this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2025
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What are your favourite non-confrontational ways to respond? (cdn.masto.host)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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What are your favourite non-confrontational ways to respond?

Source https://www.systemcomic.com/2011/02/28/the-system-472-road-sage/

#bikecommuting #bikestodon #bikememes #cycling @bikecommuting

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

One time I was biking on a residential road and slowed down to enter a roundabout, and the driver behind me laid on the horn, so I stopped my bike in the middle of the lane and turned my head to face him.

He opened his door, so I stood up and laid my bike down.

He stayed behind his open car door and said

you're lucky I don't have my glock on me

and I responded

You could just hit me with your car

And he just gently got back in his car without saying anything else (and did not, thankfully, decide to hit me with his car)

[–] friend_of_satan 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That is seriously badass.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks ago

Lol thanks I was manic

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I sometimes give them a big smile and thumbs up.

This can make them even angrier, but I also commute with a 360 camera on my helmet.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago

I give people a thumbs down. I feel it's a much more scathing review than a middle finger.

[–] RubberElectrons 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I do this as well. If they honk to get around and we both meet at a red light, I just laugh at them and shake my head without looking at them.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

My go-to is to look confused because that's genuinely the reason most of the time, ex:

I was riding home in the bike lane minding my own business, when a black Toyota Highlander (big SUV) pulls up alongside me, windows rolled down, and a bunch of teenagers from the back yell: "Dickhead" at me.

I looked back at them genuinely confused because they went out of their way to not only insult some random person but also to do so with their windows rolled all the way down.

They giggled and sped off on their merry way, and my thought is, they're probably stoned or driving under the influence.

The suggestions about non-confrontation are fantastic, but what you're supposed to actually do is memorize faces, vehicle details, license plates, and cross streets

Their probations officer would probably not be too pleased to hear about a repeat DUI, but there's no way of knowing what happens to people in such circumstances 🤷‍♂️

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

That's my secret too: I'm always confused

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, some people are just weird - especially in groups

I was hiking/tramping from France through Belgium to the Netherlands, and was just walking with my backpack along a country road, when suddenly I hear someone shouting something and next thing I know, they throw an empty beer can at me, while driving by

Don't understand how you can get so loaded and angry about what other people do, without being actually hindered.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Interesting!

Please add link to source, they deserve it: https://www.systemcomic.com/2011/02/28/the-system-472-road-sage/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks, that original is much easier to read.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

@lgsp @lgsp Thank you! I found this image elsewhere on the interwebs without a source. The author, SystemComic, deserves credit.

[–] mdurell 8 points 2 weeks ago

Blow them a kiss. 💋

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Who the actual fuck would shout at a cyclist from their ca...

Oh right

Yous are fucking deranged barbarians, honestly

That's fucking inhuman

[–] Lennnny 10 points 2 weeks ago

I had a guy in a truck with a trailer towed behind overtake me on an uphill with a sharp drop-off. He barely moved over, so this wad of metal rumbled past me super aggressively, and as he passed me he laid on the horn.

He actively tried to intimidate me off the road, for no reason other than I was going bike speed and he didn't like waiting another three seconds to get to a safe passing point.

I actually pulled over and had a cry, I was so shaken by how cruel it was.

[–] olafurp 7 points 2 weeks ago

I like doing a thumbs down sometimes. It's simple gesture of disapproval that sticks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

Wave and smile, if they can hear you "plz don't kill anyone"

[–] LovableSidekick 4 points 2 weeks ago

Just keep driving, don't make their problem your problem.

[–] iamdefinitelyoverthirteen 3 points 2 weeks ago

So you're saying I should yell at bikes so I can see some titties?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

depends on why they're yelling

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Tangentially related: https://lemmy.ml/post/21209537

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

@tetris11 @GuelphOnTwoWheels

I wish them a 'Merry Christmas' (except at Christmas time) and enjoy their confusion ;-)