Not posting in the Complaints Corner because I'm searching for some advice and usually should stand behind the counter there.

Every couple weekends I drive around lake Zurich on my bycicle. I like the view, the distance is just about right and every now and then a beautiful Oldtimer (German meaning of the word ) overtakes me...

But sporadically right when I get overtaken, the co-driver shouts through the window to scare me and maybe hoping that I spectacularly fall of my bike driving 30km/h. And while said co-driver maybe thinks that it's a prank, it is dangerous on this busy road and depending on the timing of the cry, very discomforting. No need to mention that these cars are usually daddy's gas guzzlers or flashy with rear wings. This happens about every second lake tour and yesterday twice, the second time it was dangerous.

I consider going to the police. But while I have the license plate, make and model of the car and can tell where and when it happened, I don't have a witness and this would most probably have no legal consequences for the driver and co-driver. Although it may stick to the car holder's name, I think it's a bad deal to reveal my identity for little in return.

I know that this doesn't just happen to me, a co-driver even threw a liquid at a cyclist friend of mine, once. So the question to the legal experts is: Do I estimate my options about right? And to the road bikers: Have you had similar encounters? Have I missed an obvious solution or are my only options to buy a mountain bike or to only drive in groups on the road?

You should try simply riding in the UK. It's horrible. People beep at you, yell at you to "Get outta their way" etc etc. You'll even get invited to stop and 'discuss' the matter down a side street, if you have the audacity to simply be using the road and curse at someone in a SUV who almost ended your life...



Grrr...

Nathu, that sounds really unpleasant.

Instead of reporting the specific incidents which have happened to you, why don't you go along to the police and tell them what is happening to cyclists on that route. Mention how dangerous it was for you and maybe they will post someone up there for an afternoon next time the sun's out and the temptation for the oldtimer drivers to get up to their old tricks gets strong again.

You could also keep a camera easily to hand to snap the next idiot shouting at you. Even if you don't intend to go to the police, the fact that Mr Oldtimer driver saw you take his picture might deter him from doing it again in future.

I have not had anything much like that happen to me, have been honked at a few times but not yelled at. unfortunately, there is not much you can do, there are alot of jerks in the world and unfortunately they let these people drive cars.

In general, I spend as little time on the road by the Lake as I can. There are great places to cycle near Zurich that are much less stressful...you just need to go up some hills to get there.

Sounds like everyday riding on the street were I come from (Perth WA)

Then again that east side of the Zurisee, south of Bellevue, is d1ckheadsville on a sunny weekend afternoon.

Look up the address of the owner online, and give them a call and ask them why they did it. Should embarrass them enough to know that you were willing to go to that trouble. If that doesn't work, go to the cops.

Just smile and wave.

There's 2 of them, 1 of you, and 1500kg of metal to push the point.

Someone, much more eloquent than me, posted the following on Usenet:

Claire Petersky wrote in rec.bicycles.misc:

> One car-full of passing geniuses suggested that I get off the copulating road.
> Only they didn't say copulating. I was a bit surprised that the road could
> do that -- that asphalt certainly doesn't look like it reproduced that way.

No, no, you misunderstood their intentions. The road does not copulate with itself. Rather, it is *you* who is partnered with the road.

Have you not had a day, where you get out there on your bike, and there is the road before you, warm, inviting? It feels good, it smells good, it almost seems to taste good to be on it. Some days you start out eager, knowing what lies ahead. Other days you start out a little reluctantly -- surely you have better things to do -- clean the house, mow the lawn -- but here you are anyway, your bike and the road together, and after a little bit you know its going to be a good time.

There are days when you dominate the road. It does your bidding. You groove on your control. There are other days when the road is your master. You submit to its demands. You get a perverted pleasure from the pain of your burning legs, your oxygen-starved lungs screaming for air.

In any of these instances, though, you with your bike, and the road, are lovers. The term, "get off" as we all know, is a slang term that means to "derive pleasure". Thus, the encouraging, if crude, words, "Get off the ****ing road" can be understood as "Enjoy yourself as you and the road make beautiful love together".

To take this a step further -- in many mystical traditions, the physical act of love is understood as a metaphor for the spiritual union of human with the Divine. Can you ride as if you and the Road are One?

The mudra of the single upraised digit is a reminder of this oneness: unity in Christ Consciousness, being at one with the Tao, La illaha Il' Allah, Adonai Echad. Thus, when someone makes this gesture at you, you should understand that they are wishing you the experience of this ecstatic union.

The horn that is honked as the mudra is made is a meditation bell. Like a church bell, like the call of the muezzin's voice, it calls you into this sacred space of union, of you, your bike, and the road, as One.

Thus, when the motorist honks his horn, raises the single digit, and makes his sincere invocation, you have but one response: to smile, to wave, and return to the joy of riding your bike.

Now that you mention it, I've never seen police on this road during my weekend tours, despite the fact that they're relatively busy. This is in contrast to Zurich where there's more police on the streets.

Oh and it weren't vintage cars who irritated me, it was misleading how I wrote this.


Regrettably the worse offender's car is registered in a canton that doesn't publish the car holder by default.


Thank you Uncle Max and Yokine for putting things into perspective. I know that it's a small minority of car drivers who spoil the fun for the rest of us.


Wibble... I haven't reached yet the level of existence where my subconscious doesn't wish to scratch the car for a split second. But I agree that escalating things is the wrong answer.

Round Greifensee is a better bike ride. Mostly, dedicated tracks (shared with young-timer skaters) . Fantastic views. Nice picnic spots. Bird watching...

Pack a nine and pop a cap in his ass next time. (typical response from a Californian) Meant to be a joke, please don't start with the gun control issue as my gun controls all of my issues.

Are you suggesting sodomy? I don't understand American humour...

In response to a honking horn, I always wave and smile. Once I even had a car with a group of young ladies stop since they assumed they must know me!

For other abuse I am always amazed at how often I have the chance to catch the perpertater at traffic lights. A tap on the window tends to scare the living daylights out of these people.

Thanks for the route recommendations. But I live close to the lake and it's difficult to end an old habit because of a few schmocks. Anyway I'll try to diversify.

The army probably won't be too euphoric about this use of my service pistol!

Try that one in sunny Perth
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...19/2166503.htm

Find a friend to join you for the next ride. You'll have the witness you need along for the ride.

I like how this simplest idea is the 15th post. Talk about being off topic! (Like this post. Cool.)

Sorry for the stupid question, are you sure it is only a prank? I got into a couple of arguments with idiots while riding my bike on the road, because they though I *had* to ride on the bike lane.
Too bad those dumbasses didn't notice that the bike lane is in gravel and I was on a racing bike.
And yes, I was going in a straight line on the right side of the road

As others said, just ignore them. I have a low esteem of those (especially frequent here in AG) who spend all that money in cars and then cruise endlessly during weekends, just to show it around.
Cause on weekdays they go to work by bus, the cheap *******s.

I sort of mentioned it in the first post, maybe that's why the other respondents didn't bother to recommend it.


Yes I'm sure that it's a prank because the traffic routing is obvious around the lake. Apparently this behaviour isn't that common except around lake Zurich.

Car drivers often have no clue how loud a horn is when you're right next to the engine hood, but that's another story.

Ok, I used to cycle a lot in Zurich back in my student days... now I drive () and I must admit that some cyclists make me nervous. On average driving round town I've had cyclists ride right out infront of my car because they have ignored the rules of the road, ie skipped a red light. Now this makes me very nervous as I, the driver, would be culpable regardless.

Yes there are some idiots out on the roads (cyclists and drivers) but sometimes when I drive along the lake at 60kmh and theres a cyclist just enjoying the view not paying attention, I do get very nervous that they might swing out infront of my car. So yes, I've been known to gently toot my horn. But most of the time I just get as far away from cyclists as possible...

I just can't get my head round this, why would they 'treat' you like that,if you are not swerving over the entire road or doing any other such 'traffic upholding/endangering' thing.......

Altough I have to say, that I have been known to roll down the window and call out to bikers ,saying, could you please give a signal the next time you want to do a turn ( chöit dr ds näschtmau bitte es handzeiche gä?). when I almost crash into a biker turning unexpectedly in front of my car

Trying to teach my kids the 'highway code' and telling them about giving handsigns etc, and then when we're out on our pushbikes, they see more often than not adult persons, giving a damn about it all......



@malmostoso
erhm i didn't know that with a bike like yours you can not drive on gravel,but incidentally the bike lanes are for (push)bikers, not only for your own safety but also for the car driver's.