A while back I wrote an article for another blog – How To Avoid Becoming A Grumpy Old Man.
Well, I have to say, being a cyclist, that is quite difficult at times.
My big gripe at the moment is motorists who drive on the wrong side of the road as if a cyclist is some kind of moving target to be be got as close as possible without actually hitting. Sometimes when a car overtakes and strays onto the wrong side (our) side of the road. I wave a hand in their face. They are so close, if I didn’t take it out of the way, it would go straight through the windscreen and into their face. There is a big difference between driving very close at speed and driving very close, but, slowly and carefully. If drivers do slowdown when overtaking, I always try to acknowledge them. People respond very badly when criticising their dangerous actions. But, they do respond well to encouragement. Though it is easy to get caught up in the mad rush of modern life, at heart most people do actually want to avoid irrational road rage and get on with other road users.
If only people had a little more patience to wait 4 or 5 seconds before overtaking…
I read your original article just now, and found it inspiring. I can agree with this updated reference, but I think there’s a big difference from being a commuting road cyclist and cycling for fun, particularly if you use cycle lanes.
A lot of the grumpiness I feel as a cyclist can be averted if I choose a more cross-country route, or used cycle lanes that are in place. Of course it depends on the area, but it’s definitely more of a relaxing pursuit if you can do that.