reaching new heights of idiocy



D

Duncan

Guest
I thought I'd seen most of the idiotic driver behaviour... but one
tonight had me stunned.

I was travelling my usual route down Lyons Rd (siderney,
http://tinyurl.com/z8uhu passing from right to left). Traffic was its
usualy heavy self, plus it was raining, dark, you get the picture.

I came to the first roundabout at Great North Rd and chose to slot in
behind the first two cars stopped at the roundabout, and wait my turn.
As usual with roundabouts, you need to claim the lane or some idiot
will run through beside you. Mr black SS ute (rego "CSS 1" if anyone
sees the ********) behind obviously didn't like this too much, and
crept forward to within a foot of me, gunning his engine. No worries I
figure, usual big-engine-small-mind syndrome, nothing to worry about.

So we go through the roundabout, he's trying to squeeze inside by
running up on the mound in the middle of the road (which is flat so
buses can get around). At this point, I did as I always do and claim
the lane all the way (100m) down the hill to the next roundabout.. 'cos
the traffic is going so slow and I'm never holding anyone up. This
time, I'm make sure of it because I'm worried he'll try to squeeze
past. Small-**** SS decides this is way too much and overtakes me on
the *outside*, tyres squeeling, in the bike lane, then cuts me off
before the next roundabout forcing me to swerve and brake hard to avoid
him.

I was too stunned to do anything other than yell obscenties at him.


duncan
 
always the dunnydore drivers... *rolls eyes*

if its any consolation, he probably got his teeny ***** stuck in his zipper not 5 minutes later... thats karma for you :D
 
Duncan wrote:
> I thought I'd seen most of the idiotic driver behaviour... but one
> tonight had me stunned.
>
> I was travelling my usual route down Lyons Rd (siderney,
> http://tinyurl.com/z8uhu passing from right to left). Traffic was its
> usualy heavy self, plus it was raining, dark, you get the picture.
>
> I came to the first roundabout at Great North Rd and chose to slot in
> behind the first two cars stopped at the roundabout, and wait my turn.
> As usual with roundabouts, you need to claim the lane or some idiot
> will run through beside you. Mr black SS ute (rego "CSS 1" if anyone
> sees the ********) behind obviously didn't like this too much, and
> crept forward to within a foot of me, gunning his engine. No worries I
> figure, usual big-engine-small-mind syndrome, nothing to worry about.
>
> So we go through the roundabout, he's trying to squeeze inside by
> running up on the mound in the middle of the road (which is flat so
> buses can get around). At this point, I did as I always do and claim
> the lane all the way (100m) down the hill to the next roundabout.. 'cos
> the traffic is going so slow and I'm never holding anyone up. This
> time, I'm make sure of it because I'm worried he'll try to squeeze
> past. Small-**** SS decides this is way too much and overtakes me on
> the *outside*, tyres squeeling, in the bike lane, then cuts me off
> before the next roundabout forcing me to swerve and brake hard to avoid
> him.
>
> I was too stunned to do anything other than yell obscenties at him.


I saw a nice trick on the group ride on Saturday. I was second wheel.
Just before some lights, a limo pulled in sharply in front of us. The
front rider could have stopped, but rolled and slapped into the limo's
bumper and did a bit of an endo. It made a loud thump and left a tire
mark and a bit of a dent. Nice bike skills! The driver looked a bit
****** off, but stayed in his seat.

Donga
 
"DaveH" <AnyDave(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Whilst cyclists have every right to claim the lane, the simple courtesey
> of allowing impatient motorists (who had been noticed) the opportunity to
> pass them safely will produce a better outcome for both parties.
>
> Random acts of kindness even towards motorists are going to make life
> better for all. Simple politeness and courtesy are all it takes. Getting
> aggro is no help to anybody.
>
> Dave H
>
> (who seems to be a bit "born-again" to-day)
>


In most cases I'd agree with you, but through a roundabout is definitely a
time to claim the lane. You're going to be there for all of ten seconds and
they can get past after that.
 
Whilst cyclists have every right to claim the lane, the simple courtesey of
allowing impatient motorists (who had been noticed) the opportunity to pass
them safely will produce a better outcome for both parties.

Random acts of kindness even towards motorists are going to make life better
for all. Simple politeness and courtesy are all it takes. Getting aggro is
no help to anybody.

Dave H

(who seems to be a bit "born-again" to-day)

"Duncan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I thought I'd seen most of the idiotic driver behaviour... but one
> tonight had me stunned.
>
> I was travelling my usual route down Lyons Rd (siderney,
> http://tinyurl.com/z8uhu passing from right to left). Traffic was its
> usualy heavy self, plus it was raining, dark, you get the picture.
>
> I came to the first roundabout at Great North Rd and chose to slot in
> behind the first two cars stopped at the roundabout, and wait my turn.
> As usual with roundabouts, you need to claim the lane or some idiot
> will run through beside you. Mr black SS ute (rego "CSS 1" if anyone
> sees the ********) behind obviously didn't like this too much, and
> crept forward to within a foot of me, gunning his engine. No worries I
> figure, usual big-engine-small-mind syndrome, nothing to worry about.
>
> So we go through the roundabout, he's trying to squeeze inside by
> running up on the mound in the middle of the road (which is flat so
> buses can get around). At this point, I did as I always do and claim
> the lane all the way (100m) down the hill to the next roundabout.. 'cos
> the traffic is going so slow and I'm never holding anyone up. This
> time, I'm make sure of it because I'm worried he'll try to squeeze
> past. Small-**** SS decides this is way too much and overtakes me on
> the *outside*, tyres squeeling, in the bike lane, then cuts me off
> before the next roundabout forcing me to swerve and brake hard to avoid
> him.
>
> I was too stunned to do anything other than yell obscenties at him.
>
>
> duncan
>
 
In article <[email protected]>,
"DaveH" <AnyDave(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:

> Whilst cyclists have every right to claim the lane, the simple courtesey of
> allowing impatient motorists (who had been noticed) the opportunity to pass
> them safely will produce a better outcome for both parties.


There's also the matter of rewarding extremely aggressive behavior --
you're teaching the hoon that the way to get what he wants is to rev his
engine and creep closer and closer. Proving to him that intimidation
works may well produce a worse outcome for lots of parties.

--
Shane Stanley
 
DaveH (at dot) wrote:
> Whilst cyclists have every right to claim the lane, the simple courtesey of
> allowing impatient motorists (who had been noticed) the opportunity to pass
> them safely will produce a better outcome for both parties.
>
> Random acts of kindness even towards motorists are going to make life better
> for all. Simple politeness and courtesy are all it takes. Getting aggro is
> no help to anybody.
>
> Dave H


Did you read my post, or is this a form response? There was no aggro
from me until the fool tried to punt me into oncoming traffic. I gave
the two drivers at the first roundabout the right of way and slotted
into stationary traffic.

The area has two small roundabouts, about 100m apart. The second is
down a fairly steep hill from the first, and I have no trouble
travelling faster than the traffic in this section, because the cars
need to slow down for the second roundabout. If I'd pulled left to let
him pass, VB -brains would have run me over there.

Weener-**** in the ute only had to wait until exiting the second
roundabout to pass me.. when cyclists can move into the cycle lane
again.
 
Duncan wrote:

<Snip>

> Did you read my post, or is this a form response? There was no aggro
> from me until the fool tried to punt me into oncoming traffic. I gave
> the two drivers at the first roundabout the right of way and slotted
> into stationary traffic.
>
> The area has two small roundabouts, about 100m apart. The second is
> down a fairly steep hill from the first, and I have no trouble
> travelling faster than the traffic in this section, because the cars
> need to slow down for the second roundabout. If I'd pulled left to let
> him pass, VB -brains would have run me over there.
>
> Weener-**** in the ute only had to wait until exiting the second
> roundabout to pass me.. when cyclists can move into the cycle lane
> again.


Sounds to me you did nothing wrong. I probably would of done exactly
the same thing.

If the traffic is moving slowly I see no point in relinquishing your
'space' when you're approaching another round-about where you are going
to have to take the lane back anyway.
 
"Duncan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Weener-**** in the ute only had to wait until exiting the second
> roundabout to pass me.. when cyclists can move into the cycle lane
> again.
>


I'm not saying you did anything "wrong", merely pointing out that you could
have done something "kind" and allowed the ******** to pass at the earliest
opportunity, waved him through even. . .

Such acts would improve the relationship between motorists and cyclists and
they might think better of them.

Sorry Duncan, not picking on you in particular, there are many similar rants
here. . .

Dave H
 
It is no consolation, but I'm sure he would have behaved similarly towards a slow moving car.

Although not everyone who drives a ute is a tiny brained needle ****, there are enough idiots driving utes to propagate the stereotype.

Then of course, when it rains, for some reason their already tiny brains turn to mush and all possibility of civilised behaviour flies out the window.
 
In aus.bicycle on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 08:33:11 +1000
Resound <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> In most cases I'd agree with you, but through a roundabout is definitely a
> time to claim the lane. You're going to be there for all of ten seconds and
> they can get past after that.


Except the passing happened in a 100m stretch where there appears to
have been room for the car to pass and get ahead. If he'd pulled over
instead of claiming then, it seems the car could have passed safely
and not screamed past, and pulled in hard.

Zebee
 
Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In aus.bicycle on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 08:33:11 +1000
> Resound <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >
> > In most cases I'd agree with you, but through a roundabout is definitely a
> > time to claim the lane. You're going to be there for all of ten seconds and
> > they can get past after that.

>
> Except the passing happened in a 100m stretch where there appears to
> have been room for the car to pass and get ahead. If he'd pulled over
> instead of claiming then, it seems the car could have passed safely
> and not screamed past, and pulled in hard.


Huh? Room beside me, yes; room between me and the car in front of me,
no.

If I'd pulled over, I would have ended up entering the bottom
roundabout beside said idiot... and have to try to merge back into the
(now moving) traffic - much less safe than riding with the flow.
 
"DaveH" <AnyDave(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Such acts would improve the relationship between motorists and cyclists
> and they might think better of them.
>


I think it's more about letting a potential road rager move on and pick on
someone else. I know I've been guilty of retaliating with the finger or
aggressive behaviour in the past with these jokers and I've since learnt
that's exactly the wrong thing to do if I want to both stay alive and enjoy
my cycling. These days I'm practising doing the opposite with either a
friendly wave or not responding at all. I'd rather focus on my ride rather
than let myself get riled up by some psycho looking for a fight, and a few
seconds out of my day to let some ******** go by is no real drama and far
less stressful in the long run.
Let 'em go and give 'em no further thought.

--
www.ozcableguy.com
www.oztechnologies.com
 
In aus.bicycle on 11 Sep 2006 18:46:08 -0700
Duncan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Huh? Room beside me, yes; room between me and the car in front of me,
> no.
>
> If I'd pulled over, I would have ended up entering the bottom
> roundabout beside said idiot... and have to try to merge back into the
> (now moving) traffic - much less safe than riding with the flow.


OK, if the traffic was travelling so slowly that he couldn't pass in
100m if you had moved immediately once you had left roundabout #1
that's fair enough.



Zebee
 
In aus.bicycle on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:12:04 GMT
OzCableguy <[email protected]> wrote:
> aggressive behaviour in the past with these jokers and I've since learnt
> that's exactly the wrong thing to do if I want to both stay alive and enjoy
> my cycling. These days I'm practising doing the opposite with either a
> friendly wave or not responding at all. I'd rather focus on my ride rather



An advantage of the ipod. I can hear traffic and useful sound cues,
idiots yelling are mostly drowned out or otherwise incomprehensible.

Not that I've paid attention to them anyway, life's too short to care
about strangers with issues.

Zebee
 
OzCableguy wrote:
> I think it's more about letting a potential road rager move on and pick on
> someone else. I know I've been guilty of retaliating with the finger or
> aggressive behaviour in the past with these jokers and I've since learnt
> that's exactly the wrong thing to do if I want to both stay alive and enjoy
> my cycling. These days I'm practising doing the opposite with either a
> friendly wave or not responding at all. I'd rather focus on my ride rather
> than let myself get riled up by some psycho looking for a fight, and a few
> seconds out of my day to let some ******** go by is no real drama and far
> less stressful in the long run.
> Let 'em go and give 'em no further thought.


I must say, I've recently (last couple of months) come to the same
conclusion after moving jobs and having a 3x longer commute (now 1hr)
than I had before.

I try to let most idiots on through and ignore any juvenile behaviour..
I think I've also become alot more generous in my attitude towards cars
stuck in traffic...

Unfortunately, this bozo forced the issue and thinking about it a day
later, I still don't know what I could've done differently to avoid the
situation other than pull over to the side of the road the first time
he starting acting up; if I did that ever time a potential idiot drove
up behind me in Sydney peak hour, I'd never get to work.
 
DaveH said:
I'm not saying you did anything "wrong", merely pointing out that you could have done something "kind" and allowed the ******** to pass at the earliest opportunity, waved him through even. . .
I agree entirely with what you're saying. Tiny-**** in the dunnydore probably would have driven away feeling a right knob too.

BUT... it's extremely difficult to act in such a way when one has encountered such stupidity. I certainly would find it difficult to act any differently. But I'm going to try the next time someone pisses me off.

Cheers,
LH
 
LotteBum wrote:
> DaveH Wrote:
> > I'm not saying you did anything "wrong", merely pointing out that you
> > could have done something "kind" and allowed the ******** to pass at
> > the earliest opportunity, waved him through even. . .I agree entirely with what you're saying. Tiny-**** in the dunnydore

> probably would have driven away feeling a right knob too.
>
> BUT... it's extremely difficult to act in such a way when one has
> encountered such stupidity. I certainly would find it difficult to act
> any differently. But I'm going to try the next time someone pisses me
> off.


Wot, Lotte without her shottie?
 
"Donga" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> LotteBum wrote:
>> BUT... it's extremely difficult to act in such a way when one has
>> encountered such stupidity. I certainly would find it difficult to act
>> any differently. But I'm going to try the next time someone pisses me
>> off.

>
> Wot, Lotte without her shottie?


Yeah. . . Just turn the other Cheek. . . :)
 
DaveH (at dot) wrote:
> "Donga" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > LotteBum wrote:
> >> BUT... it's extremely difficult to act in such a way when one has
> >> encountered such stupidity. I certainly would find it difficult to act
> >> any differently. But I'm going to try the next time someone pisses me
> >> off.

> >
> > Wot, Lotte without her shottie?

>
> Yeah. . . Just turn the other Cheek. . . :)


In the case of that ute driver, make it a bum cheek.