S: Road Rage in the morning

[DaFunkyUnit]

So on my way to work this morning, as I was driving down the street (before getting on the freeway), I had to move to the right lane, and as I moved into the right lane, the car ahead of me suddenly slams on the brakes. I was going somewhat fast, just because I was just coming out of a lane change maneuver, so i moved into the bike lane just to avoid a love tap. Anyways, everythings cool and all, and I start moving back into the far right lane and out of the bike lane because I saw come guys on bicycles in my rear view. The first guy passes, but the second guy as he passed me on his bicycle yelled out obsceneties. I don't know why I did it, but I just flipped him off.

Now, the street that I'm on at the moment (Venice Blvd) is really busy. So I was going to be on that street for awhile until I get to the light. The guy on the bike actually waited for me to drive up to him further up the street. Again, I don't know why I did this, but I saw him wait for me, so I rolled down my windows and as I passed him, I cussed him out, a typical "**** you, *******!"

Again, I had to stop since the light turned red and it was a busy street. Now the guy just pulls up to me, and I still had my windows down, so he just start spewing off "C'mon, *******! Lets go, right now!" as in he wants to brawl. I retort, saying "Look man, I ****ing moved out of the way for you..." and he's still yammering away, but the light turned green, so I just pulled away. Unfortunately, I didnt pull away fast enough, because he punched the back of my car where the trunk is and as i found out as I got to work left a nice dent. :disa:

at this point, I just wanted to get the **** outta there and away from this crazy *******, but unfortunately, I had to make a right turn and get into the left lane of the next street in order to get onto the freeway, and the lane was full, to the point where cars were blocking the intersection (if you're familiar with the Venice & Sawtelle intersection, you'll know what I'm talking about) so i just turn right, stayed in the right lane (instead of the left lane because it was full) and my plan was to make a right at the small street that was across from the on-ramp, make a U-turn (which is easy because theres a small turnaround right there) and get on the freeway.

as i make the right onto the small street with the turn around, lo and behold, its the crazy *******. again, i dunno why, i guess i was feeling smug or whatever, but as we passed, I just waved at him, rather non-chalantly. however, he spat on my car. :2far:

after making a U-turn at the turn-around, i had to again wait at a traffic light. The psychopath was standing right there, throwing rocks at my car, and taunting me, wanting me to get out and fight him. I just waved him off, kinda like trying to shoo off a pesky bug (thats what it felt like at the time).

luckily, the light turned green shortly after, so that the Looney Bin patient was only able to throw 3 rocks, and not more, at my car. and as I was driving down the freeway, it gave me chance to think, is this guy going to be waiting for me tomorrow morning? Should i carry a baseball bat in my car? What if I run into this guy, should I all-out beat this guy into a pulp? My feelings are very conflicted, as I try to be very zen about things, but man i know that if i see this guy again, i would want to straight up murder him. and just thinking about the dent he left on my car doesnt really help much either.

i just need to find a way to calm down and relax... hence i vent.

oops sorry, GAM, can you please move this into the SS/NSS forum?

[WhiskeyPapa]

Too bad CA doesn't have shall-issue carry permits. Nobody in Minnesota pulls that crap because there's a good chance the dude you're yelling at is packing (legally).

In all seriousness, you should have kept your mouth shut and your fingers where they belong, and you'd have an undented car and be less upset.

[Merlin]

Maybe next time you should either put up or shut up. If you are going to start swearing at people and such you should be prepared for it to escalate. You got off lucky only having your car get beat up.

[nickel]

Maybe next time you should either put up or shut up. If you are going to start swearing at people and such you should be prepared for it to escalate. You got off lucky only having your car get beat up.
sorry DaFunk, but it's true. the guy could've been packing heat and shot you just the same. you never know who you are dealing with.

on a similar note, i once got all up and flipped off someone in traffic who did something stupid that seems insignificant now, and he ended up being my first patient. i learned my lesson. :blush:

[JackHammer]

Dude if he hit my car I would have just stopped and got out of my car and confronted him. Nobody touches my car. Especially not some pansy biking freak in tights. I think I would have lost it if he spat on my car.

I'm not really a violent person but when it comes to my car I don't know. More likely if the guy was to fight I would gotten my ass kicked. I've never been in a fight before but dude it's my car.

[nickel]

Dude if he hit my car I would have just stopped and got out of my car and confronted him. Nobody touches my car. Especially not some pansy biking freak in tights. I think I would have lost it if he spat on my car.
you're cool. you might be dead with that move, but you're still cool. :gle:

[cadetevon]

Not my car, not my emotions so I can't feel angry for/with you. Indeed, this all gave me the best morning laugh I've had in a long time.

Sorry your car was damaged. It's a great story, though, to share at parties in the future (after the anger has subsided).

[JackHammer]

you're cool. you might be dead with that move, but you're still cool. :gle:


It's not about being cool or not.

[nickel]

It's not about being cool or not.
then what is it about for you?

[DaFunkyUnit]

yea, you guys are definitely right. i should've just brushed the initial being-dissed-at aside from the start. i still feel that i did nothing wrong intially, and the guy on the bike had no right to diss me, which is what lead me to rashly do what I did. i'm just worried this psycho is going to try and stalk me.

maybe i'm worrying too much, but man, my mind is all over the place right now (and not at work :( )

[cadetevon]

It's not about being cool or not.


But if by doing what you'd normally do anyway, you can be cool at the same time, how is that bad, right?

;)

[nickel]

yea, you guys are definitely right. i should've just brushed the initial being-dissed-at aside from the start. i still feel that i did nothing wrong intially, and the guy on the bike had no right to diss me, which is what lead me to rashly do what I did. i'm just worried this psycho is going to try and stalk me.

maybe i'm worrying too much, but man, my mind is all over the place right now (and not at work :( )
you got caught up in the moment. i am glad you didn't get out and challenge the guy. he sounds very irrational and who knows what else he would have done.
chances are you won't meet up with him again, and if you do put up the windows and get away from him asap, and if he harasses you it's time to get law enforcement officials involved.

[DaFunkyUnit]

Not my car, not my emotions so I can't feel angry for/with you. Indeed, this all gave me the best morning laugh I've had in a long time.

well, i'm glad someone is getting a kick out of it... i guess.

[cadetevon]

you got caught up in the moment. i am glad you didn't get out and challenge the guy. he sounds very irrational and who knows what else he would have done.
chances are you won't meet up with him again, and if you do put up the windows and get away from him asap, and if he harasses you it's time to get law enforcement officials involved.
:stupid: Better to be safe than sorry.


well, i'm glad someone is getting a kick out of it... i guess.


Man, I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry that your car got damaged, really I am.

[JackHammer]

then what is it about for you?


All I was saying that I would have gotten really pissed off. Hey Nickel why don't you get off my back? Why are you picking on me? I'm going to get the GAM to pull a Canta on you.

[nickel]

All I was saying that I would have gotten really pissed off. Hey Nickel why don't you get off my back? Why are you picking on me? I'm going to get the GAM to pull a Canta on you.
no, you were saying you would've "got out of my car and confronted him" and i questioned why you thought that would be a cool thing to do judging by how dangerous this situation would be.

[Gothic Girl]

you got caught up in the moment. i am glad you didn't get out and challenge the guy. he sounds very irrational and who knows what else he would have done.
chances are you won't meet up with him again, and if you do put up the windows and get away from him asap, and if he harasses you it's time to get law enforcement officials involved.
:stupid: Definately get the cops involved. That's vandalism.

[JackHammer]

no, you were saying you would've "got out of my car and confronted him" and i questioned why you thought that would be a cool thing to do judging by how dangerous this situation would be.


Who are you to question me? Don't insinuate that I am an idiot with your sarcasm.

[nickel]

Who are you to question me? Don't insinuate that I am an idiot with your sarcasm.
ok, Jack. :thumb:

[JackHammer]

ok, Jack. :thumb:


There you go again. I can't take this anymore.

[ray]

I have some free time. I'll be following on my bicycle and will be carrying my baseball bat.

/slaps IN

[InfiniteNothing]

Why would you sit on a baseball bat?

[Got Apex Moderator]

nickel & JackHammer, please cool it and either put each other on ignore or just leave each other alone. If you can't hold a civil conversation with each other, don't hold one at all.

--Got Apex Moderator

[cheapie]

first DFU, you likely almost hit the guy because of your poor driving. and then instead of realizing it and apologizing when he got angry you flipped him off and yelled at him. you're pissed because he was being irrational. he's pissed because you nearly killed him. except for the rock throwing, i would have been just as irate.

and btw jack, if you had been nearly killed because some jackass wanted to get their latte 20 seconds sooner then you'd understand. don't mistake the fact we're wearing bike shorts with being pansies. first, we just almost got killed so our adrenaline's flowing. second, most riders are in very good shape and would likely knock you the f$%k out.

i've chased guys down before that swerved at me, threw changes, bottles, skittles, etc at me, and called me a ****** before. i caught this one carload of kids once. it was awesome. they didn't have any idea i was chasing them down and i scared the crap out of them.

[JackHammer]

Wow these moderators are wound pretty tightly.

[DaFunkyUnit]

first DFU, you likely almost hit the guy because of your poor driving. and then instead of realizing it and apologizing when he got angry you flipped him off and yelled at him. you're pissed because he was being irrational. he's pissed because you nearly killed him. except for the rock throwing, i would have been just as irate.

and btw jack, if you had been nearly killed because some jackass wanted to get their latte 20 seconds sooner then you'd understand. don't mistake the fact we're wearing bike shorts with being pansies. first, we just almost got killed so our adrenaline's flowing. second, most riders are in very good shape and would likely knock you the f$%k out.

i've chased guys down before that swerved at me, threw changes, bottles, skittles, etc at me, and called me a ****** before. i caught this one carload of kids once. it was awesome. they didn't have any idea i was chasing them down and i scared the crap out of them.

i honestly don't think i swerved into him. otherwise, i would take the blame for everything and would never even think about flipping the bird and yelling back at the biker. i saw him in my rearview mirrors while i was partially in the bike lane, and i got out of the bike lane for him. and if i really DID swerve into the guy (which i did not), the biker did a great job of explaining that to me by wanting me to step out of my car and fight him <sarcasm tag>. oh, and my driving is not poor. far from it.

[cheapie]

i'm just going based on your description. you said you have to move into the bike lane because you were going to fast to stop when he hit the brakes. :shrug: no offense intended but had you hit the biker or the other vehicle, you would have been 100% at fault because you messed up.

[JackHammer]

Yeah Cheapie you made the assumption that DFU almost took out the bikers. I did not see it from that angle. I took it that the biker was just pissed off that DFU was in the bike lane.

[Jenny]

Wow these moderators are wound pretty tightly.


I'd suggest that if you have a problem with the mods to take it up with them in private. I don't see anything he said that is out of the norm when tempers are heating up like yours was. :confused:

[Merlin]

Man I understand the concept of share the road but why do bikers pick the narrowest roads available? Not only narrow but busy as well. Seems like around here they could choose better. I mean really, can they concentrate on their training with cars whizzing by?

[JackHammer]

I'd suggest that if you have a problem with the mods to take it up with them in private. I don't see anything he said that is out of the norm when tempers are heating up like yours was. :confused:


Tempers weren't heating up. It was just some friendly banter. Nickel I ain't mad at you.

[cheapie]

cuz those roads go where we want to go

[DaFunkyUnit]

it was either hit the car in front of me, or move into an empty bike lane.

i chose the latter.

then i saw the the biker in behind me.

then i moved out of the way for him.

now for the why am i going faster part. well, when you change lanes in a crowded street, obviously your speed changes no? a detail i didnt mention is that while i was signaling to change into the lane to the right, the car that was to my right-rear (my blind spot, essentially) was signalling to move to the left, hence i had to give myself and that car room to switch lanes. i'm going to defend, cheapie, that none of this is my fault, and that you're wrong. and that i'm not a poor driver :)

[cheapie]

it was either hit the car in front of me, or move into an empty bike lane.

i chose the latter.

then i saw the the biker in behind me.

then i moved out of the way for him.

now for the why am i going faster part. well, when you change lanes in a crowded street, obviously your speed changes no? a detail i didnt mention is that while i was signaling to change into the lane to the right, the car that was to my right-rear (my blind spot, essentially) was signalling to move to the left, hence i had to give myself and that car room to switch lanes. i'm going to defend, cheapie, that none of this is my fault, and that you're wrong. and that i'm not a poor driver :)



i'm not saying you're a poor driver. however, if you had hit either the car in front of you or the biker, you would have no chance of avoiding liability.

[Jenny]

Tempers weren't heating up. It was just some friendly banter. Nickel I ain't mad at you.

Ahhh, then I'm probably not the only one that didn't realize it was all in good fun. ;) Probably just trying to head off a timeout for people. heh

[DaFunkyUnit]

i'm not saying you're a poor driver. however, if you had hit either the car in front of you or the biker, you would have no chance of avoiding liability.

uh... ok... right. you're right.


but neither of those happened.

[cheapie]

if in fact the bikers were in no danger then he was way out of line. it sounds like he was way out of line anyhow.

i just have been cut off so many times and the driver usually looks at me like it's my fault. "hey...ride on the sidewalk you ******!!!" right...i'm going to ride 15-20mph on the freakin' sidewalk just so your dumba$$ doesn't have to watch where you're going. :rolleyes:

[DaFunkyUnit]

for a moment, i thought you condone hitting and spitting at other people's cars, just because you ride a bicycle. i'm glad thats not the case.

everytime i make a lane change, i always look over my shoulder, just to make sure theres no cars, bicycles, or insane psychotic nutjobs in the way. and i made it such a habit that i do that on city streets, freeways, driveways, and in the produce section at Ralphs.

[RIVERWIDOW]

i honestly don't think i swerved into him. otherwise, i would take the blame for everything and would never even think about flipping the bird and yelling back at the biker. i saw him in my rearview mirrors while i was partially in the bike lane, and i got out of the bike lane for him. and if i really DID swerve into the guy (which i did not), the biker did a great job of explaining that to me by wanting me to step out of my car and fight him <sarcasm tag>. oh, and my driving is not poor. far from it.

Some Days all it takes is one little petty annoyance to flip your switch. But
for your own safety you should have smiled, waved and driven on. Then when you were well out of his view call him :) a dumb f*ck. It really annoys people who are yelling at you , to have you smile and wave at them. It totally gets them out of the mood to be an *ss. They don't know what to do ,so they usually just leave.

[brainsmile]

next time kiss and make up

[Markel]

I'd be tempted to carry my camera with me for a while, with the hope that I would encounter the same bike rider again. I'd snap his picture, and if he decides to start chucking rocks again, I'd snap pictures of him in the act. Then turn the pics over to the police to charge him with property damage.

[zero2dash]

Sorry to hear about your car, DFU...chalk it up to a learning experience. :|


Some Days all it takes is one little petty annoyance to flip your switch. But
for your own safety you should have smiled, waved and driven on. Then when you were well out of his view call him :) a dumb f*ck. It really annoys people who are yelling at you , to have you smile and wave at them. It totally gets them out of the mood to be an *ss. They don't know what to do ,so they usually just leave.

This is 100% true; it's like people get pissed at you and are looking for you to give them the satisfaction of pissing *you* off, but if you smile or wave or do anything BUT act pissed off, it ruins their day because they realize they didn't push your buttons.

I live in Missouri which we Missourians call "the road rage capital of the world". (Especially here in St. Louis which is worse because AFAIK its the largest city in Missouri.) I've gotten pissed at people before and said things before. One time on the way to work I had a dumb girl (I say girl cause she couldn't have been a day older than 18) and she cut me off to get into a turn lane and I had to swerve to miss her hitting my car. I pulled alongside her and yelled out the window "you're a f***ing idiot" and the guy in the passenger seat (who also couldn't have been over 18) said "you wanna get shot?".

Granted I don't believe he had a gun and I don't think he was doing anything other than trying to rile me up or scare me (which I wasn't cause I still don't think he had a gun; we all know how teens are with their mouths and trying to act all big and stuff). Still though I'll never know whether he did or not.

Now I'm married and have a 6month old...needless to say I still get aggravated on the road sometimes but I do my best (I'm trying) to not do anything stupid or say anything because, again, you never know. There's a lot of crazy people in this world and life's too short and precious to risk losing everything you have over an idiot in a car. I've since tried to drive safer and slower and also keep my wits about me when people around me do stupid things.

-just my thought-

[Cubsfan]

I've been in both positions (on the bike and in the car), and like zero says, it's always best to just wave, smile, yell "sorry" if you can, and be done with it. The second you make a gesture or yell something, then things start to escalate beyond control.

[navyones]

Proof that "rude" bikers make good hood ornaments:

http://209.237.0.15/~jkahn/temp/fmhping14.jpg

[Grubbie]

My input to this is, I am suprised somebody on a bike would start to throw rocks/punch a car and keep riding up next to it. Ya he could of been packing heat, but DaFunkyUnit was packing a ****ing car. If he starts punching the car more, you can just run him over.....


Not saying I would run bikers over, just saying I dont' understand people in that situation to put themselfs at a bigger risk by pissing off a driver who is in a much bigger vechicle. Ya you could bump their back tire or something, and pay for it in the end, but you would of just nailed them with a car.

Im with DFU on this though, he made a lane change, saw he was about to get in an accident and the bike lane was clear. He moved into it, then when he had room to move back into his lane he did. If he had swerved into the bike lane then started cruising along, that is another story. And I think he would of realized if he almost hit a biker since he probably had to slam on his brakes also to avoid the guy he hit.

[cheapie]

My input to this is, I am suprised somebody on a bike would start to throw rocks/punch a car and keep riding up next to it. Ya he could of been packing heat, but DaFunkyUnit was packing a ****ing car. If he starts punching the car more, you can just run him over.....


Not saying I would run bikers over, just saying I dont' understand people in that situation to put themselfs at a bigger risk by pissing off a driver who is in a much bigger vechicle. Ya you could bump their back tire or something, and pay for it in the end, but you would of just nailed them with a car.

Im with DFU on this though, he made a lane change, saw he was about to get in an accident and the bike lane was clear. He moved into it, then when he had room to move back into his lane he did. If he had swerved into the bike lane then started cruising along, that is another story. And I think he would of realized if he almost hit a biker since he probably had to slam on his brakes also to avoid the guy he hit.


while i'm not calling dfu a liar, many times people think it's clear and pull right out in front of us and are surprised when we yell, as if we appeared out of thin air.

[chrissy]

while i'm not calling dfu a liar, many times people think it's clear and pull right out in front of us and are surprised when we yell, as if we appeared out of thin air.


I think a lot of people do check, but I don't think they gauge your speed in the bike lane. When they see riders, they picture "casual" not training, speed or "lance" :D So, yeah, to some you do appear out of thin air.

I know I never did until I met Donnie and he told me some of the speeds he would train at.

[Merlin]

I check my blind spots and they still seem to pop up out of nowhere. Be careful when riding as even diligent drivers may not see you.

[cheapie]

what pisses me off the most is when i'm riding on country roads, as i do most of the time, and some jacka$$ comes by, barely giving me any room, and honks while giving me the bird. i'm sorry for taking up 3 effing feet buddy. it's an empty road. how hard is it to move your steering while a little to the left???

[Grubbie]

what pisses me off the most is when i'm riding on country roads, as i do most of the time, and some jacka$$ comes by, barely giving me any room, and honks while giving me the bird. i'm sorry for taking up 3 effing feet buddy. it's an empty road. how hard is it to move your steering while a little to the left???


Ya, that is understandable. I always try when passing bikers(who have a bike lane) in a two lane road to move over a little bit, either on the yellow line or over it if they biker is more towards the road. Just to give him the extra space, never want to get to close and scare the **** out of him.

[zero2dash]

I always give bikers (whether they're regular pedal bikes or motorcycles) plenty of room and plenty of stopping room because (obviously) if they stop suddenly and you're not farther away from them then you should be with cars, you'll plow right into them and kill them. If I'm going to pass a biker I wait until there is another lane open and I can go around that way; otherwise I'm perfectly happy riding behind a biker until either they turn or I reach my destination because I'm not having an accident (or even worse) on my record - and besides that, bikers deserve as much of the road as anybody; just because they're in a different vehicle doesn't mean they deserve less. :thumb: