Yes, it would be nice if people watched what they were doing! I think the rain brought out every jerk for miles around tonight. We decided to chance the rain and ride into Decatur to meet friends for dinner. They were very nice and offered to pick us up, but we even said, no thanks, we'll go ahead and ride. Of course the ride consists of North Decatur and Clairmont which aren't the best for biking, but there's really no better way for us unless we more than double the distance. And wouldn't you know it was raining when we left the restaurant - luckily I had decided to bring a raincoat and at least it wasn't a downpour. So we're riding down Clairmont and this a** in an SUV gets behind my husband (he was behind me) and starts blowing the horn over and over. I wasn't sure what was going on since he was about a block behind me, so I slowed down and the person continues to blow their horn!! Now mind you, it's a FOUR LANE road and there were no other cars around. My husband finally literally stopped in the road to ask them what their freaking problem was and then I guess they figured they'd had their fun for the night and drove around us. I swear, I don't know what the deal is with people - we're the ones on our bikes getting wet but it's as if we're on the street ONLY to annoy them! Ugh, makes me crazy :)
But seriously, Traci, I'm sorry you and your husband have had a couple of bad interactions lately. I my experience, that's pretty rare. When I do encounter a jerk, I try not to let it bother me by imagining ways in which their comment or action could be interpreted as friendly. Like, if someone drives slowly behind me, I think, maybe they are trying to protect me from other cars, like a bodyguard... Or if they honk, maybe it's someone I know just saying hi. And who can ever understand words hollered out the window of a moving car? Actually, that's what happened in this case with the Comcast lady. She made a sloppy left turn and came part way into my lane. I yelled and we avoided collision. Then I noticed she was driving very slowly in the center lane. I nearly caught up with her and then was turning onto a side street, and I heard her yell something. I thought maybe she new the guy who was walking down the street near me. But about a minute later, it clicked that what she yelled was "Sorry!".
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Yes, it would be nice if people watched what they were doing! I think the rain brought out every jerk for miles around tonight. We decided to chance the rain and ride into Decatur to meet friends for dinner. They were very nice and offered to pick us up, but we even said, no thanks, we'll go ahead and ride. Of course the ride consists of North Decatur and Clairmont which aren't the best for biking, but there's really no better way for us unless we more than double the distance. And wouldn't you know it was raining when we left the restaurant - luckily I had decided to bring a raincoat and at least it wasn't a downpour. So we're riding down Clairmont and this a** in an SUV gets behind my husband (he was behind me) and starts blowing the horn over and over. I wasn't sure what was going on since he was about a block behind me, so I slowed down and the person continues to blow their horn!! Now mind you, it's a FOUR LANE road and there were no other cars around. My husband finally literally stopped in the road to ask them what their freaking problem was and then I guess they figured they'd had their fun for the night and drove around us. I swear, I don't know what the deal is with people - we're the ones on our bikes getting wet but it's as if we're on the street ONLY to annoy them! Ugh, makes me crazy :)
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or are people generally much nicer to women on bicycles than to men?
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, Traci, I'm sorry you and your husband have had a couple of bad interactions lately. I my experience, that's pretty rare. When I do encounter a jerk, I try not to let it bother me by imagining ways in which their comment or action could be interpreted as friendly. Like, if someone drives slowly behind me, I think, maybe they are trying to protect me from other cars, like a bodyguard... Or if they honk, maybe it's someone I know just saying hi. And who can ever understand words hollered out the window of a moving car? Actually, that's what happened in this case with the Comcast lady. She made a sloppy left turn and came part way into my lane. I yelled and we avoided collision. Then I noticed she was driving very slowly in the center lane. I nearly caught up with her and then was turning onto a side street, and I heard her yell something. I thought maybe she new the guy who was walking down the street near me. But about a minute later, it clicked that what she yelled was "Sorry!".
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's a southern thing - they've been taught to be nice to women, so that possibly extends to women on bikes :)
ReplyDelete