I had particular cause for concern about this story regaled in the Guardian the other day by their own bike correspondent. It discusses that whilst slapping a car bonnet with your hand is on that hand satisfying, but on the other even better when you seek revenge via calmer methods of action.
From my own experience this rings true too. A cautionary flick of a wing mirror or even a passing four letter word will lead to an arrest for anti-social behaviour or criminal damage if the driver decides to take up pursuit.
Whilst the highway code gives equal status on UK roads to cyclists and cars it also means that direct action (aggravated or not) isn’t really allowed. Just as cars can’t given one another a bump, neither can bikes beat the bonnet.
This is an issue of respect. It’s probably the case that cars treat each other in the same was they treat cyclists. The difference is that a crash of bonnets is far less damaging than a crunch of bodies.
But, if cyclists are ever going to be given the equal respect they deserve peaceful protest might be good place to start. Fighting fire with with fire won’t do much to help. What’s more, if it comes down to battering bikes against bonnets they’ll only be one winner.
Twice, I slapped a car that passed me too close and twice, the driver stopped me and and threatened me….(I had to apologize !!)
you should absolutely avoid that…
I get pissed off by cars all the time, but I drive one frequently and I try to keep it all in perpective. There is only one way to go: be NICE – smile, blow a kiss, and move on. It drives the ar$eholes nuts, and those who retain an ounce of humanity inside their cages will smile back.