If you're thinking of picking on Nashville's bike riders, be prepared for painful retaliation
by Lindsay Ferrier
I'm driving down West End silently cursing the man ahead of me, who's going barely five miles per hour. Cars zoom by on my left, but traffic's too heavy for me to switch lanes. "Oh, come on!" I say finally, tapping the heel of my hand against the steering wheel in frustration. "You have got to be kidding me!""What is it, Mommy?" my 5-year-old daughter pipes up from the backseat.
"It's him," I say, glaring at the turtle-like cyclist ahead of me who's so intent on slowing my commute. "I can't get around this guy and he won't speed up. Where does he think he is, Warner Park?"
I'm all for sharing the road with cyclists. The problem is, many of them don't seem to want to share with me. Instead, they act like they own the road, riding side-by-side-by-side on Highway 100 while a dozen cars trail behind them, or making me squeal as they swerve through traffic for an unsignaled turn, or speeding silently through my hilly neighborhood while I pray silently that no unsuspecting child in the street gets flattened.
If I dare voice a complaint, though, I'll get accused of being insensitive and environmentally unfriendly. So instead I remain (mostly) silent, riding my brakes down West End while the guy ahead of me cycles slowly along without a care in the world.
Not all motorists, however, are so nice.
"There are those who think they have to make a statement about us not being allowed to be on the road," says the husband of one of my friends, a man we'll call Milo. I called him because he pretty much lives on his bike and I figured he'd have good perspective from the frontlines of the cyclist v. motorist faceoff. As it turned out, I was right — Milo has plenty of stories about the cruelties he's endured at the hands of angry and impatient Nashville drivers.
Many of them, he says, are under the impression that he should be riding on the sidewalk (that's actually illegal). And they'll go to extraordinary lengths to make their point, from cutting him off in traffic to literally running him off the road.
"I've had people throw stuff at me," he says, "and then I've caught up with them at a red light and watched them shit their pants." Milo has never turned the other cheek when dealing with aggressive drivers; he likes to surprise them by riding right up to them and giving them piece of his mind. Now that he's a dad and his preschool-aged daughter is often riding in a trailer attached to his bike, the stakes have been raised even higher.
Of course, you'd think drivers would stay far, far away from a cyclist with a baby on board — and the truth is, most of them do. But there are those who don't really give a damn about the trailer, and that fact seems to be turning Milo into a sort of Howard Beale on a bike. The dude's mad as hell, and he's not gonna take it anymore.
"I've been known to look back at someone and say, 'I will fucking kill you. I dare you to get any closer,' " he says of drivers who've nosed up too close to the trailer at a red light. 'I will fucking kill you right here!' "
"Oh!" I say quietly. "Well! That sort of gives new meaning to the term 'road rage,' doesn't it?"
Milo goes on to tell me about a businessman in a BMW who cut him off in traffic and nearly caused him to wreck while his daughter was in the trailer. Milo caught up with the guy at the next red light. "He looked in his rearview mirror and I just hocked a loogie on his rear window," he said. At the next red light, Milo did the same thing again. And he says if the guy had tried to retaliate, he would have gone even further.
"By the time I get you on the ground, your Brooks Brothers suit is screwed," Milo said darkly, apparently reliving the moment since I personally don't own a Brooks Brothers suit. Still, I shuddered involuntarily. Thank God I had merely cursed at cyclists under my breath. Otherwise, I might be pushing up daisies right now.
"The good news is, things are getting better!" Milo said brightly. "Nashville has improved dramatically in the last 10 years as far as its accommodation of cyclists."
Well, really, what choice do we have? Talking with Milo has convinced me that these cyclists are a dangerous lot. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of them. If nothing else, I can't really think of anything more embarrassing than having the shit kicked out of you by a guy in spandex.
Read more Suburban Turmoil at www.suburbanturmoil.com.
Comments (47)
Showing 1-25 of 47
Lindsay, I can't tell if your article is meant to be humorous as the last paragraph seemed to break some of the tension in the early part of the article. Being a cyclist and a driver I understand the views of both. Most often than not a cyclist will only slow you up for about 30 seconds of your day and then you're on your way. I personally try to ride single file up busy highways like hwy 100 but I understand why people ride two abreast. Cars are more likely to see 2 cyclists taking up part of the lane than one cyclist riding on the white line. I can't tell you how many time's I have come within inches of my life obeying the law riding on the as close to the white light as possible. I understand Milo's dark side. I've had people spit at me, I've had full beer cans thrown at me. I've had someone drive up to me so close that I took off a side view mirror. I've had be people intentionally try to teach me a lesson and continuously ride up in front of me and the swerve to force me into the curb. I've had people from the opposite lane swerve at me coming head on. I think cyclist just want respect and respect for our lives. So many people just want to try and teach us a lesson, when really they are endangering our lives without any regard whatsoever. So I can understand Milo going to that dark place when someone threatens his life. I try not to get in altercations with cars because they are generally bigger than I am...however their are those occasions when someone is blatantly a jackass. I do see an improvement in Nashville drivers but their are places that can get bad. River Road and Hwy 100 can both be scary and their is a silver prius in Bell Meade that has buzzed me on the boulevard atleast 15 times. We just want some respect for our lives that's all.
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Man, I wish I would've re-read my comment. My grammar is horrible! Haha. Please substitute their with there...thank you!
This is was an interesting article. But if you on a road and you can not do the posted speed limit than you are in the wrong. I ride my bike everywhere, but I also Drive 50,000 miles a year in my vehicle. It sucks to get behind some asshole on a bike doing 5-miles an hour in a 45. I will sweat him until I can get around him. If Milo spits on my vehicle, one of us has a ass-whipping coming. Remember, the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. Jeff
I moved here from South Florida a few years ago and I have to say I'm scared to ride my bike on the roads here - and that is compared to a place where the average age of the driver is dead!! The shoulders are either narrow or non-existent and the drivers really do try to "teach you a lesson". I used to live on the east side of town near some of the great greenways. But here on the west side (just outside Bellevue - where we live now), there is nowhere to ride safely. Especially now that Public Works screwed up and put rumble strips right on the shoulder of Hwy 100. What I would really like to do is ride around with some "Rules of the Road" books with the part about cyclists on the road marked and toss it in the windows of the drivers who think we shouldn't be on the road. If it breaks a window now and then, well, sorry. A little less dark, but still gets the point across. http://melsenplace.wordpress.com/
Linsday, Nice work. Interesting take on both sides of this. As a cyclist, I understand the frustration. The roads are dangerous, for certain. If Milo is really pulling a child in traffic (ballsy? crazy?, I'll let you decide) I KNOW he is not running red lights and is hyper-conscious to the ramifications of any error in judgment. I would also assume (hopefully, in error) that this is the EXACT OPPOSITE of some cyclists (I see them everywhere in their skinny jeans and fruity hats) who run lights, dart in and out of traffic, give all cyclists a bad name. Simply put, there are shitty drivers/riders everywhere. However, there is one key difference in Milo's frustration. He seems angry, and I know why...Most folks are riding around in a two-ton automobile (note I say "riding" and not "driving") in a nice, plush cage with all the amenities - listening to stereo, watching a DVD, talking on phone, texting, listening to Snoop Dog on the Garmin. Putting on makeup, shaving their junk... etc. In short, "not even there." All they are thinking about is "Did Phil bring Donuts?" Anyway, Cletus runs up on a cyclist, and he/she is pissed. After all, Desperate Housewives starts in 30 minutes, and an extra 15 seconds simply will not do. What they take for granted is that the cyclist has a heart rate WELL above 140-150 BPM. That is pure adrenaline! He/she is already 14 cups of coffee and an 8-ball of cocaine ready to kick your ass. The driver, who probably learned playing Grand Theft Auto, only knows what he/she knows MINIMAL EFFORT. CONVENIENCE. Me. Me. Me. This is really about lack of knowledge. Some, not all mind you, cyclists can move just as fast, if not OUTRUN a car in traffic. We are faster than you. We can hit side streets, catch you at lights and laugh our asses off while you sit in rush hour traffic (I know I do) If you (note I said YOU and not the CAR) pick a fight with a cyclist, you will lose. Period. If they have the "grapes" to ride in traffic. I'll wager that they won't blink to cuss you out, take down your tags, hunt you down, and help you get "permanently comfortable". They can out maneuver you, jump curbs, ditch the bike, hide if they have to. You? you are stuck in your tank. Sitting there. Helpless. What I appreciate most is Milo's stance of "It is getting better." I agree. It is getting better! But every now and then, you will run into a "Palin"... a hypocritical retard who simply does not want to be inconvenienced. There is plenty of room for all of us. Nashville is becoming a progressive city, on par with the Portland, OR and San Franciso's of the world. Accept it. EMBRACE it. This is a great thing for our city and one that will help us move forward, beyond the stupid stereotypes that have made the South a punching bag in the past! I'll leave with a U2 quote (only because it is relevant)... "We're one, but we're not the same. We have to carry each other"
i do not have a drivers handbook in front of me,but somewhere in it,if you are driving below the speed limit and back either 3 or 5 vehicles,you are required to pull over and let them pass. i don't understand why bicyles are not facing traffic ,like pedistrians,as the relative speed and manuverability is closer in scale,so you at least have a chance to dive out of the way,instead of being ran down from behind. laws of physics trump here.
Lol. "Jeff" quotes to golden rule in reference to whipping someone's ass. Love it! Talk about unclear on the concept.
Eric makes a good point here. (GG makes an even better one! Jeff is clearly missing a chromosome) Anyway, my comments, obviously from experience, is that there is a clear distinction between Milo's experience and that of a rider out on a country road, climbing a hill with limited line-of-sight. But lets assume he was. Where does he pull over? In a ditch? Are you really in that big of a rush to get your Sausage McPancake? Milo is in the "Big City" with multiple lanes... BIKE LANES... and traffic lights. To be assaulted when you can clearly go around the rider, in is redonkulous. Oh, and if you think you are safe in a bike lane, you're nuts. Half the time, we still battle delivery trucks, cabs, POLICE CARS on radar patrol, sitting in the one lane designated to us. We have been FORCED to live in the same pond with cars. Why are WE the only ones who are willing to work with the other? Also, by your argument, we should expect all Asian, Elderly and "Brentwood Driving School" drivers to pull over when they are driving under the speed limit? Should I simply run them off the road? Whenever I am on the interstate, I spend half the time yelling at some asshat in the fast lane doing 52 mph. But that is the INTERSTATE. There are no bicycles. Still, I cannot perform the "Fishtail" maneuver, no matter how much I'd like to. And, boy would I ever. This still comes down to getting over yourself. Having some patience and a degree of respect for life. Think about it long enough and your "Physics" argument has no weight.
I don't ride a bike. I do try to respect bike riders' rights on the road. That means giving them space when I'm behind them and giving them a decently wide berth when passing. However, I also take umbrage at bike riders that seem to be doing their damnedest to show drivers who's the boss of the road - probably because of all the crap they have taken from bad drivers. Its a no-win situation. Bad drivers piss off bike riders who then piss off good drivers, who then become bad drivers etc. As for "milo" and those with similar badass attitudes - be careful boys and girls. Not all drivers are wimps. Many of us are quite capable of cracking skulls regardless of those cute little helmets. Oh, and I'll bet some of those drivers are carrying too. You don't want to let your biker road rage cause you to bite off more than you can chew. I don't know if this law applies to bikes, but I do know that if a vehicle on a two lane road is going 10 mph or more slower than the posted speed limit and has 5 or more vehicles behind it then that vehicle is required to pull over at the first reasonable pull-off to let the other vehicles go ahead.
Not all cyclists are like "Milo" and for you to judge all cyclists in the Nashville area to be like him is just plain irresponsible journalism. I've had bottles thrown at my head, fireworks thrown at me, honked at for no reason, and been almost killed by truck trailer. And all of those were while riding all by myself on rural roads, not holding up traffic nor causing pain to anyone. You should get a few more stories before making such broad brushed generalizations about cyclists.
There are a lot more Milos than you think. If you decide to fight Milo, you will not get out of your seat belt and exit your vehicle in time to hurt his helmet protected head. You will lose. Unless you shoot him from the driver's seat. And then you will lose in court.
Your friend, "Milo", is putting his kid at risk when he tries to be a badass. He really should grow up.
I think 100% of drivers are forgetting the actual law is this: PEOPLE have the right away over any other vehicle, then horses, then bikes, THEN cars. It does not matter WHAT the speed limit is. I do not bike but I totally respect the fact that if they are following the laws (by not riding on the sidewalk) then I must follow the laws of giving them the right of way. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. The real problem is that most places do not have an adequate bike lane so bikers are forced to ride in vehicles way. No matter what cars do NOT have the right of way over bikes- even if they are only going 5mph in a 45.
In Boston, there are plenty of cyclists on the road. I have a lot of friends who religiously ride their bikes to and from work; for them, their bike is their car. They complain that drivers around here don't respect their rights on the road, but I've often observed people on bikes not obeying traffic laws. It frustrates me that cyclists seem to want all the freedom on the road that a car would give them, but then they abuse it and do things like run red lights, weave in and out of traffic, etc. The ones who do ride on the sidewalk, even though it's illegal, expect pedestrians to get out of their way. I'd love to live in a bike-friendly city where it's possible for cyclists to ride safely on roads with cars. Unfortunately, there's so much about the situation that's unpredictable (annoyed drivers, annoyed bikers) that it's really hard for the two to coexist.
My sister was hit by a bicyclist who was riding on the sidewalk and ended up with a broken nose and other injuries. Now when I get frustrated that I have to slow down for a bicyclist in the road I take a deep breath and remind myself that they are following the rules of the road and keeping the sidewalks safe and clear.
this is dumb. it's not a matter of who can kill who. or at least it shouldn't be. that's just childish. look, cyclist get angry when they feel like a car might physically injure them. that fear mixes with a high heart rate and turns instantly into anger. we get mad because we're scared you're going to kill us with your huge car. stay off our asses, don't honk if you're right behind us, don't throw shit at us, and don't yell as you drive by. and just so you know, we sometimes ride in the center lane because we have a better chance of some idiot in a huge suv not hitting us with their passenger side mirrors because they have no idea how big their truck really is. it is for safety only...we are not trying to piss anyone off or make a political statement. cyclist, don't act like a-holes. get right whenever you can and let traffic pass. if you really want rights then look into advocacy where we can improve bike routes in nashville and learn how to educate drivers, not infuriate them.
LOVE the last line! lol Around here, they've past a law that there must be 3 feet between you and a cyclist when passing them. Kind of hard to do when they're in the middle of your lane! A lot of cyclist lanes are popping up at major intersections as well. I think if both sides (cyclists and drivers) show more courtesy to each other, things will improve. Would it kill his joyride to pull over for 2 seconds and let a car pass? Notsomuch. Frankly, I'd prefer to do that than have my daughter sitting in exhaust fumes...but that's just me :)
Great piece, Lindsay. Not a bike commuter myself. Can't get past the feeling that it's insanity to ride a bike in traffic, though. Puny piece of metal vs. 4,000 lb. vehicle? Not for me, thanks. Put my child behind me against the same odds? Jeez, give the kid a break. If the kid had a free will I guess he/she would choose not to be strapped into a lightweight moving lottery. There are plenty of bad cyclists just as there are plenty of bad motorists. How many times have we seen a cyclist speed through a stop sign, typically wearing no helmet. I don't much want to see your brains splattered across the road, thanks. I do with cyclists what I do with most motorists in Nashville: give 'em wide berth, don't follow too close, and expect 'em to do the damnedest thing you've ever scene outside the Cage of Death at the circus.
It is AWFUL on west end - and Hillsboro isn't much better! Thankful I'm not in traffic on a regular basis!
Is it too much to ask to have a safe and convenient way to get around Nashville without using your car? We're car addicts! We've built our entire community around the car - we're prisoners! Only the poor or heroic will attempt walking or biking in this town. Should it be that difficult? Is that right? Should the car culture make it dangerous for a father to take his kid somewhere without using his car? Is teaching his kid by example to live actively and more healthily a bad thing? While driving, should we "donate" ten seconds it takes to pass safely to a bicyclist? I think so. I think our community would have a lot to gain by embracing active living. My experience is West End is congested and traffic moves slowly very slowly and it's a great corridor for getting somewhere. The city has time and again rejected requests and plans to install bike lanes on West End (mostly a restriping project. West End downhill (towards town) a bicycle can easily outrun a car, but uphill bikes can be quite slow. Maybe an uphill bike lane on West End is in order?
I live in Austin, which, in general, is very bike friendly. We have bike lanes throughout downtown and in a lot of neighborhoods, mine included. There's still a lot of misinformation about bikes and what they should be doing (like the thing about riding on the sidewalk), both on the part of cyclists and motorists. There are a ton of cyclists who run red lights and stop signs as if they don't apply to them (I honestly think these people truly think they DON'T apply), which creates ill will on the part of motorists. A good friend of mine was hit by a car last year the night before she was supposed to ride her bike for charity. She was doing all the right things, waiting at a turn, signaling a left turn, and she was hit by a guy who then just drove away as if nothing happened. She's fine now (could have been much worse - http://www.supportmarielmentink.com/), but she had thousands in hospital bills, a broken elbow and torn ligaments in her shoulder. It just sucks that there's such tension between between cyclists and drivers even in a city that's so bike friendly. It creates dangerous situations for cyclists and - by the sounds of your friend - for drivers too.
Beware! There are too many idiots with guns, who will shoot you in cold blood, should you gesture any aggravation towards any action on their part. Please keep that in mind. Just look at the unprovoked actions of throwing things at bikers. Think of what these low lifes can do to you should you piss them off. Having said that, once, while living across the border in a 'bike friendly' city, a car ran me over to the curb, with all the passengers cracking up at how funny that was. I looked the driver in the eye, got off my bike and walked it to the front of their car, and raised my bike high in the air, then crashed it onto the hood of their car. It was liberating, and hilarious at the time. I high tailed it across the street in to opposite coming, one way traffic, and left those muthas high and dry. I wouldn't dream of doing that in Nashville. And that was decades ago. I don't run so fast anymore!
This comment section is surprisingly flame-free; it's good to see a pretty healthy debate, rather than some puerile flamewar. Anyway, my two cents: I commute by bicycle, and I drive my car about 1-2 times per week for groceries and other errands. I notice a drastic difference in the way I'm treated on the road when I ride or drive in a sensible manner. I can drive in a calm, rational way, and almost never get honked at or get shit from other drivers. However, I can be riding my bike in a predictable and courteous manner--often at or near the flow of traffic--and I will honked or yelled at on nearly a daily basis. The distinction here I believe to be ingorance and conditioning. I don't believe drivers to be any less selfish when I'm in a car. I simply think that drivers see a car and have been conditioned to think that a car belongs there, whereas a bicycle does not. I don't know what the solution is--better law enforcement (cellphones, ugh!), better driver education, better support from local government. All I know to do daily is ride in as courteous and assertive way as I know how and set a good example. I try not to lose my lid, but like another commenter mentioned, when my heartrate is going and my adrenaline is pumping and some asshat in a multi-thousand pound metal box is not respecting my right to the road, it's hard!
