Went out for a cycle today....

[Danny251]

I am really worried about my safety on the roads recently.

Today a van driver kept hooking his horn behind me and I just ignored him. He then shouted get off the road to which I ignored too. What he did next was honk his horn while overtaking me really close and dangerously. He tried to teach me a lesson.

I kept calm then but looking back I do worry if cycling will lead to a serious accident. On one hand I don't want to be bullied off the road but on the other I really dont think the roads are safe at all.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I am really worried about my safety on the roads recently.

Today a van driver kept hooking his horn behind me and I just ignored him. He then shouted get off the road to which I ignored too. What he did next was honk his horn while overtaking me really close and dangerously. He ttied

There will always be dicks on the road. If you ride about a meter from the edge of the road you are perfectly legal and safe. In blind road conditions or approaching junctions take a strong (primary) road position unless the junctions is designed to allow traffic to move on either direction at once in which case make it clear which direction you are heading in whilst still keeping a strong position.

Ignoring the idiots is the best thing to do. If you respond you will increase blood pressure, have a worse ride and possibly end up in a confrontation. Keep teh moral high ground as long as possible

 

[sdr gb]

Ignoring the idiots is the best thing to do. If you respond you will increase blood pressure, have a worse ride and possibly end up in a confrontation. Keep teh moral high ground as long as possible

+1

I know it's easy to say, but don't let it get to you. I've had rides where in the space of a mile I've had to take evasive action twice to avoid being hit. In hindsight, I realised that getting worked up and shouting at the drivers didn't really achieve anything other than put me in a bad mood for the rest of the ride. Now its a deep breath, count to 10 and carry on.

He was probably jealous because you look better in than lycra than he does

 

[Matthew_T]

I know it's easy to say, but don't let it get to you. I've had rides where in the space of a mile I've had to take evasive action twice to avoid being hit.

The basic rule i think or in situations like this is: it they hit me then that is assualt, i have a camera and can catch anything they do, I am perfectly legal and doing nothing wrong. And just ignore them.

If they really annoy you, then just say something to them when you pass them at the next set of traffic lights, something allong the lines of "i did nothing wrong" or "calm down". But make sure you do not stop otherwise there may be a confrontation. Make sure you make a quick gettaway.

One incident I had was where a driver pulled out infront of me at a junction. I shouted at him that it was stupid and he stopped. I undertook him and he skidded after me. He passed me and I decided to stop in order to prevent him from going into me.
When he got out of his car, i passed him on the other side of his car to avoid a confrontation. I then darted down a side road and avoided him. When I turned around a corner at the end of the street, to my shock, I saw him there walking towards me.
I quickly did an about turn and hid down another side street behind a car. Stayed there for 10 mins to make sure he was gone.

In the end, I had prevoked him and it was my fault but he shouldnt have pulled out in the first place.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The basic rule i think or in situations like this is: it they hit me then that is assualt, i have a camera and can catch anything they do, I am perfectly legal and doing nothing wrong. And just ignore them.

If they really annoy you, then just say something to them when you pass them at the next set of traffic lights, something allong the lines of "i did nothing wrong" or "calm down". But make sure you do not stop otherwise there may be a confrontation. Make sure you make a quick gettaway.

One incident I had was where a driver pulled out infront of me at a junction. I shouted at him that it was stupid and he stopped. I undertook him and he skidded after me. He passed me and I decided to stop in order to prevent him from going into me.
When he got out of his car, i passed him on the other side of his car to avoid a confrontation. I then darted down a side road and avoided him. When I turned around a corner at the end of the street, to my shock, I saw him there walking towards me.
I quickly did an about turn and hid down another side street behind a car. Stayed there for 10 mins to make sure he was gone.

In the end, I had prevoked him and it was my fault but he shouldnt have pulled out in the first place.

I would now say nothing unless I was forced to stop the bike. That way you have made no provocation what so ever.

 

[gaz]

From speaking to a few drivers over the years, I can safey say that it is not worth speaking to drivers. Just ingnore and move on.

 

[numbnuts]

Don't let the bastards grind you down
you down you have as much right to be there as they have

 

[Danny251]

Thanks for the replies guys. I suppose I shouldn't let them get me down but its hard sometimes. I am learning to ignore them slowly as I have only been cycling 3 months. I really do need to get a camera though so then at least I can have video evidence if anything happens.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

 

[apollo179]

Sounds like you did everything right and the van driver still harrassed you.
Im not recommending anything but my own experience is that the more assertive and in ya face you are the less likely you are to elicit harassment. What i mean is motorists are less likely to harrass rab c nesbit swerving down the road like a lunatic than thora hird quietly pootling along in the gutter. (the cowardly option). Also as has been pointed out many times before the value of eye contact.
Anyway you did nothing wrong so dont let it trouble you. At the end of the day if youve got rab c nesbitt behind you in a van your best bet is just to let him get past you whatever .

 

[NormanD]

I always think of it this way .. If I'm upsetting a driver on one of my cycle rides, then I've just ruined his/her good mood for the rest of the day

 

[barongreenback]

You can't reason with people who try to punish you, so don't bother. Such is their stupidity and aggression that it's likely to end up in further violence. Sometimes smug but silent superiority is the better option.

 

[Ellis456]

Don't let them put you off, that way they have won, you have every right to be on the road too, don't let the minority of pond life win.

 

[Tyke]

I am really worried about my safety on the roads recently.

I do worry if cycling will lead to a serious accident. On one hand I don't want to be bullied off the road but on the other I really dont think the roads are safe at all.

If you worry about a crash you will have one. The only way to ride is with confidence in your ability to cope with other road users and if that means going slow then that is fine.

 

[Danny251]

I do act confident on the roads its when I get home things start to bother me.

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[Matthew_T]

I really do need to get a camera though so then at least I can have video evidence if anything happens.

With regards to the camera, I purchased one off Amazon for £50. It does the job but as I havent secured it properly it wobbles about and as a result, the footage is a but dodgey. In the kit, it comes with a lot of straps and attachments.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/monkeysnutscom

Camera: http://www.amazon.com/Oregon-Scient...=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1312715567&sr=1-6