In Person Activism

279 readers

1 users here now

"Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them." -Tim Snyder

A community for sharing information about ways to get involved with real world activism to make the world a better place.

Spend less time arguing about politics on the internet. The world is in trouble. Get out there and try to help.

founded 9 months ago

MODERATORS

auk@slrpnk.net

How to diplomatically handle car drivers who use their horns to demand cyclists make room for them (slrpnk.net)

submitted 5 months ago by activistPnk@slrpnk.net to c/inperson@slrpnk.net

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In this case I operate on the assumption car drivers are inherently good people. So when I am cycling in the middle of the lane (when the lane is too narrow for safe sharing), and they are behind me hitting their horn, I give them the benefit of the doubt as to whether they are being a malicious prick.

So I stop the bicycle, get off look around, check my pockets, and if their window is open I ask “did I drop something?” Because surely they would not use their horn to demand that I move to the side so they can pass me unsafely. Surely they are kindly signalling to me that my backpack is open, or that something fell from my bicycle.

Every single time, I never manage to discover that anything was lost or out of place.. but I continue to give drivers the benefit of the doubt every time.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] theareciboincident@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

All three components of this suggestion are perfectly legal:

Take the lane to the full legal extent allowed

Wear a helmet or body cam

Carry a glass breaker and the most lethal self defense tool legally allowed in your area

[–] activistPnk@slrpnk.net 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

My flimsy cable lock fell apart. So I needed a new lock. The common choices are a U-lock or a chain. I opted for a chain with a heavy integrated lock at one end. This chain could double as a self-defense tool. I wonder which martial art would bring the most utility to this kind of tool.

The chain is big enough that it’s partially falling out of my backpack. It could now actually be something that inspires honking on the basis that it could fall out.