Road Rage

[dave303e]

listen he was probably just angry because he had to drive a hilux bakkie all day, you would be too...

[Shebeen]

17 hours ago, Also-oldschool said:

 

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.

 

If you want to get it out further, the community neighbourhood watch groups have access to LPR camera systems and can track offenders. - it's a good way to get stuff done, with SAPS, but not through SAPS (if that makes sense).  https://fishhoekcpf.co.za/

There are just more cars on the road and many people are now just too entitled to not share the bit that they are fighting over. This recent thing of choking up an intersection when it's become red because you couldn't wait for a gap to open up just sums it up perfectly. - there's even a toothless campaign on it.

 

 

 

[The Ouzo]

3 hours ago, Mook said:

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.

I always have a chuckle at this. 
last motor dealership I worked for I’d joke with the security when they did this. 
Sometimes if ask them not to open to wide or the ma would jump out the boot. 
or other times I’d ask them if they’re checking if I was hiding a car in the boot. 

[RocknRolla]

I'm just glad they check the boot only when leaving. Because all the contraband I deliver daily at these places remain undiscovered.

Road Rage - I can probably write a book on it. ( It will probably not be very pleasant to read)

From both sides of the spectrum. I can from a personal point say that stress from external factors such as work/family/financial has a direct relation on the severity of road rage experienced.

The Meek will inherit the earth. In this case, the ones with their anger under control.

 

Edited February 17 by RocknRolla
Context - For Clarity, Hopefully

[NC_lurker]

1 hour ago, The Ouzo said:

I always have a chuckle at this. 
last motor dealership I worked for I’d joke with the security when they did this. 
Sometimes if ask them not to open to wide or the ma would jump out the boot. 
or other times I’d ask them if they’re checking if I was hiding a car in the boot. 

Way back I used to go use the golf driving range inside the Pollsmoor prison grounds. They never checked the boot going out, only going in... overcrowding solution perhaps 😆

[Jbr]

White bakkies are the 2nd main threat to cyclists after taxis, especially the bangged up ones. sorry for your misfortune, hope you opened a case against this oxygen thief

[Shebeen]

5 minutes ago, Jbr said:

White bakkies are the 2nd main threat to cyclists after taxis, especially the bangged up ones. sorry for your misfortune, hope you opened a case against this oxygen thief

Someone here used to have a signature along the lines of:

"It's always a P()35 in a white bakkie"

[reteid]

as to your question yes i always cycle with my pepperspray.i also run with it.i think part of the problem is that there are just more and bigger cars on the road and then the road becomes smaller for more vulnerable users.but no i do not have a solution as to how to change the behaviour of people and that includes drivers of vehicles and cyclists. i hope you heal well.

[Patchelicious]

23 hours ago, Also-oldschool said:

 

Snip

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.

Sorry to hear about you ordeal, not nice being attacked.

The bits in bold are what I have spoken about before. 

Firstly, and more in jest, I've said it once and I'll say it again "its always a %0^& in a white bakkie"

Secondly, and more seriously....

In South Africa (and other parts), cyclists have a branding problem. You can argue about whether it’s fair. You can say motorists break the law more often. Also in South Africa most cyclists sit in the upper economic brackets. The majority of South Africans are impoverished, disconnected from cycling as a concept, and frankly don’t care about cyclists. 

You can point to statistics. None of that changes the lived reality that a significant portion of drivers see cyclists as obstructive, law-breaking, and entitled, "ride like they own the road".

When that perception exists, the behaviour of a few riders doesn’t just affect them. It spills over onto everyone else wearing lycra.

This post is a perfect example. A rider 20 metres back, not involved, gets chased, sworn at, pushed off the road and assaulted because someone else had already triggered the driver. The aggression wasn’t rational. It was generalised. “You cyclists.”

We should by all means ride defensively (like we own the road), it's dangerous out there. Assume drivers don’t see you. Take the lane when it’s safer. Even jump a light if it genuinely reduces risk. But if you do those things, acknowledge the drivers behind/around you. A wave. A thumbs up. A thank you when someone gives you space.

Some cyclists ride like absolute a-holes. That behaviour doesn’t just endanger them. It increases risk for everyone else who rides responsibly. We have a collective responsibility to not make things worse.

Ride defensively. Protect yourself. But also be a considerate road user. Gratitude costs nothing, and it does more to change perceptions than any rant about rights ever will. Gratitude costs nothing and it genuinely helps change perceptions.

OP, its sucks that you took the brunt of this, not cool glad you are mostly ok.

Edited February 17 by Patchelicious

[Patchelicious]

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

Someone here used to have a signature along the lines of:

"It's always a P()35 in a white bakkie"

[ChrisF]

11 minutes ago, Patchelicious said:

...
Firstly, and more in jest, I've said it once and I'll say it again "its always a %0^& in a white bakkie"

.....

 

So many of the posts (on this and many similar threads) reference a "white bakkie" ...

 

Each time I get to the parking area at a CYCLING event .... cant help but laugh at the fact that half the white bakkies are in that cycling parking lot .....

[Robbie Stewart]

6 hours ago, Patchelicious said:

everyone else wearing lycra.

I'm still highly convinced that is the real problem. 

*Hat *coat * door

[Jono]

9 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I'm still highly convinced that is the real problem. 

*Hat *coat * door

do you drive a bakkie?

[Mamil]

15 hours ago, Patchelicious said:

Sorry to hear about you ordeal, not nice being attacked.

The bits in bold are what I have spoken about before. 

Firstly, and more in jest, I've said it once and I'll say it again "its always a %0^& in a white bakkie"

Secondly, and more seriously....

In South Africa (and other parts), cyclists have a branding problem. You can argue about whether it’s fair. You can say motorists break the law more often. Also in South Africa most cyclists sit in the upper economic brackets. The majority of South Africans are impoverished, disconnected from cycling as a concept, and frankly don’t care about cyclists. 

You can point to statistics. None of that changes the lived reality that a significant portion of drivers see cyclists as obstructive, law-breaking, and entitled, "ride like they own the road".

When that perception exists, the behaviour of a few riders doesn’t just affect them. It spills over onto everyone else wearing lycra.

This post is a perfect example. A rider 20 metres back, not involved, gets chased, sworn at, pushed off the road and assaulted because someone else had already triggered the driver. The aggression wasn’t rational. It was generalised. “You cyclists.”

We should by all means ride defensively (like we own the road), it's dangerous out there. Assume drivers don’t see you. Take the lane when it’s safer. Even jump a light if it genuinely reduces risk. But if you do those things, acknowledge the drivers behind/around you. A wave. A thumbs up. A thank you when someone gives you space.

Some cyclists ride like absolute a-holes. That behaviour doesn’t just endanger them. It increases risk for everyone else who rides responsibly. We have a collective responsibility to not make things worse.

Ride defensively. Protect yourself. But also be a considerate road user. Gratitude costs nothing, and it does more to change perceptions than any rant about rights ever will. Gratitude costs nothing and it genuinely helps change perceptions.

OP, its sucks that you took the brunt of this, not cool glad you are mostly ok.

This view is rational and logically consistent but while it stops short of actually saying it does it imply the following? "The p32s in the white bakkie lost his temper because cyclists en mass behave badly and therefore have a bad image and this is the most significant factor in causing the p23s to lose his temper. If cyclists en masse rode better and gave more thumbs up and smiled more drivers wouldn't get as angry as they do"

If this is the subtext of this argument it runs very close to the kernel at the heart of any abusive relationship between powerful and less powerful parties "I wouldn't hit you if you behaved better".

[cadenceblur]

15 hours ago, Patchelicious said:

Sorry to hear about you ordeal, not nice being attacked.

The bits in bold are what I have spoken about before. 

Firstly, and more in jest, I've said it once and I'll say it again "its always a %0^& in a white bakkie"

Secondly, and more seriously....

In South Africa (and other parts), cyclists have a branding problem. You can argue about whether it’s fair. You can say motorists break the law more often. Also in South Africa most cyclists sit in the upper economic brackets. The majority of South Africans are impoverished, disconnected from cycling as a concept, and frankly don’t care about cyclists. 

You can point to statistics. None of that changes the lived reality that a significant portion of drivers see cyclists as obstructive, law-breaking, and entitled, "ride like they own the road".

When that perception exists, the behaviour of a few riders doesn’t just affect them. It spills over onto everyone else wearing lycra.

This post is a perfect example. A rider 20 metres back, not involved, gets chased, sworn at, pushed off the road and assaulted because someone else had already triggered the driver. The aggression wasn’t rational. It was generalised. “You cyclists.”

We should by all means ride defensively (like we own the road), it's dangerous out there. Assume drivers don’t see you. Take the lane when it’s safer. Even jump a light if it genuinely reduces risk. But if you do those things, acknowledge the drivers behind/around you. A wave. A thumbs up. A thank you when someone gives you space.

Some cyclists ride like absolute a-holes. That behaviour doesn’t just endanger them. It increases risk for everyone else who rides responsibly. We have a collective responsibility to not make things worse.

Ride defensively. Protect yourself. But also be a considerate road user. Gratitude costs nothing, and it does more to change perceptions than any rant about rights ever will. Gratitude costs nothing and it genuinely helps change perceptions.

OP, its sucks that you took the brunt of this, not cool glad you are mostly ok.

Great post, just be lekker , it really takes nothing to acknowledge the driver that sees you and gives that little more space , or if riding along a narrow road actually waits until they can pass you with a wider berth - yes it happens ! And often to me when going through Kalk Bay. 

Same applies to being on motorcycle, a quick hoot goes a long way . 

[RocknRolla]

1 hour ago, Mamil said:

This view is rational and logically consistent but while it stops short of actually saying it does it imply the following? "The p32s in the white bakkie lost his temper because cyclists en mass behave badly and therefore have a bad image and this is the most significant factor in causing the p23s to lose his temper. If cyclists en masse rode better and gave more thumbs up and smiled more drivers wouldn't get as angry as they do"

If this is the subtext of this argument it runs very close to the kernel at the heart of any abusive relationship between powerful and less powerful parties "I wouldn't hit you if you behaved better".

It's also good for survival to not resemble a penguin when swimming with Sharks.