BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I harassed a guy for passing me within a gnat's hair, only to move up one spot in the queue for the left turn off of liberty and onto 11 street. It was an illegal pass (mid-intersection and forced me to change my speed and direction). Stopped at the red light - of course - I informed him of his actions by screaming into his ear "You passed me a little close, buddy!"

There was some jawing afterwards, of course. And I could tell that I made an enemy for myself and other bikers, but it made me feel better at the time.

So I guess our experiences cancel out?

i would say yesterday's ice thing probably had to do with the slime that slithered into town for the pens parade. drunk groups of hockey fans in cars.

The suburban slime.

I had a similar experience to sloaps yesterday at Liberty and Baum heading towards town.

I was coasting to the red light in the right lane closer to the middle of the lane when a woman passed me within an arms length only to stop right beside me because well... there was a red light. It was so incredibly annoying cause despite me trying to get her attention she ignored me, smoking her cigarette and acted like she didn't even see me. Maybe she didn't, I don't know.

It startled me enough to make me swerve. What's wrong with some people?

I think it's also important to remember that some people just harass other people, regardless of the situation. Some people are just jerks, and will attempt to be a jerk to another person, regardless of whether that person is on a bike, or running, or walking, or, heck, sitting on their porch.

People really, really don't like you touching their cars. Especially while they are in them. An open handed slap on a fender or window can really make folks snap out of it... Like hey, that's a person.

Or it can make people go nuts. In that case, just make sure you aren't in front of or behind their car. They don't move sideways very well.

If you're really tired of being harassed and see the writing on the wall of someone getting out to attack you someday, concealed weapons permits in PA are extremely easy to acquire assuming you don't have any convictions.

Some of these people are real jerks, but a lot of them just don't think beyond what is immediately in front of their bumper, and they're not so much malicious as stupid. Then they find their stupidity exposed, and they don't quite know what to do about it -- making an apology is not required on the driver's test -- so they get embarrassed, which makes them defensive, which makes them self-righteous, which makes them angry, which makes them go home and fight with their spouse.

So, karma gets them in the end.

For whatever reason, and I think almost all the experienced folks on the board will back me up on this, the more time in you have riding in the city, the less you get harassed.

bjanaszek- that is a good point, and I have a feeling a lot of the situations we deal with are with people who are generally jerks.

I do think that a lot of it purely has to be with the way mass society sees bikes.

Think about all the times you bikes in movies or TV. How many of those occasions associate bicycles with being poor/unable to drive/unable to afford a car...?

Eric - You are very correct about that. At this pint in time, I get harassed very infrequently on my bike. I'd like to think it is because I've honed my stink-eye over the years to be a powerful force, but I think more realistically it's a blend of confidence, experience on reading cars, and conscious and unconscious avoidance of places and situations that have led me to trouble before.

I second BradQ's assessment. Sometimes there are those unlucky ice-throwing moments, or the Kenny Chesney concert moments, but as a whole I've been harassed a whole lot less in recent years than in the first year after moving back to the burgh from SF in 2001. I probably got harassed more times in that first year, than the past 4 years put together.

i've noticed an increase in cyclist in mass media/advertisements. even positive ones. maybe i'm just paying attention more than ever

for what it's worth, pittsburgh drivers were rated fifth most courteous drivers in the country in a road rage report, released today:

The survey also named a new city as the most courteous. Portland, Ore., took the top spot, moving up from No. 2 last year. It was followed by Cleveland, Baltimore, Sacramento and Pittsburgh.

http://www.affiniongroupmedia.com/themes/site_themes/affinionassets/releases/autovantage/Road_Rage_09/

Last time I was in Portland (Feb 08) I was yelled and honked at more in 3 days than 3 months in Pittsburgh. Really aggressive threatening type honking and yelling, not just run of the mill "you annoy me, I honk or yell to express my displeasure or in an attempt to feel superior to you on the bike" type honking and yelling.

Case in point for the "people are just jerks" thesis:

I was just walking along Carson Street, and saw three guys in a car yell at a woman crossing the street. She didn't even cause them to stop (they weren't going in the direction she was crossing) so they were just being jerks.

Also, +1 for Brad. That's my experience, too.

I haven't been riding that long, 4 years, but I have had more issue this year than ever before. Maybe it is just me...

Maybe when I look back I also include race related harassment that most of you probably don't experience, and that is why I feel like I am being harassed so much. I probably get "chink" (or "gook" and the like) yelled at me just as much as all the cycling related comments. I am just always on my bike, so they just pile together in my head.

another here in agreement with bradq and eric.

additionally, i think i have become a less aggressive rider as i've become more experienced. for example, it used to be that if i came up to a red light, any red light, i would ride to the front and take off in front of traffic. nowadays, if i plan on taking the lane, and if i think i can get through the first light given my position, i'll wait in line with all the cars. other things too; i'll often slow down when approaching a parked car rather than shooting out into traffic, or i'll let the lone car stopped at the light with me go before i take off, even if i was there first.

little things seem to go a long way.

though i can remember at least one incident from the past few months where my stink eye saved me some trouble.

ugh. i have to say that my harassment has decreased over the years. that sucks nick

I agree that there has been a decrease in giving and receiving harassment, but I can't be magnanimous all day, everyday.

I chalk it up to probability: biking every weekday at rush hour, then every other day in the evening, no matter how hyperaware I am of my position on the street I'm bound to cross paths with some random jagoff on an off day where I'm compelled to say something.

I was thinking about where and when I ride, and I think that might be a big factor in why harassment has increased. I used to mainly ride during the day--to school, errands, and such around North Oakland, Bloomfield, Shadyside. Now, most of my riding is at night all around the city, but mostly around the Squirrel Hill, Southside and Oakland.

Considering this, I am thinking a lot of it has to do with alcohol...

ndromb-the whole racism angle is something I didn't thing about, although looking back over the last year or so I've had more than a few racial epitaths thrown my way.

This brings up another point in addtion to brad's points above. I thnk my skin is a lot thicker when I'm riding. Walking down the street and getting harassed would get me much more upset than harassment while riding. I think it is a combination of the ability to move quickly away from the source of the harassment and filtering out things that aren't physically threatening to my person.

Booze will surely bring out the inner jerk in a lot of people....

this just in: columbia city missouri just made it a misdemeanor to harrass a cyclist.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/cyclist-harassment-against-the-law.php

I agree on the alcohol angle...remember there are some in this city whose entire level of physical activity is lifting a can of beer to their mouth while cheering "LettZZ Go Stillers!!"

"I think it's also important to remember that some people just harass other people, regardless of the situation. Some people are just jerks, and will attempt to be a jerk to another person, regardless of whether that person is on a bike, or running, or walking, or, heck, sitting on their porch".

There are many reasons many of you alluded to why people do what they do and I agree. I guess a lot of it comes down to hurt people - hurt people. For me the question is not why these thing happen but how I am going to react to them. I come at this from a Christan perspective (so be warned) we are commanded to love. Most times that is a lot easier said than done. What I find helps me when I become so angry to the point of becoming mad I decided that I can focus on the incident and allow that incident take control of my thoughts or I can choose to focus on something else. At the risk of sounding trite I choose to focus on the definition ( I believe ) of love. It makes sense to me if I am commanded to do something a definition of that action would be in order. This passage comes from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

I find, for me, that I can’t really think about two things at once. I choose to think on what I think will leave the better. If this position offends some of the readers I apologize in advance.

Just a thought

ndromb, I hear you on getting referred to as a "chink" or "gook". The APA community is relatively small here, but the Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs is relatively active.

If you have a particularly bad experience, I would report it.

http://www.stopbias.org/primary_form.htm

The Missouri law is interesting. Does this mean it is not illegal to harass a pedestrian? Or does harassing a cyclist carry extra punishment?

Better yet, does anyone know what our city/state ordinances are regarding harassment?

I'm in the "more experience=less harassment" camp. Some of this is making sure I am VERY visible when I ride at night, some is that I don't get in thw way of cars unless I have something to gain and there isn't much risk in what I do, I slow (and on rare occasions even stop) to let cars go first at 4-way stops.

I often see other bikers do things that I wouldn't do that strike me as obnoxious and unnecessary. Some of those things most others here would agree with me and others most folks here would not agree.

A lot is the intangible. "Moves well with traffic" "confidence" whatever

Last time someone call me a fag, I blew them a kiss and wrist-waved (even though I tend pretty far toward the hetero end of the scale.)

Pittsburgh in my long lifetime has had a reputation for drivers being courteous to other drivers - and murderous towards pedestrians. I think bikers count as pedestrians in this context.

I think there are a lot of people (on the east end at least, maybe all round town ) who don't need cars and can't really afford cars, but say "I need a car. You can't live without a car." They go to great sacrifice for their cars and hence are hostile to those that don't.

I wasn't sure where to post this so I thought this thread would work.

what about verbal/physical harassment by younger kids while riding? I really can't imagine macing a 12/13 yr old, but when they do something to harm me(grabbing my bike, trying to knock me off of it), I think I have the right to protect myself. I had an incident like this over the weekend and not only was it scary enough, but I felt pretty embarassed, and then ashamed for being embarassed. It's just surreal to be an adult harassed by kids.

It's just surreal to be an adult harassed by kids.

It's like grade school all over again.

It does seem pretty bizarre. I can't recall if kids I knew growing up did this sort of thing (harassed adults). Seems incredibly bold, and is also a sad commentary on the state of parenting.

After the fact I was glad they didn't try to yank my bike. But then I found myself getting more angry--so the point of trying to hurt me was to make your friends laugh? Sheesh.

Last week, some motorist threatened to "Get me off the road himself" if I didn't move(we were at a stop light). That didn't bother me half as much as this kid thing.

Most of my harassment issues come from kids. We occasionally have issues with local kids at the polo court who are too stupid to realize that we know who they are, and this past weekend in Philadelphia there were a number of problems with kids... Stealing beer, stealing food, stealing bikes, lighting haybales on fire. These types of kids suck, but their parents suck more. I can only imagine what my folks would have done had I acted like such a scoundrel growing up.

I'm very glad school is back in session. My street is much quieter this week.

From my experiences it seems that the harassment has come from two main groups of people.

1. Multiple youths in any situation

2. People after any type of event that gave them the opportunity to get drunk, or get noisy.

You get one without the other in most situations. School is now back in session, but football/hockey season is right around the corner.

Hockey fans are an issue especially during the post season, and Steelers fans.. well.. what can I say.. its a football town.

I have come to the conclusion that second hand auto exhaust is the new world odor.

It should be interesting to see what happens during the G-20 summit.....

I plan on being at least 50 miles away from the city during that fiasco. Enjoying some fishing and the quiet of the woods.

Rant:

I just got yelled at by fat lady puffing on a cigarette and it’s bothering me. I was climbing a short one block long 19% hill with a T intersection at the top. The up-hill traffic has the right of way, while those on the top of the T both have stop signs. I was out of the saddle and in the lane going up the hill and then turned left in front of said woman in car. Said she, “you’re suppose to signal!” Said me, “I’ve got the right of way.” Here’s what’s bothering me: I almost always use hand signals in traffic. I used them at the bottom of this hill when I turned onto this street. But how am I supposed to stand, maintain momentum, and take one of my hands off the handlebar at the same time? It pisses me off that the driver was technically right, I should have signaled, even though she would have had to stop regardless of which direction I would have been turning – she had a stop sign, I didn’t. I wish I had a better comeback.

"Sorry, my bad. Steep hill. Thanks for waiting for me."

I find not having a comeback usually ends in a better result for me.

Head tilt(s)? Hug the center? Go diagonal? Yell "I'm going that-a-way" with shrugs, head tilts, etc.?

@Marko82. Obviously I don't know the exact cirumstances, but her knowing you would go one way or the other would affect her options or actions, she was making a good criticism.

Were you two yelling at each other? Was it hostile?

Aside: lately I've noticed how many times a driver who is near me, honking like a jerk, isn't even directing it to me, but rather to some other driver.

Last evening I had a bunch (4,5?) of college age kids in a BMW roll past me with windows down and techno music blasting and yell something incoherent. I caught up with them at not one, but two stoplights on Forbes in front of CMU (heading into sq. hill), pulled right up next to their window and smiled both times. They didn't yell anything further and sort of avoided eye contact. I think they were embarrassed they were acting a fool.

^ +1 I love it when that happens!

Is that harassment? Or beyond? Today, around 4pm, I was a Morewood and 5th, when the redneck kind of guy, in a gray truck behind me just drives close enough to me so that my back wheel got pinched between his bumper and the road. When the light turned green, he just drove forward and bent my wheel.

I threw my bike at his car, but not hard enough I am afraid. I think he was angry, because of the traffic jam due to the light, and because I cut in front of him.

No it wasnt a yelling fest or anything that a pedestrian would have even turned around for. It just got to me that here I am climbing a hill, and she has to stop nomater what - even if I or another vehicle wasnt there! I take this route often and have never had any issues here. It's not the best intersection, should probably be a three-way stop, but the fact that she was partially RIGHT is what bothers me. Of course how am I suppose to signal, and ride safely at the same time? I also think that the fact that she weighed somewhere in the neighborhood of a baby grand piano and was smoking had something to do with my attitude.

Is it not the case that hand signals are not required when it would be unsafe to take your hands off the handlebars?

@lulu, If he hit your bike, then it is a traffic "accident" (or worse) and he is required to stop and provide you his name, insurance information, etc. If he leaves, it is a hit and run. Next time, don't toss your bike. Instead, get his tag number and call 911 ASAP, or even better, tell a bystander that witnessed the accident to call 911, that way you have a witness on record as well.

Yes Dwillen, you are right, I shouldn't have tossed my bike, but he had such a vicious smile, it just made me really made. Next time, I will try to be better.

Calling the police... I am a foreigner, and will be applying for citizenship soon, and do not want my name in any police files. I don't trust the local police.

I harassed the 75 year old oblivious douche who cut me off and forced me to hop onto the sidewalk on negley just before ELB this afternoon. he ruined an otherwise perfect ride home. I yelled some choice words, thankfully the windows were up, it didn't help that the 4 teenage girls in the car just laughed at me.

I really think guys are targeted with rougher treatment from drivers than girls. Apart from my encounter with a pickup, I've experienced relatively few folks shout at or drive intentionally jerkish around me. (Or I'm just really good at ignoring such commentary/behavior... in which I'd probably be better off with port authority...)

i'm really kind of amazed at the boldness with which some of you guys react to asshole drivers! in the end, they've got the upper hand... you don't want to provoke them any more than you already have by 'selfishly' 'hogging' the road. yeeesh... it's scary out there. ignore these horn leaners and let them stew, and if possible get out of their way and let them pass. nothing is proven when they ride your ass then run you over by accident or out of rage. only time i give drivers 'tude is on penn in the strip. there are TWO lanes - if the left lane is empty, why ride my ass? PASS ME! but even then i simply wave them past with a "seriously, you have a whole other lane!" sort of vibe...

I've started to try and enjoy my time stuck in auto traffic on Butler. When I get caught up in traffic, sometimes I just sit and bellow loudly at no one in particular. "Would you look at this F-N traffic, Geez", F@ck, all this Damn Traffic" As soon as the light turns green I encourage drivers to "Go, Go, GO, Go you Chicken Fat Go. Someimes I'll say stuff like "nice day to be stuck in traffic." or "Man, I wish I had a car so I could sit my fat ass in traffic" I make sure people know I'm passing them, ring my bell, wave. I do alot of yelling , the ravings of a lunatic loser on a bike, "Lookie at this car, sweet! what is that 8- cylinders" Wow, that is awesome, dude. oh no, eight cylinders just stuck in traffic, that sucks" "Glad I'm not spending money to sit in traffic," Oh I don't have to sit in traffic I'm on a silly bike, goodbye!" then I try my hardest to peel out.

Enraging a bunch of people, each of whom is equipped with a deadly weapon? Uh oh. Makes me worry for the safety of the next cyclist any one of them encounters.

Seriously. Be courteous. Share the road. Bike wise. Do unto others.

I'm sharing the road. everyone makes a Pgh left in front of me. I wave them through, two, three at a time, I stop at every light. I don't get in anybodies way. I'm very courteous. I'm not sure how complaining loudly about traffic while stuck in traffic is enraging people, I'm not even making eye contact, I'm looking at the light, not drivers. Seriously, I am courteous, I'm just exclaiming loudly about being stuck in traffic. I share the road and I've resigned myself to the fact that I do.

Glad to hear that and sorry for my wrong assumption. I am only concerned that folks are already agitated enough as it is, particularly in the bottleneck of Butler. I know I can get that way when I have to drive places to haul stuff or whatever be the case, when I'd much rather be on my bike. I guess I'm just concerned that you never know what might set someone off and whom that might affect.

I know, I'm not yelling AT people, just complaining about traffic, I'm really not trying to make people mad, just commenting on the absurdity of traffic. I really have taken the position that I'm part of the congestion not above it. Go Ahead turn left in front of me, I see you, I know your gonna cut me off, I'll even stop and wave you through and smile. I always smile and say thank you when someone gives me a break, especially when they don't pull out in front of me and I know they wanted to and could have, but they let me go.

Oh, I drove a Taxi for six years, so I totally get driving, Probably why I have a soft spot for commercial traffic and always let them go first.

"I'm not sure how complaining loudly about traffic while stuck in traffic is enraging people"

May well not be, my bad. I was thinking partly about how really easily some drivers get to rage (not in small part from reading some of the horror stories posted on this board).

I try not to be one of them. One time I was behind the wheel with a passenger next to me, and someone cut me off (someone driving another car/SUV/don't-remember-exactly, not a bike tho). No one got hurt, there was enough room/reaction time for me to brake and not hit them. I decided to exercise my "don't add to the rage" parts of my brain and leave it be, try to be calm sort of thing. My passenger was really pissed though, started yelling at me for not laying on my horn. I think he really wanted to reach over and honk it himself, but managed not to. Good on him - he likes that hand as it is, still attached to his arm. Trying to be calm only goes so far.

Off on a tangent. What I'm trying to say is it's like there's this culture where you're almost *supposed* to feel and act entitled when you drive, I don't know. I'm trying to opt out anyway.

Anyway, I'm sorry - it sounds like I missed the tone of what you were describing earlier.

I know what your saying, I don't drive anymore but when I drove a cab, get the F--k out of my way.

If you drive on Butler every day, you can not POSSIBLY be enraged by the traffic. If you were, you would have died of an aneurysm by now.

@lulu - better that you have your name in the police files as a victim, than as someone who was charged with a crime. But the "cut in front of him" part, well, you might avoid doing that.

I stopped getting mad and try and have fun with it. I love leaving doughboy square, getting to my house and here comes all the cars I passed, I've already unloaded my bike and I'm standing there, kinda chuckling at all those sad saps spending thousands for their SUVs and fast cars and I get there first on my crappy forty dollar bike, gives me a certain amount of satisfaction.

@Timito I'm not sure how complaining loudly about traffic while stuck in traffic is enraging people

Ever been stuck in a slow grocery store line in front of someone who is whinging about the wait? Makes you think about special uses of the socks you've been wearing for a few days.

I like riding on the jail trail when the parkway is stopped and ringing my bell for the people in cars.

Guys guys guys... being smugly taunting does nothing to enhance bicyclists' image overall... "na na naaa, you're stuck in your gas guzzling SUV while I'm free as a bird" only provokes, not thought, but Tony Kornheiser-type anger. Feel good about yourself on the inside, but don't convey that to the poor bastards on the parkway... it only reinforces the stereotype of the self-satisfied bicyclist. No need to poke at the guy in the 2-ton weapon that's cocked and loaded. Jeez. No wonder drivers here are so hostile. The traffic is bad enough without having it thrown back in their face...

I had mixed feelings about it when I rang the bell for those guys (it was a 90+ degree day and many had windows open).

It was compelling, though.

just to play devils advocate here......

Part of me feels that there are certain situations that call for raging out at drivers.

How many times in your life have you been angrily called out by someone for making a mistake or being un-mindful of someone elses safety etc.?

I know it's happened to me on more than one occasion. When I do something stupid in traffic, or anywhere for that matter, and someone honks or flips the bird I give it right back. After my indignation fades, I start to analyze the situation and inevitably think about what I can do to prevent it from happening again and why I was at fault. (or not)

I also want to be very clear that I don't advocate flying off the handle every time some minor thing happens but it's not black and white and I truly believe that calling someone out when warranted can make an impact in their future behavior.

Also @lulu

that sucks and I don't blame you for being wary in this paranoid, post-9/11, 'their takin our joobs', patriot act clusterf*ck.

Good luck on the naturalization!

I'd just say, resist the urge, keep it to yourself. Cause they're frustrated enough as it is. I drive in this city all the time, and it's the most infuriating city I have ever driven in (that includes DC and NYC). By far. And I don't even do it as a daily commute like those guys on the parkway. So think - once they're off the parkway they won't be so immobile and they may just take it out on the next cyclist who has the audacity to take the lane, and next thing you know there's another incident like lulu's or worse... it seems unfair and honestly irresponsible to me to complain about drivers being disrespectful and then turn around and do the same. Because honestly like I said before, they have the upper hand...

However if someone taco's your wheel or knocks you off your bike or something else otherwise assholic? Well then, it's on. HULK SMASH

I'd just say, resist the urge, keep it to yourself. Cause they're frustrated enough as it is

**************************************************

That sounds like a pamphlet telling housewives how to treat their husbands in the 50's

STFU

Well spak am I wrong? It's like a chained up dog in a yard. You sit there and poke at it with a stick, it's going to bite your, or someone else's, ass if it gets loose.

I understand your point but it's a person, not a dog

I generally only harass/flip out when the driver has endangered mine or a fellow cyclist's life. Sadly, more often than not, they are oblivious to this or at least don't take it nearly as seriously.

I'm not harassing drivers, I'm just bitching about traffic and sometimes it turns sarcastic. Being behind all that foul machinery when I'm just trying to ride my bike downtown is an expensive joke. I'm not calling anybody out.

I let people turn left in front of me everyday, it's safer, then I thank them for looking at me. People block up the road and can't even look over, maybe move two feet. Laughing out loud about that shit is easy. I get out of the way and laugh, sorry if my laughing at your stupid car hurt your feelings.

When I'm on my bike in traffic, I know I'm having more fun than the cagers, and they know it too. I don't have to remind them. And saying the things you say only help to discourage such thoughts. If anything, a smile is enough to drive in the point that you're having more fun than them, and that's what really matters, at least in traffic.

I'm not having more fun. I'm stuck in traffic too, I know what your saying, I'm not calling people names or trying to enrage them, I'm bitching about being stuck in traffic, sometimes at a red light I get off my bike and wave people through as they make their Pgh Left. Sometimes I ring my little bell.

Your right it is more fun then sitting in some car coming home from a job I work so I can sit in a car coming home from work.

The other day some lady rolled right into me at 40th and Butler, going about 4 miles an hour, kept on going, and I'm WALKING my bike WITH the light and she taps me a bit, It's cool though she didn't knock me down. I didn't yell anything, I sort of chuckled and continued pushing my bike.

Mostly I keep my mouth shut and hope some dipshit doesn't kill me eating a candy bar and talking on the phone, driving his ridiculous car around and not paying attention.

I'm curious Joe, How do you presume to know what I'm saying when I'm riding my bike on Butler? I think perhaps you're making assumptions about me and yet we've never met, I personally don't think a smile is enough, I wave and ring my silly little bell, I get off my bike and walk, I am having fun but sometimes I'm bitching about being stuck in traffic when I'd rather be sitting my fat ass on the couch watching me some TV eating some KFC or Mickey D's or somethin.

I'm curious Joe, How do you presume to know what I'm saying when I'm riding my bike on Butler?

Um, Timito, just yesterday in this very thread you posted what you say when you ride your bike on Butler:

I've started to try and enjoy my time stuck in auto traffic on Butler. When I get caught up in traffic, sometimes I just sit and bellow loudly at no one in particular. "Would you look at this F-N traffic, Geez", F@ck, all this Damn Traffic" As soon as the light turns green I encourage drivers to "Go, Go, GO, Go you Chicken Fat Go. Someimes I'll say stuff like "nice day to be stuck in traffic." or "Man, I wish I had a car so I could sit my fat ass in traffic" I make sure people know I'm passing them, ring my bell, wave. I do alot of yelling , the ravings of a lunatic loser on a bike,

I don't see how you can get all huffy at people remembering your own words.

This post previously contained objectionable content. I can't delete it so I'm replacing it with this.

no porn on the BBS, joe!

Right, I swear, and tell people in cars to go, go, go when the light turns green, the same folks who just honked at me to get out of their way. I'm bitching about being stuck in traffic, I'm not bumping people with my bike or cutting them off but they're doing this to me, actually hitting me with their cars cause they can't get off the phone and pay attention to how they're operating their 4,000 lb SUV. You know what, they don't even know how, they don't know traffic law and they don't care. They'll just hit someone pushing their bike across the street, sorry but fuck them.

This seems like a good place to vent; an older guy wearing a baseball cap in an off-white SUV (plate DTS 2546) honked and yelled while passing me in Schenley park at 08:10 this morning. Amusingly he wasn't bright enough to realize he has to put the window down first so only he was blessed with hearing his tirade.

Ha ha. In a park of all places.

Were you on Panther Hollow Rd? That is the only part of the park I usually have trouble with. Something about "if it looks like a freeway, I'll drive like its a freeway". I'm certain most people don't even realize they're driving through a park.

No, descending Schenley Drive through the golf course -- the curve in that road is a choke point, and drivers will either A) try to kill me going around it or be furious at me for getting in their way rather than trying to kill a pedestrian going around it.

Also if I had to guess I'd say roughly 10% of drivers can successfully negotiate that turn without crossing the yellow or white lines even in the complete absence of bicyclists. Ergo, 90% of drivers are driving too fast on Schenley Drive.

my response to harassment lately has been to just manual away.