Think of this as a Missed Connection.

You blew the red light east bound on Lawrence at Damen at 5:26 pm this evening.

 

There was enough time for the biker in front of me to make it half way into the intersection, northbound on Damen, before you came whizzing past my front wheel.

 

I yelled "You're an idiot!" at your big haired chick, self, and you looked back at me. I meant it!

 

I woulda testified for any of the cars, that managed to not kill you, if they had.

 

Keep riding like a tard!

love,

gabe

 

Witness bad behavior during your commute? Feel free to post. Maybe that lovely human can read it and think they are famous. Maybe you can also inspire the whole generation of kids to shower but we can start with small things.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by We all have an inner Beast... on March 26, 2013 at 6:25am

Hiya, to the guy with the yellow rims and red goggles that I said "Morning !" to this morning.

Something more than a surprised looked should be your response when I said, "On your left !" just before the viaduct on Archer near Burger King, heading east.

Yes, a 260lb, 44 yr old man, rocking a tan helmet, riding a heavy assed MTB w/ Blue camoflauged knobby tires and 3 flashing lights on the front w/ 2 red flashers on the back, passed you while you were trying to be cool weaving in-n-out of the little bit of traffic there was at 0512 this morning. And then, you couldn't keep up after we crossed Western. Saw you dropping back in my side mirror. Just remember, that you were my motivation for about 1/2 a mile....and beyond. Thank you.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Manny

Permalink Reply by Tim S on March 26, 2013 at 6:46am
lol, nice Manny
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 26, 2013 at 10:52am

Maybe you'll be his motivation next time.  ;)

Manny FU...Really!? said:

Hiya, to the guy with the yellow rims and red goggles that I said "Morning !" to this morning.

Something more than a surprised looked should be your response when I said, "On your left !" just before the viaduct on Archer near Burger King, heading east.

Yes, a 260lb, 44 yr old man, rocking a tan helmet, riding a heavy assed MTB w/ Blue camoflauged knobby tires and 3 flashing lights on the front w/ 2 red flashers on the back, passed you while you were trying to be cool weaving in-n-out of the little bit of traffic there was at 0512 this morning. And then, you couldn't keep up after we crossed Western. Saw you dropping back in my side mirror. Just remember, that you were my motivation for about 1/2 a mile....and beyond. Thank you.

Permalink Reply by Holly on March 26, 2013 at 10:53am

If I had a dollar for every time this happens...

Also I just love it when they're behind the wheel nearly blowing a gasket or spontaneously combusting because they can't seem to grasp what the f*ck is going on when we're both executing a left turn. Don't they notice I'm doing the exact same thing a car would be doing when I'm signaling from the left lane and making a turn? It's like they just cannot get their minds around it. 


Mike Zumwalt said:

I know you were wondering why I was turning left from the left turn lane with a green arrow but I ride a bike in the city and was following the rules of the road.

You had a left turn arrow going the opposite direction so next time don't act so confused when you see a bicyclist following the rules of the road.

Another person who can't drive but somehow has the ultimate driving machine?

Too much money not enough brain.

Permalink Reply by David P. on March 26, 2013 at 11:30am

I've experienced this too, but I've seen enough cyclists ride in so many unpredictable ways (including getting into the left-turn lane and then going straight through the intersection when the left arrow goes green) that I can understand car drivers being unsure what a cyclist is going to do, even if you're signaling.

Holly said:

If I had a dollar for every time this happens...

Also I just love it when they're behind the wheel nearly blowing a gasket or spontaneously combusting because they can't seem to grasp what the f*ck is going on when we're both executing a left turn. Don't they notice I'm doing the exact same thing a car would be doing when I'm signaling from the left lane and making a turn? It's like they just cannot get their minds around it. 


Mike Zumwalt said:

I know you were wondering why I was turning left from the left turn lane with a green arrow but I ride a bike in the city and was following the rules of the road.

You had a left turn arrow going the opposite direction so next time don't act so confused when you see a bicyclist following the rules of the road.

Another person who can't drive but somehow has the ultimate driving machine?

Too much money not enough brain.

Permalink Reply by Holly on March 26, 2013 at 12:35pm

David P. --I'm sure most of us are woefully aware that some people who ride bikes do stupid things. Nonetheless, I don't think that fact should somehow make me accountable for said stupidity. After all, I see a lot of asshat drivers doing stupid sh*t. Still, I don't think everyone who drives a car is some lawless jerk.

I'm a tiny bit insulted that you insinuate I'm somehow worthy of road rage just because there are other bicyclists who are scofflaws. Your attitude seems to ask me (a person getting around on a bike) to put myself in the seat of a confused driver because they have every right to be suspicious of me. They don't.  I'm not trying (or even willing) to get into the head of the driver who's going ballistic because they don't believe that I have a legal right to be exactly where I am. I'm making a legal left turn, not educating licensed drivers on how to drive their vehicles. Now, where is my dollar? 

Permalink Reply by David P. on March 26, 2013 at 12:47pm

Holly,

I didn't mean to insinuate that you (or anyone) was worthy of road rage. I was replying as much to Mike's post as to your own (I meant his situation rather than yours when I wrote, "this"), and thinking mostly of the motorist that he described rather than the apparently frothy one that you saw. Sorry I wasn't very clear.

So, having (I hope!) clarified that, what I meant, in a bit more detail, was that when I see someone like the person Mike described, who is merely confused for no apparent reason (as is often the case, Bikeyface puts it beautifully: http://bikeyface.com/2012/12/05/middle-of-the-road/ ) I try to understand why they might be confused. It is, in the end, a basically harmless confusion. Road-raging spontaneous combustion, on the other hand, is whole nuther thing, and everyone is responsible for their own stupidity. I've got a dollar for you in my wallet, and if I were going to the crit I'd attempt a ride-by handoff to give it to you :)

Holly said:

David P. --I'm sure most of us are woefully aware that some people who ride bikes do stupid things. Nonetheless, I don't think that fact should somehow make me accountable for said stupidity. After all, I see a lot of asshat drivers doing stupid sh*t. Still, I don't think everyone who drives a car is some lawless jerk.

I'm a tiny bit insulted that you insinuate I'm somehow worthy of road rage just because there are other bicyclists who are scofflaws. Your attitude seems to ask me (a person getting around on a bike) to put myself in the seat of a confused driver because they have every right to be suspicious of me. They don't.  I'm not trying (or even willing) to get into the head of the driver who's going ballistic because they don't believe that I have a legal right to be exactly where I am. I'm making a legal left turn, not educating licensed drivers on how to drive their vehicles. Now, where is my dollar? 

Permalink Reply by Holly on March 26, 2013 at 1:40pm

That Bikeyface drawing is prefect. (I cannot imagine riding in Boston. Gaaah!)  

Too tired to go to the crits. Self-loathing is in full force because of that and I'm sure I took that out on you by reading into your post in an unfriendly way.  I'm very sorry for that, David. 

It makes me nuts that people who know how to drive and drive every single day act like these are new things. It's like they're cave people: "Uh. Bike. Now what I do?"  

This is a big city. I could understand these boneheaded responses to bikes if there was minimal bike traffic, but there's a fair amount of it in Chicago every day. Why can't they figure it out? Or better still, if they can't figure it out--why not LEARN how to drive the car they've been licensed to drive? I appreciate that we have to work together on this stuff, but it feels pretty one-sided when the possibility of getting hit by a driver is imminent just because of some inability to slow down and/or figure out how to be on the road with others. 

I have been having some great days biking lately. For the most part, I'm pretty comfortable out there, but heaven help these impatient, aggressive people who think they're entitled to get where they're going by any means necessary.  My aggravation is (and should have been) directed at them rather than you.  No dollars need be exchanged.

David P. said:

Holly,

I didn't mean to insinuate that you (or anyone) was worthy of road rage. I was replying as much to Mike's post as to your own (I meant his situation rather than yours when I wrote, "this"), and thinking mostly of the motorist that he described rather than the apparently frothy one that you saw. Sorry I wasn't very clear.

So, having (I hope!) clarified that, what I meant, in a bit more detail, was that when I see someone like the person Mike described, who is merely confused for no apparent reason (as is often the case, Bikeyface puts it beautifully: http://bikeyface.com/2012/12/05/middle-of-the-road/ ) I try to understand why they might be confused. It is, in the end, a basically harmless confusion. Road-raging spontaneous combustion, on the other hand, is whole nuther thing, and everyone is responsible for their own stupidity. I've got a dollar for you in my wallet, and if I were going to the crit I'd attempt a ride-by handoff to give it to you :)

Holly said:

David P. --I'm sure most of us are woefully aware that some people who ride bikes do stupid things. Nonetheless, I don't think that fact should somehow make me accountable for said stupidity. After all, I see a lot of asshat drivers doing stupid sh*t. Still, I don't think everyone who drives a car is some lawless jerk.

I'm a tiny bit insulted that you insinuate I'm somehow worthy of road rage just because there are other bicyclists who are scofflaws. Your attitude seems to ask me (a person getting around on a bike) to put myself in the seat of a confused driver because they have every right to be suspicious of me. They don't.  I'm not trying (or even willing) to get into the head of the driver who's going ballistic because they don't believe that I have a legal right to be exactly where I am. I'm making a legal left turn, not educating licensed drivers on how to drive their vehicles. Now, where is my dollar? 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 26, 2013 at 2:43pm

I wasn't signaling as I thought it was implied that I was turning left and based on my direction of travel but like I said... another example of someone who can memorize and regurgitate information to acquire something but have zero lateral thinking capacity.

Holly said:

If I had a dollar for every time this happens...

Also I just love it when they're behind the wheel nearly blowing a gasket or spontaneously combusting because they can't seem to grasp what the f*ck is going on when we're both executing a left turn. Don't they notice I'm doing the exact same thing a car would be doing when I'm signaling from the left lane and making a turn? It's like they just cannot get their minds around it. 


Mike Zumwalt said:

I know you were wondering why I was turning left from the left turn lane with a green arrow but I ride a bike in the city and was following the rules of the road.

You had a left turn arrow going the opposite direction so next time don't act so confused when you see a bicyclist following the rules of the road.

Another person who can't drive but somehow has the ultimate driving machine?

Too much money not enough brain.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 26, 2013 at 2:56pm

I had to point at him as if you turn left that way I turn left this way?

We are perceived as Scofflaws but we are also more maneuverable and have to ride defensively or offensively and the babies crying about bikers "getting away" with something need to watch their own driving...while texting, talking on cell phones, rolling through stop signs etc....  A cyclist crashing INTO a vehicle hurts or kills the rider. A car hitting a cyclist hurts or kills the rider. 

Life isn't fair so if I can and will do something you won't or can't (driving) too bad it's survival of the fittest.

David P. said:

I've experienced this too, but I've seen enough cyclists ride in so many unpredictable ways (including getting into the left-turn lane and then going straight through the intersection when the left arrow goes green) that I can understand car drivers being unsure what a cyclist is going to do, even if you're signaling.

Holly said:

If I had a dollar for every time this happens...

Also I just love it when they're behind the wheel nearly blowing a gasket or spontaneously combusting because they can't seem to grasp what the f*ck is going on when we're both executing a left turn. Don't they notice I'm doing the exact same thing a car would be doing when I'm signaling from the left lane and making a turn? It's like they just cannot get their minds around it. 


Mike Zumwalt said:

I know you were wondering why I was turning left from the left turn lane with a green arrow but I ride a bike in the city and was following the rules of the road.

You had a left turn arrow going the opposite direction so next time don't act so confused when you see a bicyclist following the rules of the road.

Another person who can't drive but somehow has the ultimate driving machine?

Too much money not enough brain.

Permalink Reply by David P. on March 26, 2013 at 5:29pm

Holly,

Don't worry, I didn't take anything personally! It's all bunnies.

Holly said:

That Bikeyface drawing is prefect. (I cannot imagine riding in Boston. Gaaah!)  

Too tired to go to the crits. Self-loathing is in full force because of that and I'm sure I took that out on you by reading into your post in an unfriendly way.  I'm very sorry for that, David. 

It makes me nuts that people who know how to drive and drive every single day act like these are new things. It's like they're cave people: "Uh. Bike. Now what I do?"  

This is a big city. I could understand these boneheaded responses to bikes if there was minimal bike traffic, but there's a fair amount of it in Chicago every day. Why can't they figure it out? Or better still, if they can't figure it out--why not LEARN how to drive the car they've been licensed to drive? I appreciate that we have to work together on this stuff, but it feels pretty one-sided when the possibility of getting hit by a driver is imminent just because of some inability to slow down and/or figure out how to be on the road with others. 

I have been having some great days biking lately. For the most part, I'm pretty comfortable out there, but heaven help these impatient, aggressive people who think they're entitled to get where they're going by any means necessary.  My aggravation is (and should have been) directed at them rather than you.  No dollars need be exchanged.

David P. said:

Holly,

I didn't mean to insinuate that you (or anyone) was worthy of road rage. I was replying as much to Mike's post as to your own (I meant his situation rather than yours when I wrote, "this"), and thinking mostly of the motorist that he described rather than the apparently frothy one that you saw. Sorry I wasn't very clear.

So, having (I hope!) clarified that, what I meant, in a bit more detail, was that when I see someone like the person Mike described, who is merely confused for no apparent reason (as is often the case, Bikeyface puts it beautifully: http://bikeyface.com/2012/12/05/middle-of-the-road/ ) I try to understand why they might be confused. It is, in the end, a basically harmless confusion. Road-raging spontaneous combustion, on the other hand, is whole nuther thing, and everyone is responsible for their own stupidity. I've got a dollar for you in my wallet, and if I were going to the crit I'd attempt a ride-by handoff to give it to you :)

Holly said:

David P. --I'm sure most of us are woefully aware that some people who ride bikes do stupid things. Nonetheless, I don't think that fact should somehow make me accountable for said stupidity. After all, I see a lot of asshat drivers doing stupid sh*t. Still, I don't think everyone who drives a car is some lawless jerk.

I'm a tiny bit insulted that you insinuate I'm somehow worthy of road rage just because there are other bicyclists who are scofflaws. Your attitude seems to ask me (a person getting around on a bike) to put myself in the seat of a confused driver because they have every right to be suspicious of me. They don't.  I'm not trying (or even willing) to get into the head of the driver who's going ballistic because they don't believe that I have a legal right to be exactly where I am. I'm making a legal left turn, not educating licensed drivers on how to drive their vehicles. Now, where is my dollar? 

Permalink Reply by We all have an inner Beast... on March 27, 2013 at 5:23am

Well, Anne, I can only hope.

That way, as he gets faster, so will I.

Motivation works both ways.

:)

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Manny

Anne Alt said:

Maybe you'll be his motivation next time.  ;)

Manny FU...Really!? said:

Hiya, to the guy with the yellow rims and red goggles that I said "Morning !" to this morning.

Something more than a surprised looked should be your response when I said, "On your left !" just before the viaduct on Archer near , heading east.

Yes, a 260lb, 44 yr old man, rocking a tan helmet, riding a heavy assed MTB w/ Blue camoflauged knobby and 3 flashing lights on the front w/ 2 red flashers on the back, passed you while you were trying to be cool weaving in-n-out of the little bit of traffic there was at 0512 this morning. And then, you couldn't keep up after we crossed Western. Saw you dropping back in my side mirror. Just remember, that you were my motivation for about 1/2 a mile....and beyond. Thank you.

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