Life as a bicycle commuter is a life of small injustices.
There is a 0.4 mile segment of a busy road that I have to travel along on my way home. 3 lanes each direction, center turn lane, 35 mph limit so people doing 40-45 mph. No shoulder, no bike lane, small sidewalk.
I take the sidewalk whenever possible because I loathe riding with traffic in those conditions. Today I had to assert my spot in a traffic lane because there was a pedestrian halfway up this long block that I'd be otherwise unable to pass. I rode about 1/3rd of the way into the lane to encourage drivers to give me berth instead of squeezing by.
Most did. One jerk in a late model Altima didn't, brushing me back.
The light turned red ahead--did I mention that this 3rd lane turns into a turn-only lane and is thus mainly used by jerks seeking to cut others off? I caught up to the guy at the red light, staying well out of the path of his wheels should he veer off to the side suddenly, and informed him that he should stop being an asshole.
He heard this, rolled down his window, protested weakly, saying that he had no obligation to give me room, then the light turned green and he proceeded to verify my conclusion by cutting off some drivers in the lane next to him.
The kicker? He was wearing a hospital uniform. From my hospital, and I think either my department or the Emergency Department. (Docs don't wear uniforms but staff do.) I wasn't wearing a badge or a shirt or anything, so he has no idea that I'm actually a doc at his very workplace... Way to spread goodwill amongst the public, dude.
There is a 0.4 mile segment of a busy road that I have to travel along on my way home. 3 lanes each direction, center turn lane, 35 mph limit so people doing 40-45 mph. No shoulder, no bike lane, small sidewalk.
I take the sidewalk whenever possible because I loathe riding with traffic in those conditions. Today I had to assert my spot in a traffic lane because there was a pedestrian halfway up this long block that I'd be otherwise unable to pass. I rode about 1/3rd of the way into the lane to encourage drivers to give me berth instead of squeezing by.
Most did. One jerk in a late model Altima didn't, brushing me back.
The light turned red ahead--did I mention that this 3rd lane turns into a turn-only lane and is thus mainly used by jerks seeking to cut others off? I caught up to the guy at the red light, staying well out of the path of his wheels should he veer off to the side suddenly, and informed him that he should stop being an asshole.
He heard this, rolled down his window, protested weakly, saying that he had no obligation to give me room, then the light turned green and he proceeded to verify my conclusion by cutting off some drivers in the lane next to him.
The kicker? He was wearing a hospital uniform. From my hospital, and I think either my department or the Emergency Department. (Docs don't wear uniforms but staff do.) I wasn't wearing a badge or a shirt or anything, so he has no idea that I'm actually a doc at his very workplace... Way to spread goodwill amongst the public, dude.
