Haters of cyclists your personal clashes with public scum

[senatorrick]

So I would like to hear some stories about haters you have encountered. Out on the road.

I was hit today in my back with a beer bottle! I am not a sprinter but today I was amazing. And caught up to the too rednecks at the red light and well the passenger received 3 very hard right hands before his buddy slammed the gas pedal.

 

[Stingray34]

Yeah, had tons of stuff thrown at me from lollies, nuts and bolts, firecrackers, cans both full and empty, water pistols, and lots of abuse - most of it from young blokes in Commodores with P-plates on the Princess Hwy and RNP south of Sydney.

Thesedays, I expect every motorist to generally hate and resent my presence on the road and to let me know it or otherwise drive negligently. It's draining, but it might also help keep me safe. I generally ride alone and I cop less this way, too. I'm pleasantly surprised when people are courteous, which is actually quite often.

I felt this paranoia completely lift when riding in Italy and other parts of Europe.

 

[hiero2]

I remember one ride on a pleasant country road. A pickup passed me, doing a pretty good clip. As he passed the passenger put his hand out the window, and threw a bottle onto the street directly in front of me - and glass exploded from the point of contact. In less time than it has taken you to read this, I was on top of the spot the bottle had broken - but I picked up no glass. The bottle hit and broke with such force that all the broken glass was propelled away from the point of contact. Leaving me riding a straight line, a line clear of glass, but in the middle of a storm of skittering pieces of glass.

I laughed so hard!

Many years ago I was cycle-touring the Mississippi trail in Ohio and Missouri. That takes mostly back roads. Some of the traffic seemed threatening - slowing after they passed, looking at me with too much interest, that sort of thing. I bought a wooden "train whistle" in one of the tourist stores, and took to pulling that out of my pocket when I felt threatened by a car. This always seemed to encourage the vehicle in question to move along at a proper pace. The only think I could think was that the whistle, while held in my hand, slightly resembled the snout of a revolver. Now, before anyone decides to comment on the potential for such an appearance, remember these were rural mid-western kids and young people. Not a bad neighborhood in LA. And this wasn't done riding around on a Saturday night when the drunks were out.

 

[senatorrick]

I live in a city full of drunks! Lovely Pittsburgh PA! They hate annyone on the road with a bike unless its there buddy onn his huffy because he has a D.U.I and still has to get to the bar somehow.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Change the Title

Moderators, maybe you want to change the title? We've all had these experiences, but let's not bring any more controversy into the situation with an inflammatory title.

Also, why didn't you report the incident to the police? There's got to be a couple of legitimate crimes there. I realize they probably wouldn't be prosecuted, but that's not the point.

These days, why don't you guys ride with a couple of those portable video camera devices? There is nothing better than naming and shaming if law enforcement won't enforce the law. I've been a cyclist long enough to legitimately use the phrase "these days."

 

[MarkvW]

Yeah, had tons of stuff thrown at me from lollies, nuts and bolts, firecrackers, cans both full and empty, water pistols, and lots of abuse - most of it from young blokes in Commodores with P-plates on the Princess Hwy and RNP south of Sydney.

Thesedays, I expect every motorist to generally hate and resent my presence on the road and to let me know it or otherwise drive negligently. It's draining, but it might also help keep me safe. I generally ride alone and I cop less this way, too. I'm pleasantly surprised when people are courteous, which is actually quite often.

I felt this paranoia completely lift when riding in Italy and other parts of Europe.

I just had to ride around Mt. Rainier one day, and I'm about 140 miles into it, in the middle of nowhere and a van slows down a little as it passes me. The passenger door opens (we're talking at least 40 mph here) and the passenger hurls a mostly full beer can at me. I knew it was mostly full because I heard the clunk when it missed.

But the passenger is obviously drunk. He ends up hanging on for dear life to the open door as the van drives down the road. Fortunately, for him, the driver and a passenger pull him back in.

I couldn't enjoy the moment because I was worried that the filth would come back. His death would not have troubled me.

 

[senatorrick]

Sorry that my title upsets you, I am posting from my phone and It is hard to be anything other than to the point.

 

[hiero2]

. . .

These days, why don't you guys ride with a couple of those portable video camera devices? There is nothing better than naming and shaming if law enforcement won't enforce the law. . . .

You know, that's a good idea! Somebody calling in a report - and the police have nothing more than "he said, she said" unless the crime was big enough that they will look for witnesses. Even if they decide to look for witnesses - what could be better than your private recording of what happened!

 

[LaFlorecita]

I am one of those haters, this month I've almost been run over three times, and once a cyclist rode into me and he got mad at me and said I had to pay for a new bike and I was hurt because hello he crashed into me with 40 km/h and he was yelling at me and he even spat (!) and he kicked me when he left. He was like really aggresive and called me "kankerhoer" which would be "cancer whore" in English. And he was pointing at all things that were broken and I just said whatever I don't know anything about bikes. Also I called a friend (male) because I was scared because he didn't want to leave and I said I'm calling a friend and he said "yeah great let him come I will beat him to death" Also he wore a Saxo 2010 jersey

But in my case maybe the cyclist was the scum.

 

[Azabael]

I am one of those haters, this month I've almost been run over three times, and once a cyclist rode into me and he got mad at me and said I had to pay for a new bike and I was hurt because hello he crashed into me with 40 km/h and he was yelling at me and he even spat (!) and he kicked me when he left. He was like really aggresive and called me "kankerhoer" which would be "cancer whore" in English. And he was pointing at all things that were broken and I just said whatever I don't know anything about bikes. Also I called a friend (male) because I was scared because he didn't want to leave and I said I'm calling a friend and he said "yeah great let him come I will beat him to death" Also he wore a Saxo 2010 jersey

But in my case maybe the cyclist was the scum.

Lol, damn, that is pretty intense. In America you could probably sue his *** off for a lotto winning amount of money.

Anyway, I just hate those selfish people. It seems that in some regions of the world, they are more likely to be the cyclist haters. But where I live I think it's more often the other way around. They seem to obey different traffic rules and thereby cause life-threatening situations.Son of a..

Btw, no injuries for you? 40 km/h could do some damage.

 

[Sidbike]

-I got hit by a cab right in front of a cop. Fall was dramatic but no injuries. Cop gave cabbie a $72 fine. I did another 60 miles.

-I live on a 1 X 1.5 mile island w/shopping plaza in the middle. You're never more than a half mile from the store. Whenever someone in the neighborhood gets stuck behind a cyclist(s) they complain to me. I then do some quick math for them. Speed limit = 25mph. Bikers are going maybe 15 mph? So it takes you 90 seconds longer to get there.

-We've got two guys who tow their boats w/diesel trucks. They slow down, downshift, and blow a big black cloud of exhaust smoke into cyclists. They will probably pick on the wrong guy at some point.

On a positive note, the city has done a lot in the past 90 days to make our roads safter for everyone including cyclists.

 

[Agravaine]

I've been pretty lucky overall.

Last group ride I was behind three older couples on a newer clear four lane road, they were riding two or three abreast but still, easy in the right lane. A car pulls up and blasts the horn over and over again. Whatever, Sunday morning, four lane road, no other traffic, why would he care?

I just waved finally. My temper control in my car is I flip off bad drivers below the dashboard, (doesn't escalate and doesn't give them the satisfaction). Don't have that option on the bike, so I'm thankful I haven't had to deal with that much crap yet.

 

[Michele]

When reading stories like this I feel lucky to live in Italy as usually the worst scenario is getting a "f**k off" from the drivers and thats all.

 

[MrMaillot]

I had someone try and push me into a wall in their car as I was riding along. So, I sprinted after them, and caught them. Then, when we started going uphill I got ahead of them and killed myself to pull away. But it did make me feel good.

Plus I had an old woman try and push me off a cycle path, but that was simply comical.

 

[hiero2]

. . .
I just waved finally. . .

Oh, yeah! The wave! Best damn hand gesture around! The car driver is absolutely non-plussed, completely trumped, by a simple friendly wave. It is a judo throw to road rage, putting it right down to the mat!

After I had tried it, it definitely became part of my repertoire. Now - it does not give my anger much satisfaction - but it does help keep MY blood pressure down, too. Thanks for mentioning it!

 

[Unkown]

I have been pretty lucky, no crashes in 3 years and only 1 real close call. Some guy passes me going maybe 10 kilometers faster than me and as soon as clears me the guy turns right. I had to jump the kerb and turn hard right because I would have smashed right into the side of the car. Wasnt to happy about that and I let the driver know

 

[Caruut]

Some of the people that anger me most when out riding are careless parents on the pavement. Maybe you can't hear anything, but if you have an infant with you, then you should look so carefully before crossing the road. If someone wants to get themselves and me an injury by stepping out in front of me, then that's just stupid. Putting your kids at risk is horrible. Have given out a few rants to those with the temerity to blame me for their negligence. There are a few hotspots around town where, for some reason, people are just incredibly prone to switching off their brains.

 

[MarkvW]

Some of the people that anger me most when out riding are careless parents on the pavement. Maybe you can't hear anything, but if you have an infant with you, then you should look so carefully before crossing the road. If someone wants to get themselves and me an injury by stepping out in front of me, then that's just stupid. Putting your kids at risk is horrible. Have given out a few rants to those with the temerity to blame me for their negligence. There are a few hotspots around town where, for some reason, people are just incredibly prone to switching off their brains.

I don't know what the rules are in your country, but the pedestrian always owns the crosswalk in my country.

I can empathize with you when it comes to jaywalkers, but when a cyclist rages at a pedestrian who has the undisputed right of way, it's just like the jerk driver raging at the cyclist.