What to say, What to say??

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Alright, I quit driving officially last summer. I commute EVERYWHERE. I think the drivers around here (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) are quite respectful, but then again I've never really been anywhere else!

But please, oh please tell me, what you think is the best way to respond to those jackass drivers that insist on honking at you while parked at a red light - or while pulling up to one. I'm always torn between just giving them the finger or if possible asking (yelling . . .) them if they're in a rush to get to the red light. Of course, whenever possible I'll meet them at the next light (after they speed past with the undeserved arrogance of feeling superior because the were able to pass a biker) and just smile to myself.

Let me know how you deal with them, and if there's anything I should be keeping in mind in terms of my actions making the life of all bikers a little easier . . .

Thanks!

Alright, I quit driving officially last summer. I commute EVERYWHERE. I think the drivers around here (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) are quite respectful, but then again I've never really been anywhere else!

But please, oh please tell me, what you think is the best way to respond to those jackass drivers that insist on honking at you while parked at a red light - or while pulling up to one. I'm always torn between just giving them the finger or if possible asking (yelling . . .) them if they're in a rush to get to the red light. Of course, whenever possible I'll meet them at the next light (after they speed past with the undeserved arrogance of feeling superior because the were able to pass a biker) and just smile to myself.

Let me know how you deal with them, and if there's anything I should be keeping in mind in terms of my actions making the life of all bikers a little easier . . .

Thanks!
I'm new to commuting on my bike, and what you describe has only happened to me a couple times, but flipping them off has been pretty effective. I think you need to be very dliberate about it, making sure to look them in the eye while saluting and stare for a while afterward. Just be sure to move smartly out of the after you do it:)

Alright, I quit driving officially last summer. I commute EVERYWHERE. I think the drivers around here (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) are quite respectful, but then again I've never really been anywhere else!

But please, oh please tell me, what you think is the best way to respond to those jackass drivers that insist on honking at you while parked at a red light - or while pulling up to one. I'm always torn between just giving them the finger or if possible asking (yelling . . .) them if they're in a rush to get to the red light. Of course, whenever possible I'll meet them at the next light (after they speed past with the undeserved arrogance of feeling superior because the were able to pass a biker) and just smile to myself.

Let me know how you deal with them, and if there's anything I should be keeping in mind in terms of my actions making the life of all bikers a little easier . . .

Thanks!
I guess a nice heavy U-lock applied with vigor to the windshield is out of the question??

or a biddon filled with cement through the rear windscreen??? :D

I guess a nice heavy U-lock applied with vigor to the windshield is out of the question??
This is permissable, but only for repeat offenders.

My last experience along these lines was being blast-honked at by a driver last month here in Austin as they were passing at 50 mph. I caught the car at a red light. Inside the shaded windows, I saw a young woman biting her knuckles. No, she didn't like being caught up with. I banged on her windshield with my knuckles, and yelled very loudly, "DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?"
As it turned out, the b - - - - had nothing to say. It wouldn't have mattered to me who it was, male or female. It was just choice to catch one of these jerks boxed in after the crime.

Alright, I quit driving officially last summer. I commute EVERYWHERE. I think the drivers around here (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) are quite respectful, but then again I've never really been anywhere else!

But please, oh please tell me, what you think is the best way to respond to those jackass drivers that insist on honking at you while parked at a red light - or while pulling up to one. I'm always torn between just giving them the finger or if possible asking (yelling . . .) them if they're in a rush to get to the red light. Of course, whenever possible I'll meet them at the next light (after they speed past with the undeserved arrogance of feeling superior because the were able to pass a biker) and just smile to myself.

Let me know how you deal with them, and if there's anything I should be keeping in mind in terms of my actions making the life of all bikers a little easier . . .

Thanks!
Two aspects:

1. In most places, people have the right to turn right on red. If possible, you might move left a bit and stop to the right of (or in line with) those going straight through, but to the left of those turning right on red.

2. For those who beep, honk, complain... my strategy is to consider that they are showing their politeness. I usually smile to them and wave them back. In a few cases these are people who have a strange way to salute other drivers so my reply is opportune; and in cases where the driver was angry, my reaction seems so out of line with them that they don't know how to react.

BTW, the "friendly" beep seems to happen a lot more in small towns (between car drivers, for example) than in big cities; and it also happens a lot -- with the thumbs up sign -- when I have my 2 kids in tow.

Alright, I quit driving officially last summer. I commute EVERYWHERE. I think the drivers around here (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) are quite respectful, but then again I've never really been anywhere else!

But please, oh please tell me, what you think is the best way to respond to those jackass drivers that insist on honking at you while parked at a red light - or while pulling up to one. I'm always torn between just giving them the finger or if possible asking (yelling . . .) them if they're in a rush to get to the red light. Of course, whenever possible I'll meet them at the next light (after they speed past with the undeserved arrogance of feeling superior because the were able to pass a biker) and just smile to myself.

Let me know how you deal with them, and if there's anything I should be keeping in mind in terms of my actions making the life of all bikers a little easier . . .

Thanks!


In my town, usually the only people who honk at me are those who know me, which, if the truth be told, is a pain in the ass because I can never tell who is honking or where they are honking from and by the time I do, they're already driving off and unless I know their car, I haven't the faintest idea who it was. I used to get that "I honked at you, why didn't you wave?" at least a dozen times a month. So now, if I hear a horn, I wave.

At lights, I pull as far right as possible and when it changes, wave any cars that need to turn through. That was I have the fools in front of me and not behind me. Once in a blue moon I get a screamer (only one in 2003). Generally speaking I do my best to stay out of everyone's way.

If people yell at me, I put on my cheesiest smile and wave and Say "God Bless You too" or "Jesus Loves You"

That usually leaves them speechless.

I had to find something to do - I'm usually riding with one or both of my kids and didn't want them to see me flipping everybody off all the time.

I do have an air horn in case of extreme idiots where yelling isn't enough!

I just plain ignore them. It's tough sometimes, but I try to remember that I'm fully exposed on a twenty-some-odd pound vehicle and they're safely enclosed in a few thousand pound vehicle where they might be hiding a weapon.

To paraphrase the old addage: Tire irons and handguns can shatter my bones, but shouts and horns will never hurt me. ;)

Seriously, please don't give drivers the finger - it just reinforces the stereotype that people on bikes are jerks and shouldn't be treated with respect.

I agree that it is annoying when drivers honk and are generally rude, but even though it feels satisfying at the time, being rude back seems to just perpetuate the problem.

In some cases people are just being a bit irrational or are just cranky, and anyways, if you know you are in the right, why is there any need to even respond or react to the honking or yelling or whatever? Gunfire is a different story of course...