Sounds like you did perfectly. You didn't let it slide, but didn't get nasty.
2010-12-02 12:00:26
9
So maybe I went abour this wrong -
This morning on my way to class, I took Bingham st on the south side to mckean to station square, etc. On bingham st, a semi truck passed me with proper clearance, but the trailer got way too close for comfort. When the truck stopped, I pulled up next to him, and as politely as I could said, "Just wanted to let you know, when you passed me, your trailer was really, really close to me, maybe watch out for that, someone could get hurt."
The driver, in a very condescending tone, said, "Well, you shouldn't be out in the road, what did you want me to do?" He also called me "Sweetheart." ugh.
So I looked at him, said, "I'm a part of traffic and I belong on the road. Learn your traffic laws, or next time I'm calling 911 and reporting you."
Thinking about it, I wish I'd said something about the fact that I have the right to a full lane every time, and that the fact that I'm in the road would be a terrible excuse to hit someone.
Did I go about the initial confrontation wrong, or should I have just let it go? I can never tell when to let things go...
2010-12-02 04:48:37
Yup. The extra words wouild have been too much. It may be that the female cyclist - male motorist is the only combination that permits peaceful confrontation.
2010-12-02 15:07:08
RF, that sounds beautiful. You gave him a chance, you gave him the benefit of the doubt. He failed, but you didn't stoop to his level. Good on ya.
2010-12-02 15:37:40
Sounds like you did a good thing. If the trucker is a thoughtful guy, he'll think about it. If not, he won't.
@lyle - I've had a couple of positive interactions telling male drivers that I thought they came too close for safety. Like RF, I rode off not knowing if the talk did any good or not, but the tone was good.
2010-12-02 16:35:41
@mick: Were you wearing a dress at the time? Might explain the seeming discrepancy from Lyle's hypothesis...
2010-12-02 16:37:03
No dress. Just my normal Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Rogers self.
2010-12-02 16:40:42
sounds like you did the right thing. i wonder if threatening to call his company is even more of a threat. i'm sure a simple "i'm sorry" from him would have made the whole thing go away
2010-12-02 18:42:48
Yeah RF you had the exactamafundable correct response to that sexist bonehead. Mega props to you.
2010-12-02 22:29:58