Altercation in Rock Creek Park Today. Insight?

@thefalcon3a 83575 wrote:

Hey guys,

This is where I figured I was just dealing with a crazy old man and should move on, but a younger guy with a stroller then joined the argument, saying something about how bikes have to follow rules at intersections just like everyone else. We weren’t at an intersection… There were people crossing the path from the parking lot to get to the shore of the creek, but it was just grass, so I would think bikes get the right of way there.

Hi, Falcon, welcome to the forum. It sounds like you were doing all the right things, so I have to believe he was just taking some anti-cyclist anger out on an easy target. The fact that you were polite and patient probably explains why you got more than your share of hassle.

This proves that when any rider chooses to be inconsiderate or unlawful there are consequences for all of us riders. You were the unlucky lightning rod in this case. Maybe at busy intersections you’ve seen the painted stencil saying, “Make us bicycle riders look good,” an admonition not to run a red light or ride inappropriately. Although I’m not always my best at this, I’m making a conscious effort to improve, and I acknowledge the importance of leading by example!

Dave

Welcome to the forum, and I second what most of my compatriots have already suggested; you were unfortunately the recipient of pent up anger. Sadly this is not uncommon and one of the burdens of being a cyclist… we tend to suffer from middle child syndrome, often misunderstood by drivers and pedestrians. It is a shame that you witnessed this behavior so early in your 2-wheeled tenure but hopefully you will not be discouraged. You will find that most of us on this forum are concerned about behaving legally and safely on a bicycle and conducting ourselves with respect to others. It sounds to me you were acting responsibly and being considerate and just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. Also, we all make mistakes from time to time, even the veterans. Apologizing and being humble is a nice gesture and usually calms a potential situation, in your case it is added insult that your admission fell on deaf ears. Take solace in the fact that you have friends here on the forum who understand and have dealt with similar situations….. keep on riding!

Sorry you had a bad experience. I’ve had several myself. Unfortunately bad things tend to stick in my mind and stay with me, and I often forget that 99 out of 100 rides are fantastic and conflict free. I occasionally remind myself of that fact (most rides are great!) and feel a lot better. Besides, without all my riding, my wife would leave me for buying a nice bike AND I wouldn’t be able to eat anything I want without gaining weight! I’ll trade occasional strangers berating me for a happy wife and all-I-can-eat meals!

@thefalcon3a 83575 wrote:

This is where I figured I was just dealing with a crazy old man and should move on, but a younger guy with a stroller then joined the argument, saying something about how bikes have to follow rules at intersections just like everyone else. We weren’t at an intersection… There were people crossing the path from the parking lot to get to the shore of the creek, but it was just grass, so I would think bikes get the right of way there.

Just be glad you didn’t end up in Gitmo or have traffic laws cited at you (true story).

I had run-ins like this happen a couple of times when I’d ride down the MVT towards Mt Vernon and was just as bewildered. Like a few people have mentioned, some people just don’t like cyclists and want to bitch to any cyclist that stops and interacts with them since it gives them the opportunity to blast someone on two wheels. Truth be told, when I rode in the DC Vortex I did a lot of yelling at cyclists like this old dude but it was mostly at the Cat 5 wannabes blazing the MVT like they were 30 seconds ahead of Tom Boonen on the Paris-Roubaix.

Screw ’em. My policy is I’ll apologize if I did anything wrong, but if they start some sort of tirade I smile and ride off. Lifes too short to spend it interacting with assholes.

@NicDiesel 83644 wrote:

Just be glad you didn’t end up in Gitmo or have traffic laws cited at you (true story).

I actually did have both of these happen to me. You aren’t allowed to have any kind of fun as a civilian in gitmo. Just walking around you get into trouble.

1. Unfortunately there is a lot of tendency these days for people to argue in ways that are very irrational and involve all kinds of free association, rather than analysis. I tend to blame cable news, but I guess there is more to it than that.
2. For those of us with a logical turn of mind, and a tad or more of OCD, its very hard to shake intense annoyance at illogical arguments. Going for a ride helps
3. Unfortunaly many such illogical arguments are aimed at cyclists in particular – this is for a range of reasons from competition for road space to fear of change to guilt to culture war resentments. It is manifestly not a rational reaction to the behavior of cyclists as a group, which has been shown many times to be no more reckless then that of drivers or pedestrians, and not to be more unlawful.
4. Cyclists are not responsible for the behavior of other cyclists any more than drivers or pedestrians or blacks or whites or gays or straights or gentiles or jews are so responsible for members of their group. Anyone is free to alter their own behavior for the sake of optics if they choose (I note that I personally am generally more of a “compliant” cyclist than a “momentumist”) just as one is free to support cycling in many other ways.