Rant! So angry!

Keep up the great effort! You will win in the end! It does seem that people just dont practice manners much these days ...unfortunately...

Dont listen to them..they are just ignorant! You are trying to live a healthy life and they are living stupidly by being so damn rude. Keep up the good job! More people should try to bike to work if they can! Being green is also a good thing!:flowerforyou:

Well that is a drag. Misery loves company and you guys are on the rode to happiness so you may get targeted. Maybe find some like minded folk, even if you have to search them out. Several years ago I visited Boulder CO and wow that town was designed to be a bike riders dream. My town has a lot of bikers so we are pretty well tolerated. Try to hold your head high and keep pedaling! You guys are awesome!

What is it with the punk teenagers? I went for a bike ride last night after a horrible day at work only to have a group of these hoodrats throw fireworks at me. I am a timid person by nature but I swear on all that is holy, I almost biked them down to punch their teeth out. :explode:

i have people honk and yell all the time. i just ignore it. they'll be hit hardest when gas prices force them i bike. i just think to myself, "keep it classy, providence!" or 'it takes a small penis to yell from a car at someone walking or on a bike."

i ride with my ipod now so i don't get startled.

oh, and where i live, it's actually more dangerous to ride on the sidewalk because people aren't expecting vehcles there and there are a lot of blind driveways, so people pull out the driveway and have enough time to stop for a pedestrian, but because bikes are so much faster, they are more likely to be hit by a car looking to exit.

my advice is to ride further into the street and make them wait.

The last time I rode a bike, and it was an attempt to get in shape, I was taunted by a car full of jerks.It hurt me so much and I was just mortified.
I never rode again and put my bike out on the tree lawn for the trash collection.
This was 20 years ago.
Please dont do that.
I would never let that get to me now, but back then I was 'tender'.
Jerks will yell at anyone, old folks who cant move any faster, disabled people...anyone they feel superior to.
Its what they do to make themselves feel better and to show how bold they can be
to impress their idiot friends.
I get comments while Im working in my front yard (on a main road) now I just shake my *kitten* at them!
I think, well, Im bettering myself and the neighborhood-youre just a waste of gas, keep moving.

Be proud that you are doing something so good for yourself and the environment!
....and good luck!
Dona

You've lost 31 lbs?!?!!! Wild Applause!!!! Focus on the good in your life and learn to block the negative. It will always be there in some form. Surround yourself with like minded people that appreciate and celebrate who YOU are!!!

Water balloons? I live in a very outdoorsy/active area, but I once had a group of teenagers drive by and throw a cup of coffee at me while I was out walking my dog (I was walking on the sidewalk minding my own business!). I suppose hooligans will be hooligans. They didn't hit me, but I called the cops with their license plate anyway. By the time I walked around the corner, a trooper was writing them tickets. I waved and smiled, lol.

I've never been bothered while running or biking, but I usually wear a Marine Corps shirt when I'm exercising.

Don't let them get to you. It was the same where I live~I'm grateful to say, the times are a changing, or they're just used to me around here.
I started jogging about 20 years ago to lose weight. I even had the town police come out one evening when I was running telling me I was "asking for trouble" being out there jogging. Meaning, I was inviting the comments. :explode: I was so angry.

I continued to run & exercise. This past April I ran the Boston Marathon and the newspaper has done a couple of articles about my "success". People now say "if she can do it, so can I", which is exactly true. One day, the townsfolk where you live, will be saying the same about you and your husband. :happy:

Keep up the great work - you are doing the best thing for your life. :flowerforyou:

Im sorry to hear that. I live in california and most people here ride in the street and the sidewalk. There are always people riding there bikes so that never happens here. I hope things get better.

Yep, sounds like Wisconsin. I live in WI too, but in a smaller area so it's not to bad. Hang in there and keep on biking... you guys are doing great!!!

Please be careful. People have been assaulted by having things thrown at them while on their bikes. Here in South Carolina there was a young man that was the victim of a hit and run while he was on his bike.

Some people are just cruel. :grumble:

Oh trust me, I know to be careful. I am considering purchasing a small thing of pepper spray for when I walk alone.

I wear a police whistle, too. I have found that using the whistle in lieu of turn indicators along with my arms (I would just use the arm signals, but it turns out nobody remembers what they mean - guess it's been a while since most people have ridden bikes.

the whistle is great! sometimes i use it to "yell" at someone, like if they cut me off, take a right in front of me (because i don't exist) but mainly i use it to let people know i'm there. we have to remember that being behind the wheel puts ALL OF US in a weird position of tunnel vision. besides, there are so many other things to *do* other than drive: smoke, eat, be important on the cell phone, yell at the kids, etc... why driving is the last thing anyone does. paying attention is even further down on the list. so we have to do it for them.

don't be afraid on your bike. you have to ride safely and aggressively. if you're too far over on the right, they may not see you. some people are *kitten*, but some people may yell and honk because you startled them; i know i yell and blow my whistle when they startle me, so i can't imagine it's all that different.

i don't like the mindset of car drivers, but they are people and i can empathize to a point. keep yourself visible and ride as if you belonged there, because you do.

ah hecklers. i was very very naughty last time i encountered a group of hardcore yobs. i was cycling along a cycle/foot path and there was a group of about 10-12 teenagers drinking and walking along ahead of me i shouted ahead so they knew i was coming along but the little darlings decided it would be fun to link arms and block the entire width of the path i got closer and asked again to be let through, no joy, tried again was met with laughter and abuse, i'm not a very patient person so let them get a bit ahead, and put my foot down quite litteraly, got myself going at a nice speed and turned the little darlings into skittles, not quite a strike but i left 6 of them in a heap cursing me, to which i replied "you should have got out of the way when i politely asked you then", i confess to feeling quite smug about it but it quickly dwindled when i got a bit further a long and saw a lone runner heading towards where i last saw them. to this day i hope i didn't cause him any grief with them