I was out taking the Dahon for a quick spin on a lazy Sunday evening recently and found myself travelling east in what laughably passes for a bike lane in Neerim Rd, Carnegie. Take a look at it on Streetview and tell me what you'd do when faced with this "bike lane" full of parked cars:
[View Larger Image at Google Maps]
Would you, as I did, decide that to try to squeeze through in the bike lane with traffic passing on the right is a ridiculously dangerous thing to do and take the lane instead?
As Australian Road Rule 247 specifically states that "the rider must ride in the bicycle lane unless it is impracticable to do so", I concluded that it was impracticable for me to ride in this lane and took to the centre traffic lane, as I am legally entitled to do.
Almost immediately after I did this, a car approaching from quite some distance behind started honking at me then passed at very close range. I should note that there was no oncoming traffic at the time—in fact, Neerim Rd is so narrow that it would have been impossible for him to squeeze past if there were—so the driver could have passed completely in the right-hand lane, giving me yards of clearance.
"Hmm, that was a bit close", I thought and that would've been that. Except the lights at Murrumbeena Rd changed to red, and I was able to catch up to him. (It does makes me laugh how often these Neanderthals think they can abuse a cyclist and zoom off without being challenged.) Time for a quick discussion about road rules and responsible driving, I thought.
I pulled up beside the car with its passenger window already open so that the driver could share his taste in "music" with random passers-by. Before I could say anything he doused the stereo and snarled, "Yeah?" in a really aggresive way, obviously anticipating (and setting the tone for) an argument.
Politely and quietly I asked, "What's the problem, mate?"
"You're in the middle of the —ing road!", shouting.
"Well, why don't you just go around?", quiet and polite again.
"On the wrong side of the —ing road, you —ing —?!?", more shouting.
[Thinks, "That's what normal people call 'overtaking'."]
"Yeah, just indicate and go around."
His reply was a stream of abuse and heavy acceleration as the lights had changed to green.
Clearly, I was not his real or only problem, and I wasn't going to let his attitude spoil my enjoyment of such a pleasant afternoon. I guessed that he hadn't had a recent fix of his chosen substance of abuse, a conclusion that seemed to be confirmed when I saw him a minute or two later standing forlornly outside a closed tobacconist in Poath Rd. I smiled sweetly at him.
Before our brief discussion, I thought his argument would be, "Get in the —ing bike lane", which would have given me the opportunity to point out that the bike lane was a dangerous and "impracticable" place for me to be. As it turns out, he's obviously the kind of self-centred nong for whom the concept of a bike lane doesn't even register. As for the rights of other road users…
I only wish I'd thought quickly enough to stop and take a photo of his number plate for your entertainment. Next time, I suppose. And yes, there will be a next time because wherever there are people, there are one or two selfish bastards.
OK - time to balance things. Sydney Road. I've noticed in recent weeks that traffic tends to hang back outside peak hour when I'm using the bit of the left lane outside the door zone, and drivers seem to mostly appreciate being waved through (apart from the '80s Silvia tonight with only sidelights - pointed at the lights, and got some incomprehensible gesticulation back from the passenger!). So well done Sydney Road travellers, and thanks.
Great point on the shared path, Treadly. Ties in nicely to paths being slower. Most cyclists will ease right back on shared paths and take it a bit slower, whereas on the road we're traffic and going faster.
Yes, I've been of the opinion for a long time that the vast majority of motorists are basically good and considerate people. The very fact that a minor traffic infringement rates a mention at all is that it's unusual enough to discuss and common enough to be a familiar experience for most cyclists. Of course, for a cyclist the experience of a "minor" traffic infringement often has the added piquancy of offering a very real threat to life and health.
This sort of thing really bugs the hell out of me - it's just out & out bullying. The thing to remember is that selfish bastards are in a tiny minority, so when the revolution comes, we shouldn't need too big a wall for them.
I think you did very well with your response.
I had a similar incident recently. A driver flawed it past me overtaking on the wrong side of a speed bump (across double unbroken lines) and straight up to the red light that was only 20m ahead. It was such a stupid thing to do, just a pointless display of aggression and territoriality. I caught up at the lights in flash and proceeded on my merry way. Looking stupid with his actions, he mumbled "you don't own the road"... Uhum, excuse me Mr F-wit? did I or anyone else say anything about owning the road? It was a case of disavowed guilt me thinks.
Further to Charlie's point, I've recently devised a little thought exercise for anyone (usually a bloke) who suggests that a fast-moving road cyclist should get off the road and onto the shared path: imagine your mother/sister/girlfriend/wife/daughter or some significant other walking along that shared path. Now, how do you feel about a cyclist using that path—and passing your loved one at close quarters—while travelling at 40–45km/h? Is it still a good idea? Watch out for unintended consequences.
That said, I've found in recent times that where the road gets tight, motorists seem to appreciate being waved through. From where I sit, I think it demonstrates that I have an awareness of, and consideration for, other road users. No doubt some drivers still think I'm the one being selfish, but there you go.
Certainly one of the problems in the UK is that it's "ok" to make the fact that you're having a bad day someone else's problem, if you're in a motor vehicle.
People who would open doors for ladies, apologise profusely if they bumped into you in the street will not brook any delay in their journey the very minute they get behind the wheel. It's odd, and quite unlike anything I've seen in, say, France or Belgium when cycling there.
Sounds par for the course. There are a number of people out there who just don't get that all road users have an equal right to the road, be they using cars, trucks, buses, horses or human-power. My tale for the week - yesterday I was riding down Beverley Road in Heidelberg. There's a 600m section where there's a shared path running alongside. I was doing about 45 (it's a 50, and the corners have a 40 advisory) and a car came up behind. I gestured him to overtake; as he did he was pointing and mouthing at the shared path - as he drove away he was waving his right arm over the top of his car. Well, thanks for telling me there was a shared path there, mate. But know this - there's no way on or off that path from the road... and even if there was, there's no reason for a cyclist to leave a road to use a shared path next to the road if they don't want to (unless it's signed that they must, of course).
sigh
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I hate to say it but you will never change the attitude of the few drivers like this no matter if you confront them. This happens to me at least once a week - mums, kids and 4 wheel drives says it all.
Just remember the 95% of driver who are considerate and try to watch out for guys like that.