Got honked at today :-(
#1
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Got honked at today :-(
I live in Texas unfortunately and today I went out for a ride before dinner since I had a little time (about 8 miles), because I have recently started riding after a long sabbatical and am trying to get my legs built up for my commute.
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
Here's the thing, I always stay practically right on the line near the shoulder unless there is no one around. It's not like I am taking up the whole lane. Why can't people realize that I have just as much right to be there as them?!? [/rant]
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
Here's the thing, I always stay practically right on the line near the shoulder unless there is no one around. It's not like I am taking up the whole lane. Why can't people realize that I have just as much right to be there as them?!? [/rant]
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#2
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Originally Posted by lecterman
I live in Texas unfortunately and today I went out for a ride before dinner since I had a little time (about 8 miles), because I have recently started riding after a long sabbatical and am trying to get my legs built up for my commute.
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
Here's the thing, I always stay practically right on the line near the shoulder unless there is no one around. It's not like I am taking up the whole lane. Why can't people realize that I have just as much right to be there as them?!? [/rant]
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
Here's the thing, I always stay practically right on the line near the shoulder unless there is no one around. It's not like I am taking up the whole lane. Why can't people realize that I have just as much right to be there as them?!? [/rant]
#3
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Hey neighbor! you just have to let it go. Maybe i'll see you around on 156.
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I come to enjoy hearing "Get the f*ck off the road a**hole!" Well... it's direct and to the point and clearly expresses the speaker's feelings in an honest and non ambiguous way. I see it as a rare thing of beauty, crystaline and pure, like a haiku or the Unified Field Theory. It's almost the perfect phrase. Too bad it doesn't really work though.
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Why do we let these things bother us long enough to post them on this message board?
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I had a guy hoking at me the other day because he wanted to use the bike lane as his personal right turn lane, and apparently he thought I should pull my 45-pound loaded commuter on the sidewalk so he can get to the next red light 30 seconds sooner. Then he gives me one of these "put both hands in the air like, go figure, why are you still in my way" things. I just figured he was bitter because he's stuck in traffic like a dumbsheit and I'm enjoying a kick-ass morning commute.
Go figure,
Adam
Go figure,
Adam
#7
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Originally Posted by lecterman
I live in Texas unfortunately and today I went out for a ride before dinner since I had a little time (about 8 miles), because I have recently started riding after a long sabbatical and am trying to get my legs built up for my commute.
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
Here's the thing, I always stay practically right on the line near the shoulder unless there is no one around. It's not like I am taking up the whole lane. Why can't people realize that I have just as much right to be there as them?!? [/rant]
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
Here's the thing, I always stay practically right on the line near the shoulder unless there is no one around. It's not like I am taking up the whole lane. Why can't people realize that I have just as much right to be there as them?!? [/rant]
What else can we do?
Well, we could get a horn that's as loud as theirs: https://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=BE1500
We could arm ourselves and scare the living s**t out of them.
Or we could do the right thing: send them all to Ignoreland, where they belong.
I don't think their behavior has anything to do with whether we are sharing the road properly.
I think bike-annoyers fall into two broad categories:
1) Kids out to impress their would-be girlfriend and/or buddies;
2) Unhappy people of any age looking for someone to share their anger/misery with.
Either way, what they really want, of course, is a reaction from us. We win by not giving it to them, and they become less likely to repeat the behavior.
Still, I'm thinking seriously about getting that horn....
#8
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You have to be flattered that they take the time to "talk" to you as they rush off to their destination.
People like that have issues that only a licensed practitioner can help with.
People like that have issues that only a licensed practitioner can help with.
#9
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I get honked several times a day. Lithuanian drivers tend to be known as severely rude. A polite finger is what they expect from you. As if you were cager like them. Never. Instead, build yourself a shield, pretend you are deaf and blind. Let your ears filter these finger-call-honks. Politely ignore them.
This is the strategy I use. Think of honkers as of dogs. A typical lithuanian dog would not bark at a regular car. But wait until a real cyclist shows up. Rather than fingering I'd likely picture that honker as a dog. Not necessarily a smart dog. Let him bark.
Stay calm, they are inside their cages, they won't bite you. In the depth of their hearts they want to be as free as you are. A honk is just a polite way to say hello.
This is the strategy I use. Think of honkers as of dogs. A typical lithuanian dog would not bark at a regular car. But wait until a real cyclist shows up. Rather than fingering I'd likely picture that honker as a dog. Not necessarily a smart dog. Let him bark.
Stay calm, they are inside their cages, they won't bite you. In the depth of their hearts they want to be as free as you are. A honk is just a polite way to say hello.
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Originally Posted by budster
I don't think their behavior has anything to do with whether we are sharing the road properly.
I think bike-annoyers fall into two broad categories:
1) Kids out to impress their would-be girlfriend and/or buddies;
2) Unhappy people of any age looking for someone to share their anger/misery with.
I think bike-annoyers fall into two broad categories:
1) Kids out to impress their would-be girlfriend and/or buddies;
2) Unhappy people of any age looking for someone to share their anger/misery with.
#11
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Originally Posted by lecterman
I live in Texas unfortunately and today I went out for a ride before dinner since I had a little time (about 8 miles), because I have recently started riding after a long sabbatical and am trying to get my legs built up for my commute.
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
I am on a two lane highway going through my small town (which has a speed limit at that point of 35 ) and am getting paseed by several cars. Suddenly I hear a honk and turn some guy and a woman passing me in their car and they slow down long enough for him to mouth "Get the f*&# off the road. They continue on and I politely give the finger ( I know, not the best thing to do, but I was pissed).
Originally Posted by lecterman
Here's the thing, I always stay practically right on the line near the shoulder unless there is no one around. It's not like I am taking up the whole lane. Why can't people realize that I have just as much right to be there as them?!? [/rant]
#12
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I'm frequently tempted to yell and give the finger, but a few weeks ago it hit me:
If that person's life is so miserable that the only thing that will make them feel better is yelling/honking at me, then I'm happy to have been of service. They'll get filtered out of the gene pool soon enough.
Ignore 'em. You'll live longer.
Dan
If that person's life is so miserable that the only thing that will make them feel better is yelling/honking at me, then I'm happy to have been of service. They'll get filtered out of the gene pool soon enough.
Ignore 'em. You'll live longer.
Dan
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Ride on, secure in the knowledge that, it they are honking, they
1. See you
2. Are not enjoying life nearly as much as you are
3. Are likely in much worse physical condition
4. Are much more stressed
5. Are paying alot more for fuel
6. Are possbily breaking the law
7. Are accumulating bad karma points for their next cycle
8. Are not enjoying life nearly as much as you are
Or, just FIDO - Forget It, Drive On.
But I like to point & laugh at the morons.
1. See you
2. Are not enjoying life nearly as much as you are
3. Are likely in much worse physical condition
4. Are much more stressed
5. Are paying alot more for fuel
6. Are possbily breaking the law
7. Are accumulating bad karma points for their next cycle
8. Are not enjoying life nearly as much as you are
Or, just FIDO - Forget It, Drive On.
But I like to point & laugh at the morons.
Last edited by Da Tinker; 10-16-05 at 10:46 AM.
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I've often thought about investing in an air horn and a marine flare gun (those are legal to carry anywhere). Thank god for "Hackers"
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Blow him a kiss.
Friday i was on my commute and i was stopped at a light and this city bus behind me wants to make a right on red and i am in the way so the drivers LAYS on the horn. man that was load. I just took my time to get going when the light did turn.
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happens to me much more when i'm driving than when i'm biking, actually. not sure if that's a confession or a boast. but for some reason i take comfort in muttering 'can't you take something for it?' as they go by. i think the idea of prozac just makes me laugh.
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it happens to me almost daily, mainly when i'm a bit in the lane while trying to avoid being doored
normally i reply with a quick "f*** you" or something similar (i just recently put some reflective duct tape on the middle finger of my gloves for those night-time commutes), but one time, a man had his daughter (couldn't have been more than 6) shout "get off the road" out of the passenger window at me. very couragous, dude, having a CHILD yell at the guy biking up a steep hill.
normally i reply with a quick "f*** you" or something similar (i just recently put some reflective duct tape on the middle finger of my gloves for those night-time commutes), but one time, a man had his daughter (couldn't have been more than 6) shout "get off the road" out of the passenger window at me. very couragous, dude, having a CHILD yell at the guy biking up a steep hill.
Last edited by Huehue; 10-16-05 at 02:32 PM.
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Originally Posted by tokolosh
happens to me much more when i'm driving than when i'm biking, actually.
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I generally throw an arm in the air like what would you like me to do and give them 'the look' or look back and with my left arm sweep from back to front as in 'the road is ALL yours, feel free to pass'.
Then when I catch up to them at the next light I ask "So are you there yet?"
Then when I catch up to them at the next light I ask "So are you there yet?"
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Originally Posted by LY2KW
Never. Instead, build yourself a shield, pretend you are deaf and blind.
....
Stay calm, they are inside their cages, they won't bite you. In the depth of their hearts they want to be as free as you are. A honk is just a polite way to say hello.
....
Stay calm, they are inside their cages, they won't bite you. In the depth of their hearts they want to be as free as you are. A honk is just a polite way to say hello.
Next time I get honked at, I'll reply with "Hello to you too, friendly cager!"
.
.
Originally Posted by egonlou
Then when I catch up to them at the next light I ask "So are you there yet?"
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Apparently, I am missing out on this. I spend most of my time on the road and never have been honked at. I'm sure I will have the pleasure soon when I start a different longer route.
#24
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Originally Posted by egonlou
I generally throw an arm in the air like what would you like me to do and give them 'the look' or look back and with my left arm sweep from back to front as in 'the road is ALL yours, feel free to pass'.
Then when I catch up to them at the next light I ask "So are you there yet?"
Then when I catch up to them at the next light I ask "So are you there yet?"
<cynicism>People are ignorant and unhappy with their lives. This will never change, so we should get used to the honking.</cynicism>
#25
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Originally Posted by d2create
Blow him a kiss. Insecure rednecks love that.