Road Rage driver defeated by pleasant and logical cyclists – Page 2 – Bike Forum

40mpg · 2012-01-16T13:46:49Z

Thought I'd share this with you, as an example of what self control can achieve! Friday night, 5 of us riding down a country lane nearly at the pub. Two abreast, but moving to single file if we hear a car approach (enough room for car to pass comfortably). We hear another car and drop into single file, but it whizzes past inches from our handlebars with a woman yelling out of the window at our leading rider about two-abreast being illegal. I mean really yelling, and forcing him into the verge. His instant recartion is to fold the wing mirror back as they slow up quickly together, and the wing mirror drops off, hanging by a wire! A short discussion ensues accusing us of dangerous cycling for being two abreast, and damage to the car. Its nearly 9pm and the kitchens close soon, so we dodge round the car and pedal on. Cue tyre spinning and revving, and they carreer past us again and swerve straight into the bank, almost taking out the lead rider again, nearly grounding the car and wrecking the front plastic bumper. Our lead rider, whos 6ft 3 and fit, is also incredibly tolerant and patient, and has another brief discussion about the perils of driving with intention to murder. We pass and head on. Again, more tyre spinning and revving of their small people carrier and they shoot past, fast and close, this time swerving the other way and blocking the road. They threaten to call the police and give a torrent of abuse. We ask politely what started all this, and their response is due to riding two abreast, which is illegal. Also one of our five had his rear light switched off, which in everybody's book is grounds to kill a cyclist of course. By now, two of my colleagues are filminmg the debacle in iphones and taking car details, and we also start to call the police (which they have threatened but haven't done). I would point out that they are a couple in their 40's, not fit looking, had a blue badge and a sticker on the drivers window asking to keep clear for disabled access. We politely explain (albeit in quite loud voices) that we are all professional people - doctors, lawyers etc (a slight exaggeration, but not that far from teh truth) and that we would welcome police intervention as they would be far more interested in his driving antics and intent to cause bodily (and bicycly) harm than talking to us. His manner is beginning to change, a definite calming as he starts to contemplate the seriousness of his situation. We continue to explain that his wing mirror was already broken (which it was, plastic housing already gone) and that his actions had done more harm to his car. After a few further minutes of being bombarded with logic from us all, he backed right down and asked if the whole thing could be forgotten. We ended with a handshake (he really didnt want to let go, and was visibly shaking), and let him drive off. With about £600 damage to his car. Cyclists 1, Road Rage driver 0 Having given this some consideration over the weekend, I have now convinced myself that this was a planned attack (or at least opportunistic). You can see the press - vigilanty mountain bikers block road and attack defenseless disabled drivers, damage car. Good for a hefty insurance claim at least. So be careful out there, and don't lose it - patience and logical discussion really throws red-misted eejits off course!

TheFlyingOx

Posts: 6317

Full Member

where can I get that t-shirt?

Erm.... Dunno. I just mocked it up in GIMP a couple of months ago. Someone on here does t shirts I think? Shouldn't be to hard to make a real one.

Posted : 16/01/2012 7:56 pm

kenneththecurtain

Posts: 794

Free Member

TFO - you make that shirt and I'll buy one!

The road tax one always amuses me - I mean, it's emmisions based, so a cyclist wouldn't pay for it anyway surely?

Posted : 16/01/2012 8:03 pm

oldgit

Posts: 12148

Free Member

As a driver it annoys me when cyclists take up a complete lane (or even an entire country road) and wont move into single file to allow cars past...i'm of the viewpoint that the car driver has hopefully paid tax to be on the road so as a cyclist i do the polite thing and always give cars right of way.

TJ Where did that come from.

Posted : 16/01/2012 8:06 pm

stevewhyte

Posts: 0

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TandemJeremy - Member

As a driver it annoys me when cyclists take up a complete lane (or even an entire country road) and wont move into single file to allow cars past...i'm of the viewpoint that the car driver has hopefully paid tax to be on the road so as a cyclist i do the polite thing and always give cars right of way.

Im really surprised at you with that one.

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:26 pm

matt_outandabout

Posts: 46070

Free Member

Get me that t-shirt on spreadshirt.... 8)

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:31 pm

muddydwarf

Posts: 0

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T-shirt!!!

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:32 pm

Woody

Posts: 129

Free Member

Funnily enough, we were all shaking too having just been run off the road 3 times on a quiet country lane in the dark.

Well done for keeping calm - not many people would have been able to.

I'm in the 'definitely report' camp as he/she sound like nutters and when not outnumbered it could well be a very different story.

Want that t-shirt too.

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:37 pm

Lifer

Posts: 0

Free Member

stevewhyte - Member
"TandemJeremy - Member
As a driver it annoys me when cyclists take up a complete lane (or even an entire country road) and wont move into single file to allow cars past...i'm of the viewpoint that the car driver has hopefully paid tax to be on the road so as a cyclist i do the polite thing and always give cars right of way."

Im really surprised at you with that one.

He was quoting someone.

That's what the

QUOTE BOX

means.

Nice try though.

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:38 pm

Lifer

Posts: 0

Free Member

@TomThumb (I think) no worries - I thought the driving up the verge bit may have been hyperbole, I stand corrected!

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:39 pm

MoreCashThanDash

Posts: 33181

Full Member

Well done for keeping calm

I have to say, that behaviour and I'd have reported him/them. I had a heated exchange of words with a driver last summer which ended with him getting out of his car and pushing me into a hedge. As my short temper had partially caused him to lose his, I'd have let that go, but after he'd got into his car and driven off he reversed back and got out for another rant, so I reported him and he got a warning for assault.

It helps if the chumps have a short and memorable personal number plate mind!

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:50 pm

PJM1974

Posts: 3351

Free Member

As a driver it annoys me when cyclists take up a complete lane (or even an entire country road) and wont move into single file to allow cars past...

The tired and incorrect "Road Tax" argument aside, what is the problem with the above? The wording in The Highway Code suggests that cyclists should:

ride in single file on narrow or busy roads.

Rule 53.

I'm not trying to split hairs with the OP on this - indeed far from it - but the whole "I am king of the road" mentality that some of us attribute to drivers also applies to some of us. A little give and take on all sides makes for a much less stressful journey.

I'm just throwing that out there. If it provokes your ire then don't bother to reply, I'm only interested in reasoned debate.

Posted : 16/01/2012 9:51 pm

theflatboy

Posts: 0

Free Member

coincidentally, i was just out on the bike and got aggressively cut up by a van driver who responded to my response by suggesting we stop to discuss it, which we did. I wasn't that pleasant but was at least reasonable logical... 🙂

Posted : 17/01/2012 5:54 pm

TandemJeremy

Posts: 0

Free Member

I was quoting a post that got deleted

Posted : 17/01/2012 5:56 pm

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