Normally I'm a pretty level headed individual. If you know me, you also know that I'm not one to anger easily. For some reason today, I seemed to have lost that in the heat of the moment. Maybe it was the endorphins coursing through me, or the chilly morning, but I couldn't hold my anger back.
I bike commute nearly everywhere now. I try to take the back roads and I pull as far to the right of the lane when it is SAFE. Occasionally, I will take the whole lane of traffic, simply because that is where it is safe for me to ride. When I'm on my bike, I don't have the clam shell of metal around me to make sure I'm okay. I have the open air, and a Styrofoam cap that is magically supposed to "protect" me. I obey traffic signs and lights and other traffic laws. I have plenty of lights at night, and try to wear visible and reflective clothing. I consider myself to be a pretty safe cyclist.
Ever since I was hit by a truck earlier this year when it ran a red light, I have taken extra steps to make sure I am safe on the roads. I carry myself with an attitude of caution around every single vehicle, and I assume they do not see me, especially during night hours.
I try to be an outstanding and courteous cyclist, and hope I am a positive influence to biking for motorists along my adventures.
With all of this out of the way, let me get to the story. On my morning commute into work today I had an "event." Not only did this event put me in a bad mood on my normally enjoyable morning ride, it had me a little peeved all day. It happened at an intersection. The road I was on was a residential, 25mph road, with extra wide lanes, and had a traffic island separating the two different directions of traffic. The cross street was a 35mph "main road" of sorts.
I pulled up to the traffic light like I do nearly every morning and took the middle of the center lane. This lane is the only lane marked for going straight. There is a left turn lane and a right turn lane. Keep in mind, these lanes only exist at the intersection, and it goes back to a one lane road after crossing through the intersection.
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| The intersection in question. |
Anyhow, I cross through the intersection safely, and as I normally do, I check over my right shoulder to move over so the cars behind me can pass. I'm glad I make a habit of always looking before I move, because sitting INCHES from my rear tire and to my right is a car. It's a beige Toyota. Uggghhhhhhh. It's trying to pass on the right. In a single traffic lane. This driver must've been so inconvenienced by having a cyclist in front of them, they decided it was not only acceptable to use the right turn only lane to go straight, but also attempt to pass me on the right. On a one lane road. I'm still baffled by it, so maybe repeating it again will help me understand. A CAR PASSING ON THE RIGHT OF A ONE LANE ROAD. Nope, it still doesn't make sense as to how this is okay. At all.
Of course confusion was my first reaction, so I blurted out a pretty hefty, "What the hell are you doing?!?!?"
This was followed by me slowing down, so this lunatic could get past me without any bodily injury on my part. Apparently, this gesture was taken as, "Oh boy, I made him angry, I should slow down too!"
This only confused and angered me more. I think maybe I had not been clear with my intent for them to pass me. At this point, I motion with my free hand and wave them forward. We are a rolling roadblock at this point, and the only thing on my mind is to get away from this person. What happened next I can only be describe as the most foul string of expletives that may have ever left my mouth. I must have been loud enough at this point, because it caused the car to just stop. After getting a few car lengths ahead, and back to my position on the right to allow traffic to pass, I look back. What I saw in the Toyota was the most shocked face I've ever seen a sweet old woman wear.
Now, I felt bad the rest of my ride in, and throughout most of the afternoon from this episode. I had just cussed out and said awful things to what appeared to be an old woman in a Toyota Solara convertible. Why did I have to do that? Why her, and why did I have to be so harsh? After thinking about it all afternoon, I came to a realization. I could've absolutely handled the situation better. If I could go back and change the interaction, I would still be loud, but I should've been more clear in my intentions. Still, that does not change the fact that this woman showed no regard for my safety, let alone traffic laws. This has been the closest I had been to getting in another accident since the truck incident this May. When you see everything happening, the fight or flight response kicks in. If I had continued riding without checking over my shoulder, I have no doubt this blog post would be written differently.
Like I said earlier, I have no clam shell to hide in when I'm on my bike. I have a few inches of rubber, aluminum, and carbon keeping me from two-ton, highly unpredictable, people carriers, that could kill me at any time. Biking is about freedom and not having to be stuck in the confines of the car. It's about self-reliance and not having to fill up with gas every week. It's about fitness and being outside. It's about taking life a little slower and appreciating the little things on the way. The danger that comes with this, is of course the openness as well. If you crash into me, there aren't seat belts, airbags, or crumple zones to keep me safe. I openly understand this and do what I can to minimize my risk as a cyclist.
The thing that bothers me, is that, I can be a perfect cyclist. I can follow all the laws, wear the brightest clothes, light my bike up like a damn Christmas tree, but at the end of the day, if someone else decides "it's not worth my time to follow the rules," I'm still put in as much, if not more, jeopardy than if I were the one actively breaking the law. I can be perfect to the T while riding my bike and still be in danger because people are impatient and treat cyclists like second class citizens on the road. People who break the law to get around cyclists, people who yell and throw things out of moving cars, or people who fly past coming way too close for comfort all have one thing in common. They're all assholes. Including the old woman today. I hope the extra few minutes she was trying to save on her commute was worth putting my life at risk. That person on a bike isn't an "obstruction" or an "inconvenience." They are a PERSON, and that is why I am angry. No one's life should ever be put in question, just so a motorist can cut down their drive time.
I hope some readers will think about this next time they see someone biking on the road. When you're frustrated that you're moving slower because of them, just remember this: That is a person and chances are they are actually a pretty friendly guy or gal, with plenty of stories, loved ones, and their own lives underneath that Lycra. Don't be an asshole to them.
The Aftermath!
After telling my coworkers about the incident today, my work phone started making weird noises. I was genuinely concerned that the old woman had put a curse on me! She looked old, but young at the same time. It's pretty evident she was a witch. I had put a damper on her morning drive and delayed her plan to complain to the Hobby Lobby management team about yarn prices. Thinking back, it all makes sense. She had stop the car in order to channel her energy.
Every time I put the handset back on it's cradle, unsettling... sounds came from it. Since some of you find it humorous to see the things I search for, I figured I would post it up. Here you go, have at it.
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