with a Sheriff friend of mine and we decided to let it go! Police officers have so much stress and fear in their daily lives, a little issue like this isn't worth the battle (for him or me!). Yeah he was wrong, but I didn't suffer any less than a dissertation. I just had a beer when I got home and put it to rest (until now!)

I think that verbal abuse from idiots is just part of the game we play. If you accept it, knowing it's wrong, but accept it anyways, you'll be better off. What also scares the bejeezus out of me is when it goes beyond verbal insults to physical confrontation. Being 225 lbs, it usually doesn't get that far, but it has happened more times than I would like to admit to. I find it's usually a case of testosterone filled teenagers who back down when confronted. But anyone pulling a gun is something I would hate to have to deal with!

L8R

[thomas f brown]

here in coastal nj where all roads are divided by concrete abutments, galvanized steel rails and have roadways stretched to way past there limit due to massive over population, those w/ cars absolutely rule the roads. not only do they think nothing of running down or verbally abusing bicyclists, and motorcyclists(know two that have died recently to poor driving) but are not afraid to take on their own kind: suvs, sports cars, armored vehicles and ford tanks. we will not win this war, we will keep fighting but there are far too many lazy, cigarette smoking, makeup putting on, newspaper reading, cell phone operating 2000lb. death machine wielding maniacs out there...its like the roman empire...instead of lead from aqueducts we have gamma rays from cell phones and bad microwaved 7-11 meals. ingnorance, at least here in jersey is at an all time high as well as arrogance, these two nemesis is what destroyed the world trade center, everything else is inevitably next. see you all at pedrofest...that is truly heaven on earth. t b

[KENNEDIE]

Too true, too true, it is important to fight the good fight though. It's like the futuristic scenes from the original Terminator, the robots are wasting the humans but the humans always fight. What's the other option. Hide, cower, be all freaked out? That's no fun either. That's kind of a lame analogy, but there isa point in there. A better one is the example of the Taoists. They don't go up on some mountain to attain peace. What's the point of serenity if it can only happen in an isolated context? The goal is to be unflappable in the middle of the Chaos. To maintain focus in the middle of overstimulation and shit requires that we just go. And keep going our way. Most people just don't get it.

[Divscotty]

Wednesdays - I often fret about riding to work. It's not only the cars but it's trash day and everybody puts their can in the bike lane and it forces me into the traffic lane. Not bad enough but it is one trash can, one debree can and one recycle box for each house. All of them in the bike lane. I sometimes think they would rather see my blood spot the road than get a spot on their precious lawns where the can might sit. Salem Oregon Rider - Divscotty

[KENNEDIE]

That garbage can thing reminds of some juvenile delinquent friends from my past. They used to drive around country roads swinging baseball bats at mail boxes. The driver, the batter(who would be half hanging out the passenger side window for full swing potential) and a few fans laughing and yelling in the back seat. Vandalism, country style. I'm not advocating here, I'm just saying some people like that would be helpful in precipitating a change in your neighbors habits, country style, so to speak.

[carlvoss]

Recently I've discovered a treand in my harassment by motor vehicles... When I wear my American Flag jersey no one even honks! People seem to be extremely afraid of being "anti-patriotic" these days, they seem to be reluctant to harass someone wear the flag! Interesting. Has anyone else noticed that same? If not, try it out and see - it's amazing. I used to wear bright yellow jerseys for visibility and would get harassed at least once a week, sometimes more, but with the Star and Stripe - not a one - nay nay nay.

[KENNEDIE]

Stars and stripes huh. A very interesting strategy. I actually just got an Evil Kneval looking jersey that's very patriotic (and idiotic, but in a good way) looking and had an idea that what you are saying might be true. People are such saps.

[Mauriceman]

That's really sick.:(

[jonassterling]

I thought of something not mentioned yet. A bigger danger than the a-hole drivers are inattentaive drivers. The normal distractions(cell phones, radio, kids, dogs, lighting a cig, hitting the pipe, surfing the net, watching a DVD, etc) apply, but the driver I was hit by didn't see me. He was paying attention to car sized traffic and pulled right in front of me to make a left turn. I was going downhill and had about 1/2 a second to react. I yelled at him a bit, but he was truely sorry and he was also over seventy.. I was comuting to work on a road where I rarely saw any other bikes. I guess I blame him not seeing me on a lifetime of looking for objects the size of cars and trucks. So make yourselves visible and get out there. The more bikes on the road the more people will pay attention.

[hairygrump]

I look at cars and drivers the same way I look at Minneapolis weather: It's an unquestionable danger to my life every time I get on my bike, but I'm never going to convince either of them to lighten up. It's up to me to be aware, ride within my limits and ultimately get my own damn self home alive. When it's 0F in December I bundle my shit up, curse the weather under my breath and get on with it. When somebody brushes my arm with their rearview trying to turn the bike lane into a right turn lane I back up a little, curse the driver and get on with it. I don't fight either of them on the road.

The way we fight the driver menace is at work, at school and at the bar. I'm the biggest bike commuter evangelist I know, urging even the 60 year old secretaries I work with to pick up a bike and just ride it to the store, even if they can't make their 20 mile commute on it. That's one less driver on the road for 10 minutes a day... you do that with every person you work or hang out with, and maybe someday we'll be able to measure the difference we've all made.

Now I just have to figure a way to handle the damn weather...