An open letter to people who shout at cyclists

[FitzChivalry]

To those who shout at cyclists,

Thank you for your words of encouragement as you drive past in your carbon-belching, non-renewable-energy-using vehicle. At least, I think that you're encouraging me. The problem is, you need to work on coming up with shorter sentences to shout to me, because I only get a very small snippet of what you've said. I've written down a couple of the things you and your heavy-carbon-footprint brethren have shouted to me, along with how I've filled in the missing parts so that it makes the most sense to me. Please let me know if I've gotten these wrong so that I can better understand what you're trying to communicate.

What I heard you say: "...loser..."
My best guess as to what the rest of the sentence was: "I feel like such a loser because I'm contributing to pollution. I wish I was more like you."

What I heard you say: "...off the road..."
My guess: "I applaud your willingness to take your car off the road and use a more socially respectable form of transportation."

What I heard you and the other girls on the high school bus shout: "...you're such a..."
My guess: "Wow! You're such a stud! Do you have a girlfriend? Please say you don't!"
My response: "Sorry, young ladies, but I'm happily married. This ship has sailed."

Please continue to encourage me, as I enjoy the accolades from those who wish they had the courage to be more like me. If you're ever ready to make the leap from global warming contributor to green cycler, check out electricbikereview.com for a great community of people who are as awesome as you think I am!

Signed,
The guy on the wicked-cool electric bike

 

[James]

Ha... Well played sir!

 

[calvin]

To those who shout at cyclists,

Thank you for your words of encouragement as you drive past in your carbon-belching, non-renewable-energy-using vehicle. At least, I think that you're encouraging me. The problem is, you need to work on coming up with shorter sentences to shout to me, because I only get a very small snippet of what you've said. I've written down a couple of the things you and your heavy-carbon-footprint brethren have shouted to me, along with how I've filled in the missing parts so that it makes the most sense to me. Please let me know if I've gotten these wrong so that I can better understand what you're trying to communicate.

What I heard you say: "...loser..."
My best guess as to what the rest of the sentence was: "I feel like such a loser because I'm contributing to pollution. I wish I was more like you."

What I heard you say: "...off the road..."
My guess: "I applaud your willingness to take your car off the road and use a more socially respectable form of transportation."

What I heard you and the other girls on the high school bus shout: "...you're such a..."
My guess: "Wow! You're such a stud! Do you have a girlfriend? Please say you don't!"
My response: "Sorry, young ladies, but I'm happily married. This ship has sailed."

Please continue to encourage me, as I enjoy the accolades from those who wish they had the courage to be more like me. If you're ever ready to make the leap from global warming contributor to green cycler, check out electricbikereview.com for a great community of people who are as awesome as you think I am!

Signed,
The guy on the wicked-cool electric bike

FitzChivalry: Some people become very aggressive (yelling, throwing things) when they know that they are passing you at 30+ mph. I've never encountered that kind of trouble in a traffic jam. That's why everyone should consider purchasing an ebike that does 50+mph. Then we could continue the conversation: " Now what were you saying?" or return their beer can they lost in our direction.

 

[bikerjohn]

As a commercial motor vehicle operator as well as a cyclist, I am on roads 35-45 hours every week, 200-300 hours a year on bikes.
http://www.bikejournal.com/journal.asp?rname=bikerjohn
It is incomprehensible, but what happens too often is a complete disregard or aggressive tactic by some motor vehicle operators passing slower moving traffic. Passing a cyclist or pedestrian safely, involves first easing up on the accelerator and moving left to allow a safe amount of space between the motor vehicle and the slower traffic.. The concept of passing only when it is safe to do, without affecting oncoming traffic or the cyclist, sometimes requires the use of the brake too. There should never be a need to accelerate to get around slower traffic if you are passing safely. When being passed in an aggressive fashion, I hope to catch up to the perpetrator down the road and offer some common sense advice face to face.

 

[calvin]

" Yup, "some common sense advice face to face".

 

[Admin]

Fun post Fitz! Thanks for adding a bit of humor and highlighting some of the negative affects of internal combustion vehicles vs. electric bikes. You know what they say, change your mind to change your life.

A good attitude goes a long way and I think these people are probably suffering and that's why they act out. Driving to a job, family or relationship that you struggle with or feeling generally insecure about yourself often manifests in inappropriate behavior. That doesn't make it right and I think deep down these people would benefit from friends who were less critical of them and more humorous and supportive just as this post demonstrates

What I heard you say: "...your mom..."
My guess: "I wish I had been raised by someone who cared more about me, like your mom."

What I heard you say: "...to slow..."
My guess: "I wish I could afford to slow myself down but I'm neck deep in debt and at my bosses mercy... who coincidentally taught me how to shoult at people."

What I heard you say: "...wooohooo!!!"
My guess: "wooohooo!!!"