tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post1882475109686138852..comments2024-02-24T06:21:30.987+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: When drivers stop and open windowsDavid Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-46269670799540867752011-03-04T16:33:54.150+01:002011-03-04T16:33:54.150+01:00I remember getting a torrent of abuse from a guy a...I remember getting a torrent of abuse from a guy at the lights after he had to brake because I stopped on my bike at a zebra crossing. He was very rude and wasn't very receptive to my argument that it wasn't unreasonable for me to stop at a zebra crossing, so I decided to escalate it by rapidly responding in the most obscene terms as I could muster. <br /><br />It got him to shut up.Dr C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10234078254243840589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-12224039144559710162011-03-03T20:42:40.487+01:002011-03-03T20:42:40.487+01:00As a Dutch girl living in LA now, it took me some ...As a Dutch girl living in LA now, it took me some time to get used to all the comments. Both negative and positive: a little while ago a lady rolled down her window just to tell me she liked my hair :)Ellienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-38280902901101633032011-03-03T08:09:02.998+01:002011-03-03T08:09:02.998+01:00I had two pleasant chats through car windows yeste...I had two pleasant chats through car windows yesterday. <br />In the first, I was pedalling my Azor and I spoke to the lady-driver. She appreciated my observation. I was concerned that both her front tyres looked under-inflated and that her alloy wheels and the low-profile tyres were at risk on our pot-hole ridden roads. Too often, when I have spoken to drivers in similar circumstances, I have amoebahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783694650121687459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-56404664351398484942011-03-02T15:51:02.479+01:002011-03-02T15:51:02.479+01:00I've had chats with drivers that were friendly...I've had chats with drivers that were friendly, too (in cycle un-friendly Lubbock, Texas, of all places). It's always a bit of a shock when the driver wants to say hello or commend me for cycling instead of shouting and honking. But much appreciated! Great story-- thanks for sharing!Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862479925124552922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-85956466583347565262011-03-02T15:01:08.183+01:002011-03-02T15:01:08.183+01:00I recently had a chat with a driver who had his wi...I recently had a <a href="http://middleagecyclist.blogspot.com/2011/03/sniggering-prat.html" rel="nofollow">chat with a driver</a> who had his window down at some traffic lights. Obviously this is in the UK so it is a little different to your experience.MiddleAgeCyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03873996681529127207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-60090261926124393712011-03-02T12:35:02.131+01:002011-03-02T12:35:02.131+01:00For all the negative I mention about cycling in Ca...For all the negative I mention about cycling in Canada, I've had mostly positive experiences with motorists lowering their windows to 'chat'...Most of the time it involves asking for directions, but I have had the few who have pointed things out that I wasn't aware of.<br /><br />As for the push button, I know Vancouver has those at different intersections for cyclists.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15589492356827998591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-55062902404677375842011-03-01T15:53:59.295+01:002011-03-01T15:53:59.295+01:00Frits: I also think it's true that Drenthe is ...Frits: I also think it's true that Drenthe is a nice place to live. That's why we came here. However, this country in general is quite different to elsewhere, especially if you cycle.<br /><br />Windows being wound down, doors opening, horns tooting, engines revving. All these things would make we worry in the UK. They'd often come before trouble. However, here it's just not like David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-45396990778787601672011-03-01T15:49:08.609+01:002011-03-01T15:49:08.609+01:00Mark: I saw the houses and thought them familiar :...Mark: I saw the houses and thought them familiar :-). And as for Drenthe: read "outside the Randstad". Unspoiled territory east of the Waterlinie.<br />BTW, I'm from Rotterdam originally where people might at most have called "Knoppie drukke, l*l" which is best not translated for your non-Dutch readers.Frits Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11399632570565541892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-91027801834179327642011-03-01T12:27:31.298+01:002011-03-01T12:27:31.298+01:00@Frits carefull: David is not the only one writing...@Frits carefull: David is not the only one writing anymore. This was in Brabant ('s-Hertogenbosch) as I wrote it, Mark. <br />But I like your reasoning. ;-)Mark W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07882028603632115187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-55550989974180026042011-03-01T11:25:30.088+01:002011-03-01T11:25:30.088+01:00"the level of consideration from this driver ..."the level of consideration from this driver was remarkable, even for the Netherlands."<br />On the other hand, he may have wondered about your uncharacteristic patience and have decided that you were a respectable specimen, deserving his help.<br />Anyway, this is Drenthe for you.Frits Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11399632570565541892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-89921255290668009392011-03-01T11:24:28.024+01:002011-03-01T11:24:28.024+01:00@amoeba: usually not a dangerous situation, but an...@amoeba: usually not a dangerous situation, but an annoying one nonetheless. I straight-up refuse to brake and squeeze in in defense when that happens to me: if you're gonna cut me off, I'm gonna make you feel like a jerk for doing it.<br />Having hub gears, I usually pull away from green lights much faster than cars, too, which makes their whole effort fruitless. And that's one thingKlaus Mohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05953775726413454938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-79696735255489682412011-03-01T08:55:02.352+01:002011-03-01T08:55:02.352+01:00Recently, I was approaching a set of traffic light...Recently, I was approaching a set of traffic lights and was free-wheeling because the lights were read and I knew I would probably have to stop. Just before I was to enter the zigzags, the car that approached from behind passed me very closely, which then swerved towards the kerb and had to brake quite sharply to stop.<br /><br />Seconds later, I filtered down the nearside and muttered somethingamoebahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783694650121687459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-87861019944138492692011-03-01T07:55:38.493+01:002011-03-01T07:55:38.493+01:00In the UK, were this to happen to me, I would prob...In the UK, were this to happen to me, I would probably have fallen over in my astonishment.amoebahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783694650121687459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-38759323693287059682011-03-01T01:50:52.209+01:002011-03-01T01:50:52.209+01:00"In other countries it usually doesn't me..."In other countries it usually doesn't mean a lot of good when a driver stops for a cyclist, lowers his window and starts 'a conversation.'"<br /><br />Hah. Absolutely right. Although, yesterday I had one motorist roll down his window and offer me some encouragement as I was climbing a particularly steep stretch of Los Angeles roadway: "Way to go, brother." I guessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com