What do you think of having bumper “sticker” magnets printed up that say “I endanger the lives of a cyclists!”? Just ride up, slap one on and smile

at least you know they are coming with the snow glowing orange from their blinky lights…

The reality is, that cops and courts side with motorists too, so it really is a no win.

Winter is coming. Will be safe in the garage on the trainer soon.

Something that I’ve been finding to work – quiet chat with said motorist when / if you catch them in a non confrontational way.

Maybe wouldn’t work in this case… but here’s how it has worked for me:

Jackass in ginormous truck pulling 10,000 foot long power boat that is wider than the whole lane nearly running me into Mallet’s Bay off a steep cliff – when I spotted the truck backing into the launch on Lake Champlain I rolled in, said ‘Nice boat, pretty cool rig too… and, by the way – did you know that your boat is way wider than your truck? Yeah – you almost ran me into the lake when you went by me. I really like riding my bike – like you like playing in your boat – and I see you are out with the family – I’m heading home to my little one to play. Please be careful dude – there are plenty of other legal users of the road out here – and we all want to get home safe.”

“Whoa dude. So sorry. Didn’t know. Didn’t think about it. I’ll be more careful. Thanks for telling me. Really really sorry man.”

This was happening as his family started circling the wagons on the guy in spandex… but it worked out OK.

Another time a woman U turned in front of us, nearly running us into the ditch. I caught up to her at the City Market. Approached her in the parking lot and said ‘You know, I know its early and you probably didn’t see me (it was daylight, Sunday morning, and she looked right at me) – but you nearly killed me. Please try to be safe out on the roads – there are folks walking, riding – legally using our rights of way – and we need to share and be watchful of each other.

She apologized – and then I had the pleasure of chatting with her cute little boy when we both got in line for coffee. She didn’t know what to do with that. Hopefully it made an impression.

Another thing I’ve done is to leave a ‘Thank You’ note on a windshield when I know where someone lives or parks… simply ride by early in the AM or when someone is working. Leave a flowery thank you note with some words inside about how you appreciate that they are such shining examples of a road user, and remind them that bikes and pedestrians have use of our public rights of ways… you can even tuck in a copy of the local vehicle codes.

It tends to be lose lose. But if approached in a non confrontational way – which is very hard to do when 4000 pounds of steel and glass hurtling towards you – I’ve actually had decent conversations with motorists. And remember that as much as a car or truck isolates a driver from the real world – our cycling getup typically is off putting to folks. We are alien fitness nuts out there taking up valuable road space – we ‘recreating’ – not getting valuable trips in to the big box store… so as much as a cyclist has a right to the road – the dude riding in full kit running red lights hours before you probably has done more to hurt your cause than any inherent bias in the motorist. I love riding in street clothes, sans helmet. Folks don’t know what to do with it – I’m a human, going about my business… just like everyone else.

But yeah, it sucks mostly. Especially in and around C-Town. Never had good riding there – except way out in the hinterlands…

Stay safe though. The woman is right about 1 thing – you don’t stand a chance against her rage and 4000 pounds that can be flicked around with a flick of the wrist and a push of the pedal.