? The Gopher Wheelmen Know how to roll! | Main | Sharing a cookie ?
May 11, 2005
Honking Horns
This morning it happened to me again! Someone came speeding up behind me on 5th street in Downtown St. Paul and honked their horn at me. I didn't get out of the way because I was already going the speed limit on my bike! The driver, obviously impatient gunned his engine and passed me in the clear lane on the left. So what was the point of that display? I am starting to appreciate and understand the problems bicyclists face. Last night on the club ride someone threw a paper bag with glass bottles in it at our group and hit one of the riders, but that kind of agression is different and more isolated. Honking the horn and gunning the engine to pass, while speeding is another kind that's much more common. The driver somehow feels put out by having a bike in front of him and becomes impatient. The driver has an underlying attitude of owning the road and bikes have no place there. It's an inconvenience and irritation to the driver to have to wait for a bicycle. Hello! Bicycles are street-legal vehicles!
Last year I got in an accident by getting too close to the curb while going downhill fast, trying to accomodate the driver passing (over the speed limit). Now I don't do that. When I'm riding that fast, I move into the middle of the lane where a car won't be tempted to pass me at close quarters. So to all of the impatient horn honkers out there: What are you trying to prove? Slow down and stop endangering lives. This is really about respecting other human beings.
Posted by carl1236 at May 11, 2005 11:53 PM | Attitude
Comments
Living in California, I can completely understand. We have alot of Bikes on our roads here. And being a drive of a car ( a bike doesn't work for me to get to work, because of the freeway). I always am extra cautious when around a rider. and always give him extra room when passing. All it really takes is a little consideration for the other vehicle. Something alot of californias forget.
Posted by: Kim at May 12, 2005 09:33 AM
Thank you Kim!!! You make up for the other driver's attitudes!
Posted by: John at May 12, 2005 03:51 PM