I’ve been at work for a half hour and I’m still calming down; I don’t know how adrenaline junkies can handle it. I’ve mentioned that I ride Airport Way from Georgetown to downtown, and that I tried 4th Avenue but found the drivers there more aggressive. Usually I ride in between 8am and 9am, but I was up early for an appointment that got canceled and rode in between 7am and 8am and it was much worse.

For those who aren’t familiar, Airport way is four or five lanes most of the way, two each way with a center turning laning for stretches. The sidewalks are pretty non-existent as it’s an industrial area, and alternate between being mostly a parking lot, to a broken up sidewalk assaulted by foliage. Which makes them unusable (especially on a road bike) more than anything because of the limited sight distance that would require a walking pace or slower. I don’t think there’s a lot of bicycle commuting along this way, I usually see a half dozen bikes each way though. I say that because of the drivers though.

SODO is the only place in the city that I’ve been honked at for riding in the road (excluding critical mass). I’m always initially reacting as if there’s some sort of danger. Probably mostly from believing that horns mean danger but also because people probably don’t realize how loud and starting a horn is when it’s ten feet away from you and you’re not expecting it. Which generally causes an adrenaline influx that combined with the exercise lasts much longer than I’d like it to, probably taking a day off of my life each time or something.

Usually I’m honked at / yelled at once a day, this morning was four times in a single trip. Oh the horror of having to change lanes! Of course people are upset that I’m not on the sidewalk or the shoulder. They probably don’t know that I don’t have to be, the only requirement being that you ride as far to the right hand side of the right lane as is safe, that you MAY use the sidewalk, shoulder or bicycle lane if present. Even if confronted with these facts I’m sure they’re just upset and it wouldn’t matter.

During CM last week I was riding uphill on a side street on the sidewalk. I was going pretty slow, being headed uphill on a single speed and a shirtless dude stepped in front of me and stuck his arms and legs out to intentionally block me. I stopped and tried to analyze his aggression and how likely it was that he was going to hit me, he only said it’s state law that bicyclists are required to walk their bicycles on the sidewalk. While I believe that he truly believed this, it is nonetheless false and absurd. I told him that wasn’t true, and start to manuever around him. He almost moved to keep blocking me, but I think my lack of return aggression confused him or bored him and he gave up and went inside. He was probably drunk anyways.

So much anger though. I read Bike Commuting in 10 Easy Steps the other day and enjoyed it, but this part sticks in my mind:

5. Your life is actually quite good.
The thing that bothers me the most about bike commuting is the angry people in cars that you encounter about once every three months. They love to yell at you as they speed by, only to come to a complete stop about five seconds later at the light. I finally realized that someone that feels the need to roll down their window and yell at me (while I am riding lawfully) is having a really bad life. I’m glad I’m not that upset and angry.

By the time the third pickup truck full of assholes honked at me I started giving them the finger. I don’t think I was angry, but definitely annoyed and somewhat strung-out from all of the honking. I wish it happened only once every three months and not three times every trip.