Elderly drivers are road ragers???

rayhuang

I just had a big altercation today with an elderly driver (not that elderly-but definately over 70). Talking with other cyclist today, we all agree older drivers, (usually male but often times female) are about the most aggressive (honking, coming really close, yelling, gesticulating madly) when your riding even solo at the side of the road doing nothing wrong.

I am 42 right now and my parents and father in law are in there late 60s and 70's and I can see a bit of a new spirit or maybe its a lowering of control of ones anger.

Is this why SOME elderly drivers are mad around bicycles?

Do they feel nervous and scared passing cyclists and that manifests inself in a show of aggression?

Is it a normal part of aging or is it there animosity towards bicycles and the womb like security of a cars cabin that they now feel empowers them threaten cyclists? IN other words no fear of retaliation?

I am trying to find a silver lining here because I have respect for MY elders, but seemingly I am losing respect for everyone elses.

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kdelong

Ray, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Elderly drivers have shown me nothing but the utmost respect and courtesy when they see me out riding.....NOT!! I think that you have hit it on the nose when you say that they have no fear of retaliation. I thinjk that this is true because it seems the bigger their vehicle, the less respect they show to other vehicles.

willocrew

A stubborn agressive driving mentality in which the body cannot keep up with.

That is a cocktail for disaster

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p38lightning

First let me say that I've never had a "road rage" incident with an elderly driver. I have had numerous incidents with YOUNG drivers, but more so from the passenger riding shotgun, of things thrown at me, screaming in my ear and trying to get me to fall, and deliberately moving past a side street stop sign to make me think that they are about to pull out and hit me. These were deliberate "sociopathic" acts not a reaction to my riding.

As to the attitude of elderly individuals, being 60 myself I have some opinions.
Some elderly individuals may be jealous of the fact that you can cycle and that they no longer can. It makes them reflect on the dearth of their own physical prowess. Likewise I've heard contemptuous remarks about "young love, and sexual passion" There is a cynicism that can come with age which rejects the enjoymen and enthusiasm of others, as if their own enjoyment is now forgotten. Mostly their is the " I've lived a long time, and I've got something comming. Life owes me for my sacrifices." What they feel that it owes them at that moment may be the part of the road that you occupy!

Jerks are always jerks no matter what their age is.

I like to say "If you will do it, then you can do it" meaning that the longer that you make the effort to hold on to a physical ability, the longer it will be until you lose it. That's why I love to ride!

Gus Riley

I was almost hit by an elderly woman while riding in the middle of our small town on a quiet Sunday morning. Nobody was on the road except her and I. She buzzed me within an inch. I was startled by the closeness of her car as she sped past me. I gave chase and caught her as she was getting out of her "Yank Tank". I informed her that she nearly hit me. She said she knew that and did so to teach me a lesson for not riding single file!!!!! What!!? I was riding alone ma'am.

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to go outside. I hope she is off the road now...that was a few years ago.

DrunkenBiker

Are you serious ?? That's freaking priceless. lol

I've had no problems with the "old farts" on the roads. Like p38lightning said, it's the young drivers who seem to be 99.9999% of the problem. Honking, blasting air horns, etc. But even then I don't seem to get 1/100 the problems that I've heard some people on this board complain about.

Question for youse guys. You ever stop to think it's the outfits you wear while riding that makes you a target ??

Now....I ain't looking for a fight. I've aged to the point where I don't really give a rats-ass what you do as long as your not bothering anyone. But I work with a lot of 16-20-somethings, and I mentioned this problem at work a few weeks ago and several of them laughed and gave their opinion about it.

In the words of newly licensed, 18 year old, Katherine, "They're dressed like clowns, you have to hassle them"

I wear normal shorts/T-shirts and still haven't gotten over the old-school menatlity I possess to wear the helmet I have sitting in the closet. So even tho I'm on a 25 mile ride, I look like I'm just heading to the local bar or such.

Put another way. Anyone here who rides with/without the spandex notice any difference in the way your treated ??