by Dombo » Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:15 am
[quote="Elliot M"][quote="richv"]...However the more people that tell him to put his phone away the more likely he is to get the message he is a complete t@*t. Also I reckon I'm more likely to get run other by someone using their phone than by someone trying to do some damage after I've told them to put their phone away.
Sadly I disagree with both of these points as they relate to this incident. I suspect his negative impression of cyclists has just been reinforced, he is less likely if anything to modify his behaviour in the long term, and we saw that his short term behaviour actually worsened significantly to include actual dangerous driving, spitting and threatened violence. This is consistent with my own experience.
This doesn't mean that I condone the driver's behaviour in any way, or that I haven't been at least as confrontational myself.
I don't have a simple answer, although I suspect phrasing of any challenge is important - possibly a questioning approach rather than an order would have a more positive outcome. Also, I suspect he's a lot more likely to modify behaviour if message comes from groups other than cyclists, such as his peers or police - who wield social or legal consequences.
Good points well made, but why challenge at all? Just make eye contact, indicate you're going to pull in front, and give a friendly wave of acknowledgement. My first thought, and i'm sure beardy thought so too, when I heard that whiny "get off the phone, mate" was "mind your own f***ing business". He's just a guy going to work, stationary, on the phone. Could be gassing to his mates, his boss, or checking up on his sick mum in hospital. Be visible, polite, and if you're not sure he's seen you keep out of his way.
Of course if you must challenge then be prepared for trouble, but don't go looking for it.
Like Andrew above, the natural coward in me tends to avoid these things.