fed up of abuse!!!

[fatboysoontobeslim]

beeing a newbie to cycling (march last year) i cant believe the abuse i get even though ive done nowt wrong!! i live in north wales on the coast and theres a cycle path along it for a good distance, however, its not in very good condition : pot holes poor surface etc and people of all ages and dogs just walking out in front of you, so i tend to stick to the road, i wear bright top so i can be seen usually have rear light on at all t imes helmet, gloves etc so am appropiately dressed. its seems to me now that more or less every time i go out i get some k--b head shoutin get on the cucle path!!!! or get on the prom, it seems to be getting worse and im starting to lose my rag, language has been exchanged both ways (not me first i add) but ive just had a belly full, i can see it coming to blows in the future which is the last thing i want. im seriously thinking of alternative routes but then i think why the hell should i, anyone else experience this??? anyway moan over¬

 

[HLaB]

Unfortunately I think everybody has experienced that from certain kn0bheads; its not easy but I try not to react its their problem.

 

[snailracer]

... every time i go out i get some k--b head shoutin get on the cucle path!!!! or get on the prom, it seems to be getting worse and im starting to lose my rag...

Arm yourself with some good ripostes. My current favourites:
"WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE BUS?"
"HEY, I PAY ROAD TAX!"

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Two steps are required:

1. Kiss fingers.
2. Place fingers on (your own!) a**e.

If they are bright enough, they will get the message. If not then why worry about harmless vegetation?

 

[buggi]

when they shout "use the cycle path"

shout back Ali G style... "no... u is da psychopath!"

 

[snorri]

its seems to me now that more or less every time i go out i get some k--b head shoutin get on the cucle path!!!!

Carry a pen and paper and write down full details of incident immediately, Vehicle, colour, type, registration number, number of occupants, time of day, location of incident and report to your nearest police staion as soon as possible.
The fact you are on a bike has nothing to do with it, if you are at the receiving end of threatening behaviour you must report it.

 

[Hydra]

It's something I've started to get used to as a cyclist, to the point where I'm more amused than I am angry.
Today I was cycling up to a red light when a man in a car said "Oi, red light you b*stard"... before I'd even got to the line. Right muppets, some folk

 

[Gerry Attrick]

It's something I've started to get used to as a cyclist, to the point where I'm more amused than I am angry.
Today I was cycling up to a red light when a man in a car said "Oi, red light you b*stard"... before I'd even got to the line. Right muppets, some folk

Hey, that was me. I said "I like your bike mister."

 

[dellzeqq]

beeing a newbie to cycling (march last year) i cant believe the abuse i get even though ive done nowt wrong!! i live in north wales on the coast and theres a cycle path along it for a good distance, however, its not in very good condition : pot holes poor surface etc and people of all ages and dogs just walking out in front of you, so i tend to stick to the road, i wear bright top so i can be seen usually have rear light on at all t imes helmet, gloves etc so am appropiately dressed. its seems to me now that more or less every time i go out i get some k--b head shoutin get on the cucle path!!!! or get on the prom, it seems to be getting worse and im starting to lose my rag, language has been exchanged both ways (not me first i add) but ive just had a belly full, i can see it coming to blows in the future which is the last thing i want. im seriously thinking of alternative routes but then i think why the hell should i, anyone else experience this??? anyway moan over¬

take a breath.

You're doing something healthful that you enjoy. Spread the love. Respond with a cheery wave. And move on.

 

[guitarpete247]

Everytime I go out in the car I see some plonkerish behaviour from a driver.
Yesterday went to Tamworth. On the way back from Sainsbury's I was going onto A5 and a plonker thought I wasn't going fast enough (I have a deisel Freelander so not the pokiest of motors) so gave me the horn . When on M42 another twonk overtook me going at least 80 (perhaps faster) and slammed anchors on as car in outside lane going 75. He got up to 5 foot from his bumper to intimidate him but he had nowhere to go.

Out on bike today I only encountered courteous road users. I got to this bidge and could see the road ahead was clear so waved to indicate it was safe for car behind me to pass and got cheery wave back. Gave several hrose a very wide berth and got lots of thank yous. I think that as there are a lot of horses and cyclists around here we get treated well.

 

[buggi]

actually, as stated by a couple of people, sometimes a cheery wave is the best course of action. It p*sses them off no end, which is very amusing.

 

[Intelligenthamster]

There are a lot of so and sos out there I am afraid.

I once nearly got knocked off by an idiot pulling out of a petrol station without looking. I shook my fist at him (not even an offensive finger gesture) but boy oh boy this made him mad. He followed me for 100 yards, revving, hooting and really crowding me and then ducked into the hospital car park so he could get out in front of me at the exit.

Except he couldn't, as it was a pay car park and has a barrier-controlled exit... as I was riding a hybrid I was off on a bridleway another 100 yards away before he made it out

 

[Hydra]

Hey, that was me. I said "I like your bike mister."

Oh, sorry! I hope you my middle finger didn't offend you

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Oh, sorry! I hope you my middle finger didn't offend you

No, I misheard it.

 

[Alien8]

Yep, definitely get most abuse (hooting, gesturing, verbal abuse) for committing the crime of cycling on the road whilst there is a cycle path next to it.

Most of the time I favour the cheery wave back (followed by another if they're are obviously confused) - but on bad days may response isn't always so cheery.