Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => On The Road => Topic started by: ABlipInContinuity on 29 May, 2008, 09:47:27 am
-
I was enjoying a nice ride in this morning. Everything was going swimmingly. No wind. Good legs. I was making the most of the draft from a Stockport council swimming bus when the driver for a grey VW Golf registration MT54 VLM passed me. I was pot-hole dodging in secondary position. She was too close, especially considering it took her an age to pass me. I was keeping pace with the traffic and I had to ease off in order to open up a gap to let her in.
I let go as we hit some open road. The next two drivers to pass overtook me properly. "I hope the driver of that Golf was watching in her rear view mirror", I thought to myself.
I caught her up at the next set of lights and stood by the drivers window. I waited a full five seconds before she noticed me. I had rehearsed what I was going to say in my head. "You're supposed to overtake, not pass". Any how I didn't say a word. I couldn't get one in with the torrent of abuse that flowed from her vile angry mouth. Whilst we were still stationary, she flagged down a police panda car heading in the opposite direction.
The police woman driving the panda car managed to shut the woman up after she had yelled that I was all over the road and that she had to cross into the other lane to pass me and that I had shouted at and threatened her. (I did manage to utter something about cyclists, horses and mopeds and allowing them as much space as you would a car when overtaking, but I honestly don't think it was audiable).
The officer threatened us both with a public order offence if "we" didn't shut up. She then asked if anyone was hurt, then told us to get on our way. The police officer did as if I was turning left, to which I said "yes". I think she assumed the VW Golf driver was going straight on as she wasn't signalling.
Anyway, I had the pleasure of passing the VW Golf driver again as she was stuck in traffic and I wanted to get to work. This was after having witnessed her cross an ASL on a red light. When I passed she said "If you f*ck1ng pass me again I will knock you off".
I've never had a response like that before from a woman driver. In fact I haven't had a verbal threat that someone would deliberately try and do that. It took my breath away. And not in a good way either.
On a plus note, making my way along the A57 Hyde road last night towards Hyde, an Audi A6 passed me and then a police van. They pulled the A6 driver over. The A6 did pass a bit close, but not more than what I'd normally expect so I don't think it was that. Speeding could have been a possibility though. Again, I've never had that happen before!
Commuting definately makes life colourful!
-
I think you're performing a valuable service to other cyclists, magnetically attracting all the nutters on the road and keeping the risk down for the rest of us :o
-
This is when you want a VIO POV or an Archos camera, so you can rewind and show the police person how the driver is lying, and/or record their threats. Oops!
-
Do you have a "kick me" sign on your back, Daniel?
-
You ought to start a wing-mirror collection :thumbsup:
-
Chill!
-
That's harsh.
I think I would have simply ridden away if a police officer started telling me off as well. Being harangued by two nutters at once is more than ICBA to put up with first thing in the morning.
-
Do you have a "kick me" sign on your back, Daniel?
I'm starting to wonder! To be fair I can count the number of hair raising moments since moving to Manchester on two hands and it's been over twelve months since I moved. That's a lot better than in Telford. Even more so when considering I'm completely car-free now so cycling much more and I'm regularly cycling to/from Gorton which has statistically the highest number of uninsured drivers in the UK.
You ought to start a wing-mirror collection :thumbsup:
I've only one touched (slapped?) a cagers cage and I vowed would never to do it again!
Not sure why I need to chill Frenchie, I couldn't be more relaxed.
-
"If you f*ck1ng pass me again I will knock you off".
Aw, bless her little trapped will-to-power. :)
Responses that I've used to that line:
"Yeah, sure you will, big boy" (while stroking beard)
"You'd better kill me when you do it because if you don't I'll f---- track you down and set fire to house and assrape your f---- babies" (when not in such a conciliatory mood ;) )
-
:o
Coming from a weird-bearded, much-pierced chap, the latter one really would be scary.
-
In todays incident I wouldn't have put myself in the position for the woman to have a go at you, I wouldn't have "stood by the drivers window". Stay behind the drivers who pissed you off, don't rehearse what you are going to say and get ready to say it. Let the moment pass. That is how I interpret Frenchie's advice.
-
In todays incident I wouldn't have put myself in the position for the woman to have a go at you, I wouldn't have "stood by the drivers window". Stay behind the drivers who pissed you off, don't rehearse what you are going to say and get ready to say it. Let the moment pass. That is how I interpret Frenchie's advice.
Fair comment.
I've approached quite a number of drivers now over the last 8/9 months where:
a) They've done something really bad
b) They clearly don't understand something
c) I have a clear route of escape
d) They look like they can be reasoned with
I approached this lady because when she passed she pipped her horn and slowed right down. I also thought she could be reasoned with.
I've found where I've judged carefully, stayed calm and well reasoned, the result of the conversation with the driver has been quite satisfactory. Surprisingly so.
I've also found making a joke or sarcastic remark works quite well to. My favourite is "you must have good thighs pedalling that" with ASL offenders. It works best with bus drivers. As does smiling and saying Hello.
-
:o
Coming from a weird-bearded, much-pierced chap, the latter one really would be scary.
Yes, I don't think it would have quite the same effect coming from, say, Liz.
-
Report the incident to the police. Fill in the paperwork as it should be recorded the she cannot control her rage. What if she actually knocks someone off, while in this angry state.
Hopefully all the rage will bring on a karma rebuttal.
-
:o
Coming from a weird-bearded, much-pierced chap, the latter one really would be scary.
Yes, I don't think it would have quite the same effect coming from, say, Liz.
Has Liz got a beard ???
-
In todays incident I wouldn't have put myself in the position for the woman to have a go at you, I wouldn't have "stood by the drivers window". Stay behind the drivers who pissed you off, don't rehearse what you are going to say and get ready to say it. Let the moment pass. That is how I interpret Frenchie's advice.
Yep, me too. These people are out there and they're a hazard to be dealt with like any other. You can't reason with them. If they attempt to engage you in conversation, replying in a foreign language be quite effective at baffling them. Keep switching until you find one they don't know. The modal average number of switches required is zero.
OTOH if a driver had flagged down a police car like that my opening gambit would have been, "Good morning officer, I wish to report a case of dangerous driving and threating behaviour."
-
I think sometimes it is best to avoid confrontation. This morning whilst running a woman suddenly pulled over to our side of the road and mounted the pavement in front of us, this was on an ascent. I just gave her a look, she mumbled a load of abuse about something or other. We just kept on running.
Take a deep breath and know that you would not lower yourself to their level.
-
OTOH if a driver had flagged down a police car like that my opening gambit would have been, "Good morning officer, I wish to report a case of dangerous driving and threating behaviour."
Yup! But how often have I tried to flag down a Police car that's actually observed illegal/dangerous behaviour, and they've just driven on? ::-)
-
:o
Coming from a weird-bearded, much-pierced chap, the latter one really would be scary.
Yes, I don't think it would have quite the same effect coming from, say, Liz.
Has Liz got a beard ???
A healthy sense of self-preservation prevents me from answering that in the way I'd really like to.
;D
-
OTOH if a driver had flagged down a police car like that my opening gambit would have been, "Good morning officer, I wish to report a case of dangerous driving and threating behaviour."
Yup! But how often have I tried to flag down a Police car that's actually observed illegal/dangerous behaviour, and they've just driven on? ::-)
She hasn't really got the option of driving off in this case, has she? A member of the public has attempted to report a crime to her.
-
No, I meant the Police driving on!
-
Get a helmet cam and post these incidents on youtube :D
-
No, I meant the Police driving on!
That's what I meant too. Once the mentally unstable cager had managed to flag the police car down and the officer came over to investigate, said officer is bound to follow up any report of a crime made to her. That's my understanding anyway. Maybe there'll be a nofficer along in a minute to comment on that.
-
:o
Coming from a weird-bearded, much-pierced chap, the latter one really would be scary.
Yes, I don't think it would have quite the same effect coming from, say, Liz.
Has Liz got a beard ???
A healthy sense of self-preservation prevents me from answering that in the way I'd really like to.
;D
She most certainly has not, skin as soft as a peach :)
-
No, I meant the Police driving on!
That's what I meant too. Once the mentally unstable cager had managed to flag the police car down and the officer came over to investigate, said officer is bound to follow up any report of a crime made to her. That's my understanding anyway. Maybe there'll be a nofficer along in a minute to comment on that.
Yebbut that follow up can be an immediate decision to NFA the incident.
..d
-
No, I meant the Police driving on!
That's what I meant too. Once the mentally unstable cager had managed to flag the police car down and the officer came over to investigate, said officer is bound to follow up any report of a crime made to her. That's my understanding anyway. Maybe there'll be a nofficer along in a minute to comment on that.
Yebbut that follow up can be an immediate decision to NFA the incident.
..d
Doesn't that include at least writing the details down in her little notebook?
-
:o
Coming from a weird-bearded, much-pierced chap, the latter one really would be scary.
Yes, I don't think it would have quite the same effect coming from, say, Liz.
Has Liz got a beard ???
A healthy sense of self-preservation prevents me from answering that in the way I'd really like to.
;D
She most certainly has not, skin as soft as a peach :)
But she has been known to sport a rather fine moustache...
-
No, I meant the Police driving on!
That's what I meant too. Once the mentally unstable cager had managed to flag the police car down and the officer came over to investigate, said officer is bound to follow up any report of a crime made to her. That's my understanding anyway. Maybe there'll be a nofficer along in a minute to comment on that.
Yebbut that follow up can be an immediate decision to NFA the incident.
..d
A decision which has to be recorded and potentially justified...
(Beaten to it)
+1 for get a helmet cam. Not only can you then prove the details of the original pass, but more importantly when the moton starts making allegations about your threatening behaviour you can easily demonstrate that the reverse is true.
On the whole, though, I go with the 'don't give the *&^$%£ the satisfaction of reacting' advice. :hand:
-
She most certainly has not, skin as soft as a peach :)
But she has been known to sport a rather fine moustache...
*little moment*
-
In todays incident I wouldn't have put myself in the position for the woman to have a go at you, I wouldn't have "stood by the drivers window". Stay behind the drivers who pissed you off, don't rehearse what you are going to say and get ready to say it. Let the moment pass. That is how I interpret Frenchie's advice.
Whenever I have answered back I got more annoyed than when I get the higher ground by ignoring the aggressive driver. Let them steam up.
-
If you're running along with the traffic you want to allow more gap from the car in front than a car would leave, but of course other cars try to pop into this gap if they can. I actively try to prevent it, if necessary cycle right up to the white line.
-
These people are out there and they're a hazard to be dealt with like any other.
Potholes are a hazard and I like to get them "filled in". ;)
-
In todays incident I wouldn't have put myself in the position for the woman to have a go at you, I wouldn't have "stood by the drivers window". Stay behind the drivers who pissed you off, don't rehearse what you are going to say and get ready to say it. Let the moment pass. That is how I interpret Frenchie's advice.
Whenever I have answered back I got more annoyed than when I get the higher ground by ignoring the aggressive driver. Let them steam up.
+1
I used to get wound up by 'preparing to respond' from time to time - I let most of them go now and my ride in is way more enjoyable. Doing the JoGLE calmed me down a bit and I think made me a better cyclist (all that continual practice; I certainly anticipate driver behaviour better than I used to).
I see my share of loons on a daily basis, both on four and two wheels (powered and unpowered) but it takes a lot to bother me now.
I used to shout all sorts of stuff back at scary drivers (including some unrepeatable stuff) and I can honestly say that the only things that happened was that I got more stressed, passers by were given the impression that at least some cyclists are aggressive fruitbats and I doubt very much that I did a single thing that would have modified the behaviour of poor drivers.
(I'm not suggesting that you were behaving like me)
-
The most satisfying successes of all are when you can get them to admit they made a mistake. I'm not sure I'm particularly good at doing that, but the trick seems to be being friendly, calm, and humble. Nothing even slightly confrontational.
Although inside I often want to angrily tick off a driver for some thoughtless and stupid action, I'd really much rather they learnt from their mistake and realised how it badly affected me. The second win is a calm ignore them attitude, followed up by a letter and video clip to the company transport manager.
-
Of course it's less stressful to ignore these things.
On the other hand I'm an admirer of anyone taking positive action (no matter how unsuccessful) against selfish bullies.
-
The only thing I tend to shout very occasionally is "too close" in what can best be described as an Eeyore stylee. I'm resigned to that happening.
The only other thing I shout is "woh" (pronounced woh?) to get a drivers attention when they haven't seen me, used typically when drivers start pulling out and I can't stop in time.
I tend to smile more and give a thumbs up to drivers who have shown courtesy or who I've succesfully negotiated with to make a right turn or move right.
I think if I had my time again I'd get suitably qualified to conduct research into peoples behaviour in public spaces, especially highways.
-
The only thing I tend to shout very occasionally is "too close" in what can best be described as an Eeyore stylee. I'm resigned to that happening.
check
The only other thing I shout is "woh" (pronounced woh?) to get a drivers attention when they haven't seen me, used typically when drivers start pulling out and I can't stop in time.
check
I tend to smile more and give a thumbs up to drivers who have shown courtesy or who I've succesfully negotiated with to make a right turn or move right.
check
You been copying me? ;D
-
"If you f*ck1ng pass me again I will knock you off".
Aw, bless her little trapped will-to-power. :)
Responses that I've used to that line:
"Yeah, sure you will, big boy" (while stroking beard)
"You'd better kill me when you do it because if you don't I'll f---- track you down and set fire to house and assrape your f---- babies" (when not in such a conciliatory mood ;) )
:o
Coming from a weird-bearded, much-pierced chap, the latter one really would be scary.
It would indeed. :o
Any chance of recording and YouTubing that particular threat, Mr Gates? So the rest of us can watch it like a scary horror movie, like? ;D