Yelled at

I have been commuting by bicycle year-round for 5 years now. Many other urban cyclists complain about drivers yelling rudely at them, but I have been largely spared that indignity.

Last summer, I got yelled at once, when riding on 104 Avenue. It was my sixth week of riding that same route, to my temporary summer teaching assignment near 118 Avenue and 82 Street. I had ridden the same route all six weeks with no complaints from drivers. But apparently this woman was having a bad day. In her defense, there was a truck stopped in the right lane, forcing everyone -- including cyclists -- to go around, and then she came upon me, a cyclist who dared to ride on the road and inconvenience her. She screamed at me: "Get on the sidewalk, you fricking idiot!" I laughed. First of all, she clearly doesn't know the traffic laws, making me smarter than her. And secondly, she couldn't even use a real swear word. 

I have to admit that the very next day I switched my route to 102 Avenue, which is a designated bike route. I know, I know...

Well, last week, I got yelled at again. This was on 103 Avenue, just west of 124 Street. This time a guy called out, "Socialist!" 

Well, now that you mention it...

So, that's it for the yelling. I have had other people speak to me -- most notably, one older man told me he liked my winter helmet; another man said he appreciated my lights -- and of course, there is the occasional wolf whistle. Other than that, I have been allowed to go my way in peace. Nice.