indyfabz

I spent nearly 3 weeks cycling in Italy in 2013. We were based in the NE part of country and did day rides. It was quite lovely riding. Never felt threatened by the traffic at all. The only close call some members of our group had occurred when they barreled into a traffic circle without yielding to a car already negotiating the circle.

Lots of people ride in that part of the country. On Sundays we saw numerous large group rides. On one there was a guy hanging onto the back of the group while riding a MTB that had no...wait for it...fork. (And, obviously, no front wheel.)

When I was there in '95 for the Giro the riding was also quite nice. And I had the thrill of seeing Marco Pantani out for a spin while we were heading to a stage finish at the Bianchi factory in Trevliglio. He was sitting out the race recovering from an injury.

Getting a license in Italy is an involved process, and you have to be at least 18 to get a license to drive a car. Many people actually take driver education courses. I remember seeing a lot of auto schools last time I was there.

Getting an Italian Driving Licence - Italy - Angloinfo

Daniel4

Yelling at a cyclist when you happen to be in your car? Yup, that's what driving does to people.

70sSanO

Not sure if this is applicable, but my wife yelled at a cyclist today.

John

Ttom

Where I live I have a legal right to flip off a police officer, that does not make it a good idea if one continues to flip of police one of those officers is going to mess up your day, even though he will be in the wrong in doing so.
If you have a perfectly good lane for your bike why would you take the car lane, how is that for your safety?
Some bike riders are as guilty as car riders about not wanting to slow down or get out of the way, so while you are exercising your right to the road just remember you are the one that will get broken up or dead if things go wrong.
When I ride I am never in to big of a hurry to get out of the way of cars if at all possible.
When I see some guy riding a bike that is two sizes to small with no helmet against traffic I do not bother saying anything to him, if his common sense does not alert him to his dangerous situation I doubt my yelling at him will make any difference, I just figure he is competing for the Darwin Award.

wolfchild

Yelling at drivers and calling them cagers when you happen to ride your bicycle ??. Yup, that's what cycling does to people

tomato coupe

What did you do wrong?

wolfchild

Many people will honk out of anger and frustration and to intimidate others, so yes honking can be a hostile act and a display of aggression.

Bald Paul

And here's the story of Mr Hyde
Who killed a cyclist on his ride
He lost in court
Must do his time
12 years or more for homicide.

rumrunn6

I'd share his "nursery rhyme" but it's not quite safe for work. but since it's Friday & boats are going in the water this weekend ...

indyfabz

Beat me to it.

Maybe left the toilet seat up.

Ogsarg

I've always taken "Share the road" as a mutual obligation and don't have much respect for cyclists who take the lane when there is a bike lane or reasonable shoulder to ride on just because they have the right.

I take as little of the lane as I reasonable can and inconvenience drivers as little as possible and expect them to give me some room when I need it. I'm consider of their needs to get to where they are going and expect they are considerate of my safety.

ridelikeaturtle

Bicycles and cars are NOT EQUAL, and not even close, therefore this concept of "share the road" is stupid and ridiculous and needs to be put to bed.

tomato coupe

Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are also not equal. Should they not share the road?

indyfabz

Seems that not being equal is precisely why we should share. So that the one with the advantage cedes at least some of that advantage. But maybe you think motorists should have a "Screw bikes, horses, pedestrians, etc., mentality.

urbanknight

Doesn't matter. The way to end it quickly is always by saying, "You're right".

Troul 

C'mon, everyone loves glass in there food... right?

bruce19

From the Italian for something like "fa en culo." I heard it from time to time growing up in my Italian grandparents home.

bruce19

Obviously a work of fiction.

livedarklions

What's your point with that? I read that to mean no one should ever ride a bike.

You seriously arguing we should always yield no matter what?

Look, you don't seem to realize how radically anti-cycling you're coming off here.

The guy in your OP was not doing anything particularly dangerous, you had to bend over backwards to make it sound like a safety issue. I don't know whether what he did was right or wrong, I just think as a motorist and a cyclist that yelling stuff out of windows is pointless and hostile AF.

livedarklions

Think you got that Karen backwards, Karen, you're the one chiding people for their riding habits and acting all authoritative. Chirp on the horn is a warning, I said "except as a warning". Using the horn to express displeasure is most definitely a hostile act, as is giving someone the finger.

I will not be happy if you get killed, btw, and I think it's pretty disgusting that you're sticking to that line.

urbanknight

Amusingly, such use of the horn is actually illegal in most municipalities while use of the finger is protected speech in USA.

urbanknight

Whenever I'm tempted to get angry at someone else for their behavior on the road, I try to think if there might be a reason for it. The shoulder might look good from the view inside a car, but maybe there's some glass, a drainage grate, or other hazardous thing that seems perfectly fine from inside a larger vehicle. For that reason, I don't tend to express any displeasure unless the behavior is outright dangerous.

MarcusT

Thank you for your input. I'm sure we're better off.

nodnerb

That's the problem. I don't want to hurt or kill anyone on the road, and I worry about it. When someone is careless, stupid, intentionally and self righteously annoying others on a bike or in a car it pisses me off because I don't want to be involved in hurting someone. And the fact that some cyclists think that the minute they get on the bike they are absolved of all responsibility for their actions, stupidity and carelessness. So if one of those entitled people decides to piss off a long line of cars with a perfectly good smooth new empty bike lane beside them, separated with a curb, that cyclists *****ed and moaned for, all the while giving a dozen pissed off drivers the finger.......yeah, I'd have a happy smile on my face if they got what was coming to them.

Bald Paul

Not always, but unfortunately, not often enough.

Driver Who Killed 2 Cyclists Sentenced to 18 Years - Outside Online