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@William.
This morning I was cut up by a van. I have had much closer near-misses, and there was a chance the driver either had not looked, or had looked and not seen me. Either way, since it wasn't too close I decided to leave it and go on my way. A guy on a white dolan passes me and I stay about 2-3 meters back.
The van stops in traffic, predictably, and as he passes the cyclist in front bangs the van and makes a gesture at the driver. Predictably, the driver blows his horn in irritation.
I said to the guy on the Dolan "that will make him worse next time", my point being that although one feels justified in retaliating in this situation, the only effect will be that the other road user becomes angrier and probably more dangerous, and also probably less sympathetic towards cyclists in future.
The guy replied "and just accept that all driver are twats? I dont think so mate." which didnt make any sense. All drivers are not twats, and to assume this is to take on exactly the same narrow minded kind of view that some bad drivers have of cyclists.
There are ways of responding to bad drivers that are more likely to have a positive effect- like making eye contact and telling them what they did. By being less violent / agressive, you are not nescessarily 'accepting' the behaviour.
I have done worse things than the guy on the dolan, when I have been angry myself. I once kicked someones tail light in. But I try not to, I really think it adds to the problem rather than solving anything. What does anyone else think?