It's the Safety Slap

Another eventful ride home...

Upon my journey, I was riding down the bike lane along backed up traffic, minding all the usual precautions in such a situation. Down the line of cars, a sedan decided to make an abrupt change across the bike lane and into a further parking spot. This action was begun as I was next to the rear wheel of the car, continuing forward along parked cars before the open parking spot, forcing me into a bottleneck with pinning implications. This is when I, in my typical fashion during such situations, gave the side window a firm slap with an open palm. Not a Ulock, not a fist, but an abrupt slap. (also note, I did not slap the car for fun, and I was already along side the car and being bottlenecked as everything happened)

Considering that cars use horns to warn other drivers of causing potential harm, this seems like a sensible method to bring it to the drivers attention that they are doing something wrong. If nothing else, they will stop because they think they have hit something, and caused damage to their own car with no regard to the outside world. Moving on...

After the slap, which stops the car, I manage to sneak through between the front corner and curb. As I look back I see the gentleman getting frustrated and screaming through the windshield.  I decide to stop and speak to the driver, I approach the drivers door, Mindful to keep it from being opened. Transcript as follows:

Driver: You didn't have to hit the window. 

ME: You didn't have to cut me off. 

Driver: I didn't see you. 

Me: Well you should pay more attention. 

Driver: You can't do that. You'll be in trouble, I'm a cop. (proceeds to fumble for and flash his badge)

Me: Well then you should have known better to look before you do something like that.

Driver: Just move along, you'll be in trouble if you do that again.

At this point I continue to ride with the driver assuming little responsibility. Usually it ends up with an apology of "I'm sorry, didn't see you" and me politely reminding the drivers to look out for us bikers. I'm not trying to make a matter out of the gentleman being an officer as we all make mistakes, but of the empty threat of me being "in trouble" next time. 

My question is, what do you propose to do in such a situation to preserve your safety?

I think a firm slap is a safe way to bring warning to the driver of the inherent danger they have caused. I am not trying to cause harm to the car, but prevent it to myself. I do not have the law in front of me, but I would assume striking a vehicle is an illegal activity. But in lieu of a horn, I think it is a passable offense. 

The driver, while maybe right in saying I could "be in trouble",  he didn't look at the other side of the situation and understand why I slapped the car. I suppose I could have stayed and questioned him further as to what I should have done to preserve my safety, but preservation of freedom seemed to take a larger roll.  I'm sure that would have been a most enlightening response. 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 26, 2012 at 2:41am

I'm actually interested to hear your suggestions for other options.

h' said:

I've withdrawn my comments-- best to stay out of this one.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 26, 2012 at 2:44am

I agree with this to a point but when somebody is forcing you into a parked car or turning in front of you tightly and squeezing you it is the best, and fastest way to get their attention.

jon said:

You don't hit other people's property. sooner or later you'll hit the wrong guy's car and he'll get out and beat the shit out of you.  You ride defensively. some of you riders out there think you have all the rights in the world because you're on a bike. at the end of the day, there's more cars on the road and they weigh a lot more. you need to yield to larger objects on the road, for your safety .. bicycle laws don't protect your health when you're hit by a car.  don't worry about what you should do to these people that either drive like crap or make an honest mistake by not seeing you. worry about staying upright and safe.

Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on June 26, 2012 at 3:07am

You know, cars have a lot of metal and glass. They can be hit with an open hand which, in general, causes them no harm.

While my preference is to not be in a situation where a car's about to hit me, and for that reason I tend to give a lot of deference to the clueless, negligent, etc. I am not ruling out taking any means necessary to get the driver's attention if it keeps that individual from hitting me.


jon said:

You don't hit other people's property. sooner or later you'll hit the wrong guy's car and he'll get out and beat the shit out of you.  You ride defensively. some of you riders out there think you have all the rights in the world because you're on a bike. at the end of the day, there's more cars on the road and they weigh a lot more. you need to yield to larger objects on the road, for your safety .. bicycle laws don't protect your health when you're hit by a car.  don't worry about what you should do to these people that either drive like crap or make an honest mistake by not seeing you. worry about staying upright and safe.

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on June 26, 2012 at 3:58am

I'll slap as a pedestrian.  Not as a cyclist.  The car wins, every time.  I've perfected the "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" holler.  Usually in response to cars squeezing me towards the curb or cutting into (or parking in) the bike lane, or pulling to the right w/o signaling. 

Permalink Reply by Jason W on June 26, 2012 at 4:00am

Slap away, and let the cop know that next time he may seriously injure the cyclist and because he passed within 3 feet he would be committing a felony. I think they lose their pensions for that...

Permalink Reply by Liz on June 26, 2012 at 4:04am

+1  

If the car is in the situation of pinching you, than they are touching you with their car as much as you are touching them.  

Cars are so soundproof that yelling cannot always be effective and I'd rather reach out to someone's car and touch it than get in an accident.  Sometimes its just not avoidable no matter how careful you are. 



Sue Clark said:

You know, cars have a lot of metal and glass. They can be hit with an open hand which, in general, causes them no harm.

While my preference is to not be in a situation where a car's about to hit me, and for that reason I tend to give a lot of deference to the clueless, negligent, etc. I am not ruling out taking any means necessary to get the driver's attention if it keeps that individual from hitting me.


jon said:

You don't hit other people's property. sooner or later you'll hit the wrong guy's car and he'll get out and beat the shit out of you.  You ride defensively. some of you riders out there think you have all the rights in the world because you're on a bike. at the end of the day, there's more cars on the road and they weigh a lot more. you need to yield to larger objects on the road, for your safety .. bicycle laws don't protect your health when you're hit by a car.  don't worry about what you should do to these people that either drive like crap or make an honest mistake by not seeing you. worry about staying upright and safe.

Permalink Reply by Banshee: 12-15mi on June 26, 2012 at 4:13am

How about an air horn!  That would certainly get their attention.

David P. said:

If I had an electric horn like motor vehicle do, I'd use it; in its absence, nothing is more effective at getting a driver's attention than a slap to the car.

Permalink Reply by Liz on June 26, 2012 at 5:00am

I actually have one but don't keep it on my bikes for 2 reasons:

1. Its really loud and hurts my ears

2.  Its awkward to reach for in the emergency situations I would likely use it, since I would want my hands near the brakes and steady on the handlebar for maneuvering. 

Steve said:

How about an air horn!  That would certainly get their attention.

David P. said:

If I had an electric horn like motor vehicle do, I'd use it; in its absence, nothing is more effective at getting a driver's attention than a slap to the car.

Permalink Reply by Chris B on June 26, 2012 at 5:03am

I did the same thing in the same situation recently. Not because I am mad and hitting his car with a lock or something, but the guy changing lanes is about to hit me, and I have nowhere to go, so what else to do? Yell? He can't hear through the closed window.

Most of the time I just brake hard and let them go in front. I have changed my riding habits to just ride slowly when I'm on streets. people expect us to be slow and they often act accordingly, and it's easier to avoid doors and other obstacles. (This does not apply when taking the lane, in which case i try to go the speed of traffic so I can get to a safe spot again quickly)

I have an airzound, but it doesn't fit on my bike. (though now that we have a locking bike room at work i can just ziptie it and leave it on) that is another alternative and probably better for legal reasons, also it does not escalate the situation or make them crazy angry.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 26, 2012 at 5:08am

I have an air-zound horn too and it is neat -but it's not really practical.   It's just one more do-dad that really isn't necessary on bike and I feel it might even lead to a false sense of security.   Pumping it up is a bother, I hear, and it is just one more thing on the bike that would need to be attended to daily to ensure that it would be available in such an emergency -rather than dead/out of pressure when it is time to use it.

I find that it is a fun toy to bring to CCM sometimes just to make noise.  I can get about 30-40 seconds of noise out of mine when it is fully pumped up.   That's quite a few shorter blasts for going under bridges and such, or at the start of the ride in Daley Plaza.    But it's such a bother  to set up and bring that I often just leave it at home rather than deal with it.  

Permalink Reply by Katie on June 26, 2012 at 6:49am

I am always too busy trying to stay upright in those situations.  I don't have the time or the mindset though every time it happens I think to  myself afterwards that I should have kicked the damn car.

Permalink Reply by Apie (11) on June 26, 2012 at 7:42am

I do the wedding band tap on the window. It makes them look back and see there is a biker, but the sound of it is kind of a mystery.. Keys? Change? knuckles? The full hand slap sound has a little bit of anger/resentment to it. To be used in more sketchy circumstances such as when the car actually bumps you, or pins you in ;)

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