Protecting myself as a cyclist?
August 3, 2015 4:04 PM Subscribe
Watching this video today made me think. I am a frequent cyclist, and would like to do a little more to protect myself - I like this bike cam idea for evidence gathering purposes should I ever need it - what else can I do to record unsafe drivers, and how can I report them?
As a frequent cyclist in a town that is almost entirely given over to automobile traffic, but which is small enough to enable me to ride my bike on errands, I am regularly yelled at, honked at, and otherwise treated disrespectfully by drivers who are infuriated that they are forced to share the road with me. Twice, such drivers have made me feel extremely unsafe, and once I very narrowly avoided what could have been a very severe injury. These situations were as follows:
Situation 1: Truck stops behind me at a red light; I am going straight and truck has right turn signal on, but I am in the way. Truck honks, then blares horn and edges closer and closer to my bike, until the bumper is barely six inches away from my rear tire. I refuse to move, and I was very concerned that the driver would hit the accelerator when the light turned green and hit me before I even got my other foot on the pedal. In between horn blares, I could hear muffled yelling and cursing coming from the truck cab - I did not look back at the driver because I was concerned he might escalate.
Situation 2: Riding in the lane at night, a car starts to pass me, then slows down alongside and rolls down both the front and rear passenger windows. A car full of teenagers proceeds to mock and curse at me, culminating in the kid in the driver's seat screaming at me to "get off my fucking road" before pulling ahead in a screech of rubber as another car starts to approach from behind.
Situation 3: A delivery truck took a right turn narrowly as I was making the same turn (in the lane, as is my right according to local law), and I had to swerve off the road to avoid being hit and bail off my bike to avoid riding directly into a fence. The driver did not even slow. No one stopped to help.
I am a safe rider - I ride about 18" to the right of center in the lane, which forces automobiles to wait until they have plenty of space in the opposite lane before going around me. This protects me from anyone who might otherwise hit me accidentally... However, it also provokes frustration and sometimes aggression from people who feel that I have no right to share the road with them. In the locations I ride, a cyclist has the right to take the entire lane whether there are cars around or not, and in my town the shoulder of the road is in bad repair, making it unsafe to ride on with anything but a mountain bike at low speed anyway. Please do not suggest changing my riding habits - I ride in the safest manner I can, make myself visible, and signal appropriately every time. I will not trade my current problem (aggressive drivers) for a worse problem (ignorant or unwary drivers).
So, with all this information, I suppose my questions are:
1) What sort of cheap camera can I use to record my rides, preferably with both a front and rear-facing setup? It would need to be durable, weather-resistant, and ideally unobtrusive, so that people are not tempted to steal it while my bike is parked somewhere away from home.
2) Would it even be worth my time to report incidents like the first and second ones above to the police? (I would have reported the third, but it happened too quickly for me to get the license number, and the truck was not a company truck; just unmarked white.) If I did, would I have to stay at the "scene?" Would I have to pull over immediately and call 411, or would waiting and calling hours later after running my errands even do anything but waste my and police time?
3) Is there some sort of "bad motorists" whistleblowing forum I can turn to, or some other media that is looked over by the general public on which I can report people who act dangerously toward cyclists? I don't mean just yelling or whatever, but rather events like those mentioned above, where if something had gone differently, someone (me being the overwhelmingly likely victim) could have been badly hurt?
Thanks very much for your input.
As a frequent cyclist in a town that is almost entirely given over to automobile traffic, but which is small enough to enable me to ride my bike on errands, I am regularly yelled at, honked at, and otherwise treated disrespectfully by drivers who are infuriated that they are forced to share the road with me. Twice, such drivers have made me feel extremely unsafe, and once I very narrowly avoided what could have been a very severe injury. These situations were as follows:
Situation 1: Truck stops behind me at a red light; I am going straight and truck has right turn signal on, but I am in the way. Truck honks, then blares horn and edges closer and closer to my bike, until the bumper is barely six inches away from my rear tire. I refuse to move, and I was very concerned that the driver would hit the accelerator when the light turned green and hit me before I even got my other foot on the pedal. In between horn blares, I could hear muffled yelling and cursing coming from the truck cab - I did not look back at the driver because I was concerned he might escalate.
Situation 2: Riding in the lane at night, a car starts to pass me, then slows down alongside and rolls down both the front and rear passenger windows. A car full of teenagers proceeds to mock and curse at me, culminating in the kid in the driver's seat screaming at me to "get off my fucking road" before pulling ahead in a screech of rubber as another car starts to approach from behind.
Situation 3: A delivery truck took a right turn narrowly as I was making the same turn (in the lane, as is my right according to local law), and I had to swerve off the road to avoid being hit and bail off my bike to avoid riding directly into a fence. The driver did not even slow. No one stopped to help.
I am a safe rider - I ride about 18" to the right of center in the lane, which forces automobiles to wait until they have plenty of space in the opposite lane before going around me. This protects me from anyone who might otherwise hit me accidentally... However, it also provokes frustration and sometimes aggression from people who feel that I have no right to share the road with them. In the locations I ride, a cyclist has the right to take the entire lane whether there are cars around or not, and in my town the shoulder of the road is in bad repair, making it unsafe to ride on with anything but a mountain bike at low speed anyway. Please do not suggest changing my riding habits - I ride in the safest manner I can, make myself visible, and signal appropriately every time. I will not trade my current problem (aggressive drivers) for a worse problem (ignorant or unwary drivers).
So, with all this information, I suppose my questions are:
1) What sort of cheap camera can I use to record my rides, preferably with both a front and rear-facing setup? It would need to be durable, weather-resistant, and ideally unobtrusive, so that people are not tempted to steal it while my bike is parked somewhere away from home.
2) Would it even be worth my time to report incidents like the first and second ones above to the police? (I would have reported the third, but it happened too quickly for me to get the license number, and the truck was not a company truck; just unmarked white.) If I did, would I have to stay at the "scene?" Would I have to pull over immediately and call 411, or would waiting and calling hours later after running my errands even do anything but waste my and police time?
3) Is there some sort of "bad motorists" whistleblowing forum I can turn to, or some other media that is looked over by the general public on which I can report people who act dangerously toward cyclists? I don't mean just yelling or whatever, but rather events like those mentioned above, where if something had gone differently, someone (me being the overwhelmingly likely victim) could have been badly hurt?
Thanks very much for your input.
There are a few tools out there- this taillight records crashes and this is designed to mount on handlebars. I do see a lot of people riding with a GoPro on their helmet now, but there may be helmets designed with a built-in camera too.
posted by three_red_balloons at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by three_red_balloons at 4:33 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I am a safe rider - I ride about 18" to the right of center in the lane, which forces automobiles to wait until they have plenty of space in the opposite lane before going around me. This protects me from anyone who might otherwise hit me accidentally... However, it also provokes frustration and sometimes aggression from people who feel that I have no right to share the road with them.
I ride frequently in town, exactly as you do, for the same reasons. And there are more than a few asshats. Colorado has a number where you can report them. Your state may also have a hotline.
It's not a lot, but it does go into a database and the turds will float to the top. As cathartic as it is to confront them, the video you linked shows that people determined to be violent won't be deterred by you recording it. Just take notes and call them in and go on about your day. Confronting them will often make it worse.
Not that I am that great about taking that advice either, so yeah, it is easier said than done. Still.
If you don't mind mischief, call them in as apparently drunk. Just say they were swerving and having trouble maintaining lane position. Cops usually respond to a suspected DUI way ahead of an attempted vehicular homicide, unfortunately. "Motorists should call 911 anytime they see a suspect drunk driver". I've placed the call and let the cops sort it out.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 4:48 PM on August 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
I ride frequently in town, exactly as you do, for the same reasons. And there are more than a few asshats. Colorado has a number where you can report them. Your state may also have a hotline.
It's not a lot, but it does go into a database and the turds will float to the top. As cathartic as it is to confront them, the video you linked shows that people determined to be violent won't be deterred by you recording it. Just take notes and call them in and go on about your day. Confronting them will often make it worse.
Not that I am that great about taking that advice either, so yeah, it is easier said than done. Still.
If you don't mind mischief, call them in as apparently drunk. Just say they were swerving and having trouble maintaining lane position. Cops usually respond to a suspected DUI way ahead of an attempted vehicular homicide, unfortunately. "Motorists should call 911 anytime they see a suspect drunk driver". I've placed the call and let the cops sort it out.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 4:48 PM on August 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
I think it's worth wearing a camera to have evidence in case you're involved in an accident. Hopefully as more cyclists do this, drivers will eventually learn that there are consequences.
For the other incidents, my two cents' is that reporting people will have no useful outcome, and only prolongs the amount of time and energy you spend on them. Confronting them is generally worse because it's very hard to give feedback without people feeling defensive and argumentative. You can't change them. The yelling teenagers are just being stupid teenagers.
The more you notice these people and get angry about them or comment to yourself, the more you're affecting your mood and your day. Instead, I try to minimize the amount of time and emotional energy I spend on these people. Treat them like bad weather: something to deal with as effectively as you can, but otherwise something beyond your control and not worth dwelling on.
Most cameras have a quick-release mechanism that lets you take them with you, but most people mount the camera(s) on their helmet anyway. Well, in helmet-wearing areas like most of the U.S., at least. :)
posted by mvd at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2015
For the other incidents, my two cents' is that reporting people will have no useful outcome, and only prolongs the amount of time and energy you spend on them. Confronting them is generally worse because it's very hard to give feedback without people feeling defensive and argumentative. You can't change them. The yelling teenagers are just being stupid teenagers.
The more you notice these people and get angry about them or comment to yourself, the more you're affecting your mood and your day. Instead, I try to minimize the amount of time and emotional energy I spend on these people. Treat them like bad weather: something to deal with as effectively as you can, but otherwise something beyond your control and not worth dwelling on.
Most cameras have a quick-release mechanism that lets you take them with you, but most people mount the camera(s) on their helmet anyway. Well, in helmet-wearing areas like most of the U.S., at least. :)
posted by mvd at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2015
Standards are very, very high for truck drivers. One call to their employer could get them in a lot of trouble. But there's not much consequence for private drivers.
posted by miyabo at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2015
posted by miyabo at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2015
I know a few people who record their commutes using this light/video camera.
Unfortunately the police just do not care at all about cyclists and a camera is often the only way you will ever have your word taken seriously if someone does actually escalate beyond just being yet another asshat yelling at you for no reason.
Also, join your local bike coalition.
posted by bradbane at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately the police just do not care at all about cyclists and a camera is often the only way you will ever have your word taken seriously if someone does actually escalate beyond just being yet another asshat yelling at you for no reason.
Also, join your local bike coalition.
posted by bradbane at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Driver #3 may not have seen or heard you; drivers who aren't used to cyclists don't look for an object approaching on their right when they make a right turn. Do you have an air horn?
Drivers #1 and #2 are assholes, but police don't care about drivers being assholes to cyclists, or endangering cyclists, or, sometimes, even killing cyclists. Best course of action is to get more people riding - our safety, such as it is, comes from numbers.
posted by orangejenny at 5:14 PM on August 3, 2015
Drivers #1 and #2 are assholes, but police don't care about drivers being assholes to cyclists, or endangering cyclists, or, sometimes, even killing cyclists. Best course of action is to get more people riding - our safety, such as it is, comes from numbers.
posted by orangejenny at 5:14 PM on August 3, 2015
a camera on your bike is just like a surveillance camera. it won't save you, it won't deter anyone, but can be useful to post shaming videos to facebook if you are still alive. i would hate for any cyclist to be 1% more relaxed or feeling safer just because they have a camera--it isn't the same as a dashcam in a car. The best part about a helmet mounted camera is the helmet. :-)
keep riding safe, the majority of the 12 cycling fatalities this year in my county were people not wearing helmets. Brightest lights you can afford. most cyclists die at night. Air horn, yes! you sound like you are already riding safe...but if you live someplace like me (i quit bike commuting when i moved here to orange county) there are only so many things you can do. every moment has to be defensive. no music, no phone calls, no day dreaming. it is your focus vs. people checking their facebook while they drive. last week a hit and run driver who killed a cyclist was sentenced to just 3 years in prison...because for the driver of the car it is just an accident, and you just happen to not be as protected as a passenger in a car.
posted by th3ph17 at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
keep riding safe, the majority of the 12 cycling fatalities this year in my county were people not wearing helmets. Brightest lights you can afford. most cyclists die at night. Air horn, yes! you sound like you are already riding safe...but if you live someplace like me (i quit bike commuting when i moved here to orange county) there are only so many things you can do. every moment has to be defensive. no music, no phone calls, no day dreaming. it is your focus vs. people checking their facebook while they drive. last week a hit and run driver who killed a cyclist was sentenced to just 3 years in prison...because for the driver of the car it is just an accident, and you just happen to not be as protected as a passenger in a car.
posted by th3ph17 at 5:23 PM on August 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
I used to ride a lot and I remember reading an article about 15 years ago, I think, where an old man in a pickup truck was annoyed with cyclist for riding on the rural roads in Jefferson County, MO where he lived. One day he decided to just bump a cyclist off the road with his pickup truck. May have been more than one cyclist that got hit, I can't remember. One cyclist turned out to be an off-duty sheriff's deputy. I think she was injured badly enough she had to quit her job on disability.
Anyway, get a camera and be careful. Some drivers are irrational about bicyclists.
posted by LoveHam at 5:45 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Anyway, get a camera and be careful. Some drivers are irrational about bicyclists.
posted by LoveHam at 5:45 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
A couple thoughts:
-GoPro makes some nice cameras but they're overkill for this. I've got a couple of these SJ4000s.
-Read the law. It's amazing how.... up for interpretation the motor vehicle act in many places can be. Making a complaint that can be hand-waved away will always go nowhere.
-Nthing the suggestion to call in compliance as suspected DUI's and/or "undue care and attention".
-Refine your routes. If you can take a safer course you might avoid being dead, regardless of who is in the right.
-Call in every collision with a car no matter how minor. Ensure that you do not leave the scene without the police. Never report a "car accident" - always always you've "been hit by a car"
-Vote infrastructure and traffic enforcement. They both safe lives but are unsexy as hell. Drivers who treat cyclists and pedestrians unsafely aren't likely to treat anyone well without sufficient motivation. The life saved by better driving when the tickets add up might be theirs.
-Don't get angry, you will make terrible reactive decisions.
posted by mce at 6:57 PM on August 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
-GoPro makes some nice cameras but they're overkill for this. I've got a couple of these SJ4000s.
-Read the law. It's amazing how.... up for interpretation the motor vehicle act in many places can be. Making a complaint that can be hand-waved away will always go nowhere.
-Nthing the suggestion to call in compliance as suspected DUI's and/or "undue care and attention".
-Refine your routes. If you can take a safer course you might avoid being dead, regardless of who is in the right.
-Call in every collision with a car no matter how minor. Ensure that you do not leave the scene without the police. Never report a "car accident" - always always you've "been hit by a car"
-Vote infrastructure and traffic enforcement. They both safe lives but are unsexy as hell. Drivers who treat cyclists and pedestrians unsafely aren't likely to treat anyone well without sufficient motivation. The life saved by better driving when the tickets add up might be theirs.
-Don't get angry, you will make terrible reactive decisions.
posted by mce at 6:57 PM on August 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
asshats on the road when you're a cyclist is one thing. this is ...maybe not representative of your average altercation.
posted by hollisimo at 7:48 PM on August 3, 2015
posted by hollisimo at 7:48 PM on August 3, 2015
I commute on my bike almost daily, and have been hit by cars twice in the past 5 years, and may have had an incident similar to the 3 you describe less than a dozen times in that time span.You write that you don't want advice to change you riding habits, but are you certain you are riding in the safest way possible? A cyclist will always lose in any confrontation with a car, so I ride in a manner to avoid them. Why ride in a manner that has been demonstrated to irritate drivers?
- I am assertive but not aggressive when establishing & taking my right of way.
- I try to anticipate dangerous situations. Are you familiar with this website?
- as mce writes, I refine my route to avoid risky roads ( and risky times of day) if possible.
- I try to ride as if I am a car, being as visible and predictable as I can.
posted by TDIpod at 7:55 PM on August 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
- I am assertive but not aggressive when establishing & taking my right of way.
- I try to anticipate dangerous situations. Are you familiar with this website?
- as mce writes, I refine my route to avoid risky roads ( and risky times of day) if possible.
- I try to ride as if I am a car, being as visible and predictable as I can.
posted by TDIpod at 7:55 PM on August 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
Watching biking change dramatically in the Bay Area over the last 15 years or so, I'd say the best thing to do to improve bike safety is to join with fellow cyclists to help improve infrastructure and laws. Do you have a local bicycle coalition, or could you find 3 or 4 people who might want to start one?
posted by latkes at 10:05 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by latkes at 10:05 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I agree with Pogo_Fuzzybutt as regards your second quetsion: the most likely way to actually spur some action against aggressive drivers is to get as much of their info as you can (license plate, current location, and likely direction) and call them in as possibly inebriated. In my experience, the police take these reports pretty seriously. I don't see anything wrong with this, since if anything active malicious intent on this level is the larger menace to society in the long run.
Why ride in a manner that has been demonstrated to irritate drivers?
lol, according to your profile you live in a bicycling primrose paradise, relatively speaking. You have absolutely no clue what it's like to ride in actively bike-unfriendly areas. Riding at all is sufficient to irritate drivers.
posted by invitapriore at 10:55 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why ride in a manner that has been demonstrated to irritate drivers?
lol, according to your profile you live in a bicycling primrose paradise, relatively speaking. You have absolutely no clue what it's like to ride in actively bike-unfriendly areas. Riding at all is sufficient to irritate drivers.
posted by invitapriore at 10:55 PM on August 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Would it even be worth my time to report incidents like the first and second ones above to the police?
I had a situation very similar to your second incident with the car full of abusive teenagers a few weeks ago. The only difference was that after doing the punish-pass thing they had to screech to a stop immediately in front of me, and we waited at a stop light together while they continued to shout abuse and threats, giving me plenty of time to memorize their license plate number.
I called the non-emergency police line immediately afterward to report the incident. I'm not really sure if there was even any action taken, but I figure it does put that car and maybe driver on record as being a problem in case of future incidents where someone gets hurt. And most of all, the thing that made it worth my time was that it allowed me to get the situation out of my head and into the Someone Else's Problem category.
It was a lot less distressing than the time I got in a shouting match with a driver pulling the same stunt as in your first incident who honked right in my ear and OW that hurts. Pretty sure I let the actual physical pain affect my temper there. (And seriously, those fuckers would be waiting exactly as long if you'd been in a car waiting for a green light to go straight. I'm not sure what it is about these people that makes them think that because we're on bikes we're, what, meant to just dive off the road to let them make a right on red?)
Anyway: I'm thinking about getting a camera myself so that I can get the (rare but stressful) shitty interactions I have with drivers out of my head and into a law enforcement record somewhere. Seems like the best way to go for my mental health (and it sounds like you're doing what you ought to be to protect your physical health.)
posted by asperity at 11:13 PM on August 3, 2015
I had a situation very similar to your second incident with the car full of abusive teenagers a few weeks ago. The only difference was that after doing the punish-pass thing they had to screech to a stop immediately in front of me, and we waited at a stop light together while they continued to shout abuse and threats, giving me plenty of time to memorize their license plate number.
I called the non-emergency police line immediately afterward to report the incident. I'm not really sure if there was even any action taken, but I figure it does put that car and maybe driver on record as being a problem in case of future incidents where someone gets hurt. And most of all, the thing that made it worth my time was that it allowed me to get the situation out of my head and into the Someone Else's Problem category.
It was a lot less distressing than the time I got in a shouting match with a driver pulling the same stunt as in your first incident who honked right in my ear and OW that hurts. Pretty sure I let the actual physical pain affect my temper there. (And seriously, those fuckers would be waiting exactly as long if you'd been in a car waiting for a green light to go straight. I'm not sure what it is about these people that makes them think that because we're on bikes we're, what, meant to just dive off the road to let them make a right on red?)
Anyway: I'm thinking about getting a camera myself so that I can get the (rare but stressful) shitty interactions I have with drivers out of my head and into a law enforcement record somewhere. Seems like the best way to go for my mental health (and it sounds like you're doing what you ought to be to protect your physical health.)
posted by asperity at 11:13 PM on August 3, 2015
People who are telling you not to bother reporting these incidents may be from quite different cycling environments than you. I wouldn't report them here, because your number 2 incident happens to me approximately once every half hour of cycling here, I.e. multiple times a day. So obviously I can't report it every time, and the police don't have time to follow up on such things. But you say this has happened only once over many months? Then presumably it is rare in your area, and so the police may actually have the resources to follow such things up. I think you should report them. Certainly if it happens again.
posted by lollusc at 3:34 AM on August 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lollusc at 3:34 AM on August 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't report, say, a shouted comment out a window--some of those folks actually think they're just giving helpful advice, and as long as they're otherwise driving safely I'd probably just roll my eyes and get on with my commute.
But these examples sound over-the-top and entirely reasonable to report. If they're acting that way to you then they've probably done it before, and the recorded pattern of behavior may some day prove useful even if the police can't do much about any one incident. If the police don't take you seriously, I'd complain, and maybe see if your local bike advocate community can help figure out what's up with them.
I don't think the problem here is you, but just a couple suggestions (for the benefit or random passerby if not you):
- in case 1 (waiting at a red light for a chance to go straight, in front of someone signalling right): I'd actually scootch over to the left to give them room to pass. Doesn't cost me anything and saves them a little time. It's just an optional courtesy, and stupid for them to complain if you don't, but whatever. If you want a reference better than a random stranger on the internet, "Effective Cycling", 6th edition, p. 317: "Whenever you are the first driver to reach a red signal, always to try position yourself so that a right-turning motorist can turn between you and the curb."
- "I ride about 18" to the right of center in the lane": sounds about right for narrow lanes, but note most experts recommend riding further to the right than that, *if* the lane is sufficiently wide to share safely (so not, I agree, on an unsafe shoulder!). If you ride mainly in town, it could be the streets are all too narrow. See for example http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/chapter2a.htm for discussion of lane positioning.
My sympathies for the bad experiences. Seconding advice to join any local bike advocates, your town should (and can) do better!
posted by bfields at 7:46 AM on August 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
But these examples sound over-the-top and entirely reasonable to report. If they're acting that way to you then they've probably done it before, and the recorded pattern of behavior may some day prove useful even if the police can't do much about any one incident. If the police don't take you seriously, I'd complain, and maybe see if your local bike advocate community can help figure out what's up with them.
I don't think the problem here is you, but just a couple suggestions (for the benefit or random passerby if not you):
- in case 1 (waiting at a red light for a chance to go straight, in front of someone signalling right): I'd actually scootch over to the left to give them room to pass. Doesn't cost me anything and saves them a little time. It's just an optional courtesy, and stupid for them to complain if you don't, but whatever. If you want a reference better than a random stranger on the internet, "Effective Cycling", 6th edition, p. 317: "Whenever you are the first driver to reach a red signal, always to try position yourself so that a right-turning motorist can turn between you and the curb."
- "I ride about 18" to the right of center in the lane": sounds about right for narrow lanes, but note most experts recommend riding further to the right than that, *if* the lane is sufficiently wide to share safely (so not, I agree, on an unsafe shoulder!). If you ride mainly in town, it could be the streets are all too narrow. See for example http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/chapter2a.htm for discussion of lane positioning.
My sympathies for the bad experiences. Seconding advice to join any local bike advocates, your town should (and can) do better!
posted by bfields at 7:46 AM on August 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Some general notes on dealing with an unfair system -- note that that many of these are not possible for everyone:
1. Using multiple blinkers all the time, including broad daylight, does seem to help drivers remember that you are a person, so invest in good ones. If you are having problems with cars not obeying the 3 feet law, I've also seen people attach a pool noodle to their back racks. There are all kinds of tech gadgets coming out lately, though I'm not sure how necessary any of them are.
2. Having a quick road bike with STI shifters helps, as does being a strong rider. Getting into a cycling sport like cyclecross or road racing can help you build the skills to react quickly in situations like #3. You shouldn't have to, of course, but it may be worth considering, especially if the roads around you lack bike lanes.
3. And my absolute saddest piece of advice: If you are a woman, a visibly feminine appearance helps. I'm enraged to report that performing femininity can literally save your life, but I have never been run off the road when wearing a dress, and I have made a conscious effort to wear more of them since becoming a regular cyclist.
posted by veery at 11:16 AM on August 4, 2015
1. Using multiple blinkers all the time, including broad daylight, does seem to help drivers remember that you are a person, so invest in good ones. If you are having problems with cars not obeying the 3 feet law, I've also seen people attach a pool noodle to their back racks. There are all kinds of tech gadgets coming out lately, though I'm not sure how necessary any of them are.
2. Having a quick road bike with STI shifters helps, as does being a strong rider. Getting into a cycling sport like cyclecross or road racing can help you build the skills to react quickly in situations like #3. You shouldn't have to, of course, but it may be worth considering, especially if the roads around you lack bike lanes.
3. And my absolute saddest piece of advice: If you are a woman, a visibly feminine appearance helps. I'm enraged to report that performing femininity can literally save your life, but I have never been run off the road when wearing a dress, and I have made a conscious effort to wear more of them since becoming a regular cyclist.
posted by veery at 11:16 AM on August 4, 2015
Would it even be worth my time to report incidents like the first and second ones above to the police?
This largely depends on your town and your police department. I've been pleasantly surprised when calling in the rare incident where a driver tries to use a vehicle to intimidate me (swerving right at me, passing me then stopping short). On the other hand, in a nearby town it was police officers who were continually harassing a cyclist on a particular road. I don't bother much with those drivers that just yell "advice" - although I always memorize the license plate if possible. If it's teenagers I'll usually call it in later and ask the police to give the registered owners of the car (usually turns out to be the parents) a call to explain the laws.
I don't know of any general "whistleblowing" site but it's worth tracking down a site where local bicycle riders hang out (it might be a Meetup or Facebook group). If you do get any video footage of especially egregious behavior (especially from a commercial vehicle) you can try contacting your local television station.
posted by mikepop at 12:51 PM on August 4, 2015
This largely depends on your town and your police department. I've been pleasantly surprised when calling in the rare incident where a driver tries to use a vehicle to intimidate me (swerving right at me, passing me then stopping short). On the other hand, in a nearby town it was police officers who were continually harassing a cyclist on a particular road. I don't bother much with those drivers that just yell "advice" - although I always memorize the license plate if possible. If it's teenagers I'll usually call it in later and ask the police to give the registered owners of the car (usually turns out to be the parents) a call to explain the laws.
I don't know of any general "whistleblowing" site but it's worth tracking down a site where local bicycle riders hang out (it might be a Meetup or Facebook group). If you do get any video footage of especially egregious behavior (especially from a commercial vehicle) you can try contacting your local television station.
posted by mikepop at 12:51 PM on August 4, 2015
Veery, I've had the opposite experience. I've had multiple rape threats, people hanging out the passenger side trying to grab my breasts while the driver swerved into me to get within grabbing distance, this sort of thing.... I get far less hassle in lycra.
posted by tinkletown at 3:56 PM on August 4, 2015
posted by tinkletown at 3:56 PM on August 4, 2015
A lot of good advice has been given. Some additional ideas:
Does your town have police officers who patrol on bikes? It might be a very limited area like downtown or near schools. But if so, you can run these scenarios by one of them and find out what information is needed to take action. For instance, I was told "narrow misses" in heavy traffic are considered par for the course. But they are very interested in motorists who try to scare/intimidate cyclists on isolated roads. I do not have to stay at the spot where it happened - I can report the incident over the phone at my next stop. Obviously it might be different for your area.
I try to decorate myself for the situation. For instance, in certain areas, I ride with a American flag jersey or decals on my helmet. Small adjustments like that can mitigate some of the verbal abuse.
I am more aggressive at taking the full lane when I am at traffic lights, stop signs or about to make a turn. Then I drift back to the right side.
I have had success with calling the "How Is My Driving?" hotlines. Or just noting the name of the company and contacting them later. They always seemed to take it serious.
Besides the drunk driving, my area is cracking down on "distracted driving" and maybe you see them on their cell phone? There is a number to call to report that type of thing.
posted by 99percentfake at 5:42 PM on August 4, 2015
Does your town have police officers who patrol on bikes? It might be a very limited area like downtown or near schools. But if so, you can run these scenarios by one of them and find out what information is needed to take action. For instance, I was told "narrow misses" in heavy traffic are considered par for the course. But they are very interested in motorists who try to scare/intimidate cyclists on isolated roads. I do not have to stay at the spot where it happened - I can report the incident over the phone at my next stop. Obviously it might be different for your area.
I try to decorate myself for the situation. For instance, in certain areas, I ride with a American flag jersey or decals on my helmet. Small adjustments like that can mitigate some of the verbal abuse.
I am more aggressive at taking the full lane when I am at traffic lights, stop signs or about to make a turn. Then I drift back to the right side.
I have had success with calling the "How Is My Driving?" hotlines. Or just noting the name of the company and contacting them later. They always seemed to take it serious.
Besides the drunk driving, my area is cracking down on "distracted driving" and maybe you see them on their cell phone? There is a number to call to report that type of thing.
posted by 99percentfake at 5:42 PM on August 4, 2015
Oh tinkletown, that's terrible and terrifying. I haven't noticed a correlation myself--street harassment seems to be a regular issue on and off the bike, even when I'm in a baggy tshirt :( As I think about it though, it may just be that people in more formal attire in general can get more of a pass from drivers, at least where I am--I wonder if a man in a suit would notice the same effect I have.
posted by veery at 6:21 AM on August 5, 2015
posted by veery at 6:21 AM on August 5, 2015
Jeremy Vine recently opined that cameras are better for cyclist safety than helmets. Not only do you have evidence of moving violations to send on to your local police, but drivers may actually be on better behaviour when they see the box atop your helmet.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:53 PM on August 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:53 PM on August 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
veery, that pool noodle is why I keep big beefy panniers on my back rack, even when they have nothing in them!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:55 PM on August 5, 2015
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:55 PM on August 5, 2015
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