Topic: How do you retalliate when someone in a car almost runs you over

[sangyo soichiro]

I agree that avoid the accident and chill out. That was not always the case when I was younger. I am now wiser.

Years ago I parked my bike and a a guy got out of his car and got right in my face yelling it was his space. He threatened to kick my ass. I said hold on lemme take off my helmet. I whacked him in the face with the helmet as I pulled it off. I broke his nose. It was ruled self defense by the judge that swore me into the County Police the next week.   

Bobby,
After reading that, do you think that I:
a. am convinced I should "chill out"? or
b. want to hit the next guy with a helmet, like you did?

 

[dave500]

hey retro?GPS units.?i was looking down into a car from a truck a few weeks ago in surfers watching some tourists fumbling with theirs,were going about 5 or ten kays through traffic,the driver has the instruction book in one hand and with the other is pressing buttons as is the passenger,just beautiful.that old truck had a great long pair of air horns but i thought i better not blow them between the buildings!its probably best to take all the advice about anticipation and avoid #$%*e if you can,punch ups are too easy to get into anyway.i just blow the horn when needed and move on,a decent sounding horn on a bike commands more respect than a meep/meep one,i have a pair of narva "fanfare"horns which fitted nicley in the original spot.

[Uncle Ernie]

I was heading toward the Embarcadero exit (before it was torn down) and a pretty nice Nomad kept cutting me off.  Somehow we were leap-frogging and for some reason he hated me being in front of him...?  Traffic was always relatively thick heading in the direction of the Bay Bridge, but after the forth time I managed to come up on his leftm wave my finger and scream an anatomically impossible suggestion. 

       Flames shot out of his eyes -

He pulled the steering wheel hard and jumped in my lane.  Have to admit in different circumstances it would have sounded great.  So anyhoo- my eyes were buggin as I gassed it ans started splitting the lane.  I looked back and somehow he was still with me.  I began cutting in and out of traffic, around a big truck, weaving, darting, being rude to cars- I looked back and he stayed ONE car length behind!  How could fat-ass car do this?!
I remembered that at the end of the Broadway exit there was a light and traffic was always backed up there.  I MADE FOR IT AS FAST AS i COULD AND LANE-SPLIT UP TO THE RED LIGHT leaving him behind me in basically parked traffic.

Ever since then, I take a bite of doody sandwich and swallow when I need to.  Cars aren't afraid of bikes.  I expect nothing but lethal disregard.  Anything else is nice.

[BobbyR]

I agree that avoid the accident and chill out. That was not always the case when I was younger. I am now wiser.

Years ago I parked my bike and a a guy got out of his car and got right in my face yelling it was his space. He threatened to kick my ass. I said hold on lemme take off my helmet. I whacked him in the face with the helmet as I pulled it off. I broke his nose. It was ruled self defense by the judge that swore me into the County Police the next week.   

Bobby,
After reading that, do you think that I:
a. am convinced I should "chill out"? or
b. want to hit the next guy with a helmet, like you did?

 

I think that option A is the best option. That was another time and maybe my time overseas made me more reactive. Not fighting is the best option, since no one really wins a fight. If a fight is unavoidable, do you best to give him the worst few minutes of his life. 

[Retro Rocket]

Good advice Bobby.....

Mick

[le_sterls]

Pocket full of change 'll do it. Or if it is dark enough, I've heard dragging the centerstand will send some sparks there way... Typically, I'll just let 'em pass, but nothing pisses me off more than someone trying to bully me out of my lane...

[the technological J]

idiots are everywhere.... i dont do much high traffic driving but i listen to some music thru headphones and i always chill and try let the music take my rage.. whether it is bob marley or rage against the machine... im not sure if your supposed to have music playing but with the roar of the air i have never had anything that caught my attn that was heard.... im lucky i can usually let things go just breath it all out

[axehole54]

I also play music and the only thing i don't like about it is sometimes you can't hear traffic sneaking up on you or potential engine noises that can lead to catastrophic failure if not addressed immediatley. Not that i can hear traffic over the drag pipes

[sangyo soichiro]

idiots are everywhere.... i dont do much high traffic driving but i listen to some music thru headphones and i always chill and try let the music take my rage.. whether it is bob marley or rage against the machine... im not sure if your supposed to have music playing but with the roar of the air i have never had anything that caught my attn that was heard.... im lucky i can usually let things go just breath it all out

I hope you're not hurting your ears.  I imagine the music's got to be pretty loud for you to hear it.  Try out the same volume when you're just sitting at home.  If it's too loud then, then it will be too loud when you're riding, even though it might not seem like it when you're riding.

You don't want ear damage.  Music is just not worth it.

[DammitDan]

I ride with noise-reducing earbuds.  They reduce noise around me by about 20dB, allowing me to hear louder noises around me and still keep my music listening level to a safe level.

Basically I can't hear someone talking if I have the music turned on, but I can still hear road sounds.  Maybe not the safest thing in the world, but hey I enjoy it  

[Don R]

The last time I just gave the young girl driving the look, but my wife was along and she had something to say at the next light. I have been known to aim my headlight right in a mirror. It's best to not start anything though.

[dave500]

my wifes like that don,i let heaps of stuff go as i drive all day i get used to it,she demands her right of way and delivers pay back when she deems its deserved,shes an aggressive driver.