Altercation with a driver

[Janeyb]

Having a lovely rise around North Norfolk this morning. Two of is going a fair pace along a tiny single lane road. Hear a car approaching behind. We were going uphill and see a safe place to pull in about 150 yards ahead. Said driver decides to ty and squeeze through gap. Husband turns round and tells driver to back off and we ride two abreast to discourage driver from attempting overtake again. Driver revs up to within centimetre of back wheel and hoots horn! At which point we stop and give em hell. Shady lane and sunlight angle meant we couldn't see driver until we were next to car. She wound down her window and a 'discussion' ensued! Husband had to reign in his anger as he didn't want to intimidate her. Were we wrong to continue cycling? Had we stopped to let her pass we would have been up to our knees in the grass verge in stingers.

 

[HLaB]

There's always one don't let it spoil you're ride, if there somewhere safe to pull in and I feel like I'm holding them up I like to pull in before they reach the beeping stage but if there isn't the beep just means they've seen you; if they want to get wound up its their problem.

 

[Arch]

You weren't wrong. You were going to let her by, but she couldn't wait a few seconds. Sod her. Just enjoy the thought that you're out getting fit and healthy, and she's heading for an anurism.

 

[Bman]

Although most motorists seem to think differently, I like to make them wait a few minutes.

After all, if they want to drive "fast", then a tiny single lane road is not the place.

 

[seadragonpisces]

Well I am a motorist and a cyclist and its the bolshy cyclists who wind up on purpose, ride 2-3 abreast (or make them wait as recommended above) that give all cyclists a bad name.

Yes the car is probably an inconvenience and I am sure the driver feels the same. When I hear a car coming I move as far to the left as I can, rather than irritate some driver who might run me off the road if I annoy them too much. No harm in pulling as soon as you can, then everyone is happy and no-one is annoyed, simples !!!

 

[Wardy]

It seems to me that a lot of motorists become agitated if they are delayed for the slightest amount of time; even though they might not NEED to get to their destination by a certain time. A different example of this is if you are standing on a pedestrian refuge in the middle of a two-lane road, obviously waiting to cross, and there's a line of traffic approaching and joining other cars already stopped at traffic lights. Will any blighter stop to let you cross? Oh no, they have to all come through, even though the lights haven't changed and usually there's one who stops right across your path.

 

[Janeyb]

Well I am a motorist and a cyclist and its the bolshy cyclists who wind up on purpose, ride 2-3 abreast (or make them wait as recommended above) that give all cyclists a bad name.

Yes the car is probably an inconvenience and I am sure the driver feels the same. When I hear a car coming I move as far to the left as I can, rather than irritate some driver who might run me off the road if I annoy them too much. No harm in pulling as soon as you can, then everyone is happy and no-one is annoyed, simples !!!

The road we were on was a small narrow road - the kind that has grass growing through the Tarmac. Had we stopped immediately we would have had to stand on verge amongst nettles to ensure our safey as had she passed while we were on the road she would have hit us. We only cycled two abreast for our safety so that she couldn't attempt the overtake again. We never normally do as we know it is annoying.

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Maybe an acknowledgment to the driver that you knew she was there and/or a gesture to indicate you were going to pull over would have helped. She probably thought that you were just being awkward.

I'm sure in your case you weren't, but I do sometimes feel from a lot of comments on here that the cyclist is 'God' and everyone else should inconvenience themselves for them.

 

[asterix]

Unfortunately some UK drivers seem to think they are so important that even a delay of a few seconds is an insult!

You were quite right to expect them to wait patiently and under no obligation whatsoever to pull over to let them pass.

Their attempted intimidation was sheer bullying of the sort car drivers feel entitled to use on more vulnerable road users.

Last week I returned to France and it is very refreshing to encounter far more civilised behaviour again.

 

[Bman]

Although most motorists seem to think differently, I like to make them wait a few minutes.

After all, if they want to drive "fast", then a tiny single lane road is not the place.

Just to clarify, I'm not suggesting I or anyone else do this just to annoy the motorist. But if its not safe to let them pass (on narrow single tracked road as per the OP) I like to make them wait (until it is safe to overtake).

Usually I catch them up again anyway when they have to slow for oncoming vehicles/pedestrians/livestock.

 

[TheDoctor]

Janeyb - you were exactly right. Your safety is far more important than the driver's impatience.

 

[coffeejo]

People should only overtake when it's safe to do so, and two cyclists balancing on a bank with their bikes does not, IMHO, sound safe.

If I'm in the position, I usually make some sort of overtly visible display of making an effort to increase my speed, so standing on the pedals for a quick boost, etc. And I remind myself that if I was a tractor, they'd have one hell of a long wait til they could get past.

But the majority of car drivers I've encountered have been wonderfully patient and don't want to squish me as much as I don't want to be squished. And for that, I'm grateful.

 

[Cush]

When I drive those ****** cyclists are just a nusiance that stop me getting on. When I am a cyclist all drivers are fools that never past a driving test and would be lost on a bike.

 

[Paul Walters]

I think you were perfectly correct in what you did. If the wheel-hugging had happened to me, I would have stopped to block their way, taken out my phone and (at least made it look like) I was reporting their behaviour to the police.

I had a near miss myself on saturday on a motorway junciton I ride round frequently. I was approaching the top of the off slip as I cycled around the roundabout, and knowing how fast it is, I always have a good hard look as far down the slip road as I can see, even before I get there. I could see a car approaching, and so took a wider line so as to be more visible to the driver. I also made sure I made eye-contact with him, by looking directly at the car as I crossed in front of him..... only, despite me being no more than 6 feet in front of him, he was totally oblivious to me and pulled out directly onto me. Luckily my "take a wide line" policy paid off, and I had enough space to swerve off to my right and avoid him...... my girlfriend was a few yards behind me, and she also joined in the verbal abuse hurled at him.... and you know what ? He was STILL oblivious to us ! My GF had to stop and let him pull out behind me !

He was an old guy, and had an old lady in the car with him. I drive many many miles for my job each week, and have seen many examples of bad driving, but if you are unable to see someone who is immediately in front of you, then it is time to give it all up.

 

[Ravenbait]

You were well within your rights.

Your safety is always more important than a few moments, even a few minutes, of someone else's time.

Sam