[Kod1ak]

People can be jerks just because they can. I've heard of Public Works/Road construction crews getting cussed out/spit at/things thrown at them from passing motorists.

I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

[tapedeck]

Sadly this happens alot where I live, even pedestrians get harassed by people yelling/throwing shit from moving cars. I got yelled at by some greasy fuckers just minding my own business walking home, I wished I had a brick to hurl at the car. Of course then Id be just like them.

[DJ_Lae]

Had no idea people did that to bicyclists, not surprised though, alot of asshole drivers out there.Still, I can't stand bicyclists who take up too much room on the road, and don't understand why they do it considering how dangerous it seems.

It's worse (for the cyclist anyway) to move as close to the curb as possible. Cars then have absolutely no reason to move over further than the left edge of their lane, which often isn't enough room especially if they have large mirrors. I've had my arm clipped by a truck mirror once and almost crashed because of it, which I was pretty pissed about.

Still, I do it just because I know how much it annoys me to have cyclists take up a ton of room when I'm driving, but it usually doesn't matter very much as I generally keep close to the speed limit (40km/h at least) and avoid roads where the lanes are packed together.

[Dave Inc.]

I once saved a bicyclist's life by skidding to a halt as he ran a red light right in front of me, driving a vehicle doing 40mph. His response was to laugh at me and flip me off, at least his friend's had the decency to look embarrassed and mouth "sorry".

So those are the people motorists think of when they see bicycles. Sorry, guy.

All "Drivers are the worst!" "No bicyclists are the worst!" aside, bicycles are dangerous to the rider and the motorists who have to dodge them. I often consider getting a bicycle to ride around town on (I live in Cleveland) but it just seems so absurdly dangerous that I never follow through with it.

[H.Protagonist]

Always been my experience that riding on a sidewalk will make it less likely to be seen. Sucks about your car but you shouldn't be annoyed at people for not driving and being out and about.

They always try to turn right... right into me. I'm like a pole in their side mirror that they don't consider a factor when driving. They try to squeeze you out going past parked cars too. It's like they speed up on purpose to watch you get winged by a side mirror. :( Sidewalks have been way safer for me, though drivers tend to pull out right into the middle of the crosswalk and don't spare you a glance as they sit there waiting to creep out into traffic.

[Prez]

Do people use their car to visit the neighbors where you live, OP? My mind can't grasp something like this.

[Ermac]

I have a question. How come it's illegal to bike on a sidewalk in some places? Wouldn't it be safer for a cyclist to hit a pedestrian, rather than a car hit a cyclist?

[JoeBoy101]

Sucks about your car but you shouldn't be annoyed at people for not driving and being out and about.

It doesn't annoy me that much. And I don't let it fuck with my driving around them. Most cyclists don't bother me, but its the few that seem to alternate between being a pedestrian on a bicycle and a cyclist as a vehicle. I'll deal with them being an asshole (have to deal with the other drivers on the road), but I demand some consistency.

But if you really want to get me going, we can talk about joggers who jog on the road, even when there is sidewalk.

I have a question. How come it's illegal to bike on a sidewalk in some places? Wouldn't it be safer for a cyclist to hit a pedestrian, rather than a car hit a cyclist?

Not entirely sure, but I think it has to do with that the road has pretty defined rules where sidewalk is just there. You don't have to be on a particular side, given way, etc. That and I believe that most areas treat cyclists as vehicles meant to be on the road.

[xxracerxx]

I have a question. How come it's illegal to bike on a sidewalk in some places? Wouldn't it be safer for a cyclist to hit a pedestrian, rather than a car hit a cyclist?

Because cars are not looking for fast moving vehicles on the sidewalk when they are turning or backing out of the driveway.

[Steelrain]

I have a question. How come it's illegal to bike on a sidewalk in some places? Wouldn't it be safer for a cyclist to hit a pedestrian, rather than a car hit a cyclist?

It wouldn't be safer for the pedestrian. Also, they are annoying as shit.

[Dave Inc.]

They always try to turn right... right into me. I'm like a pole in their side mirror that they don't consider a factor when driving. They try to squeeze you out going past parked cars too. It's like they speed up on purpose to watch you get winged be a side mirror. :( Sidewalks have been way safer for me, though drivers tend to pull out right into the middle of the crosswalk and don't spare you a glance as they sit there waiting to creep out into traffic.

Yeah, I once hit a guy on a bike pulling out of a parking lot because he was going the wrong way down a side walk and just came out right in front of me as I was pulling out. I'm a careful driver but you can't expect me to be watching the sidewalk for man-sized objects doing 15mph.

He told me that he gets hit at that spot twice a year or so. What the fuck, then don't do it anymore. I felt bad because I fucked his bike up but c'mon guy learn a lesson.

Edit:

But if you really want to get me going, we can talk about joggers who jog on the road, even when there is sidewalk.

I live in a snowy city where the streets get plowed but the sidewalks don't. As soon as there's a heavy snow people will just start walking down the middle of the lanes like it's their fucking job.

[Pandaman]

Here in Austin, home of Lance Armstrong, messing with cyclists is punishable by death.

naturally; all the cyclists are 'roided up.

[The Abominable Snowman]

I've never thrown anything at cyclists but I have honked. Its beyond annoying when they straddle the margin on the far left/right of the road, limiting traffic in that lane to their speed and potentially causing accidents by others trying to change lanes to avoid hitting them.

[Xeke]

[tokkun]

Wait, what do you mean by this?

Literally what he said: cyclists will run red lights and stop signs unless there is a car coming from the other direction. It's pretty annoying as a pedestrian to have to dodge cyclists when you are crossing the street because they don't feel traffic laws apply to them.

I have a question. How come it's illegal to bike on a sidewalk in some places? Wouldn't it be safer for a cyclist to hit a pedestrian, rather than a car hit a cyclist?

Yes, but I'm pretty sure the former is far more common.

[Suite Pee]

Playing a dangerous game by riding on the sidewalks my kind sir. Better to ride in the road and take up some space than to be invisible on the sidewalk.

I go barely faster than a pedestrian, and pause if I think there's too little space. I know it's shitty, but sometimes the streets are too risky. I live in a smaller city so the sidewalks usually don't have more than a couple people on them.

edit: Also, what if the cyclist switches to pedestrian laws by actually getting off their bike and walking it through a crosswalk with a walk signal? I've done that before, because it's so damn hard and a little scary to try to turn left on a bike in some areas.

[vas_a_morir]

Dude, I get shit when I ride my bike, too. Fuck that bull.

[The Technomancer]

Had no idea people did that to bicyclists, not surprised though, alot of asshole drivers out there.Still, I can't stand bicyclists who take up too much room on the road, and don't understand why they do it considering how dangerous it seems.

Because its more dangerous to ride along the side, you're less visible from several directions and you place yourself at greater risk of getting sideswiped by someone trying to pass.

[H.Protagonist]

Yeah, I once hit a guy on a bike pulling out of a parking lot because he was going the wrong way down a side walk and just came out right in front of me as I was pulling out. I'm a careful driver but you can't expect me to be watching the sidewalk for man-sized objects doing 15mph. He told me that he gets hit at that spot twice a year or so. What the fuck, then don't do it anymore. I felt bad because I fucked his bike up but c'mon guy learn a lesson. Edit: I live in a snowy city where the streets get plowed but the sidewalks don't. As soon as there's a heavy snow people will just start walking down the middle of the lanes like it's their fucking job.

Bikers on the sidewalk do tend to go too fast for drivers to properly see them when they're pulling out (which is why I go very slowly and look very carefully). It's the ones that camp in the middle of the crosswalk when you have the green that kills me. They do this to pedestrians as well, so it's not just an anti-biker thing. We just need really well-marked bike lanes that people CANNOT park in to fix this problem. And more courtesy all around. Both sides act really immaturely about the whole thing sometimes.

[JoeBoy101]

I live in a snowy city where the streets get plowed but the sidewalks don't. As soon as there's a heavy snow people will just start walking down the middle of the lanes like it's their fucking job.

Every damn morning, this woman jogs in the middle of the land down the road out of our subdivision. There is sidewalk on her entire route on either side that is so empty, you can hear echoes. Yet, she jogs in the street, only going to the curb if traffic is coming. Bugs the piss out of me.

[gooey kablooie]

They always try to turn right... right into me. I'm like a pole in their side mirror that they don't consider a factor when driving. They try to squeeze you out going past parked cars too. It's like they speed up on purpose to watch you get winged by a side mirror. :( Sidewalks have been way safer for me, though drivers tend to pull out right into the middle of the crosswalk and don't spare you a glance as they sit there waiting to creep out into traffic.

Biking in LA has always looked like a dangerous game.

[The Technomancer]

edit: Also, what if the cyclist switches to pedestrian laws by actually getting off their bike and walking it through a crosswalk with a walk signal? I've done that before, because it's so damn hard and a little scary to try to turn left on a bike in some areas.

I do this all the time, left turns in anywhere even remotely busy are absolutely harrowing.

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

Get yourself a GoPro so that you can record this and get their license plates.

[H.Protagonist]

Biking in LA has always looked like a dangerous game.

I don't think I'd ever attempt it in L.A. proper, but in Torrance it's not so bad. Sort of... (I'm still alive!) :D

[Count Dookkake]

I live in southern Indiana, and yes, it's a thing. I get honked at EVERY TIME I ride. Lots of near misses. Even in this somewhat rural area where traffic is light, drivers don't care. They think it's a joke, I guess.

There's the problem.

[shanshan310]

I remember seeing the car in front of me shake up a huge bottle of coke, open it over some poor cyclist and then speed off. fuckers.

At the same time though a lot of cyclists ride in the middle of the road when there are no bike paths, which I imagine is very dangerous for everyone. I don't feel very comfortable driving when cyclists are on the road.

[The Technomancer]

I remember seeing the car in front of me shake up a huge bottle of coke, open it over some poor cyclist and then speed off. fuckers. At the same time though a lot of cyclists ride in the middle of the road when there are no bike paths, which I imagine is very dangerous for everyone. I don't feel very comfortable driving when cyclists are on the road.

Believe me, neither do we. There aren't a whole lot of options when that happens.

[littleworm]

Had no idea people did that to bicyclists, not surprised though, alot of asshole drivers out there.Still, I can't stand bicyclists who take up too much room on the road, and don't understand why they do it considering how dangerous it seems.

Honestly, it is safer in the middle of the lane than near the side of the lane when cycling.

[aett]

There are TONS of cyclists in my town and most of them break the rules, and it gets really old. There'd be no problem if they would obey the damn law. I'd never throw stuff at them or anything like that, though.

[Oreoleo]

I kind of get annoyed around here when there is a pack of cyclists and they think it's cool to ride in the road rather than being single file on the shoulder so I can pass them without having to worry about hitting oncoming traffic. But throwing things at them and trying to run them off the road is a whole other level. Shitty situation dude.

[Copernicus]

Step your game up.

[Beerman462]

Carry a bow OP

[shanshan310]

What might be helpful is if they changed the laws so that cars can't park on the side of the road (but still in the lane, if you get what I mean). Cyclists could ride closer to the edge of the road, and drivers wouldn't have to change lanes whenever they see a parked car.

Get yourself a GoPro so that you can record this and get their license plates.

This is a really good idea.

My dad's friend installed a fog on his bike because cars kept cutting him off. You could do that too.

[Baconsammy]

Buy a car, hippie!

[Boogie9IGN]

I hate bicyclists in SF but holy shit I would never honk/throw shit at them. I tend to just give them their room and curse loudly in my car ^___^

[Power Glove]

Sidewalks have been way safer for me, though drivers tend to pull out right into the middle of the crosswalk and don't spare you a glance as they sit there waiting to creep out into traffic.

A couple months ago I ended up sprawled out on the hood of a car after a lady knocked me off my bike while pulling out of an apartment complex. Luckily I didn't have a scratch on me and the only bad that happened was the chain on my bike getting knocked off the gear. I was about to start yelling after I got off the hood, but I saw it was an old lady and just told her to look both ways next time.

[WeAreStarStuff]

What........I never knew people did this? We have a ton of cyclist in the DC area but they don't tend to have problems. Though, one time I did see a driver open his door to get out and a poor cyclist collide with the door.

[gdt]

I've never even heard of this.

[Ultima_5]

I routinely have cars cut me off at intersections when I'm going for a run. If I end up going behind their car I tap the back loud enough so they hear it. Hope it freaks them out thinking I keyed it or something. Eventually this practice will get me runover. Drivers are generally assholes. Sorry about your arm OP. For some reason my browser won't let me close the tab so I'll be thinking of you for quite some time.

[Gotchaye]

I'm in Austin and have never heard of anything like that. Sounds awful. That said, I hate driving or biking on roads without bike lanes, and probably wouldn't bike if we didn't have so many bike lanes around here.

I don't understand why drivers have a problem with bikers doing things like running red lights when there's no cross traffic. I can see why pedestrians might be annoyed on occasion, but bikes are small and maneuverable enough that they're able to weave between foot traffic just fine at the speeds they should be going when there are lots of pedestrians around. Obviously a biker shouldn't be blowing through a red light without making sure it's safe, but it seems to me that most of the reasons we have for insisting that cars treat stop lights as inviolable and that they come to (nearly) complete stops at stop signs just don't apply to bikes.

[Kosmo]

Sorry, cyclists are annoying - especially the "I have just as much right to this lane as you do" types who are riding along 1/3 of the way into a lane on a 50 MPH road and make no attempt to move over when a 3000 pound vehicle is approaching.

[Nista]

There are often cyclists on the road leading to my house. Problem is, it's a 2 lane road with no shoulders and several blind turns. It's a really dumb place to ride on, because there's very little room to pass anyone safely.

It's always people in the full bike racing regalia though, so usually they either go fast or get out of the way. One of these days I fully expect to find a person plastered against a tree by an SUV.

[Meier]

Sadly this happens alot where I live, even pedestrians get harassed by people yelling/throwing shit from moving cars. I got yelled at by some greasy fuckers just minding my own business walking home, I wished I had a brick to hurl at the car. Of course then Id be just like them.

Crazy stuff. This and the OP are mindblowing to me.

Cyclists really annoy the shit out of me since they affect traffic so much occasionally, but the concept of acting out against them is crazy. I imagine it's just the people who live in the area. Indiana is pretty much like southern Illinois in that most of it's really podunk and that kind of goes hand and hand with a dislike of anything "hippyish."

[zethren]

I'm not an asshole to cyclists, but do I ever hate coming upon them when I'm driving. It's pretty much my "on button" for road rage. Almost every single time traffic has to slow down considerably and accommodate for the cyclists mere inches away from their cars. Then cars move over to the left to give the cyclist space, sometimes causing the cars in the other lane to freak out if there are any/etc. Just annoying.

[Captain Tuttle]

I live in southern Indiana, and yes, it's a thing. I get honked at EVERY TIME I ride. Lots of near misses. Even in this somewhat rural area where traffic is light, drivers don't care. They think it's a joke, I guess.

That sucks! I never really heard of such a thing.

[The Technomancer]

I'm not an asshole to cyclists, but do I ever hate coming upon them when I'm driving. It's pretty much my "on button" for road rage. Almost every single time traffic has to slow down considerably and accommodate for the cyclists mere inches away from their cars. Then cars move over to the left to give the cyclist space, sometimes causing the cars in the other lane to freak out if there are any/etc. Just annoying.

How is any of that the cyclist's fault though?

[WoodenLung]

The amount of hate cyclists gets, especially in the US always seemed crazy to me. Wonder how much rage coming to here would cause, this is how the roads looks in the morning.

[Maxim726X]

Fuck people who do not respect cyclists.

No... Fuck cyclists. Get off my road.

[The Technomancer]

No... Fuck cyclists. Get off my road.

And go where?

[shintoki]

I'll say this. I've waited before at lights for a cross signal with my bike. I will still get honked at, almost hit(Been hit once, clipped another time), cussed at, etc. Even when I walk my bike across with the sign telling me to walk. I've also been stalked/chased at multiple times for it too, because I'll give them the bird or respond. I wait at the light for a few minutes. And you can't wait the 3 fucking seconds it takes me to cross to make your right hand turn?