How to cope with unrespectful people?

[Parastoo]

Hi,

I'm completely new in this country and in cycling, I need to know how should I cope with unrespectful people when they shout at u hey, mother .... get off the road!!!!!
if u want to ride on the pedestrian police will fine u and if on the road, people will shout at u!
any ideas?

Thanks

 

[terry_gardener]

check out http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-to-deal-with-ers.99038/

just try and ignore them

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Welcome aboard, Parastoo! You hear accounts of abusive drivers and even more abusive passengers but, in my experience, the ''Get off the road!'', ''You don't pay road tax!'' kind of abuse is actually quite rare. Most of my riding is in London where there is a good number of bikes on the road so perhaps that affects things. It might be different in smaller towns and cities but even so I don't think it's been a problem for me. Inconsiderate, distracted or aggressive driving is a different issue.

 

[PurplePoodle]

The 'You don't pay road tax' one makes me laugh because I do pay road tax actually as I own a car

 

[compo]

I wonder why some people receive abuse and others don't. In 55 years of cycling I can count on the fingers of one hand incidents of people shouting at me (disregarding kids and their "hey, your back wheels going round"). Perhaps where you cycle, city or rural makes a difference, and I guess ladies may receive the odd comment akin to a builders wolf whistle. My advice to Parastoo is to just try and ignore it. Not easy, and I suppose at times it can be a little intimidating, but usually it is just idiots venting frustrations at the day, the traffic, the roads, or just at living itself.

 

[Headgardener]

The 'You don't pay road tax' one makes me laugh because I do pay road tax actually as I own a car

No you don't pay road tax it doesn't exist. What you actually pay is Vechicle Excise Duty which is based on vechicle emmissions so us cyclists don't pay VED as we don't emit anything (unless you fart a lot).

 

[Andy_R]

No you don't pay road tax it doesn't exist. What you actually pay is Vechicle Excise Duty which is based on vechicle emmissions so us cyclists don't pay VED as we don't emit anything (unless you fart a lot).

Beat me to it!

 

[pepecat]

I've been beeped at once - not sure why cos i wasn't holding him up - and shouted at once. It wasn't anything specific, just a "rraaaaaa' out of the window as the van went past. At the time i just kinda snorted as i was more interested in getting up the hill than worrying about idiots in a van. But that's it. I actually find drivers here (Birmingham) are pretty good with cyclists, on the whole. Last couple of times i've been out they've given loads of room as they overtook.

Now i've said that i'll get cut up by someone........

Personally i just ignore it. At least i'm the one getting fitter by exercising and not ruining the environment, and generally i'm enjoying the ride too much to get upset by idiots who've got nothing better to do than shout at cyclists. I just go 'yeah, whatever' and keep going.

 

[rollinstok]

Welcome to Britain, where everyone wants to get somewhere fast but ends up getting nowhere.

 

[jay clock]

smile and wave.....

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Ashamed to say this, last year 35 colleagues cycled 460 miles (I did 187) from Croyden, via
Oxford, Manchester, Hawes then up to Newcastle and had little or no grief until we got into Birtley then Newcastle and we counted 12 eejits in that last 10 miles un-bloody believable!
As Jayclock says "just smile and wave boys, smile and wave"

 

[Brommyboy]

Smile, wave, and thank them for noticing you! At least they are not driving through the space you occupy.

 

[NormanD]

Ashamed to say this, last year 35 colleagues cycled 460 miles (I did 187) from Croyden, via
Oxford, Manchester, Hawes then up to Newcastle and had little or no grief until we got into Birtley then Newcastle and we counted 12 eejits in that last 10 miles un-bloody believable!
As Jayclock says "just smile and wave boys, smile and wave"

What they were actually shouting in Birtley was, "Pedal faster or you'll have your wheels nicked as you cycle along!"

I just shout back .. "I couldn't agree more" ... seems to work

 

[Sittingduck]

What I wanna know is... how do they know you have kids?!

 

[Foxstro]

check out http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-to-deal-with-ers.99038/

just try and ignore them

Just noticed you referred one of my posts, good stuff.

I love this forum/community.