Using a car as a weapon

[okgo]

They've banned me from the others

[58warren]

Rolls said:

If he's a black taxi driver in london, should have taken his number, and report him to the PCO!

Don't be racist. What if he was a white taxi driver?

[plasticpig]

supertouring said:

This is the very reason I prefer to mountain bike off-road rather than ride on the road. It is simply too dangerous and overcrowded out there these days.

I still do not understand why cyclists are treated like this but someone on a horse is given lots of respect by most drivers. Why is this the case?

Because half a ton of irate nag will do far more damage to a car than a cycle.

[john_p]

supertouring said:

I still do not understand why cyclists are treated like this but someone on a horse is given lots of respect by most drivers. Why is this the case?

Because if a horse falls on your car it'd probably kill you..

[Mr Gear]

58warren said:

Rolls said:

If he's a black taxi driver in london, should have taken his number, and report him to the PCO!

Don't be racist. What if he was a white taxi driver?

He looked arabic. Maybe Iranian...

[Chris71]

supertouring said:

I still do not understand why cyclists are treated like this but someone on a horse is given lots of respect by most drivers. Why is this the case?

To be fair I'm not sure that's always the case. Most people don't slow down enough for horses or give them enough room either.

Horses are a lot easier to spot though and I think a lot of the time drivers' anger comes from when they've failed to pre-empt something themselves. Perhaps if they spot a quarter of a ton of horse earlier, and therefore don't fluster themselves as much, they don't take it out on them. The main reason is just that cyclists are quite common in built up areas where tempers run high and horses aren't. As soon as you give the horse riders some red jackets and let them chase a fox they suddenly become far more hated than even cyclists could hope to be.

[untakenname]

Whenever I ride my bike on the roads I use a cheap helmet cam, it gives me peace of mind and in the case of a driver acting like a tt I have evidence should the worst happen.
Costs a tenner or so on ebay and takes an micro sd card, bargin imo http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=md80&a...
I've been knocked off my bike before and the driver reversed over the bike then went on his way!

[plasticpig]

Chris71 said:

supertouring said:

I still do not understand why cyclists are treated like this but someone on a horse is given lots of respect by most drivers. Why is this the case?

To be fair I'm not sure that's always the case. Most people don't slow down enough for horses or give them enough room either.

Horses are a lot easier to spot though and I think a lot of the time drivers' anger comes from when they've failed to pre-empt something themselves. Perhaps if they spot a quarter of a ton of horse earlier, and therefore don't fluster themselves as much, they don't take it out on them. The main reason is just that cyclists are quite common in built up areas where tempers run high and horses aren't. As soon as you give the horse riders some red jackets and let them chase a fox they suddenly become far more hated than even cyclists could hope to be.

I have experienced interesting reactions from mountain bikers while offroading. Many people react badly to the unexpected.

[magpie215]

D lock side window as passing if they get stuck in traffic and you pass them-----End thread

[Mr Gear]

swerni said:

magpie215 said:

D lock side window as passing if they get stuck in traffic and you pass them-----End thread

I've always fancied emptying a bottle of high5 4:1 in the drivers lap

Now that is a GOOD idea! Use your water bottle as a weapon!

[Floor Tom]

Most bikes have two water bottle points don't they? One for water, one for chemical warfare, just don't get them mixed up .

I have been comuting on a bike for the last few years and while I have had some run ins with idiots I've never been targeted by anyone. All the near misses have been due to the drivers either being stupid or just not seeing me. I've thumped a car or two with my fist and shouted at a load of people but nothing more than that.

[Mr Gear]

Floor Tom said:

Most bikes have two water bottle points don't they? One for water, one for chemical warfare

[Chris71]

plasticpig said:

Chris71 said:

supertouring said:

I still do not understand why cyclists are treated like this but someone on a horse is given lots of respect by most drivers. Why is this the case?

To be fair I'm not sure that's always the case. Most people don't slow down enough for horses or give them enough room either.

Horses are a lot easier to spot though and I think a lot of the time drivers' anger comes from when they've failed to pre-empt something themselves. Perhaps if they spot a quarter of a ton of horse earlier, and therefore don't fluster themselves as much, they don't take it out on them. The main reason is just that cyclists are quite common in built up areas where tempers run high and horses aren't. As soon as you give the horse riders some red jackets and let them chase a fox they suddenly become far more hated than even cyclists could hope to be.

I have experienced interesting reactions from mountain bikers while offroading. Many people react badly to the unexpected.

As negtaive reactions when you're off roading in a car? It doesn't surprise me. I never suggested cyclists are saintly, just like any group people's attitudes vary and you can't stereotype (not saying that you are, but you know what I mean...) You only need to Google 'London Cycle Couriers Race' or speak to some of the more millitant Lycra wearers to realise cyclists aren't all angelic like me, but the same applies to those people when they're in a car.

swerni said:

magpie215 said:

D lock side window as passing if they get stuck in traffic and you pass them-----End thread

I've always fancied emptying a bottle of high5 4:1 in the drivers lap

The best one - simple yet effective - that I've heard came up on this forum a week or two back: Open a passenger door or two as you filter past. It doesn't do any real harm, but it'll force them to stop in the middle of the rush hour and close the door.

That said, after reading the beginning of this thread I'd be a little reluctant to try anything at all. I'll stand up for myself if I have no choice, but there's too much out there to live for to start trouble with homicidal nutters like that on the loose. Plus, recent experience shows that the sort of drivers who go out of their way to wind up cyclists usually aren't capable of producing a logical or stimulating argument.

[will_]

Chris71 said:

The best one - simple yet effective - that I've heard came up on this forum a week or two back: Open a passenger door or two as you filter past. It doesn't do any real harm, but it'll force them to stop in the middle of the rush hour and close the door.

That or opening the boot. Then stop and tell them that their boot is open. Then airhorn. Always airhorn.

[fergus]

Mr Gear said:

"don't threaten me with your f**king cab you c**t!"

I've been pulled into the back of a Police car twice now after almost being killed by a bus pulling in on me, trying to squash me against the railings, then going round to the drivers side window and almost putting my fist through it.

However, both times this has happened, there has always been a bl00dy Police car behind me. After explaining to me that I could be done with assault (it's more the threat of violence, rather than physical contact I could be done for), I then have to explain how, if they've been behind me all the time, the don't then charge the bus driver/some other cluless pr1ck with driving w/o due care and attention or dangerous driving. I'm then given a further boll0cking and let on my way....

Unbelieveable.

Don't get me started on black cabs though. I had a physical standoff with one about a month ago, but he backed down as soon as got off my bike.

PCO. Yeah right. They act ONLY in the interests of the cab driver, unless there has been a serious accident with several witnesses on the other side.