What to say to a bad road user

I've been pondering this for a while after getting more and more motorists honking their horn just because I wasn't on the cycle lane while riding in the primary position as one should, it's especially frustrating trying to explain to them why I am in the primary position in a short sentence.

it got me thinking about what should we says, especially in a manner to not make the situation worse by doing a DJ in front of the motorists, this is what I've thought of insofar;

• staying calm (vital)
  
• not rising to their call
  
• stated the highway code (No. 63 for lane, and 167 for overtaking)
  
• explain that I'm not doing this to annoy other road user, merely for my own safety.
  
  

how do you deal with this situation?

i just swear and make a wanker gesture. works fine for me

^This.

I've tried staying calm and rational - I don't do shouting swear words any more - but the last driver I had a proper conversation with like this was a minicab driver who told me he didn't care if I died. This was after he'd deliberately driven so close to me he nearly clipped me.

I stopped trying after that.

This happened when I kept the primary position up a right hand lane in Holborn when I was turning right. I also explained to him (calmly) that he'd probably lose his job if he killed a cyclist, and he quite calmly told me he didn't care. I don't believe this, but I don't see the point in trying to engage idiots in rational conversation any longer either.

i just swear and make a wanker gesture. works fine for me

The drawback to this is that you got provoked adding fuel to the fire, i.e. road rage.

normally it doesn't get any further, but in some cases it may provoked some risky behaviour from the motorists (i.e. tapping your rear wheel, pushing you off the road etc.) which is something I like to try and avoid.

Ed you big softy

Its all part of the game, wind them up until they snap.

The drawback to this is that you got provoked adding fuel to the fire, i.e. road rage.

this is true. the last cabbie i had a problem with nearly clipped me on a dangerous section of road, so i spat on his cab. he then came speeding up next to me shouting and trying to spit on me and clip me again. thanks to some illegal maneuvers on my part i managed to ditch him up a one way street, but it does go to show that most people get pissed off when they are in the wrong and get called on it (obviously in this case i didn't call him on it but do something pretty disgusting and inappropriate).

the question is though, is vigilante justice the right thing to do? because we all know the police wont do anything about it.

Ed,

I no longer acknowledge them. On the occasions I have, they're usually generally ignorant, aggressive or both. Usually both. I've decided to try and maintain my concentration 100% on the road in front of me now in these situations. Focussing my valuable attention on fucking ignorant cunts that don't give a fuck whether I live or die has been a dangerous waste of energy in my experience. The more I cycle, the more I experience it. I feel a lot more intimidated on the roads now than I did when I started cycling. But I'm fucked if I'm gonna hug a line of parked cars because some cunt wants to get home 40 seconds sooner. Fuck 'em I say and assert yourself, it's your right to protect yourself on the road.

Be like water,
or be spontaneous.
But stop wasting your time thinking about it.

(i'm fairly sure it's been discussed a thousand times already)

If they are behind you sounding their horn then why do you have to say anything? As Hanson says, you need to concentrate on what you are doing. The chances of being able to have a rational conversation with them are small. As long as you know you are cycling in a safe and considerate way then why let their rudeness and impatience bother you? Only if you think they are going to ram you should you pull over and let them through.

+1

Ed you big softy

Its all part of the game, wind them up until they snap.

Probably the single most dangerous thing ever written on this forum. Joke or not.
An already angry car driver should be wound up till they snap? Yeah, okay. That'll work.

Angry car driver vs person on bicycle......... :(

ed, you know, there is a secondary cycling position.

lifted straight from wikipedia:

John Franklin advocates operating bicycles in accordance with the basic rules of the road for vehicle operation. Using the terms "primary riding position" — meaning in the center of the traffic lane — and "secondary riding position" — meaning about 1 meter (3.2 feet) to the side of moving traffic, but not closer than .5 meters (1.6 feet) from the edge of the road — Franklin advocates the primary riding position as the normal position and the secondary riding position only when it is safe, reasonable and necessary to allow faster traffic to pass.

for more

If they are behind you sounding their horn then why do you have to say anything?

Only if they feel the need to wind down their window/lift their visor and tell me how to ride on the road, if they're sounding their horn, I just acknowledge them and carry on riding.

ed, you know, there is a secondary cycling position.

perfectly aware of that, but this topic about how shall we behave toward motorists who feel the need to tell us what to do, rather than my riding position.

Be like water,
or be spontaneous.
But stop wasting your time thinking about it.

(i'm fairly sure it's been discussed a thousand times already)

I want to be like water if I can
Cos water doesn't give a damn!

It's all futile. They think you're an arse, you think the same - no hope of reconciliation. Reciting the highway code will make you sound like a jobsworth, regardless whether you're right. Ride on, wind in your hair - or run them over.

Only if they feel the need to wind down their window/lift their visor and tell me how to ride on the road.

Again, why? You don't have to respond. Unless it irks you that some loud mouth fool has had the last word? Or it feels like a defeat? Isn't it enough to know they are wrong, that you are better than them?

I like to smile and wave.

But I'm rarely in a good enough mood for this so usually have a nice sweary rant. Ahh...feels soooo good..

Now, more importantly, link to a thread I can merge this with please?

Again, why? You don't have to respond.

that's precisely what I want to hear, that's the best solution so far.

I like to smile and wave.

But I'm rarely in a good enough mood for this so usually have a nice sweary rant. Ahh...feels soooo good..

Now, more importantly, link to a thread I can merge this with please?

http://www.lfgss.com/thread41863.html ?

I think it's pointless to try to say anything that you think 'might change their mind'. Ride well, ride safe. If they're being true asses then take their plate and report them. Why wind them up? It doesn't do you any good, it certainly doesn't rectify the situation and I doubt it will make them a more cautious driver. You'll end up riding around with a chip on your shoulder looking for confrontations to escalate.

That clearly suits some people, but fuck it. I'd rather just enjoy riding.

Say say say what you want, but don't play games with my affection.

I tend to just keep my position, slow right down to inconvenience them further and carry on about my business. Let them honk - makes no difference to me.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread41863.html ?

This topic is in cycle training, a good location to get feedback from other members regarding how to behave around other road user.

that topic is just a chat about angry drivers.

See, I can understand the satisfaction in slowing them down but I figure it just reinforces their view that cyclists 'get in the way', or, as you say, 'inconvenience' them. It's all part of the mistaken idea that roads are for cars and bikes are there on sufferance. The original inconvenience is all in their heads so why add genuine inconvenience to it?
Pious though this may sound - or possibly faux Bhuddist - I think that once you give up the idea of getting any kind of revenge you can relax a lot more and let the bad moments slide away like a brakeless hipster on an icy Clerkenwell Road.
Personally I find nothing more relaxing on the old legs than getting home and basking in a warm glow of self-satisfaction.