I was riding my bicycle on a pathway that runs beside a major multi lane road. A new 7 mile stretch of it recently opened, making its total length worth riding, so I thought I’d check it out.
I’m approaching a business driveway that crosses the path. A woman is sitting in her running car, stopped before the pathway crossing. The way for her to turn onto the road is clear, so I deduce that she’s waiting for me to cross. I accelerate to cross. She’s watching me approach, then pulls up to block the pathway, forcing me to brake hard. She waits to pull out onto the roadway. Rage? Or just mean spirited?
Later, down the pathway a few miles, another driver is leaving a fast food place. Traffic on the road will not allow him to enter, yet he pulls up to block the pathway, shouting at me to get a [effing] car. I replied, learn to be [effing] polite. He squealed his tires entering the road. I ride on once the way is clear.
Later still, I’m crossing a clear drive when a vehicle accelerates hard towards me. I manage to get across without being hit, and the driver shouts, “I’ll get you next time!”
A motor vehicle is a deadly weapon that will get you where you’re going quickly enough. Such rage towards cyclists is unwarranted. Being at fault in striking a cyclist with a vehicle is a criminal offense. The civil litigation could cost you everything. The stupidity of threatening a cyclist with your vehicle should be obvious to everyone.
While riding, I obey the laws of the road and salute every driver who shows me proper consideration.
