How to avoid Roadrage...
- Thread starter jackhandy
- Start date
That's actually a good way to look at it and I might learn from that.
My rides are mainly leisure only and I don't encounter bad driving behaviour too often, I do ride defensively though obey the rules and don't run red lights or hop on and off pavement as I see some riders annoyingly do.
My girlfriend is a very competent rider who comutes to work 2/3 days a week, she too rides in a proper manner kitted out with lights helmet and day glo gillet.Unfortunatley she has experienced quite alot of abuse,
eg. youths who opened a door on her as they overtook,cars sitting close behind reving engines as she passes parked cars possibly thinking it will hurry her along so they can pass. Worst one which really shook her up was going under a railway bridge and having an ambulance close behind switch on the sirens, as it was a narrow road with no pavement she had no alternative but to keep going 100m till road widened and he went past.
Interestingly when we are cycling together she has no problems,I think being a woman makes them a soft target for bad on road behavior.
My girlfriend is a very competent rider who comutes to work 2/3 days a week, she too rides in a proper manner kitted out with lights helmet and day glo gillet.Unfortunatley she has experienced quite alot of abuse,
eg. youths who opened a door on her as they overtook,cars sitting close behind reving engines as she passes parked cars possibly thinking it will hurry her along so they can pass. Worst one which really shook her up was going under a railway bridge and having an ambulance close behind switch on the sirens, as it was a narrow road with no pavement she had no alternative but to keep going 100m till road widened and he went past.
Interestingly when we are cycling together she has no problems,I think being a woman makes them a soft target for bad on road behavior.
As I read your post a terrible feeling of guilt fell upon me.
We followed a very slow moving, vulnerable road user down a narrow lane yesterday in the car. At first we kept a distance from her, but after a while frustration got the better of us. I reduced the gap, and increased the revs to make my presence felt. No reaction.
I honked the horn. Nothing.
My six year old passenger leant out the window, and shouted 'get out the way!', brandishing a reasonably life like pistol.
I honked the horn again.
Not even a shrug of recognition, although by now visibly panicked.
Then I remembered that it was Pheasant that we had treated so badly, and felt a little better.
Wow! You make it sound like a jungle out there... I have never been threatened with violence or suffered Road rage, but I have seen it happen! All it took were a few well chosen words from an agreived cyclists when he caught up with a car at the traffic lights. The car driver want into total meltdown!
I make four or five trips to and from work every week, on my ebike, covering up to 75 miles. My video collection of near misses and interactions with thoughtless, inconsiderate, and dangerous drivers grows. I have gone to both companies and authorities with some success. In all cases I was more interested in correcting bad driving not punishment. Yes it is a jungle out there but I am using my posted stategy to survive. I am much better at not putting myself in dangerous positions on the road and modifying my routes to to take advantage of trails even though it may be a longer distance. Be cool, be careful, get a camera and a rear view mirror. Good luck to all out there
I noted some where, that cars are in fact the johnny come lately of the highways mabee that 's why they dont like cyclists
mabee that 's why they dont like cyclists
As I have become older I notice that everyone is in such a rush!I noted some where, that cars are in fact the johnny come lately of the highways
The rush hour is not an enjoyable experience I take my hat off to cyclists who stick with it.
My girlfriend ride home is mostly up hill I've almost persuaded her to let me fit an electric kit to her bike, I'm hoping the boost it gives will help get her up the hill and past hazards a bit faster and keep clear of other traffic.
I agree non confrontation is the best policy a disapproving shake of the is as far as I take it.
My girlfriend ride home is mostly up hill I've almost persuaded her to let me fit an electric kit to her bike, I'm hoping the boost it gives will help get her up the hill and past hazards a bit faster and keep clear of other traffic.
I agree non confrontation is the best policy a disapproving shake of the is as far as I take it.
Any recommendations for cameras? I'm a bit nervous after what happened to Michael Schumacher (the doctors blame his gopro).I make four or five trips to and from work every week, on my ebike, covering up to 75 miles. My video collection of near misses and interactions with thoughtless, inconsiderate, and dangerous drivers grows. I have gone to both companies and authorities with some success. In all cases I was more interested in correcting bad driving not punishment. Yes it is a jungle out there but I am using my posted stategy to survive. I am much better at not putting myself in dangerous positions on the road and modifying my routes to to take advantage of trails even though it may be a longer distance. Be cool, be careful, get a camera and a rear view mirror. Good luck to all out there
If you go to techmoan.com he does excellent teviews on a wide range of cams. Mine, a choice based on his review, was the JCV200. It did everything the review said. There are cams cheaper and more expensive. You can choose what is in your budget and needs. I have my camera handlebar mounted so that eliminates risk of injury from the camera in case of accident. Hope this helps.
Probably the best remedies for Road Rage are a Presumed Liability law, strict enforcement and cameras everywhere, to provide the evidence.
Better infrastructure helps in a more passive way, segregation means less opportunity for "might is right" to creep in.
I ride defensively, but I shouldn't have to.
Better infrastructure helps in a more passive way, segregation means less opportunity for "might is right" to creep in.
I ride defensively, but I shouldn't have to.
Makes sense to ride defensively, and I drive defensively too. All it really means is expecting the unexpected. If you use the road thinking that all other road users are skilled and aware of other road users, and paying attention at all times, you'll have accidents. On a bike the sort of accidents that may well kill you.
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Defensively, no. That sort of implies "combat"!
Assertively, yes. That sort of implies "it's OK to be here"
Assertively, yes. That sort of implies "it's OK to be here"
It is like a battle field on the road. I do not agree with the assertive approach at all. Yes by all means keep a steady and predictible course. However, if you start being assertive on a bicycle in traffic and you're going to get hurt. Kind of like a soldier with an empty rifle confronting a pack of tanks.
Assertive does not mean bossy, cocky or arrogant. What it means is riding where you can be SEEN all the time and making that your responsibility not the responsibility of the other road users. We, as cyclists, have a place and a right on the road and we share the road with all the other drivers/riders. We are no different to the other road users. If you take it on yourself to be responsible for others SEEING you, your outlook, whilst on the road, will be different.
Been training PTW riders for while now and it honestly works
Been training PTW riders for while now and it honestly works