LJWorld.com weblogs Rolling along
Posted
by Andrew Hartsock
September 2, 2008 at 8:04 a.m.
WHY (AND WHAT) ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?
It's not that uncommon to be the target of some sort of oral abuse when I'm out on my bike.I don't know what it is about a grown man on two wheels that makes him such a welcome target for big mouths on four, but it's common enough I come to expect it and consider it at least a weekly part of my regular commutes.And, for the most part, I shrug it off.When you've heard the unimaginative "Get out of the $%*&ing street" or the ubiquitous "Way to go, Lance," as many times as I have, you tend to tune the morons out.But my ride to work Saturday evening was a Bizarro World trip down the bike-commute auditory canal.Maybe it was the fact Kansas University was opening its football season at home. That results in more folks on the road and more folks from out of town, changing the typical traffic flow. And there's a festive atmosphere, so maybe that makes people more likely to abuse cyclists.Whatever the cause, Saturday's ride was odd in that I was accosted twice in a five-minute span. And the nature of the shouts were noteworthy, as well.First, a prepubescent boy leaned out the back window of a passing car not far from my home and hollered, "MMMMMMMMMNMM MMM MMMMMNNNNNNNNN MMMMM-GINA!!!!!!!!" Then, a few miles down the road, a woman of indeterminate age screamed, "HRMPH HMPMPHMPH HRPHRPMH MOTORCYCLE!!!!!!!!!!"I've stopped being perplexed to be the target of taunts, but both of those tirades were perplexing in their sheer weirdness. Both vocalizers were hindered by bad enunciation. And at first I had no clue what message the loudmouths were trying to get across.But as I pedaled on, I think I deciphered the cryptic messages.The first I initially assumed was likening me to a certain piece of female anatomy, one that has its own monologues. But I eventually dismissed that because I don't think many prepubescent boys would consider all the synonyms for that particular body part and pick that particularly proper term when there are so many others that are oh-so-much-more colorful. Especially when yelling out a car window and going for the startle factor, as this kid was, don't pussyfoot around: Let fly with your best banned-from-TV classic.So I eventually came to assume Bobby Blabbermouth was, in fact, worried about my health and cautioning my about the dangers of angina. He actually had my best interests at heart.Which brings us to the second venting.I couldn't fathom anyone confusing my plodding progress with that of a speedy motorized two-wheeler's, so I was stumped.Then it dawned on me: The Old Yeller in question recognized me from an earlier blog about the secret motorcyclist wave and was giving me a positive shout-out in acknowledgment.Now that I've uncovered the meaning behind both bellows, I'm glad I didn't respond unkindly. It just goes to show not every car-bound bike-berater is filling the air with negative vibes.
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Comments
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mkrylee (anonymous) says…
good for you! i always have been told throughout my own person road rage to actually feel sorry for people who overreact to such small things. how sad for them they have so much stress on their lives they cant handle traveling in one of the most bike friendly cities in the area. so the next time someone gives you the bird you can feel sorry they are having such a bad day they need to try to take out on you. and next time you think about giving the bird you can ask yourself what is so negative about your life that is making you take it out on other people instead of taking action for yourself. Anyways, Andrew, congratulations on being able to get past the negative attitudes and loud mouths that our country is raising. Unfortunately, people seem to think their rude comments actually negatively impact their victim. in reality, they are their own victim.
jrlii (anonymous) says…
"And there's a festive atmosphere, so maybe that makes people more likely to abuse cyclists."Hmmm. . . You might check that out. Do bicyclists in New Orleans have more problems during Mardi Gras? (Aside from the rubbernecking tourists.) An excuse to do some out-of-town research. Probably have to do it over the phone or internet, but. . .
dog_owner (anonymous) says…
I am a local runner and receive a lot of verbal abuse from passerbys as well. Do people really think it is funny to lay on the horn and watch someone jump a mile as they are starting to cross the street! I just chalk it up to most being jealous because they either don't have the time to work out, or just are out of shape and know they wouldn't be able to do what we do.Keep up the biking!
jayhawkerjoel (anonymous) says…
As someone who bikes, jogs, and drives - it's not the mode of transport, it's the moving jerk. Personally, I can't stand cyclists who do not obey traffic laws and seem oblivious to everyone else. Or, how about joggers who feel it is their right to bolt out into the street, out of no where, because they have the pedestrian right-of-way. And lastly, drivers who exacerbate these interactions by not paying attention or seem bent on antagonizing bikes and joggers. If only everyone could be just like me... ;-)
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Maybe it was the fact Kansas University was opening its football season at home. That results in more folks on the road and more folks from out of town,changing the typical traffic flow. And there's a festive atmosphere, so maybe that makes people more likely to abuse cyclists.=sports fans are rubes?=sports fans are potentially violent perps in process?=I'm looking down my nose at those poor schlubs who are sports fans?***well, Andrew, at least they didn't drive by yelling a completely baseless filthy false rumor meant to smear a female VP candidate! count yourself lucky!
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
jayhawkerjoe,Have you noticed lately the bicyclists who just pedal through 4 way stops because the cars have stopped, but assume it doesn't apply to them? I assume if someone is using the road way, they will obey the traffic signs, as well. And then there are the joggers like you mention...there are pedestrians at KU who are the same way...assume you can stop on a dime when they suddenly turn and walk into the street. BUT auto drivers aren't any better lately. This morning, as I was driving to work, I saw someone waiting to cross the street in a crosswalk, so I had plenty of time, and stopped for them to pass. There was a car coming the opposite way, further away than I was, with plenty of time to stop. The pedestrian stepped into the street, and she must have heard the car coming from the other side, as she stepped back, and the car swerved to avoid hitting her. I was stunned, and too frozen to honk a warning to the pedestrian, as we both probably thought the car was going to stop since it had PLENTY of time, more than I did. The offending driver looked like a college student, who just put her hand to her mouth, sort of smiling/nervous giggling, as in an "oh my, I swerved just in time..." gggrrrrr....
75x55 (anonymous) says…
"Have you noticed lately the bicyclists who just pedal through 4 way stops because the cars have stopped, but assume it doesn't apply to them?"You mean, they have to obey the rules of the road?? That'll be news to the guy I saw this weekend just pedal across North Iowa at Princeton, without noticeably looking once in either direction for any opposing traffic, against the red light no less.
tvc (anonymous) says…
My dad had someone flip him off, so he waved and smiled. The driver came back by to flip him off again.b3, you can drive on them if it is legal. I don't use them because when I ride, I Iike to go places.
Soup2Nuts (anonymous) says…
Riding bikes on the road is legal and supported by state and local law. I use the bike path on the way to a road since the path is short and doesn't go anywhere that I want to go.
Informed (anonymous) says…
b3, whatever!
tvc (anonymous) says…
Reasons you do not see me in my tight little outfit:Because we do not work together. Because you are not my friend. Because we do not like the same activities.Because we do not eat at the same places.
75x55 (anonymous) says…
"Riding bikes on the road is legal and supported by state and local law. "Then, can we soon start to see bicyclists** that actually follow the laws regarding the public roads?** the 85% that do not currently follow the rules of the road, such as stop signs, red lights, etc.
Soup2Nuts (anonymous) says…
I doubt it 75x, but I wish the cops would ticket cyclists that don't follow the rules of the road...and I say that as a cyclist.
RedwoodCoast (anonymous) says…
I think b3 must need some B12 or something.
cds (anonymous) says…
A mild sedative, less coffee, and a mental check-up might help as well Redwood.I learned a long time ago in this town to just ignore the idiots who always have something to yell out to people, certainly not worth the time worrying about it.
75x55 (anonymous) says…
You may doubt the 85% [ which is not much more than hyperbole :) ], but I'm personally quite sure that the number is a double-digit, and probably over half.
Soup2Nuts (anonymous) says…
No, I think your double-digit guess is accurate 75x55. Craig Weinaug, the County Administrator and avid cyclist, advises cyclists to stop at a stop sign "as a group" and cross the intersection "as a group". I think they've got the crossing the intersection as a group part down, but the stopping as a group isn't happening.