When someone yells at you from their car….

[5555624]

You’re supposed to give them a kitten?

While I am sure that would be unexpected, I don’t think I want to ride with kittens. What happens if they get loose? Cat herding is difficult as it is, but on a bike? Yikes!

[jrenaut]

You could always make kitten coupons to hand out – a photo of a kitten needing adoption from the local SPCA, along with the address and phone number. That would kill quite a few birds with just one stone. Although hopefully the kitten wouldn’t kill any birds.

[PotomacCyclist]

I’ve been yelled at by an old boss as he was driving by. I’m pretty sure it was him because in all the time that I’ve been walking and cycling around area sidewalks and roads, he’s the only guy that has done that (with one exception). He used to do that when he saw me walking to the office on the sidewalk. I guess it provides some sort of weird thrill for him. I wasn’t cycling back then.

A few years after I left (primarily because of that boss), I got a “drive-by yelling” while I was on my bike, stopped on a sidewalk before an intersection. Based on the strangeness of the comment and the fact that I wasn’t even in the road, and the similarities to other situations, I’m 98% sure it was the old boss. I guess it was the 10 cups of coffee that got to him. Or maybe the possible steroids. (Not kidding about that. The guy had some serious ‘roid rages, in the office.)

[PrintError]

I blow kisses. I’ve triggered screaming torrents of anger by blowing a kiss to a driver who was angry with me.

Kill em with kindness.

[mrkenny83]

@PrintError 10915 wrote:

I blow kisses. I’ve triggered screaming torrents of anger by blowing a kiss to a driver who was angry with me.

Kill em with kindness.

I BLOW KISSES TOO!!!!! A kiss and a little smile go a loooong way. It’s worked the best, thus far.

[Dirt]

I have a huge variety of things that I do. Very few of which display any anger. Lately I’ve been singing a lot. I sing something happy. If I can, I talk to them… The “H.I.Y.H” sign on the back of the cargo bike often gets some interesting reactions. 99% of the people who honk at me now are laughing and giving me a thumbs up.

The ones who are truly angry will roll up and talk to me. “I won’t give you the satisfaction of honking at you.” is a common response. I make a happy, friendly comment in return. I had a woman roll up next to me and say that she wasn’t horny, she was angry. I suggested that being horny is an okay thing and nothing to get angry about. I delivered it with a big smile. She still didn’t think it or I was funny. I had someone roll up and wanted to make it very clear that she was NOT the one that was honking… that it was her 11 year old daughter.

I’ve got lots of great experiences with the H.I.Y.H sign… most of which can’t really be shared on a family friendly web forum. Lets just say that lots of happy people toot and wave now, and the ones with bananas stuck in their tailpipes very rarely display their displeasure.

Win/win in my book.

Hugs and kisses,

Pete

[WillStewart]

A smile and a wave takes the wind out of their sails, if not immediately then over the next several minutes. I have, of course, also used other techniques, such as when someone says “GO RIDE ON THE BIKEPATH!!!”, I say, “Go drive on the Beltway!”.

[KLizotte]

@Dirt 10933 wrote:

The ones who are truly angry will roll up and talk to me. “I won’t give you the satisfaction of honking at you.” is a common response. I make a happy, friendly comment in return. I had a woman roll up next to me and say that she wasn’t horny, she was angry. I suggested that being horny is an okay thing and nothing to get angry about. I delivered it with a big smile. She still didn’t think it or I was funny. I had someone roll up and wanted to make it very clear that she was NOT the one that was honking… that it was her 11 year old daughter.

Pete

Wow, good thing you’ve steered clear of political stickers (e.g., who you’re going to vote in the next election) – now those could generate some unwelcome reactions!

Glad to hear most people laugh and go along with the joke though I must admit I didn’t know what “horny” meant when I was 11 years old!

[PrintError]

@WillStewart 10936 wrote:

A smile and a wave takes the wind out of their sails, if not immediately then over the next several minutes. I have, of course, also used other techniques, such as when someone says “GO RIDE ON THE BIKEPATH!!!”, I say, “Go drive on the Beltway!”.

I was riding down Lewinsville when someone yelled “RIDE THE TRAIL, A&&H0L3!”. I replied, “That’s where I’m heading!”

[MCL1981]

I think it would be more fun to let them pass, then from a distance of about 50-100 yards, snipe one of their back tires out. Then casually ride passed them, smiling and waving.

[PrintError]

In the reality of afternoon traffic, you just let them stop for the gridlock and ride past, smiling and waving.

[Dirt]

@KLizotte 10962 wrote:

I must admit I didn’t know what “horny” meant when I was 11 years old!

I do kinda feel bad about speeding that education along with my sign. I did hear a parent explain to her child that it is a way that only grown-ups say that they’re happy. I can imagine the disaster that might cause at the next dinner party when the child is trying to behave like a grown-up.

[Joe Chapline]

All: I removed a post suggesting shooting out a tire. I know the poster wasn’t serious, but please don’t suggest or advocate violence or criminal activity on the forum. We’ve let a few other posts slide, sorry for the inconsistency.

It’s OK to discuss violating traffic law, but talking about shooting at anyone or anything is over the top.

[dasgeh]

@KLizotte 10962 wrote:

Wow, good thing you’ve steered clear of political stickers (e.g., who you’re going to vote in the next election) – now those could generate some unwelcome reactions!

Given the stance of one of the two major parties towards bikes and cyclists, I think riding a bike implies a political sticker…

Why doesn’t “Pro-Life” include the protecting the lives of pedestrians and cyclists?

[baiskeli]

@dasgeh 10988 wrote:

Given the stance of one of the two major parties towards bikes and cyclists, I think riding a bike implies a political sticker…

Why doesn’t “Pro-Life” include the protecting the lives of pedestrians and cyclists?

“I’m pro-bike and I vote.”

[Author]

Posts