wle

just smile like an idiot, and wave, saying "hey bob! see you at the lodge friday!!"

wle

Maelochs

I usually go home, get in my car, and drive around until I see a cyclist and yell at him or her. Always makes me feel better.

MilfordJohn

If I told you that I strictly observed STOP signs, I would be lying. However, I recognize that they exist for a purpose, so whenever I come to a STOP sign in the country, I slow down, downshift and prepare to stop. If everything is clear, then I go through without clipping out. I think you are crazy to go through a STOP sign at full speed. My motto is, "unpredictable behavior on a bike will get you killed."

Having said that, I must report an opposite experience that most of you must have had. Coming to a rural T-intersection, I took the middle of the lane to make a left turn, holding my arm out to signal the turn. I came to a complete stop because a car was crossing the "T". A woman driving a large pickup pulled up to me after my turn saying "why the f**k did you have to block my way, you mother-f***er!" She then drove off and turned into a driveway about 200 yards down the road. I was steamed, but in rural Virginia flipping the bird or shouting obscenities can be life-shortening, so my custom is to look straight ahead and keep pedaling.

I go along with those on this thread who are of a philosophical bent. Why get upset at a person in a car who is behaving like a jackass? Life's too short.

hrdknox1

It didn't ruin my ride to a great extent, but it did anger me at the moment which altered my mood at the time. I just think that she should have kept her thoughts to herself. Yes I was wrong, but it's not up to her to tell me so. I am not a child. I see a lot of people doing things that I don't agree with, but I don't tell them....I keep my thoughts to myself. I've learned this from 46 years married to the same woman.

biketube guy

Cyclists should behave the same as cars when it comes to traffic laws. That is to say, around here anyway, roll through every stop sign and don't bother signaling turns. Car drivers have absolutely no right to criticize cyclists for rolling through stop signs.

Doug64

If someone does something unlawful and stupid, does that make it OK for you to act the same way? I'm a cyclsit, and I've yelled at cyclist while driving or riding when they do something really dumb . The OP does not have a clue whether the person in the passenger seat was a cyclist or not.

rgppgr

Amen brother.

mud711

Now that this topic has been put through the ringer, hashed, overly analyzed or just cooked to extremes. Let us now get to the most important questions of the day. What is the best chain lube or which saddle is most comfortable.

1joel1

Maybe you're doing something wrong???

livedarklions

Just curious--how is THAT your 4th post in 7 years?

rgppgr

Or why does my bottom bracket shell have a weld running the width of it? It's Italian. I can't see anything that makes me think it was repaired.

stephr1

Sometimes the *safest* response is no response. You never know who that person might be, what might set off their rage, what they might have in their car or what they might do with it (the car and/or what's in it).

hrdknox1

Whether the person in the passenger seat was a cyclist or not, doesn't matter. I wouldn't yell at anyone unless they have put my safety at risk. Blowing through a stop sign when there are no cars in sight (except one approaching 400 meters from behind) is not dumb and puts no one at risk. It is only breaking the law to which fines are applicable by law enforcement....not civilians yelling, including cyclists.

Miele Man

Stress reduces the immune system. I think that especialy at this time but at any time it helps to remember a few lines from the Serenity Prayer. (NOT getting into religion here!)

"God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

We can't change chance encounters with people's actions so let's just accept them and live with a lot less stress in our lives. We might even be able to stress behind and not bring it home with us.

Cheers

Cheers

SpeedyBlueBiker

Both of you are wrong. You for breaking the law. Her for being a jerk.

canklecat

You mean, besides stopping conventionally and legally at a stop sign or red light?

I used to do a lot of driving on the job, including across the US. Drive enough miles and you'll get a pretty good sampling of terrible drivers. Eventually some inattentive idiot will tap your bumper. No big deal in a metal cocoon. But much more dangerous for folks on two wheels.

Or walking. The widespread shift to right-on-red and left on flashing yellow after yield has greatly increased the hazards for pedestrians and cyclists. Reported incidents with injuries and deaths are significantly worse now in some regions, especially Florida. Many incidents are never recorded or reported, due in part to the death of the local daily newspaper.

Oldbikeride

One can't control what others say or do. We can only control how we react.

Huszi

Shouldn’t be yelling though!!

njkayaker

Illegal.

Not illegal.

stephr1

Something we all tend to lose sight of at times. You can't change, control or otherwise influence people to behave the way you might want them to (or even have them like you). Best to count to 3 before giving any kind of response, and then, hopefully realize that you may have made a mistake, think about correcting it the next time, and not letting someone who tries to control you get the satisfaction of believing they just did. Make your day to be the way you want it, not the way someone else thinks it should be

Cheers.....

sweeks

You know that it's rare for a car driver to come to a *complete* stop. Anyone who claims otherwise is a hypocrite. Ignore the cranks.
I'm looking forward to more states adopting the "Idaho Stop" for bikes. Meanwhile, if there's no cross traffic I will roll through a stop sign (NB: *ROLL*, not *blast*).

Worknomore

cagebullys

WinterCommuter

i get the frustration. Happens to me about once a month. Not necessarily following a “rolling stop” but because i’m on a bike on a road made specifically for autos (or so some drivers think). In my younger days, i loved chasing after rude drivers. Even caught a couple, only to spend the rest of my ride looking over my shoulder after we shared an “uncomfortable greeting”. I don’t understand the need for some auto drivers to be the highway nanny especially with regard to bike riders (even if the auto drivers are simply wrong), but it’s the world we live in.

my advice, simply smile and ride on and be thankful the half wit driver will soon be home beating her illegitimate children. ;-)

mud711

I have no idea....I've been a follower of this forum for more than seven. It could be that I have registered under a different name not aware of duplicity.

zenmonkey

Some of us hung out in other places more.... (9 posts in 16 years...)