Other Resources My Cup of Joe » Do I just live in a stupid place? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, the bear, DerekL, alicefoeller Reply
2005-03-07 6:47 PM

User image

Regular
93
252525
Subject: Do I just live in a stupid place?
Recently, as I have been training outdoors, I've been reminded how rude people driving are towards cyclists/runners. A friend of mine was riding his bike the other day and a high school kid on a school bus through a baseball at him. It didn't hit him directly, but it hit his bike and broke three spokes in his back wheel! My husband has had people spit on him, and throw apples at him while riding, and I have people who swerve like they are going to hit me and then at last minute swerve back onto the road. We had several cyclists killed in the canyons last year because people weren't paying attention. I have had similar experiences when running. Do I just live in a crappy place or does anyone else experience this? Sometimes what people do is just rude and I realize sometimes stupid, but I really hate to ride/run in the city at all because I am afraid I'll get hurt. We try to report crazy incidents, but nothing is really ever done about it...
I kinda just want to vent, but I also would like to know what is going on in other areas of the world, and what ya'll do about it. My husband likes to catch up to people at stoplights and ask them why they spit on him, threw something at him, swerved at him, cut him off, etc...This kinda scares me too because if they're stupid enough to chuck something at you, what's to say they won't do something else stupid!?!?


2005-03-07 6:57 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Pro
4228
2000200010010025
Broomfield, Colorado
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
This unfortunately happens all over!    It is sad.  But I agree, confronting the person makes me nervous.....get the license # and report it instead! 
2005-03-08 2:03 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Elite Veteran
777
500100100252525
flatland
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
I have to say that I haven't had much in the way of bad experiences while running, I think because I can actually make eye contact with the oncoming vehicle's driver and most people (around here anyway) aren't mean enough to look you in the eye and try to hurt you. I flat refuse to cycle on the road, however, it's just too dangerous -- I'm not willing to get injured/killed just to prove that I have a right to ride. I'll stay offroad, thank you very much, or on very quiet, mostly-unused roads.
2005-03-08 2:44 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Veteran
152
1002525
Central Connecticut
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
The worst that ever happend to me was a bunch of drunkards jeer and make obsceen jestures towards me. But usually I encounter just bad drivers on my runs/bike rides. Ones who blatantly speed (60mph in a 30 zone), ones who think they are mario andredetti (sp?) and hug the shoulders (the same shoulder that I am running on). My typical response is the one finger salute if it warrants it, but usually I just brush it off and go about my own business. Unless you carry a cell phone and report the liscence plates the police cannot really do anything about it.

But if it was a school bus, I would try to find what school it was from and what bus route it was for and report the little trouble maker.

Edited by Rower 2005-03-08 2:47 PM
2005-03-08 3:04 PM
in reply to: #126570

Veteran
171
1002525
Eilat, Israel
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
a few weeks back someone poured a cup of cola while paaing me by and gave me the finger. I stopped, wiped myself aoff and thought about what had just happened. I had not done anything wrong. I was riding to the side, minding my own buisness; I lost my concentration. THe more I thought about it the more I realized how sorry some peoples lives are and what they must do in order to feel good. I rode a few more miles and saw the 2 guys who passed me by and poured cola on me. I asked them why they did it and they said they were just kidding. The guy who poured the cola got punched in the face and fell to the floor. His friend was scared and asked me why I punched his friend, I told him I was just kidding.
2005-03-08 3:13 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Veteran
290
100100252525
Denver
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
I've only had one issue with people being deliberately mean, the others were just bad drivers or not paying attention. The one time, I was riding in a neighborhood actually and these young men, pretty sure they'd been drinking, drove by and made lewd comments and gestures. I didn't really think anything of it. When they turned around and came back towards me, that's when I got a little nervous. It was in the middle of the day and luckily someone came 'round the corner walking their dogs. I guess that discouraged the boys and they took off.


2005-03-08 4:08 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Elite Veteran
628
50010025
Atlanta, GA
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
My husband was shot one evening when he was out running. Thankfully it was just a bb but even still. He tried to get the truck's tag info but they drove away to fast.

It happens everywhere.

2005-03-08 6:39 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Veteran
132
10025
Montreal
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
I've never had anyone be deliberatly aggressive towards me, but drivers in this city are extremely careless. It's amazing how many drivers don't signal (this really bugs me) and pay no attention whatsoever when they turn. However, my biggest fear in city cycling is getting doored by people getting out of parked cars -- it can be hard to see in all the windows on your right when you're also watching out for the traffic on your left.

Montreal would be an amazing cycling city if the drivers weren't so bad. No wonder they don't allow right turns on red lights when you're on the island (unfortunately they're going to change that soon).

Matthew
2005-03-08 8:21 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Expert
795
500100100252525
New Mexico
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
Too many incidents to list, but one that comes to mind was the time my wife was riding to work and a pickup truck drove across the road, and toward her on the shoulder she was riding on. The driver was smiling.

On that note I'd recommend getting a license plate number, reporting the incident, and pressing charges. Time consuming, but safer than confronting those idiots.

I prefer to stay on the trails and do most of my road rides on sunday when there is little to no traffic.

When I was working bike patrol I found a lot of satisfaction in catching some of those idiot drivers in traffic or at traffic signals and giving them tickets (or in some cases arresting them.)
2005-03-08 11:46 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Extreme Veteran
341
10010010025
Niagara Falls, Ont
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
Cobi is now my hero.

My bike v.s. car mishap was caused by a car making a unsafe left turn and me t-boneing the car at 45 kph. When I woke up, i had a broken hand and a concussion (bell makes the best damn helmets!) and after the lawsuit, a new bike. and some pocket change.
2005-03-09 10:29 AM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Expert
948
50010010010010025
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
My best stories:

Riding alone in a rural area, I had a couple of young guys pull up next to me and wave pornography out the window at me.

Another time, riding with my husband and 2-yr-old son on a big group tour, we had (again) a couple of young guys pull up and start mocking the size of my husband's equipment as visible through his bike shorts. My husband is 6'8" and probably has never been picked on in his life, so he just laughed incredulously. They would never have dared walk up to him and pick a fight, which is probably the point.

Something about young guys in cars who figure they can say or do whatever they want to a cyclist, then race away. Real manly.


2005-03-09 3:55 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Veteran
275
100100252525
San Diego, CA
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
I think that this thread lends credibility to the fact that there are too many idiots in the world.
2005-03-09 4:48 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Regular
93
252525
Subject: AMEN TO THAT!
2005-03-09 10:38 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Extreme Veteran
427
10010010010025
Shiloh Illinois
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
True story:

My grandpa at age 50 something, decided to ride from St.Louis MO to Florida by bike. He trains on his good old c'dale for quite a while. *Note he was pack'n due to sleeping on the side of road

His saga begins, makes it through the mountains in TN and sleeps in a tent or YMCA for the whole trip. Even accidentally slept in a ditch with a gator.

He makes it to Alabama and gets a beer bottle thrown at him by some kids. They made fun of him for a while and left. The day goes by and he rides up and traffic is at a dead halt. As he rides up the kids car who threw the beer bottle is infront of him. He rides up and grins and pulls out the gun (hes sun scorched, hasnt shaved in 2 weeks, sweaty) The kids freak out and my gpa just sat theyr with a gun pulled out and had a nice convo with the kids who almost pi*** on themselves. I dont think that will ever happen again




-Just a nice road rage story
2005-03-10 2:35 PM
in reply to: #126570

User image

Pro
4578
20002000500252525
Vancouver, BC
Subject: RE: Do I just live in a stupid place?
Yes there are idiots everyone and it sucks to hear these stories. Sometimes when cycling in a group, one of the cyclists with argue with one of the idiots which does nothing but continue to heat up the arguement. There is another cyclist in our group who's response to the idiot is something like, "Hey, you don't know how bad your life will be if you end up killing someone." That statement works pretty well. Usually the driver is much more careful or better behaved after that. Maybe you could give that a try.

Jen

Edited by jeng 2005-03-10 2:36 PM
New Thread
Other Resources My Cup of Joe » Do I just live in a stupid place? Rss Feed