Took up primary then suffered abuse and threats

[Bazzer]

I try to let incidents like this wash over me. Doesn't always work but I try.
For years I used to get wound up about incidents on the road, but as the number of motorists increased so did the number of incidents. Then the penny dropped: that getting wound up didn't achieve anything except perhaps propelling me to an earlier death.
Sure there are still times I blow, but most of the time I try to think one of these days one of these days you (the tosser), will be caught by the police, or your poor driving will stuff your car into a hedge, another car etc. I appreciate the latter is selfish, but having twice been flattened by cars on my bike and my wife twice seriously injured whilst driving, all by other road users not paying attention, I think my family has taken its share of pain.

 

[sheffgirl]

Someone did this to me on the way to work, just before I arrived. A skip lorry driver who used some very colourful language and beeped at me. so five minutes later I called the company and complained. It's not acceptable behaviour, especially when you are representing a company and have their name emblazoned all over your vehicle.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I'm thinking about getting a head camera. I know they might invite trouble but they also make the tossers like him today think about what they're going to say or do. The stopping in front of me, to block my path got me! How dare scumbags like him act like that? Would he block a car's path if he'd had an altercation with the driver? He must've felt so tough up there in his 4x4.

 

[_aD]

It's scary how many people suffer from psychosis when they get behind the wheel. Just remember these people are not the majority of people, and may not even be themselves. Once you start to accept this you feel less of a downer on humanity. I make a point of calling the police via non-emergency number and reporting these incidents every single time. Police always make me feel like my report is worthwhile, and the time it takes means you have calmed down and can carry on with a clearer head.

 

[subaqua]

welcome to the CS2 experience.

 

[gbb]

With primary will very rarely, but inevitably, come conflict.
Narrow country road, no central white lines, oncoming car, car approaching from behind. I took what I thought was a primary...lo and behold, the car approaching from behind ...god knows how he didnt hit me or the oncoming car, squeezed through at considerable speed, leaving me apoplectic with rage at the stupidity of it...he must have been millimetres from me and the oncoming car.

Why ?...you invariably will never know. Rage at you taking 'his' space, lack of concentration, on his mobile maybe, just a moment of stupidity, loss of awareness...

Thankfully, such incidents are EXCEEDINGLY rare IME.
That time I remember thinking, if id have maintained a secondary, it would have left everyone with more room. But that leaves you open to more close passes, more of the time.

You just can't account for what everyone will do.

 

[fossyant]

There are plenty of idiots on the road. I've had a few threaten to run me over. They lose when I speak to their Managing Director. Don't threaten someone when you are in a works truck, your business is local, and I'm a regular customer.

Sometimes you have no-where to go. The smile and wave like a crazy loon usually works.

 

[growingvegetables]

I'm thinking about getting a head camera. I know they might invite trouble but they also make the tossers like him today think about what they're going to say or do.

Hmm - a camera doesn't "invite" trouble, nor make tossers think! (Come on, AC - making tossers think? That is just a tad optimistic!)

The only difference is that you have a video clip, which you will sometimes be able to use as the basis for a complaint to the police or an employer. (Oh ... and if you're not careful, evidence of one's own poor cycling/mistakes . Fwiw, a head camera makes me think twice )

 

[sheffgirl]

There are plenty of idiots on the road. I've had a few threaten to run me over. They lose when I speak to their Managing Director. Don't threaten someone when you are in a works truck, your business is local, and I'm a regular customer.

Sometimes you have no-where to go. The smile and wave like a crazy loon usually works.

The driver who hurled abuse at me works for the skip company which my workplace uses every week. I should have really mentioned it to them, a lot of my colleagues are cyclists too.

I've only been sworn at twice.
I always take primary at traffic islands, there are three on my way to work, and the vast majority of drivers seem patient and understanding. I've still had the odd idiot overtake me at the last second when I'm already in the middle of the road, or not let me across and try and overtake at the traffic island.
Maybe some drivers aren't aware of the purpose of 'taking the lane', either that or they're just selfish!

 

[Bazzer]

The driver who hurled abuse at me works for the skip company which my workplace uses every week. I should have really mentioned it to them, a lot of my colleagues are cyclists too.

I've only been sworn at twice.
I always take primary at traffic islands, there are three on my way to work, and the vast majority of drivers seem patient and understanding. I've still had the odd idiot overtake me at the last second when I'm already in the middle of the road, or not let me across and try and overtake at the traffic island.
Maybe some drivers aren't aware of the purpose of 'taking the lane', either that or they're just selfish!

Let's be chilled and say could be former. (Although reality is probably the latter).