[theslowcyclistxx]

Hi, I need some kind of object to hit cars which are passing far too close (and I encounter far too many of these types). I was thinking about some type of old school pump or something along these lines. Any experiences?

Topic

[Owd Big 'Ead]

Snub nosed uzi?

Snub nosed uzi?

[NOtotheEU]

I’ve considered something

I’ve considered something similar to this but spring loaded. Pull it down into place until you filter then pull a lever on the bars to get it to spring vertically. Sadly I could not think of a way to do it that didn’t involve some risk of injury to myself or some innocent ped getting a little too close. Also the legal implications made me rather worried.

[theslowcyclistxx]

It seems that most people

It seems that most people vote for Ukraine’s strategy anyway!

[lonpfrb]

Rather than confrontation,
Rather than confrontation, there is Avoidance. Specifically providing the spacially challenged drivers with a visual aid showing the minimum acceptable passing distance.

It’s simple, cheap and effective being white plastic pipe 15mm diameter and 1.5m long, attached to your seat tube, perpendicular to the top tube on the off side. Gaffer tape does this well and ensures that if it were impacted the force would not cause a loss of control.

Because it is odd, it gets noticed, so ensures that a close pass isn’t possible.

It removes the ability to filter within the lane, but not in a cycle lane.

Once you explain it to other cyclists there’s no issue passing you in secondary position.

Any impact with the pipe is non-structural and loud enough to be captured on video camera.

I hope this works for you. Ride safe..

[Dnnnnnn]

Have you tried engaging local

Have you tried engaging local press? If you’ve a load of clips of particularly bad passes the plod have refused to do anything about (along with examples of forces who have taken action) then it might generate some good/bad press that would shame the plod into doing something.

[chrisonabike]

Came up elsewhere but

Came up elsewhere but Mutually Assured Destruction?

[hawkinspeter]

PRSboy wrote:

That pool noodle looks lethal… A truck clipping that at speed is likely to result in the cyclist being pulled straight under the wheels.

Possibly, but would it depend on how the noodle is attached to the bike? Maybe a couple of rubber bands would hold it in the right position, but allow it to move and/or be pulled off without too much interference with the cyclist.

[PRSboy]

hawkinspeter wrote:

My experience is that the best way to make a driver angry is to touch/hit their vehicle and I wouldn’t recommend it as there’s a lot of bottled-up rage out there.

Some people use pool noodles to enforce the recommended minimum distance:

Personally, I don’t like the aesthetics of that and it’d get in the way of my egregious filtering at times, so I just go for running cameras and let the police deal with the worst offenders. It’s much better if you don’t allow the bad drivers to live in your head rent-free.

However, on occasion, I have daydreamed about wreaking vengeance on drivers and I reckon a decent lock would be the best choice – heavy, damaging and completely plausible for a cyclist to be carrying. Also, don’t bother searching for Ninja Rocks on your own computer if you intend on using them.

That pool noodle looks lethal… A truck clipping that at speed is likely to result in the cyclist being pulled straight under the wheels.

[theslowcyclistxx]

I’m a 100% sprinter ?

I’m a 100% sprinter ?

[Kapelmuur]

The warehouseman at a place I

The warehouseman at a place I worked at had a sort of sawn off baseball bat clipped to his handlebars which he used to tap the roof of any car he considered to be too close.

He looked like a Beserker with his long blond hair,  beard and physique.   Maybe you can get away with it if you look sufficiently intimidating.

[IanMSpencer]

I have been assaulted just
I have been assaulted just for shouting at a close pass, simply shouting “Whoa!” in surprise 8s enough for a driver to stop and have a go verbally.

I have knocked on a window of a close passing car at low speed and I find it is a great way to nearly fall off.

[thax1]

I’ve often thought that if

I’ve often thought that if the vocal minority of DM readers get their way and we need to fit ‘number plates’ to our bikes; then mounting them on the end of a 1.5 metre pole would be ideal…

[HoarseMann]

Sometimes I’ve wished I had

Sometimes I’ve wished I had something like this… https://youtu.be/B6lrMQCymgA?t=97

[PRSboy]

If you want to hit someone’s

If you want to hit someone’s car, be ready for a physical confrontation, and alert to the possibility of a driver losing the plot momentarily and driving into you.

Don’t start something you’re not prepared to finish.

Added to which, it is likely to weaken your position in the eyes of the law (even swearing does!)

Close passes are scary and frustrating, but sadly part of cycling.  Other than that, slowly shake your head, take a deep breath and enjoy the fresh air.

I recall reading somewhere that a spark plug can have an interesting effect on glass.

 

[theslowcyclistxx]

Lock is perhaps a good idea!

Lock is perhaps a good idea!

[Author]

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