The Non-Cyclist view of Cycling

I started paying attention to what situations cause drivers to become aggressive and reckless. It is mainly when they are put in the uncomfortable position of having to make a risky decision such as:

Can I see far enough around that curve to pass the bike?
Will I have a head-on collision if I pass this car before the crest of the hill?
Will I be able to swerve around the bike and brake hard enough to make my turn in front of them?

Unfortunately if any of these scenarios goes bad, the easy recovery is to crowd (or hit) the bike.

I did some experiments alone and with another rider. One involved demonstrating to drivers that the bike "might" take the entire lane. I did this by watching my rearview mirror and when I saw a car approaching at a distance I would pull out into the middle of the lane and then back to the edge. Invariably the car would pass me with very wide clearance or even slow if there was oncoming traffic so they could give me wide clearance. For experimental control, I tested staying near the edge of the road. In those cases most, but not all, cars passed much closer.

On one of my standard rides I have a long downhill with two tight curves. Even though I am traveling at or near the posted speed limit, cars and especially pickup trucks often feel the need to pass, even on the curves. Sometimes oncoming cars blare horns. Sometimes the car suddenly slows and hovers just behind and beside me, seemingly unsure of what to do. Sometimes they pinch me into the curve. In many of those cases I can tell the driver is angry (or embarrassed) afterward, either by aggressive (i.e. reckless) driving after the fact, hand gestures, etc.

Now what I do is take the entire lane well in advance of the curves to keep people from trying something stupid. Blocking them not only makes it safer. It also does not aggravate drivers in the same way. After I pull back to the side after blocking on the curves they generally pass courteously and with wide clearance.

My hypothesis is that it is not being inconvenienced by the bike, per se, that aggravates the driver. It is being made to feel incompetent and retaliating. This is especially true with younger male drivers. So the best policy seems to be taking away their options, which relieves them of the need to make risky decisions.

Brian

Idiots, and the comments are depressing. 
“Get off the busy roads” and go where? Walkers moan when you go down the trails, motorists moan when you go on the roads, pedestrians moan when you go on the pavement...

This one got me interested, Jim. 
Currently on offer at £33 and I would need the additional adapter at £13 so I could link it up to iPhone/iPad.

Thanks George, I thought you had mentioned you used them at some point. 

Do you find them easy to use? Suppose it’s no different to rechargeable lights having to take them off regularly. 

I edited my previous comment because in retrospect I thought I gave too much detail which didn't add anything of importance in responding to the original question and probably wasn't in my best interest.

That’s music to the ear, Jim. My “altercation” was quite a bit milder, almost laughable. Some years ago I my son and I were riding one of the backroads here in western Pennsylvania. It was a really hot day and we were off our bikes hydrating underneath this huge tree next to the road. A lone biker on a Harley roared up to the stop sign and yelled “you shouldn’t be on the roads, yinz don’t pay no taxes (expletives deleted)”. He roared off leaving me a bit irritated as I at that time both my son and I were gainfully employed, had four cars on my insurance, and paid PA’s more than reasonable gasoline tax. I guess he had one too many at the club as bikers are usually reasonably friendly to us two wheel cousins.
Best,
John “wheelson”

He looks well fed!

You weren't running on Gatorskins, were you?