When bicycle riding, how do you react to car drivers honking on the road!?

Question

I am so feed up with idiots, suddenly honking, as they pass me. I do my 20 miles with a road bike going a pretty good clip and keep close to the side of the road. Lot's of drivers pass impatiently, refing the engine and then hit the brakes, because the are to fast, some pass me and then cut me off, turning into a drive way. But what drives me bonkers, is the honking. When I am pumped up, concentrating on my workout, the honking shocks the living daylight out of me.
Is that to sensitive?

I give every honker the finger, sometimes they stop and yell at me and one time a guy cut me off and fumbled with a gun around my face. They are so pathetic, but it just cuts in my workout routine.

Answer 1

I agree with the last answer. However you might be having a bad day and that occurs. Simply wave to them. If that doesn't work, buy one of those air horn cans and shoot it at them as they pass. A friend of mine does that when driver's honk at him. It is an awesome sight to see their response. He gets less honking these days.

Answer 2

Definitely agree with ignoring them. They want a reaction from you, and if you give them the finger, then you give them the satisfaction of knowing that they have scared you and pissed you off. Waving is definitely a great way to confuse them or potentially anger them more. Most drivers won't respond to waving and smiling like they would if you give them the finger. I have been riding for about 20 years. I have been honked at, yelled at, had food and soda thrown at me, and even hit by a car (but not intentionally). I have learned to get myself in a zone, and the horns don't scare me as much anymore. You ride with cars, you know they are there, you just sort of need to expect it once in a while, and then you will eventually dull the effects of hearing the horns. It's scary out there, last thing you need is a pissed off driver behind the wheel threatening you on your bike. CAR vs bike, not good. Be safe.

Answer 3

I commute from Downtown LA to Chatsworth (35 miles) once or twice a week, and encounter all kinds of motorists. My best advise about the "Honkers" is to take the attitude that they really don't want to hit you, and want more room than they need to get by. Just thank them for being concerned about your safety, smile and wave them on by. This gets a much better response that giving them the one finger salute.

The other thing to do is use a good rear view mirror. It really helps you to be more aware of what you can't see behind you.

Lastly be predictable, ride like you are invisible, and don't ever insist on your right of way, because you could be wrong!

Answer 4

Honking loudly as they pass can be unsettling and even make a rider swerve. It's an involuntary reaction. Try to cope, there is nothing you can do to help the idiots out there. I actually like a light TAP of a horn before they pass. For that the motorist gets a wave of thanks from me. If you are in traffic I suggest you concentrate on traffic -- not on a workout. Find a less traveled route to workout on. Be safe!

Answer 5

hi! i think of it makes some drivers worried because of the fact they understand that a million you're susceptible ... in a vehicle they are secure by metallic, and additionally you have not something of the form to guard you ... and 2 they holiday swifter than you which of them ability which you're actually not on a similar website with them .. quite than basically being careful of you, they take out their emotions on you and develop indignant ... i think of it would be extra constructive if there have been bicycle paths for human beings to apply ... and a great distance from the line / street .... approximately 18 ft, if that's plausible ... and it would make a great strip of land on the two factor of the line for timber and flowering timber ... those would upload to the ambience, that's often great, and would upload splendor additionally... we would desire to remember the destiny!!! Peace & Love p.s. I see no reason to place cyclists in threat the way they are .... on one factor of the line. on each and every occasion I rode my bike, even alongside the rustic roads, I constantly felt very susceptible ..and worried ...

Answer 6

I hate it. Don't worry, you're not being overly sensitive. For some reason, the little town I live in is pretty good to cyclists. They don't go out of their way to be mean (most days), but then again, they're not always paying attention, which can be worse. I'm a pretty generous cyclist. I try to make it easy for people to share the road with me. However, if I have the right of way, and someone is trying to pull out in front of me,or shut me down somehow, I usually just look them in the eye. It's a lot harder for most people to kill if they have to look you in the eye first. I also carry a BIG can of pepper spray. My bro rides with one of those plastic framed, double action only, .45ACP automatics. Ten shots, and they're pretty lightweight. My old smith and wesson 9mm is just too heavy to ride with, otherwise I'd carry as well. People tend not to play games with armed cyclists. Do I like carrying pepper spray? No. Does my bro like carrying a .45? No. The fact of the matter is, people do not respect cyclist's right to use the road, not to mention human life. I love hearing non-cyclists say "well, I'll just run you over...haha!" or something to that effect. That's the same thing as saying "I'll just murder you.". People who screw with cyclists and play games are weak cowards. The only way they can get tough with anyone is when they are encased in a ton of glass, rubber, metal, and airbags. Sorry for the rant.
Ride Safe!

Answer 7

i don't like it when those impolite drivers behave like the morons that they are but i don't give them the finger nor yell at them. two simple facts for cyclists to think of before reacting to those impatient drivers.
1. we do not need to drop so low to their level as to yell at them or show them our 'beautiful' middle finger. if we do react as such, we are no better than them and just as rude.
2. safety is the concern. all the driver need to do is sway slightly or brake abruptly in front of you or even come into direct contact with you and your bike. you would not have enough time to respond to that. be it if you carry a pepper spray or any other form of 'defense' material with you. you can end up in the drain or whatever before even having a chance to look at the license plate or the driver's face.

my advice is, avoid dense traffic areas if you need to concentrate on your workout. if you have no other choices then you have to try to control your feelings.

it might not be your fault when they do these things to you but it is not worth it to get stressed up over these people.

Answer 8

I love to ride my bike but I avoid high traffic areas because the honking scares me too death and I'm afraid I'll have an accident.

People are so rude and inconsiderate anymore, it's all about me! That's the attitude.

Answer 9

no it's not, it scares me sometimes.
get this:
http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Airzound-Bike-Horn/dp/B000ACAMJC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4109768-2543228?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1188617163&sr=8-1
and honk them back. this horn is also good for honking those careless pedestrians and drivers who don't care about cyclists. I think it's actually louder than a car's honk and the driver can hear it with windows up and radio on

somewhere in there, you can give the guy the finger then honk at him again

Answer 10

I havent had anyone honk at me because they are inconsiderate. the people that honk at me are people i know who are trying to get my attention so I can see them wave.