Road Rage

[Also-oldschool]

 

I’ve been cycling since the 80s. Road, off-road, everything in between. Like most long-time riders, I’ve had my share of road rage and even a few direct run-ins with cars over the years. Still, every time I head out, I quietly hope I’ll get home safely.

These days I prefer off-road, but living in the South Peninsula means that’s not always practical. Tokai is great, but not an everyday option. So I try to be smart about timing — avoiding peak tourist traffic around Cape Point, the buses, rental Cobras and nervous holiday drivers. Normally, cycling is my happy place.

Three weeks ago (26 Jan) that changed a bit.

I headed out later than usual — around 9am — because the internet was down and work wasn’t happening anyway. Riding through Scarborough, I caught up to two other riders just before the Red Hill / Cape Point / Scarborough intersection. I was about 20 metres behind them.

They were already in the intersection when a guy in a white bakkie ignored the yield. The two riders scattered to avoid being hit. There was shouting — no swearing, no middle fingers — just shock and raised voices.

The driver then assumed I was part of their “group.” He crossed into the oncoming lane and stopped next to me. Immediately aggressive. Swearing. Swinging fists. I told him to back off and tried to ride on. He reversed toward me, trying to push me off the road. I was so close my bars scratched his bakkie.

That seemed to trigger him further.

More shouting. More fists. The usual “you cyclists” comments. I tried again to ride away and he again came at me with the vehicle. At that point I got off my bike. He jumped out. I put my bike between us as a shield. He grabbed it and threw it at me. I still have bruising on my lower leg three weeks later.

I wasn’t going to get into a physical fight. The level of aggression was frighteningly casual. Thankfully other cars stopped and the two riders came back. It could have ended differently.

I’m adding a picture of the vehicle involved. Riders in the South Peninsula should just be aware of this vehicle if you see it around Scarborough / Simonstown / Kommetjie.

I’m not posting this to start a fight or bash motorists. But something feels different out there lately. I’ve counted four road rage incidents since November — more than I experienced in the previous decade combined.

A couple of questions for other riders:

• Is it becoming normal to ride with pepper spray?
• Do you use front and/or rear-facing cameras? Has it helped?

I’ve always believed cycling should be something we look forward to, not something we brace ourselves for.

Ride safe out there.

 

Edited February 16 by Also-oldschool

[Pure Savage]

6 minutes ago, Also-oldschool said:

Here’s the revised version with your additions included, still casual and balanced — not inflammatory:

---

I’ve been cycling since the 80s. Road, off-road, everything in between. Like most long-time riders, I’ve had my share of road rage and even a few direct run-ins with cars over the years. Still, every time I head out, I quietly hope I’ll get home safely.

These days I prefer off-road, but living in the South Peninsula means that’s not always practical. Tokai is great, but not an everyday option. So I try to be smart about timing — avoiding peak tourist traffic around Cape Point, the buses, rental Cobras and nervous holiday drivers. Normally, cycling is my happy place.

Three weeks ago (26 Jan) that changed a bit.

I headed out later than usual — around 9am — because the internet was down and work wasn’t happening anyway. Riding through Scarborough, I caught up to two other riders just before the Red Hill / Cape Point / Scarborough intersection. I was about 20 metres behind them.

They were already in the intersection when a guy in a white bakkie ignored the yield. The two riders scattered to avoid being hit. There was shouting — no swearing, no middle fingers — just shock and raised voices.

The driver then assumed I was part of their “group.” He crossed into the oncoming lane and stopped next to me. Immediately aggressive. Swearing. Swinging fists. I told him to back off and tried to ride on. He reversed toward me, trying to push me off the road. I was so close my bars scratched his bakkie.

That seemed to trigger him further.

More shouting. More fists. The usual “you cyclists” comments. I tried again to ride away and he again came at me with the vehicle. At that point I got off my bike. He jumped out. I put my bike between us as a shield. He grabbed it and threw it at me. I still have bruising on my lower leg three weeks later.

I wasn’t going to get into a physical fight. The level of aggression was frighteningly casual. Thankfully other cars stopped and the two riders came back. It could have ended differently.

I’m adding a picture of the vehicle involved. Riders in the South Peninsula should just be aware of this vehicle if you see it around Scarborough / Simonstown / Kommetjie.

I’m not posting this to start a fight or bash motorists. But something feels different out there lately. I’ve counted four road rage incidents since November — more than I experienced in the previous decade combined.

A couple of questions for other riders:

• Is it becoming normal to ride with pepper spray?
• Do you use front and/or rear-facing cameras? Has it helped?

I’ve always believed cycling should be something we look forward to, not something we brace ourselves for.

Ride safe out there.

 

Have found that people out that side are a little sketchy with driving, not staying in their lanes etc. Glad you ok.

There are cameras out there, maybe its time to ride and post it more often.

[Robbie Stewart]

Ah, the good 'ole Toyota Tampon driver, because, you know, every second dwis has one.

[milky4130]

22 minutes ago, Also-oldschool said:

 

 

Hope you opened a case with SAPS.

[Tomik]

There's just a lot more aggression these days, whether you're on a bike, or in a car, or a motorbike (I use all three) you will experience it should you dare to respond in any manner.

When on my motorbike, I call out people texting while driving and 9 times out of 10 I get the middle finger thrown back or worse, they try to drive you into oncoming traffic (that was with a 14 year old girl on the back). And they just carry on texting. It's a losing battle. 

I would ride with a pepper spray if there was a convenient, reliable and small one around. 

p.s. there's also silver Hyundai Staria in the Noordhoek area that close passes cyclists at speed - he's buzzed me twice but I didn't get his plate - the last time about 15cm space while my buddy was descending Ou Kaapse in the mist at 50kph...that was very nearly the end of him.

[Danger Dassie]

Pepper spray all the time, including when running. The direct stream type in a small canister.
In fact I’m considering a small bar/truncheon for runs, this comes from a number of close calls that are too close. Entirely a personal decision, don’t at me. 

In Linden, Jhb. There’s a lady in a silver SUV that regularly buzzes our run group, on purpose, including those with a pram.

The problem is a behavioural one, nothing to do with the type of transport. Or the inconvenience of riding/running groups etc. Different conversations altogether.

However when this behaviour gets behind a wheel the consequences are deadly. Criminally so. It should be treated as such.

[Kom]

6 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

The problem is a behavioural one, nothing to do with the type of transport

perhaps, but from my own experience road worthiness and road ignorance go hand in hand (as is the case with the OP's driver it seems as well).

It still amazes me that traffic will sit and babysit a speeding radar at the top of suikers, while every 3rd car driving past is a clear hazard.

[Danger Dassie]

2 minutes ago, Kom said:

perhaps, but from my own experience road worthiness and road ignorance go hand in hand (as is the case with the OP's driver it seems as well).

It still amazes me that traffic will sit and babysit a speeding radar at the top of suikers, while every 3rd car driving past is a clear hazard.

Which comes down to behaviour. People think it’s ok to drive with negligence, including using their car as a tool/weapon of intimidation. We even see it enroute to events, by people going to said event.

[michaelbiker]

It's Argus time of the year. Lots of tourists around, schools are back and people are low on cash after the holidays. High stress, high traffic and high frustration. Best to just stay off the roads in general.

[WaynejG]

Always have pepper spray with me. I have considered taking my telescopic baton with but the thing rattles and would drive me nuts. If I can find a silent one it would sit where the cycle pump goes.

[Also-oldschool]

1 hour ago, milky4130 said:

Hope you opened a case with SAPS.

Nope - the form for the medical examination I was given to be completed by a medical professional is the same form used for sexual assault - without it SAPS will jot open a case.
 

But at least I had an opportunity to educate the police officer in the charge office - I explained to her what a “motorist” is🤔

[Also-oldschool]

The Deep South is also “littered” with foreigners driving right hand vehicles. I think they don’t realise how dangerously close they pass. But then again - the cars who slow down behind you and patiently wait to pass are also rental vehicles. 
 

the dangerous ones are the locals with a sense of entitlement. 

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, Also-oldschool said:

......

• Do you use front and/or rear-facing cameras? Has it helped

 

 

I drive a good bit during working .... some of the road behaviour is downright scary ....

 

I do have a front facing camera ...

. I was able to help a lady that got T-boned by a driver skipping a red light ...

. On one occation a driver nearly took off the front of my vehicle with a dangerous lane merge and blindly jumping accross lanes ... a blip of the hooter just lit his fuse !!!  In the midst of his cursing tirade I pointed to the camera and said: "Let's see if your employer (fully branded company vehicle) agrees with your version when he sees the footage" .... all colour drained from his face ....  (no, I did not download the footage)

 

A decade of having the camera .... was usefull 3 or 4 times.  Still nice to know I have the footage if it can help me ....

 

 

Cycling and road rage ....scary .... best avoided .... (clearly you were an innocent party in what was revving up for a very bad situation)

[Mamil]

That's a horrible experience.  There Is a lot of aggression out there.  More and more brains are driving around there with fight or flight activated including mine. 

I have a pepper spray velcroed to my top tube. It doesn't look cool but.... 

I have the radar camera. I often have a front camera i use to make YouTube videos...

Most of the time these days im on tje gravel or trails or zwift  because im scared on the road. I am sad about that because i love my road bike

[Mook]

13 hours ago, Kom said:

perhaps, but from my own experience road worthiness and road ignorance go hand in hand (as is the case with the OP's driver it seems as well).

It still amazes me that traffic will sit and babysit a speeding radar at the top of suikers, while every 3rd car driving past is a clear hazard.

True ☝️

At the office complex, security was instructed to check the boot of each car exiting .......................................  so, that is exactly what they do - check the boot. When asked what they are looking for, the stare says it all.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Very sorry to hear of your experience. Having been involved in something similar a few years ago, I know how scary it can be, especially if the driver is enraged and loses all common sense.
Unfortunately this individual will have learnt nothing if you never took the time to report this to the police for them to follow up. Sadly the idiot will probably just try it again with another rider sooner or later. Be safe out there, we share the road with 1st class idiots.