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 Meg Matthews on September 7, 2011 at 5:39am
My favorite: the couple of times I've almost been rear-ended by cyclists who assume I'm going to run the stop signs. Nope, and telling me to eff off as you swerve wildly around me isn't going to make me like you any, either.
Permalink Reply by Jason W on September 7, 2011 at 6:31am
I hate it when people don't do everything exactly like I want them to. I mean, how dare they? What do they want? Me to mind my own business, and let them live their lives? Man, I have to find more places on the internet to bitch about stuff...
Permalink Reply by Melanie K on September 7, 2011 at 6:48am

See, I imagine it made you feel better to post your thoughts, instead of keeping them hidden inside until you explode. Venting feels good and I can see you utilize the internet to do so, just as many others do. Good job and I hope you feel better now that you have expressed yourself.  I know I do. :)

 

Thankfully, no missed connections with cyclists today, just some taxi drivers blocking the bike lane by parking in it with flashers going- although there were plenty of spaces to actually park the taxi; as well as the one taxi that thought the bike lane was meant for passing an entire backed up lane of traffic. 

 

My daily venting is done for today.

Love to all I like and hate to all others,

Melanie


Permalink Reply by Liz on September 7, 2011 at 7:19am

So if I see a pedestrian stepping out into traffic without looking and warn them or pull them back should I just turn a blind eye and let them live their lives instead?  

 

I see cars, cyclists, and pedestrians place themselves in collision likely situations on a regular basis.

If I see someone do something to risk their or others lives in public, I am going to notice it and be concerned for everyone's safety.  

 

 

On a positive cyclist connection note, today riding in I was next to a fellow that stopped behind vehicles with me at red lights and didn't attempt to weave through cars that are close together. Instead of "minding our own business" we even had a nice chat.  It was highly refreshing and made my commute very pleasant. 


Jason W said:

I hate it when people don't do everything exactly like I want them to. I mean, how dare they? What do they want? Me to mind my own business, and let them live their lives? Man, I have to find more places on the internet to bitch about stuff...
Permalink Reply by Shawn C. on September 7, 2011 at 7:52am

To the rider/salmon riding upstream (west) on Lawrence (near Cicero) yesterday afternoon: You avoided being doored, but at my expense of swerving into oncoming traffic!

 

 

Permalink Reply by Meg Matthews on September 7, 2011 at 8:07am
Sometimes I wanna be Zen...but not when people living their own lives = rear-ending me. You don't have to do exactly what I want, but it's not much to ask that other cyclists and drivers make even halfhearted attempts to obey traffic laws.

Jason W said:
I hate it when people don't do everything exactly like I want them to. I mean, how dare they? What do they want? Me to mind my own business, and let them live their lives? Man, I have to find more places on the internet to bitch about stuff...
Permalink Reply by Rich Scott on September 7, 2011 at 8:53am

I'm with Stephanie! (and with the rest of the folks here that stop when they should because someone else has the right of way) The wave-through makes me nuts. I know they are just being nice. And I always feel bad about yelling at the jackass to just go. I wish I could bank some of that kindness for other situations.

My current strategy for dealing with this is to stop and not look at the driver. I just look the other way until the driver goes.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on September 7, 2011 at 10:00am
I know this is going to sound crazy, but when I get to an intersection where some other vehicle (yes, even [gasp] cars) has the right of way, I wave them through-and wait for them to take the right of way. Works 99% of the time.

ghreg said:

I'm with Stephanie! (and with the rest of the folks here that stop when they should because someone else has the right of way) The wave-through makes me nuts. I know they are just being nice. And I always feel bad about yelling at the jackass to just go. I wish I could bank some of that kindness for other situations.

My current strategy for dealing with this is to stop and not look at the driver. I just look the other way until the driver goes.

Permalink Reply by Laura Blake on September 7, 2011 at 10:08am

Ahhh, the stand-off....my favorite.  I've had a few where the driver clearly arrived at the intersection before me and therefore I stopped and waved for them to go.  Why do drivers ignore this and think they're being nice (or whatever motivates them to do this)?  Would they give another car the wave-through even if they have the right of way?  I don't think so. 

 

I refuse to lose a stand-off.  What is probably only seconds feels like an eternity...but worth it.  One time someone got so aggravated that they started cursing and screaming at me to go.  Yeah, I'm really going to ride in front of your vehicle now you crazy maniac!

 


ghreg said:

I'm with Stephanie! (and with the rest of the folks here that stop when they should because someone else has the right of way) The wave-through makes me nuts. I know they are just being nice. And I always feel bad about yelling at the jackass to just go. I wish I could bank some of that kindness for other situations.

My current strategy for dealing with this is to stop and not look at the driver. I just look the other way until the driver goes.

Permalink Reply by Jason W on September 7, 2011 at 10:40am

Liz and Meg, I didn't say ignore everything, even in life or death situations. You read WAYYYYYY to much into what I said there...

 

RE: people letting you go first at stop signs…

You people are insane! :) Someone is trying to be nice and let you go first, and you go all ape shit on them? Reality check time... you are all control freaks if you are spazzing at people that are trying to be nice to you because they aren't doing exactly what you want them to. If someone seems to insist I go first, I just give them a little wave and a nod as I pass. Maybe they think it’s their good deed of the day, and will feel better about themselves having done it. Who cares if it’s not proper procedure? I'm not the hall monitor of the streets of Chicago.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on September 7, 2011 at 10:58am

Jason, every driver bitches moans and whines that bikers need to obey the rules. So let's try. And if the rules mean proper order than follow the order. If you arrive at an intersection before me. You should go. That leads to drivers having an expectation of what will occur when they arrive at an intersection. That's a positive. Taking the kind gesture, while very nice, is not correct for driving. The only time that wave is necessary is when two vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time. Then it's supposed to go clock wise or counter clockwise (i always forget) but a simple wave at the moment solves the problem. That's pretty rare. ;-)

 

No super bad behavior on 2 rides today. I have 2 to go though. ;-)

Permalink Reply by Jason W on September 7, 2011 at 11:17am
I meant the "hi thanks for being nice" wave, not the "wave you through the intersection" wave. And I don't need to have stop signs explained to me, but thanks for the refresher Mr. Hall Monitor of the streets of Chicago. :)

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