Comments on: Commuting 101: How to react to aggressive or angry drivers http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:35:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Sonia http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-167707 Sonia Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:06:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-167707 I agree with the author that the ideal response involves picturing what the driver expects and doing something else (e.g. holding your line and ignoring them). For instance, I have worked on training myself to wave and say “thanks!” in response to comments such as “get a car!” I figure this won’t make them want to drive their car into me but will frustrate their attempt to belittle or otherwise bring me down a notch. <a href="http://www.top-term-paper-sites.com" rel="nofollow">research paper</a> I agree with the author that the ideal response involves picturing what the driver expects and doing something else (e.g. holding your line and ignoring them). For instance, I have worked on training myself to wave and say “thanks!” in response to comments such as “get a car!” I figure this won’t make them want to drive their car into me but will frustrate their attempt to belittle or otherwise bring me down a notch. research paper

]]> By: Johnny http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-153881 Johnny Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:17:19 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-153881 I've tried many different things in these situations. I've gotten into arguments with drivers, had them try to hit me, run me off the road, yell & scream. My newest idea is to get an irate driver who stops to calm down and think. It's really quite hard to do and presents an interesting challenge. The thing is, yelling at them just doesn't work. Banging on their car doesn't work. If they stop they want to yell at someone and you just happen to present an opportunity for that outlet. The fact is they're mad at something else in their life and you just happen to be in their way. Try this and see what happens... "Hi I'm Johnny, sorry you are upset." They will probably keep yelling and drive off once they see you are not going to engage with them. I’ve tried many different things in these situations. I’ve gotten into arguments with drivers, had them try to hit me, run me off the road, yell & scream. My newest idea is to get an irate driver who stops to calm down and think. It’s really quite hard to do and presents an interesting challenge.

The thing is, yelling at them just doesn’t work. Banging on their car doesn’t work. If they stop they want to yell at someone and you just happen to present an opportunity for that outlet. The fact is they’re mad at something else in their life and you just happen to be in their way.

Try this and see what happens… “Hi I’m Johnny, sorry you are upset.” They will probably keep yelling and drive off once they see you are not going to engage with them.

]]> By: brent http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-153565 brent Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:38:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-153565 erm... it sounds like it's not the bike riding, per se, that's the dangerous element in this equation. erm… it sounds like it’s not the bike riding, per se, that’s the dangerous element in this equation.

]]> By: Paul http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-153446 Paul Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:18:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-153446 @Rob: That sounds really really bad! I ride through some skeevy areas but never have any problems like that, in fact, none at all. I've even people help me with flats. Any point involving the police in your area? Short of that, sounds like you need more than Kevlar tires... Can you take a different route? Adding I few miles may add years to your life, & I am not referring to the fitness benefits! @Rob: That sounds really really bad! I ride through some skeevy areas but never have any problems like that, in fact, none at all. I’ve even people help me with flats.
Any point involving the police in your area? Short of that, sounds like you need more than Kevlar tires…
Can you take a different route? Adding I few miles may add years to your life, & I am not referring to the fitness benefits!

]]> By: Rob http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-153304 Rob Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:39:51 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-153304 It's not really about the road rage for me . It's the car load of teenagers (gangs) who get a thrill chucking beer bottles at your head, or bashing you from behind with a bat, or popping paintballs or even worse, bullets.I have 4 blocks on my route to get through, at night, on my commute, and every night might be my last. I'm thinking of turning off my lights, but the road is usually full of glass. It’s not really about the road rage for me . It’s the car load of teenagers (gangs) who get a thrill chucking beer bottles at your head, or bashing you from behind with a bat, or popping paintballs or even worse, bullets.I have 4 blocks on my route to get through, at night, on my commute, and every night might be my last. I’m thinking of turning off my lights, but the road is usually full of glass.

]]> By: Top Commuter Bike Resources and Reviews | Commute by Bike http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-153154 Top Commuter Bike Resources and Reviews | Commute by Bike Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:16:56 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-153154 [...] Bicycle fendersThe Slacker's Guide to Bike CommutingA Guide to a Simple Bike CommuteTop 5 Reasons to Claim the Lane (and why it's safer)Commuting 101: How to react to aggressive or angry drivers [...] [...] Bicycle fendersThe Slacker's Guide to Bike CommutingA Guide to a Simple Bike CommuteTop 5 Reasons to Claim the Lane (and why it's safer)Commuting 101: How to react to aggressive or angry drivers [...]

]]> By: Ray http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-150283 Ray Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:44:22 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-150283 I agree with the author that the ideal response involves picturing what the driver expects and doing something else (e.g. holding your line and ignoring them). For instance, I have worked on training myself to wave and say "thanks!" in response to comments such as "get a car!" I figure this won't make them want to drive their car into me but will frustrate their attempt to belittle or otherwise bring me down a notch. If my acting skills are good enough, they will instead think I mistook their unkind words for some sort of encouragement! It also cures any possible anger on my part by seeing the look on their faces or thinking about their confusion or frustration about how their plan backfired. I agree with the author that the ideal response involves picturing what the driver expects and doing something else (e.g. holding your line and ignoring them). For instance, I have worked on training myself to wave and say “thanks!” in response to comments such as “get a car!” I figure this won’t make them want to drive their car into me but will frustrate their attempt to belittle or otherwise bring me down a notch. If my acting skills are good enough, they will instead think I mistook their unkind words for some sort of encouragement! It also cures any possible anger on my part by seeing the look on their faces or thinking about their confusion or frustration about how their plan backfired.

]]> By: Kelly http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-149713 Kelly Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:20:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-149713 Keeping your cool at times such as this is definitely easier said than done. But your suggestions are so true and I will try to keep it in mind given the same situation. Thanks. <a href="http://uk.bestessays.com/essay_service.html" rel="nofollow">Essay</a> and <a href="http://uk.bestessays.com/" rel="nofollow">Essay Writers</a> Keeping your cool at times such as this is definitely easier said than done. But your suggestions are so true and I will try to keep it in mind given the same situation. Thanks. Essay and Essay Writers

]]> By: brent http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-129598 brent Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:32:13 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-129598 "driver inattention is more prevalent in depressed areas" har har har... if you even have this thought then you're not as liberal as you thought you were :-) (but I know what you mean) “driver inattention is more prevalent in depressed areas”

har har har… if you even have this thought then you’re not as liberal as you thought you were :-)

(but I know what you mean)

]]> By: Ken http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/comment-page-3/#comment-128733 Ken Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:08:02 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/21/commuting-101-how-to-react-to-agressive-or-angry-drivers/#comment-128733 Oh, I have no doubt that some of the aggression comes from drivers having bad experiences with cyclists who do not follow the rules of the road. When I drive there's been a few times when I've wanted to lean out the window and yell at a cyclist who is riding like they have a death wish, causing all sorts of trouble for drivers. Drivers see that and assume we all bike that way. Oh, I have no doubt that some of the aggression comes from drivers having bad experiences with cyclists who do not follow the rules of the road. When I drive there’s been a few times when I’ve wanted to lean out the window and yell at a cyclist who is riding like they have a death wish, causing all sorts of trouble for drivers. Drivers see that and assume we all bike that way.

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