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ok set the scene here:
December 9th 2009-18 inches of snow overnight, no buses, city is shut down, state offices are shut down, malls are shut down, all schools including state university are shut down. My job does not close-workers are not expected to put themselves in danger, as those of us within walking distance can and will make it in(we ended up with a staff of 9 out of 35), tests have to be run after certain intervals, of incubation time, and sent to the FDA-there is no way around it. Those of us that live close know and accept this, and take the responsibility of running the lab on a skeleton crew-no big deal, we can, have, and will handle it.
Now I bike to work, every day, yes even in the winter, I'm a safe biker, wear my protective gear(helmet, ski goggles, full rainsuit, facemask-I look like a damn ninja with goggles), have plenty of lights(front, rear, helmet, and string of LEDs wrapped) and follow the traffic laws. I don't want to be a dead biker. The only time I've been hit or almost hit were by cars speeding through red lights-as in had been red long enough that I was almost fully across the street.
So as I'm biking down a street that's pretty well cleared(maybe 2 inches of packed snow on the road) as it's the main street for the utility workers(they had to work), going slow, staying in my lane, off to the side(there is a bike lane-I was in it), not sliding more than 6 inches either direction, I was going that slow-had my feet on the ground quite a bit to prevent skids. This idiot in a jacked up 4 wheel drive(we're talking 12 inch minimum lifts-a stereotypical "redneck extension of my penis truck*") comes barreling up in the opposite lane. He's going at least 30(posted limit is 25), fishtailing all over, obviously doesn't know how to drive in this. I keep going at my slow safe speed, getting over further so idiot doesn't slide into me.
Idiot slows down, still fishtailing(he was all over the road-both lanes) yells at me-"get that mother f-ing bike off the GDamned road!"
Ok I have to get to work, per traffic laws I have to ride on the road. usually when someone yells at me, I ignore it or yell back-"I love you, have an awesome day!"
This time brain to mouth filter failed, mainly as I'm driving better than the guy telling me to get off the road. I am not a danger to anyone-for a block or two I actually had to shoulder my bike and walk it. No way ANY car would get through that-3 foot plow drifts on quite a few side streets.
I yell out, "sorry I'm a chick, I don't have a penis to drive around in"
Idiot driver SLAMS on his breaks(we all know where this is going don't we), "how dare a female talk back to him-he is manly man" going through his pea-sized Neanderthal brain, as he skids into a very large snowbank-burying the entire front end of his truck.
I keep biking slowly listening to him spin his 4 wheel drive tires to no avail(he is stuck good-shouldn't have been driving too fast for conditions jerkwad)
I look back as I'm about to make my turn to see him angrily kicking the crap out of his truck and cursing loudly about the "stupid 4 wheel drive doesn't f'ing work, shouldn't be stuck-stupid cyclist...etc." and eventually make it to work on time, with the few other cars I saw driving slower than I was.
Hmm who shouldn't have been on the road mr road rage?
Guess we answered that question...
*you know the type, trucks bought for show only, the driver has no clue how to actually drive the thing and thinks 4WD=invincible at any speed/in any weather, doesn't realize 4WD only means you'll get stuck in places you're gonna need a tractor to get you out, if you aren't careful/smart.
December 9th 2009-18 inches of snow overnight, no buses, city is shut down, state offices are shut down, malls are shut down, all schools including state university are shut down. My job does not close-workers are not expected to put themselves in danger, as those of us within walking distance can and will make it in(we ended up with a staff of 9 out of 35), tests have to be run after certain intervals, of incubation time, and sent to the FDA-there is no way around it. Those of us that live close know and accept this, and take the responsibility of running the lab on a skeleton crew-no big deal, we can, have, and will handle it.
Now I bike to work, every day, yes even in the winter, I'm a safe biker, wear my protective gear(helmet, ski goggles, full rainsuit, facemask-I look like a damn ninja with goggles), have plenty of lights(front, rear, helmet, and string of LEDs wrapped) and follow the traffic laws. I don't want to be a dead biker. The only time I've been hit or almost hit were by cars speeding through red lights-as in had been red long enough that I was almost fully across the street.
So as I'm biking down a street that's pretty well cleared(maybe 2 inches of packed snow on the road) as it's the main street for the utility workers(they had to work), going slow, staying in my lane, off to the side(there is a bike lane-I was in it), not sliding more than 6 inches either direction, I was going that slow-had my feet on the ground quite a bit to prevent skids. This idiot in a jacked up 4 wheel drive(we're talking 12 inch minimum lifts-a stereotypical "redneck extension of my penis truck*") comes barreling up in the opposite lane. He's going at least 30(posted limit is 25), fishtailing all over, obviously doesn't know how to drive in this. I keep going at my slow safe speed, getting over further so idiot doesn't slide into me.
Idiot slows down, still fishtailing(he was all over the road-both lanes) yells at me-"get that mother f-ing bike off the GDamned road!"
Ok I have to get to work, per traffic laws I have to ride on the road. usually when someone yells at me, I ignore it or yell back-"I love you, have an awesome day!"
This time brain to mouth filter failed, mainly as I'm driving better than the guy telling me to get off the road. I am not a danger to anyone-for a block or two I actually had to shoulder my bike and walk it. No way ANY car would get through that-3 foot plow drifts on quite a few side streets.
I yell out, "sorry I'm a chick, I don't have a penis to drive around in"
Idiot driver SLAMS on his breaks(we all know where this is going don't we), "how dare a female talk back to him-he is manly man" going through his pea-sized Neanderthal brain, as he skids into a very large snowbank-burying the entire front end of his truck.
I keep biking slowly listening to him spin his 4 wheel drive tires to no avail(he is stuck good-shouldn't have been driving too fast for conditions jerkwad)
I look back as I'm about to make my turn to see him angrily kicking the crap out of his truck and cursing loudly about the "stupid 4 wheel drive doesn't f'ing work, shouldn't be stuck-stupid cyclist...etc." and eventually make it to work on time, with the few other cars I saw driving slower than I was.
Hmm who shouldn't have been on the road mr road rage?
Guess we answered that question...
*you know the type, trucks bought for show only, the driver has no clue how to actually drive the thing and thinks 4WD=invincible at any speed/in any weather, doesn't realize 4WD only means you'll get stuck in places you're gonna need a tractor to get you out, if you aren't careful/smart.
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