Others who do NOT feel hassled
07-23-08, 10:23 PM
#76
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No problems at all here in SE MI, in my area anyway, around Ann Arbor. I haven't even been honked at in over a year. People pull practically into the opposite shoulder to pass me; I wonder if I should shower more often?
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07-23-08, 10:32 PM
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more the most part i would like to not jinx myself so i will not speak on this subject any further but to say that a few drivers can be dangerous and asinine.
07-23-08, 10:43 PM
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I've been bike commuting for only 4 months or so, but I don't think i've ever been honked at... Most drivers here seem pretty courteous to bike riders (at least from my own experiences), which seems strange for L.A. I do admit I mostly stick to roads that have 2 lanes, so it's easy to pass, or roads that aren't as traffic heavy.
i've been pleasantly surprised since my move here last year. (from a much more seemingly-bike-friendly-but-in-reality-not-so-much ann arbor.)
07-23-08, 11:51 PM
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I find it gets worse around the full moon, but I tend to have more whistles and cheers than threats and jeers.
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07-23-08, 11:52 PM
#80
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I have been riding Chicago surface streets almost daily for a month now(hardly a blink of the eye for some of you veterans, I know) but I have not yet encountered any cagers with visibly disgruntled attitudes or actions. Almost every car that passes me hugs or crosses the yellow to give me ample space, occasionally when it is not even necessary for them to do so. In fact the other day, on the way to get some air for the tires, I had a van driver pulling out of a parking space in to gridlock traffic back up in to his space a little to let me pass by him and then he yells to me that my back tire was a little low. The only close calls I have encountered have been because of inattentive drivers or my own mistake of not making myself as visible in their mirrors as I should have been before attempting an passing maneuver, which I have undoubtedly learned from. So far it seems to me that Chicago drivers are quite courtesy towards bikers, at least on the Northside, as I have yet to need to venture in to the loop. The loop though, I can imagine may be a totally different story, driving a cage in rush hour loop traffic is hairy to say the least, as almost all traffic laws go out the window and it can be easily described as a free for all.
07-24-08, 01:49 AM
#81
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At least this thread wasn't 4 years old when it got resurrected!
07-24-08, 01:55 AM
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Personally, I get worse treatment by cars if I ride north into the suburbs than if I ride south into the city/airport/"less affluent" parts of town; I think people driving downtown are more in an "anything goes" mindset, because people a lot of the time just sort of drive as if there are no hard and fast rules to the road, just you, where you want to go and how well you can avoid everyone else doing whatever they can to get there. And they seem to react to a bike as just "there's something in my way, gotta get around it without dying. . .". I get passed close sometimes, but that's about it.
In the suburbs though, I get honks, yelling and behavior that generally seems to be anger-motivated, which I think stems more from people who are mad as hell that someone's obstructing their streets, even though from a logical standpoint, I'm causing less of a traffic obstruction than I do downtown.
In the suburbs though, I get honks, yelling and behavior that generally seems to be anger-motivated, which I think stems more from people who are mad as hell that someone's obstructing their streets, even though from a logical standpoint, I'm causing less of a traffic obstruction than I do downtown.
07-24-08, 03:53 AM
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yeah. but easy to get complacent. many drivers still talking on mobiles, or just not great drivers. also it's the roads. i get some roads with cycle lanes, except all they did was paint a line near the gutter, didn't even widen it. add to this the total defiance of people being told not to buy big 4x4's or SUV's because of green issues then you get lane hoggers who seem to think the bigger the vehicle the more priority they have on the road. you wouldn't argue with a bus or truck
07-24-08, 05:38 AM
#84
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Did you take the water? (Why don't they have a little "thirsty-man" smiley here?)
07-24-08, 05:46 AM
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I don't have any problems and I ride in one of the most car centric places in the US (Phoenix metro area). I've never been yelled at, had agressive car behavior, cut off, etc. This is on main thoughofares as well as back streets. Sure cars come close, but I come close to them too, thats part of riding in traffic.
Also note that this area has very agressive drivers and when I am in a car I am very often cut off, rude gestures, etc.
I cycle on the roads, like a vehicle and obey traffic laws.
Al
Also note that this area has very agressive drivers and when I am in a car I am very often cut off, rude gestures, etc.
I cycle on the roads, like a vehicle and obey traffic laws.
Al
07-24-08, 05:49 AM
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I personally don't have that many run-ins with drivers. I think one reason for that is that I have "mind like water" when it comes to riding on the road. All the time I see cyclists being infuriated by this or that action aggressive or inattentive drivers take: parking in a bike lane, right hooks, left hooks, pulling out of a driveway right in front of them...
The cyclists are obviously in the right in these situations, and have every right to be angry, but I just found that kind of attitude unproductive. So I don't take things personally any more. I actually make it into a game: try to guess the next crazy move that would put me in danger and have a plan for how to avoid it. When a crazy move gets pulled and I successfully evade it, I actually feel good about my game, and award myself some points.
... I just try to figure out the behavioural patterns, and tame them to the extent possible.
Obviously this kind of attitude doesn't always apply, but it can be useful in many situations.
The cyclists are obviously in the right in these situations, and have every right to be angry, but I just found that kind of attitude unproductive. So I don't take things personally any more. I actually make it into a game: try to guess the next crazy move that would put me in danger and have a plan for how to avoid it. When a crazy move gets pulled and I successfully evade it, I actually feel good about my game, and award myself some points.
... I just try to figure out the behavioural patterns, and tame them to the extent possible.
Obviously this kind of attitude doesn't always apply, but it can be useful in many situations.
07-24-08, 05:57 AM
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I get hassled maybe once or twice a year. I get the occasionnal driver that passes too close for my taste but that's about it.
Last year I was waiting for the green light in the middle of the straight-thru lane, left of the turn-right-only. When the light turned green the car behind passed me and the passenger said "you're not a car".
This year, a police told me I can't go through the train yard anymore. Not really hassled because there are signs but it just sucks. Earlier in the same train yard, a truck driver yelled "you're cycling, that's good!"
I get the impression drivers are more curious about cyclo-commuters due to gas price, like they wonder if we know something they don't.
Last year I was waiting for the green light in the middle of the straight-thru lane, left of the turn-right-only. When the light turned green the car behind passed me and the passenger said "you're not a car".
This year, a police told me I can't go through the train yard anymore. Not really hassled because there are signs but it just sucks. Earlier in the same train yard, a truck driver yelled "you're cycling, that's good!"
I get the impression drivers are more curious about cyclo-commuters due to gas price, like they wonder if we know something they don't.
07-24-08, 06:11 AM
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07-24-08, 06:53 AM
#90
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I wonder, I read about many who have run ins with angry or inattentive cars regularly. I almost never have problems with cars. They zoom by, I ride on.
I suppose you could say I try to stay out of their way, but is it just attitude, or different behavior that keeps me feeling like things are okay on the road? Are there others who feel they have few problems??
I suppose you could say I try to stay out of their way, but is it just attitude, or different behavior that keeps me feeling like things are okay on the road? Are there others who feel they have few problems??
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07-24-08, 07:13 AM
#91
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You're new, and you have nothing better to do than go through years worth of old threads and respond to questions or comments that people made years ago? As if they're still here to read it? Why?
07-24-08, 07:16 AM
#92
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I agree.
But what still puzzles me is when I am riding on a three lane road, like North Capital, staying in the right hand lane and some car comes up behind me and gives those gentle little toots as if trying to politely let me know that I should get out of the lane for him/her. Duh, there are two other lanes that the car could use.
But what still puzzles me is when I am riding on a three lane road, like North Capital, staying in the right hand lane and some car comes up behind me and gives those gentle little toots as if trying to politely let me know that I should get out of the lane for him/her. Duh, there are two other lanes that the car could use.
07-24-08, 07:19 AM
#93
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Honestly. ...Why would someone who's old enough to have read it twice be reading it again?
07-24-08, 07:22 AM
#94
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07-24-08, 07:26 AM
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You are newer, and all you do is complain about the new people.
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07-24-08, 08:08 AM
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I don't have any issues because I avoid streets with heavy traffic. Just the occasional run in with a bus or big truck on a narrow street, but that is over in a few seconds.
07-24-08, 08:18 AM
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Not much different than starting a new thread on a subject that's been beaten to death. Besides, this is an open question about people's experience, not a "what-should-I-buy" that is quickly resolved.
07-24-08, 08:27 AM
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I guess. It's just that I expect OP has long since moved on, so, y'know...giving him or her advice seems a bit silly.
07-24-08, 08:43 AM
#99
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I don't actually get harrassed that much, I just have lots of drivers doing lots of stupid things and/or acting very impatient around me. Very little honking or yelling. However, my brother rides home from work at night, and he gets harrassed nearly every day. People here seem to become braver when you can't see their faces. I normally ride during daylight, but on the weekends when I ride at night, it's very likely I'll be harrassed. As long as they're not throwing things at me (although that's happened a few times), I don't let it bother me too much. I know that chances are they're poor and out of shape, and that's enough revenge for me.
07-24-08, 08:55 AM
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perfect
I personally don't have that many run-ins with drivers. I think one reason for that is that I have "mind like water" when it comes to riding on the road. All the time I see cyclists being infuriated by this or that action aggressive or inattentive drivers take: parking in a bike lane, right hooks, left hooks, pulling out of a driveway right in front of them...
The cyclists are obviously in the right in these situations, and have every right to be angry, but I just found that kind of attitude unproductive. So I don't take things personally any more. I actually make it into a game: try to guess the next crazy move that would put me in danger and have a plan for how to avoid it. When a crazy move gets pulled and I successfully evade it, I actually feel good about my game, and award myself some points.
In a sense, I completely dehumanize the drivers. I forget the drivers even exist. I ride in the city inhabited by huge beasts made of steel. They have ugly loud voices, they stink and they tend to run in packs. Or sometimes they just sit there in a long line and sniff each others tailpipes. I just try to figure out the behavioural patterns, and tame them to the extent possible.
Obviously this kind of attitude doesn't always apply, but it can be useful in many situations.
The cyclists are obviously in the right in these situations, and have every right to be angry, but I just found that kind of attitude unproductive. So I don't take things personally any more. I actually make it into a game: try to guess the next crazy move that would put me in danger and have a plan for how to avoid it. When a crazy move gets pulled and I successfully evade it, I actually feel good about my game, and award myself some points.
In a sense, I completely dehumanize the drivers. I forget the drivers even exist. I ride in the city inhabited by huge beasts made of steel. They have ugly loud voices, they stink and they tend to run in packs. Or sometimes they just sit there in a long line and sniff each others tailpipes. I just try to figure out the behavioural patterns, and tame them to the extent possible.
Obviously this kind of attitude doesn't always apply, but it can be useful in many situations.
Not worth the sweat, you know?
And then I get to enjoy my ride.