Being a nicer cyclist

[erikgarrison.livejournal.com]

What are some ways that cyclists can positively engage drivers, gain their respect, and encourage them to use caution when they are sharing the road with cyclists?

Comments

[m00n.livejournal.com]

In practice, even maniacs do not tend to run bicyclists over, so I usually have few qualms about "hogging" the lane in front of a driver who I believe is being too aggressive--it keeps them safely behind me in cases where they might be tempted to pass me over and over again (because I keep catching up to them at lights).

Also, frankly, if I feel like someone is taking my life in their hands just to prove something, I have ZERO qualms about doing everything in my power to make their use of the road as frustrating as possible, provided it does not significantly impact other, more polite drivers.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

Fine. Pull that BS in front of me, and you can reliably know that I will not run you over or even hit you. I probably won't even honk more than once or twice. I will just hand my cell phone to a passenger and ask them to call the cops to report that you're deliberately obstructing traffic and have you arrested.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

You are welcome to try but I think you can be almost entirely certain that you will be laughed off the phone or cited for making illegitimate 911 calls. Given drivers' reputation for getting angry at cyclists for taking the land, I have a hard time believing that you would ever be taken seriously doing this.

[erikgarrison.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with m00n. I am much less likely to let someone I feel is being aggressive pass by slowing down. Despite the latent aggression inherent in traffic, people don't want to hurt each other. Better to encourage the driver to slow down and honk, yell, rev their engine, etc. than to push me into an unsafe situation. An aggressive person will be even less careful as they pass.