Dear Cyclist,
I must say, your approach left a lot to be desired. As you zipped by on your bike and yelled, “F***ing idiot!” at me, my thoughts didn’t drift towards whether I was in the bike lane, if I should have moved quicker, or if I was being mindful enough. Instead, I simply thought you were rude—and I still hold that opinion. My view of bike lanes remains unchanged.
Let me share an experience from years ago. When my son was an infant, I placed him in his car seat and headed to the grocery store. The day was bright and sunny, and the expansive parking lot made finding a spot easy. As I maneuvered into a space, I heard the blaring honk of another vehicle. Initially assuming it was directed at someone else, I carried on with my parking.
I grabbed a cart, placed my son in it, and began my shopping. Soon, I encountered an irate woman who approached me with a scowl. “You weren’t even looking where you were going!” she accused. “That’s really dangerous! You’re supposed to look before you pull in!” Taken aback by her harsh tone, I found myself at a loss for words.
As I continued my shopping, her words played on my mind. At first, I felt indignant for being chastised by a stranger, but I began to wonder where her car had been when she honked and why I hadn’t seen it. I truly didn’t understand what she was referring to.
Later on, I crossed paths with her again. This time, I gathered my courage and addressed her. “Excuse me,” I started, “you’re right. I didn’t see you.” I explained that I had heard the honk but was unaware of its origin. I asked her to clarify where her car had been in relation to mine during that moment. It turned out I often drove with a baby in the car, and if there was a blind spot I was unaware of, I needed to address it.
Her demeanor shifted dramatically. With a softer voice, she described the position of her car, and our interaction turned from confrontation to collaboration. By the end, we parted ways without animosity, both relieved and informed, having transformed a hostile exchange into a helpful one.
So, listen up, rude cyclist: I’m not a selfish person, nor do I wish to obstruct anyone. As a parent, I strive to set a good example for my children. Instead of hurling insults, you could have communicated much more effectively with the same effort. Here are a few suggestions that take the same number of syllables or fewer:
- What you said: “F***ing idiot!”
- Alternatives: “Bike coming through!”
- “Look out, bike lane!”
- “Careful there, friend!”
- “Whoa there, speedy!”
See? It’s not rocket science!
Sincerely, from your brief acquaintance but never your friend,
Megan
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Summary:
In this letter, the author addresses a rude cyclist who shouted insults, reflecting on an experience from her past where a similar confrontation turned into a constructive dialogue. The key message is the importance of respectful communication, especially in moments of frustration.