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Ummm MalkierKnight Send a noteboard - 28/06/2010 06:01:19 AM
The story isn't that exciting. It's just that I could probably count the times I've been yelled at in my adult life on a single hand. So getting yelled at is sort of an event. Also, I need to vent :P.

Anyway, first he honked at me. Luckily I was prepared for this after reading some horror stories from other cyclists and didn't get startled and crash.

Then when the guy passed me he yelled "Get on the sidewalk where you belong, dumb ass!"


I don't have much understanding for this in any situation. Cyclists have as much right to the road as anyone. That doesn't mean I think they should be riding a bike on a busy 35+ mph zone and slowing everyone else down. But this was a residential area. The speed limit is 25mph and I was riding 15. It's actually illegal in most places for bicycles to use the sidewalk, and frowned upon in others. I always make way for cars when I'm riding though.

In my town, where I ride, there is a car sticking out and blocking the sidewalk in every 3rd driveway. It's not possible to use the sidewalk. But more importantly, my town has a population of 7,500. It was Sunday at 11pm. There were literally (and I know it for a fact because the town is so quiet I could have heard them) no other moving vehicles in a 1/2 mile radius, and no parked cars on the road I was using. I could have driven 3 18-wheelers side by side on the road, and this idiot yells at me. It took no effort for him to pass me.


Legally you may have the same right to the road as cars, but anyone with common sense can tell otherwise. Pedaling down a road meant for vehicles that can travel up to 100 miles and hour is just silly and stupid. It'd be like flying a hang glider in front of an airplane and demanding the pilot to slow down. You know why cyclists are kicked off sidewalks? Because people are walking about as fast to cyclists as cyclists are to cars. It just so happens we have to let the cyclists pedal along somewhere. Cyclists shouldn't be allowed to pedal their bikes anywhere but lanes designated for cyclists, to say you have as much right to the road as cars is like saying a hang glider has as much right to a "sky" road as an airplane.

You were probably yelled at because it was dark (11pm by your description) the road was empty (meaning ok to speed a little) and a bicycle was plodding along at 15mph when the car was likely aiming for over twice that. Not only was it dangerous (because it was dark--im not sure if you were wearing proper reflective gear) but it was bothersome.

All that said, your description of the driver does sound like an unintelligent, quick to anger, just-got-back-from-a-barbecue-with-lots-of-drinks kind of guy, so I'm sure this isn't entirely your fault. I just take issue with cyclists always getting so incensed when they almost get hit or they get yelled at by drivers. It seems pretty clear to me that they have it coming to them.

Hope this wasn't offensive to any cyclists, I'm all for the sport if it's done in the right place, safe and out of the way of motor traffic.
You must unlearn what you have learned.
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I got screamed at by a motorist while riding my bicycle today - 28/06/2010 05:44:45 AM 1670 Views
Ummm - 28/06/2010 06:01:19 AM 1291 Views
Let me guess. You live in an American suburb. *NM* - 28/06/2010 06:12:24 AM 549 Views
Sorry, but no. - 28/06/2010 06:17:20 AM 1091 Views
I think you missed the part... - 28/06/2010 06:22:35 AM 1039 Views
Now that I've calmed down a bit, I'm going to actually address your points. - 28/06/2010 12:16:10 PM 1411 Views
hey now! - 28/06/2010 01:18:16 PM 946 Views
See apology below. *NM* - 29/06/2010 08:34:17 AM 568 Views
it's okay dude i was just giving you a hard time *NM* - 29/06/2010 09:24:56 AM 557 Views
I understand that what he said offended you - 28/06/2010 04:11:57 PM 1173 Views
My social capital at this site is pretty low, so I don't mind admitting that I agree with MK. - 28/06/2010 04:12:42 PM 1043 Views
This point: - 28/06/2010 06:37:32 PM 1148 Views
Not in the United States. - 28/06/2010 07:25:56 PM 1142 Views
Highways are, of course, a different matter. - 28/06/2010 07:32:50 PM 1098 Views
I know - 28/06/2010 07:34:04 PM 1207 Views
Re: I know - 28/06/2010 08:27:04 PM 1064 Views
Re: I know - 28/06/2010 08:38:14 PM 1187 Views
That makes me mad. - 28/06/2010 08:46:58 PM 1171 Views
Don't be mad - 28/06/2010 08:52:47 PM 1009 Views
Re: I know - 28/06/2010 09:15:22 PM 1152 Views
To your last question: Arlington County, VA - 30/06/2010 03:29:55 AM 984 Views
It is illegal to drive on the shoulder. - 29/06/2010 09:43:40 AM 1178 Views
Maybe I should have said "modern roads." - 28/06/2010 08:20:55 PM 1152 Views
Perhaps. - 28/06/2010 08:36:15 PM 1200 Views
I think we just disagree on the necessity is all. - 28/06/2010 09:00:44 PM 978 Views
Matters of degree, I suppose. - 28/06/2010 09:07:40 PM 989 Views
Yes, because that cyclist is SUCH a hazard to you in your car. - 29/06/2010 01:03:05 AM 1129 Views
The central issue is people. - 29/06/2010 09:52:22 AM 1108 Views
you keep talking about cyclists on highways as if it applied to all roads. - 29/06/2010 02:37:31 PM 1164 Views
There are TWO equally important points there: - 30/06/2010 01:15:17 AM 1167 Views
Re: I think we just disagree on the necessity is all. - 02/07/2010 09:19:13 PM 1119 Views
Two words: Public Transportation - 30/06/2010 03:32:05 AM 1133 Views
three words: share the road - 30/06/2010 04:08:28 AM 1157 Views
Re: three words: share the road - 01/07/2010 08:03:54 AM 1214 Views
Re: Two words: Public Transportation - 30/06/2010 08:43:51 AM 1313 Views
Re: Two words: Public Transportation - 01/07/2010 08:05:37 AM 1139 Views
Re: Two words: Public Transportation - 01/07/2010 08:40:10 AM 1084 Views
How the hell is a 7,000 person town Urban? - 01/07/2010 08:52:45 AM 1154 Views
Re: How the hell is a 7,000 person town Urban? - 04/07/2010 12:30:43 AM 1091 Views
Re: How the hell is a 7,000 person town Urban? - 05/07/2010 09:03:03 AM 1167 Views
I'd say you have it exactly the wrong way round. - 01/07/2010 09:41:27 AM 1225 Views
You can't be serious. If you do think that's always (not just sometimes) a viable option, then... - 30/06/2010 09:20:03 AM 1087 Views
Really? - 01/07/2010 08:07:29 AM 895 Views
Have you heard of Britain? - 01/07/2010 08:38:11 AM 1128 Views
My city doesn't have ANY. not even shuttle buses. *NM* - 01/07/2010 06:00:22 AM 630 Views
My city doesn't have anything eather. *NM* - 04/07/2010 12:32:52 AM 719 Views
You do realize that... - 28/06/2010 08:38:39 PM 1123 Views
Bikers can be equally as rude, I agree. - 29/06/2010 03:00:18 AM 1137 Views
heh - 29/06/2010 04:45:46 AM 1096 Views
Despite your subject line, I'm glad to see that we agree with each other more than MK and I do. - 29/06/2010 10:13:29 AM 1201 Views
Get your head on straight, you silly cyclist - 01/07/2010 08:02:58 AM 993 Views
Now now, there's no need to be rude. - 02/07/2010 12:04:16 AM 1207 Views
Re: Now now, there's no need to be rude. - 04/07/2010 05:53:01 PM 995 Views
What part of "there are no alternatives" don't you understand? - 04/07/2010 09:10:23 PM 1066 Views
What part of my post did you not read...? - 05/07/2010 09:01:32 AM 1238 Views
I agree entirely. - 28/06/2010 05:27:36 PM 1247 Views
Really???? - 28/06/2010 04:59:12 PM 1120 Views
that's always really annoying - 28/06/2010 06:27:07 AM 1274 Views
Re: I got screamed at by a motorist while riding my bicycle today - 28/06/2010 03:25:22 PM 949 Views
Are they supposed to use sidewalks anywhere? *NM* - 28/06/2010 04:58:50 PM 531 Views
I doubt it. *NM* - 28/06/2010 05:32:17 PM 478 Views
my daughter rides her bike on the sidewalk all the time - 28/06/2010 06:07:01 PM 1096 Views
Not sure, but - 28/06/2010 06:53:14 PM 996 Views
That all depends on what kind of road, I guess. - 28/06/2010 07:09:52 PM 1130 Views
we actually have a lot of cyclists on one of our 50mph roads - 29/06/2010 01:08:31 AM 1015 Views
I would - 28/06/2010 07:25:22 PM 1010 Views
You've alluded to that a few times now. - 28/06/2010 07:42:05 PM 991 Views
a lot of the time they do in smaller cities - 29/06/2010 01:05:38 AM 912 Views
Of course. Most bikers not in the mid-size to larger cities do. - 29/06/2010 03:06:03 AM 972 Views
Re: Are they supposed to use sidewalks anywhere? - 02/07/2010 09:57:46 PM 1003 Views
That sucks - 28/06/2010 04:34:35 PM 945 Views
You have every right to be on the road. The guy was an ass. - 28/06/2010 07:30:23 PM 1067 Views
I'm so glad I actually READ what you said before responding. - 29/06/2010 09:16:25 AM 1127 Views
?? I thought it was matter of COURSE that bikes weren't allowed on the highway - 29/06/2010 09:27:06 AM 1077 Views
Should be, but it's not. - 29/06/2010 09:59:35 AM 1073 Views
Question for you. - 29/06/2010 10:22:13 AM 920 Views
and i haven't said that anywhere. - 29/06/2010 02:39:06 PM 954 Views
That is what you get for living in Austin *NM* - 29/06/2010 02:38:20 PM 599 Views
about the driving on the shoulder thing - 29/06/2010 02:49:29 PM 1160 Views

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