The Best Defense

is a good offense. Sorry to borrow a football adage (which I think applies more to the real football -- soccer) but it seemed fitting.

My request of you, my fellow cyclists: Everytime a driver does something shitty to you -- confront them. I don't mean middle finger waving, etc. (That has its place, though.) This might sound way more "in your face" than is necessary. But all you need to do is question your fellow humans' actions.

Case in point: I was riding home tonight and a driver on a residential side road took the whole lane and did not slow down -- barreling toward me at 30mph. One detail to note is that fresh snow had narrowed the safe path on the road. His sideview mirror came within 6" of my handlebar. I looked back and noticed he was taking a right and surmised he would most likely be pulling over at the next block, since it was a residential. I looped around and sure enough was right -- he had just pulled into the curb and was walking toward an apartment building (his V-8 idling, by the way). I stoppped him with an "Excuse me, sir." He turned and looked at me. "You almost hit me a block back on 39th Street. You should slow down and give room for cyclists on narrow roads." This guy was big, about my height and 250 if not more. I expected him to yell something at me and I was prepared to yell back. But I hadn't yelled at him, just spoken to him. Instead he replied, in a shaky, defensive voice, "I didn't think I was THAT close to you." "Dude, your sideview mirror almost hit my handlebars," I replied. "Well, I didn't notice. I'm sorry," he said. "I'd appreciate it if you show more consideration next time," was my retort. "Well ... I'm sorry and I will," he blurted out apologetically. "All right. Thanks and have a nice day," I told him in the most authentic tone possible. He actually told me, "You, too," as I wheeled around to ride the final three blocks to home.

So, here's the deal, people -- call folks out. It's very un-Midwestern, I know, but I am not from the Midwest. Hit the brakes, turn around, loop the block, tail people. If you can catch up with them, confront them and TALK to them (don't yell, don't curse, don't swing). Tell them what they did wrong and why. You have a bike. If it turns sour, you can always ride away. But if you don't call them on their stupid shit, they may never know why it was stupid. In this case, I had a very valuable revelation reaffirming many other observations -- many drivers just don't see/recognize cyclists. In that case you are doing them (and your fellow pedalers) a favor by drawing their attention to the fact that they need to open their eyes wider while driving.

I have tested this tactic many times in the past couple months and it works. The key is to not attack, but confront. Know the law -- the legal passing distance is three feet. You have the same rights as a car and they wouldn't buzz a car that close, they'd pull over and wait. Be authoritative, but maintain level-headedness. Educate without berating. The primary goal is to SPEAK UP. Be heard. Hell yeah!