San Francisco is one of the most bike-friendly places in the entire country. The beautiful weather, copious bike lanes, and eco-friendly culture mean that you’ll see bicyclists absolutely everywhere. If you love to bike casually or as your transport of choice, however, it’s important to be aware that not everyone in San Francisco is quite so bike-friendly.
One of the most terrifying and dangerous occurrences on the road is road rage directed at bicyclists. Sometimes, a driver will fixate their rage on a person riding their bike, seeking to harass and endanger that person beyond all reason. What’s even worse is that the person in the car is perfectly safe, while the bicyclist is at risk of grevious injury if they fall or collide with anything on their ride – especially going at vehicle speeds.
That is why the lawyers of sfbikeaccidentattorney.com are here to defend bicyclists like you from drivers, seeking the settlements you need for medical bills, lost wages, and trauma recovery caused by one driver’s murderous intentions.
Why Drivers Get Angry at Bicyclists
Road rage is one of the most irrational experiences of human existance. Some people experience unreasonable anger when they are driving, and direct that anger at anything or anyone nearby. Bicycles, by nature of going slower than high-speed traffic, often become the target of that ire when a driver must slow down to drive safely behind a bicycle, wait for them to turn, ect. However, road rage against bicyclists can manifest even when the bike is moving perfectly with the flow of traffic, and we don’t always know why.
What we do know is that bicycle-directed road rage is not just irritation, it is murderous. Even non-contact activities like honking and driving too close can throw off a bicyclist and place them at risk of fatal injury. And some drivers take it even further than that.
Road Rage Warning Signs Against Bicyclists
If you are riding a bicycle in San Francisco, watch out for the signs that a nearby driver is experiencing road rage, especially if it seems to be directed at you. You may also want to watch out for road rage directed at other nearby cyclist and see if you can help keep them safe, as well.
Shouting Abusive Language
Is a driver shouting or appearing to shout out the window of their car? Are they waving their arms or making angry faces as they mouth explatives into the wind? This is an early sign that someone is succombing to road rage, and should be avoided by all cyclists and other drivers if possible.
Honking and Flashing Brights
Honking and brights-flashing is a form of road abuse that is often the first step toward more aggressive actions. Get away from drivers who begin showing these behaviors if at all possible, especially because they could be doing so to frighten you into falling off-balance.
Reckless Passing
Reckless passing can range from a poor-opportunity pass that is risky to the driver to a near side-swipe that could knock a bicyclists over with the wind created by the pass. Drivers are often trying to escape feeling stuck behind a bike, but their actions put you and your bike at risk.
How Road Rage Causes Bicycle Accidents, Injuries, and Deaths
The problem is not that people get angry. Getting frustrated on the road is reasonably normal. The problem is that road rage behaviors can and unfortunately often do lead to accidents, injuries, and even the deaths of bicyclists who are targeted by driver rage.
Honking and Brights-Abusing a Bicyclist
Even before the driver starts using thair car as a weapon, they may throw a bicyclist off just by honking to startle them and flashing their brights to blind them.
“Rolling Coal” On a Bicyclist
“Rolling coal” is the intentional release of thick, noxious exhaust fumes from a truck onto a vehicle behind. It is a tactic used by terrible people who often have this awful modification intentionally installed. Some people feel obligated to “roll coal” on any target of their ire, including electric and hybrid vehicles, and even biclyclists who can be choked and blinded by the cloud while moving with traffic.
Close-Passing a Bicyclists
When a road raging driver decides to pass a bicyclist who has become the target of their anger, they might close-pass to show the bicyclist who owns the lane. This is a dangerous, aggressive move that can become a side-swipe or act as one by the gust of wind created, knocking a bicyclist to the pavement and into traffic with the vehicular equivalent of a shoulder check.
Merging / Forcing Bicyclists Off the Road
Another of the most dangerous and aggressive moves is the decision to simply force a bicycle off the road by merging into their lane space. This can cause a collision, a fall, or an emergency exit to the shoulder – if there even is a shoulder to exit to.
Tailgating and Rear-Ending Bicycles
A car may even go so far as to tailgate a bicycle by driving too close behind them or throw the rider off by bumping their rear tire on purpose with the front of their car.
Throwing Items at Bicyclists from Car Windows
Some drivers even throw items at bicyclists as they drive past, which is extremely dangerous and needlessly aggressive.
Side-Swiping Bicycles
Lastly, a vehicle may actually try to directly murder a bicyclist by side-swiping the bicycle with their car and then quickly driving away.
Common Injuries from Road Rage vs Bicyclists
- Massive abrasions and bleeding wounds
- Road burn
- Broken bones and numerous fractures
- Head trauma and concussion
- Spinal injury and paralysis
- Dislocations and violent sprains
- Loss of mobility
- Chronic pain conditions
- Permanent brain damage
- Death
How to Survive a Road Rage Incident On Your Bicycle (And Hold Drivers Accountable)
Bicyclists are often expected to give way to road raging drivers just to survive. Survival is important and you should prioritize your
- Place Front and Rear Cams On Your Bike
- One of the best ways to hold road rage drivers responsible is to capture their behavior on camera.
- Wear Protective Gear
- Give yourself the best possible chance of survival by wearing protective gear and clothing.
- Move Away from Road Rage Drivers When Possible
- Maneuver away from cars that display road rage behaviors immediately, including pulling fully over onto the shoulder, if possible.
- Report the Incident Immediately
- As soon as an incident of road rage occurs, report it immediately .
What to Do If You Have Been Hurt By a Road Rage Driver
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention
- Collect Information From Witnesses
- Hire a Bicycle Injury Lawyer
If you have experienced an injury or know someone hospitalized by road rage against bicyclist, know that there is an entire legal force on your side from sfbikeaccidentattorney.com. Our lawyers are ready to defend your case and hold the offending drivers responsible for their murderous actions and the harm they have caused. Contact us today for an initial consultation.
