Riding Solo Safety
#1
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Thread Starter
Riding Solo Safety
I've been riding solo since covid and it's getting sketchier out there. People are angry and frustrated and I've had a few incidents recently where I've been the target of their anger. It's mostly macho guys and their big trucks (one actually had "redneck" on the window that I saw after he came too close to me and spun his wheels to spit sand at me) but today it was a sedan with christian symbol on the back (blared horn long before and after going by me despite my being on the right shoulder on a straight road without traffic). While I ride I think about what I could put on the back of my jerseys to make these rednecks think I'm almost one of them - I wear plain safety yellow, so there's room for a message. Ideas welcome! Here's what I've come up with so far:
"Make America Great Again"
"World's Greatest Mom"
"Jesus Loves You"
[the fish symbol]
"Mom, Nurse"
Do you think it might help? Any other ideas? I could stop riding but riding is saving my sanity!
"Make America Great Again"
"World's Greatest Mom"
"Jesus Loves You"
[the fish symbol]
"Mom, Nurse"
Do you think it might help? Any other ideas? I could stop riding but riding is saving my sanity!
#2
On Your Left
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"Make America Great Again" What if they are not a Trump supporter
"World's Greatest Mom" What they're a Dad who's back on Child support
"Jesus Loves You" What if their a atheist
[the fish symbol]
"Mom, Nurse"
Do you think it might help? Any other ideas? I could stop riding but riding is saving my sanity!
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#3
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American flag colors.
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#4
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That is no joke. When I ride the roads I am typically treated pretty well. I have worn this enough to be able to definitively say that it makes a positive difference. I attribute it to the Red, White and Blue humanizing the experience. I am seen as a person rather than an annoying cyclist.
#6
Newbie
I've been riding solo since covid and it's getting sketchier out there. People are angry and frustrated and I've had a few incidents recently where I've been the target of their anger. It's mostly macho guys and their big trucks (one actually had "redneck" on the window that I saw after he came too close to me and spun his wheels to spit sand at me) but today it was a sedan with christian symbol on the back (blared horn long before and after going by me despite my being on the right shoulder on a straight road without traffic). While I ride I think about what I could put on the back of my jerseys to make these rednecks think I'm almost one of them - I wear plain safety yellow, so there's room for a message. Ideas welcome! Here's what I've come up with so far:
"Make America Great Again"
"World's Greatest Mom"
"Jesus Loves You"
[the fish symbol]
"Mom, Nurse"
Do you think it might help? Any other ideas? I could stop riding but riding is saving my sanity!
"Make America Great Again"
"World's Greatest Mom"
"Jesus Loves You"
[the fish symbol]
"Mom, Nurse"
Do you think it might help? Any other ideas? I could stop riding but riding is saving my sanity!
#7
Senior Member
Open Carry
Stand My Ground
Stand Behind Our Troops
Just on my way to pick up my Humvee
Stand My Ground
Stand Behind Our Troops
Just on my way to pick up my Humvee
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"Your mom"
or
"GFY"
Are NOT advisable.
Just wear the nation's colors.
or
"GFY"
Are NOT advisable.
Just wear the nation's colors.
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-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#10
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I'd say not a lot. As the saying goes "Every dog's got a few fleas", and you're experiencing the annoying "fleas" in your area. It happens everywhere, but its not that often I experience it so I just ignore them and brush it off.
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Unfortunately alcohol stores were one of the stores deemed essential. People with a lot of time and now you have a bad combination and more drunk/high drivers on the roads. I have been in more near misses in the last two months than I have in my entire life.
That’s what I think.
That’s what I think.
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Unfortunately alcohol stores were one of the stores deemed essential. People with a lot of time and now you have a bad combination and more drunk/high drivers on the roads. I have been in more near misses in the last two months than I have in my entire life.
That’s what I think.
That’s what I think.
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-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
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#15
WALSTIB
Cycliq Fly 6 and/or Fly 12. Record them and report them. It's our in our self interest to make the roads safer for everyone.
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#17
Full Member
Thread Starter
The flag idea is perfect!
just ordered an iron-on decal from amazon ... I'll iron on separate fabric then pin on jersey. I'm riding like an old fart these days (am I allowed to say that?) with a trunk thing where I could mount a small flag on a pole but it would mostly be perpendicular to drivers. Me thinks you can't have too many flying flags, tho!
just ordered an iron-on decal from amazon ... I'll iron on separate fabric then pin on jersey. I'm riding like an old fart these days (am I allowed to say that?) with a trunk thing where I could mount a small flag on a pole but it would mostly be perpendicular to drivers. Me thinks you can't have too many flying flags, tho!
That is no joke. When I ride the roads I am typically treated pretty well. I have worn this enough to be able to definitively say that it makes a positive difference. I attribute it to the Red, White and Blue humanizing the experience. I am seen as a person rather than an annoying cyclist.
Last edited by BNB; 05-21-20 at 08:19 PM.
#18
Full Member
Thread Starter
I've considered this many times but when cops say stuff like "well, what do you expect riding a bicycle on the road?" I sorta don't think they will be bothered with video footage unless I'm actually hit. And, even then, the cyclist is 99% blamed. Years ago we had a guy pull a gun on us and the quote above is from the county sheriff that day.
#19
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I support
POLICE
The first two words should be smaller, and the last one large and bold across your back.
POLICE
The first two words should be smaller, and the last one large and bold across your back.
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Unfortunately alcohol stores were one of the stores deemed essential. People with a lot of time and now you have a bad combination and more drunk/high drivers on the roads. I have been in more near misses in the last two months than I have in my entire life.
That’s what I think.
That’s what I think.
#22
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People are generally arseholes and there is no redemption. We have been seeing tons of nasty people these days at the shop, nobody seems to understand their is a global crisis going on and a little respect and decency is what we need right now. They are pissed off at anyone and will take it out on someone as soon as they are out. It is rather a sad affair.
Ride safe and know this isn't a time for silly slogans and name calling. Even if trashy generally light skinned middle class southern people have taken the term. Rednecks originally referred to poor farmers and then was a sign of solidarity so miners could identify themselves (by the red bandanna around their necks) from the hired goons that were trying to murder them for standing up for their rights and their well being.
Ride safe and know this isn't a time for silly slogans and name calling. Even if trashy generally light skinned middle class southern people have taken the term. Rednecks originally referred to poor farmers and then was a sign of solidarity so miners could identify themselves (by the red bandanna around their necks) from the hired goons that were trying to murder them for standing up for their rights and their well being.
#24
Full Member
Thread Starter
Interesting history. So much time to think riding solo and I did wonder where the term "redneck" came from.
So, hopefully the flag idea is well accepted by the right and OK with the left too. No harm or silliness with that.
Not that it matters, but I sorta want to defend my beloved state of New Hampshire and say that every one of these incidents happened in California. Southern California. In fairness, CA has way, way more traffic and way, way more cyclists. Wish I could get to NH right now ... I would feel so much safer.
So, hopefully the flag idea is well accepted by the right and OK with the left too. No harm or silliness with that.
Not that it matters, but I sorta want to defend my beloved state of New Hampshire and say that every one of these incidents happened in California. Southern California. In fairness, CA has way, way more traffic and way, way more cyclists. Wish I could get to NH right now ... I would feel so much safer.
People are generally arseholes and there is no redemption. We have been seeing tons of nasty people these days at the shop, nobody seems to understand their is a global crisis going on and a little respect and decency is what we need right now. They are pissed off at anyone and will take it out on someone as soon as they are out. It is rather a sad affair.
Ride safe and know this isn't a time for silly slogans and name calling. Even if trashy generally light skinned middle class southern people have taken the term. Rednecks originally referred to poor farmers and then was a sign of solidarity so miners could identify themselves (by the red bandanna around their necks) from the hired goons that were trying to murder them for standing up for their rights and their well being.
Ride safe and know this isn't a time for silly slogans and name calling. Even if trashy generally light skinned middle class southern people have taken the term. Rednecks originally referred to poor farmers and then was a sign of solidarity so miners could identify themselves (by the red bandanna around their necks) from the hired goons that were trying to murder them for standing up for their rights and their well being.
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I think flag is probably not going to hurt.
Note that when people yell, honk, blow smoke, and spin tires at you, that means they saw you, which is a good thing. They are not trying to kill you, so they probably won't kill you, which is also good. Even the intimidation-passers are actually trying quite hard to *nearly* hit you, which means they are more or less trying to not hit you, which is a good thing.
So that's all good.
People texting, posting on FB or BF, watching videos, or chatting up with their friends and family will not honk, yell, blow smoke, or spin tires at you. They might not see you, which is bad, and they might kill you, which is bad.
On narrow twisty hilly roads, drivers actually need to spend most of their time looking out the windshield, which is very good for you. As opposed to straight flat wide roads, where they can and do spend a considerable amount of time not looking out their windshields.
In conclusion, don't fear unsocial angry people, and don't fear social people on twisty hilly roads. Fear (and avoid) social people on flat, straight, wide roads. That's where you're gonna die.
Note that when people yell, honk, blow smoke, and spin tires at you, that means they saw you, which is a good thing. They are not trying to kill you, so they probably won't kill you, which is also good. Even the intimidation-passers are actually trying quite hard to *nearly* hit you, which means they are more or less trying to not hit you, which is a good thing.
So that's all good.
People texting, posting on FB or BF, watching videos, or chatting up with their friends and family will not honk, yell, blow smoke, or spin tires at you. They might not see you, which is bad, and they might kill you, which is bad.
On narrow twisty hilly roads, drivers actually need to spend most of their time looking out the windshield, which is very good for you. As opposed to straight flat wide roads, where they can and do spend a considerable amount of time not looking out their windshields.
In conclusion, don't fear unsocial angry people, and don't fear social people on twisty hilly roads. Fear (and avoid) social people on flat, straight, wide roads. That's where you're gonna die.
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