Vocal Harassment from Drivers

Geonz

Whew, you should move. It's not the case here. Though something tells me you're already convinced so the facts wouldn't persuade you otherwise.

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Chris_L

Actually, around here, the proportion is about the same for both groups. However, the point is moot. The right to harrass or insult someone does not arise because someone else pissed you off - regardless of whether that someone else is in the same group as the person you are yelling at now or not.



No, they would just shout at the other guy who was stopped at the red light.



Perhaps you should spend some time here. You'd see plenty of cars driven on the footpath, and at much greater speed than bicycles. However, this doesn't happen with the same frequency - granted. However, I believe there are two reasons for this:

1. Generally cars simply do not fit on the footpath - although I've seen plenty of drivers try to disprove that one.

2. Drivers generally don't have to put up with the "bikes as toys" mentality the way cyclists do - nor do they get shouted at everyday to "get off the f**kin' road". Nor, for that matter, do they get bombarded with media "editorials" on the "dangers of cycling".

Let's not underestimate the value of a bit of education here either. I don't know about your part of the world, but around here about the only consistent educational message given to cyclists is "wear your helmet". Now, I value the protection my helmet offers me, but there is certainly a lot more to cycling than that.

However, I do note that a number of "bicycle safety officers" (read: fat guy who has never ridden so much as around the block but has a vested interest) actually instruct many cyclists to both ride against the flow of traffic and use the footpath/sidewalk as frequently as possible. Perhaps if these people actually offered instruction in proper vehicular cycling, this would not be a problem.



Again, no more so than drivers (see my point above). Although my view on this may be skewed by the fact that, because I stopped reading the propoganda in the media years ago, I only have my own observations to rely upon, rather than a few complaints on the letters page.



Or maybe it's because so few of them actually realise that bicycles are vehicles. After all, there is basically nothing on sharing the road with cyclists or pedestrians in the standard driving test, and if they are the same people who were "educated" by the safety officers I mentioned above, they are probably the same people who ride on the footpath, and the same people who believe that bikes don't belong on "their" roads.



To be honest I no longer care either way. If they want to waste time and effort shouting gibberish at me (90% of which I don't understand anyway), it's their problem - not mine. If they start throwing things I'll just call the cops and let them sort it out for me.



I ride the same route to work everyday. The regular drivers on that route should be used to me by now. If they aren't - it isn't my problem.



Again, it's not my job. I am not a police officer, nor am I a "bicycle safety officer". And again, you haven't explained to me how you actually know that these people are actually the cause of driver abuse, regardless of why you think it is. The only way you'll ascertain that is by asking drivers - and then you're unlikely to get the real answer. How many racists have ever owned up to the true reasons for their prejudices?

I believe exactly the same forces are at work here. I know for a fact that there will be a number of drivers who shout abuse at me regardless of what I do. I deal with it. If it gets real nasty, I just call the cops. Works for me.

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TooSore

Less'go,

Thank you Sir, Allez les Bleue etc.

Yours Aye