It would be nice to see a slap-down by a police sting operation, too. That requires a PD that understands the law and the needs of bicycle drivers, and is willing to place some priority on it.

What you have to deal with there is a serious issue. You have the worst of the worst with your location, but it highlights the absurd inequity of our system from the infrastructure to the culture.

I am strongly considering moving to the urban core. I will have to purchase a motor vehicle to commute to work. It is not the distance but the time taken by bicycle commuting that will affect my dog.

I have been assertive for over a year now. I dont think there is any more optimism left in me. I know that I am riding for myself, not them but the constant stimulus is not easily ignored.

That road is the only connection to the nearest grocery store (1.3 miles). All other stores are over 5 miles away. I always control the lane on that road and tried it a few times during rush hour (the hour the picture was taken)! That was a hoot! Bikejax is currently working with the FDOT to put up some signage on the service road that says “bicycles may take full lane”.

I have not emailed George Martin yet. I plan to get to it sometime this weekend.

In all seriousness, I would not be comfortable riding on the road and traffic conditions in your photo. I avoid roads like that.

I lived in the burbs for years. I didn’t face the level of harassment you describe, but I certainly got more than I do in town. I am much happier living in the core, it is far more pleasant.

There was a time when I was so fed up with the hateful BS that I was ready to give up cycling. Becoming a more assertive rider saved my sanity. For one thing, just having the mindless mistakes stop took one level of stress away from my riding. I have noticed a decrease in harassment. But more than anything, it made the remaining incidents easier to shrug off.

I don’t know what your solution is. It sounds miserable. I would probably be inclined to move. I have a low tolerance for subjecting myself to bad energy. But bicyclists should be afforded respect on every road. We should not have to avoid certain roads do to incivility. We should not have our travels shit upon by small-minded selfish a-holes every where we go. But solving problems requires being proactive and very few advocates are trying to solve these problems.

Video cameras are cheap. Documenting abuse is probably your best first step toward finding a solution. Did you email George Martin? He forwarded my email to one of his friends in the Jax PD and sent him to read the harassment thread on CO.