I've been riding High Street to work the last couple weeks--the new pavement north of the University is beautiful. I was enjoying the smooth ride and the brisk morning air when my good humor was rudely interrupted by a blaring truck horn! I turned around in time to see a pick up truck speeding up to pass me.......I could see the driver rolling his window down to say something to me. "Get the hell off the road, you a__hole!" he yelled as he passed me. My first reaction was shock. I was riding to the right hand side of the lane, obeying all the traffic laws.
I've often wondered what Ganhdi, or MLK, would do in this situation? I envision them smiling gently, nodding their heads softly, perhaps even waving and saying a silent prayer for the truck driver as he sped out of view. That's what I've always wanted to do, too. I've played this scene over and over in my mind so that I would be ready when the opportunity arose, and this was it.......my big chance to shine. But instead of elevating my game, turning the other cheek and taking civilization to another level, I blew it.
"F__K YOU, YOU A__HOLE, I HAVE JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO BE ON THE ROAD AS YOU DO!" I yelled at the driver and, in case he couldn't hear me, I flipped him the bird.
I immediately felt terrible. Not only is this an unacceptable way for a 53 year-old man to behave, but my rude temper tantrum will only fuel that driver's disdain for bicyclists. Hell, the next time he may not even blow his horn--he'll just run someone over.
I mentally "spanked" myself all the way down High Street. When I started down the hill into the University district I was heartened to see 3 bicycles ahead of me. I rode up behind, and then passed, them. "Hell, for a minute I thought I was in Portland," I said to the OSU students and they smiled back.
I stopped at a red light at King and High and pulled up next to a middle aged cyclist who I've seen before. "Thank God.....there IS other intelligent life in the universe!" I exclaimed to him. He smiled, too.
Unfortunately, my two positive interactions this morning can't outweigh my negative encounter with the truck driver, and my own bad behavior. I hope that if this happens again (and I'm pretty confident it will), I will have the self control to smile and wave and in that way help create peaceful coexistence on the roads for "boxes" and bikes.
We've all been there Doug, I know I have.
Know that you're an inspiration, even if you're not as even-tempered as Gandhii or MLK (not that you're holding yourself up to high standards or anything ;)
Baby steps. You're doing far more than most.
Posted by: Mike Beaumont | October 17, 2009 at 08:56 PM
It's the Spandex pants you are wearing, my friend. Gandhi was as trim as you, but he bound himself up differently.
In those pants, he would have spoke like a biker, too.
"Share the road, you goddam Brahmin."
Posted by: Artie Isaac | October 18, 2009 at 02:33 PM
Doug, I see you're taking a page out of my playbook (from 2 years ago). I love the reaction, it shows your passion for biking and sharing the road.
Keep riding stong, and next time, just catch him at a stop light (if you can) and ask "What can I do next time to help you handle me being on the road?" I've done that several times to people who pass me too closely, honk, etc. Its a bit sobering for drivers who are used to isolating themselves from everything outside their car, and casting the "get out of my way" ruling on everything and everyone. I've had good responses, and been able to calmly educate drivers to the "share the road" message (including passing laws, and right to the road laws).
Don't try to be Ghandi, be yourself and show others your passion (in a positive way).
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=12406735 | October 19, 2009 at 07:16 AM
Was the truck white? In my experience the white pickup is the vehicle of choice for those who would have us removed from all roads. Glad it was "only" a horn and some name calling.
Posted by: kurt | October 21, 2009 at 10:55 AM
I personally like to holler back: "It's against city code to ride on the sidewalk." It's a long thing to say as someone's driving by, but if you're at a light it's especially effective. Most people don't know this and more often than not the reaction is borderline apologetic.
(It was nice meeting you today, Doug. Hopefully we'll catch each other again sometime.)
Posted by: ricky c | November 03, 2009 at 04:14 PM