Thankfully I live in a very bike-friendly city, though this sort of thing has still happened to me. *NM*
Panorphaeon Send a noteboard - 28/06/2010 07:56:59 PM
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 .
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.
Edit: I guess I should have said "in any size city" not "in any situation." Because I didn't mean "while riding in the middle of a lane in a 45 zone"
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.
Edit: I guess I should have said "in any size city" not "in any situation." Because I didn't mean "while riding in the middle of a lane in a 45 zone"
I got screamed at by a motorist while riding my bicycle today
28/06/2010 05:44:45 AM
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Ummm
28/06/2010 06:01:19 AM
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Let me guess. You live in an American suburb. *NM*
28/06/2010 06:12:24 AM
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Yeah, the "sport" part gives that away even more than everything else... *NM*
28/06/2010 08:06:03 AM
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seriously, you think people didn't use bikes as transportation anymore!! *NM*
28/06/2010 08:26:36 AM
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That was offensive to cyclists. People who think like you are why so many of us die. *NM*
28/06/2010 08:28:24 AM
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Now that I've calmed down a bit, I'm going to actually address your points.
28/06/2010 12:16:10 PM
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hey now!
28/06/2010 01:18:16 PM
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I understand that what he said offended you
28/06/2010 04:11:57 PM
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You're right, I was stereotyping and getting a little ad hominem. I'm sorry. *NM*
29/06/2010 08:33:20 AM
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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
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Re: My social capital at this site is pretty low, so I don't mind admitting that I agree with MK.
28/06/2010 06:27:42 PM
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This point:
28/06/2010 06:37:32 PM
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Not in the United States.
28/06/2010 07:25:56 PM
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Highways are, of course, a different matter.
28/06/2010 07:32:50 PM
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I know
28/06/2010 07:34:04 PM
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Re: I know
28/06/2010 08:27:04 PM
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Re: I know
28/06/2010 08:38:14 PM
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It is illegal to drive on the shoulder.
29/06/2010 09:43:40 AM
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i'm pretty sure bicycles are banned from almost all highways, regardless of access
29/06/2010 02:34:00 PM
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Maybe I should have said "modern roads."
28/06/2010 08:20:55 PM
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Perhaps.
28/06/2010 08:36:15 PM
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I think we just disagree on the necessity is all.
28/06/2010 09:00:44 PM
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Yes, because that cyclist is SUCH a hazard to you in your car.
29/06/2010 01:03:05 AM
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The central issue is people.
29/06/2010 09:52:22 AM
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you keep talking about cyclists on highways as if it applied to all roads.
29/06/2010 02:37:31 PM
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There are TWO equally important points there:
30/06/2010 01:15:17 AM
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then why are you arguing with me? I said that the central issue is people being stupid. *NM*
01/07/2010 05:59:23 AM
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Two words: Public Transportation
30/06/2010 03:32:05 AM
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...doesn't exist or is completely dysfunctional in a lot of places. *NM*
30/06/2010 03:57:26 AM
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Re: Two words: Public Transportation
30/06/2010 08:43:51 AM
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Re: Two words: Public Transportation
01/07/2010 08:05:37 AM
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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
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My city doesn't have ANY. not even shuttle buses. *NM*
01/07/2010 06:00:22 AM
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Re: My city doesn't have ANY. not even shuttle buses.
01/07/2010 08:08:02 AM
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Outside of a highly urbanized area, I surmise. The entirety of the US is not like the East Coast. *NM*
02/07/2010 02:11:01 AM
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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
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Get your head on straight, you silly cyclist
01/07/2010 08:02:58 AM
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He never said there were no buses in our city. He said that, as a student, he can't afford them. *NM*
01/07/2010 08:42:47 AM
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I'd say most urban areas have few roads with speed limits above 50 km/h (30mph)
01/07/2010 10:35:20 AM
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Now now, there's no need to be rude.
02/07/2010 12:04:16 AM
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Re: Now now, there's no need to be rude.
04/07/2010 05:53:01 PM
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That's always upsetting. You just have to remember that some people are simply arseholes, and...
28/06/2010 11:41:22 AM
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Re: I got screamed at by a motorist while riding my bicycle today
28/06/2010 03:25:22 PM
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Are they supposed to use sidewalks anywhere? *NM*
28/06/2010 04:58:50 PM
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In Sweden we often have combined bike and walking paths a few meters to the side of the road
28/06/2010 06:22:40 PM
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Not sure, but
28/06/2010 06:53:14 PM
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Thankfully I live in a very bike-friendly city, though this sort of thing has still happened to me. *NM*
28/06/2010 07:56:59 PM
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I'm so glad I actually READ what you said before responding.
29/06/2010 09:16:25 AM
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?? I thought it was matter of COURSE that bikes weren't allowed on the highway
29/06/2010 09:27:06 AM
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Should be, but it's not.
29/06/2010 09:59:35 AM
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Question for you.
29/06/2010 10:22:13 AM
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the law says they have to to ride in single file as close to curb as is practical
29/06/2010 03:31:55 PM
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