Motorists intentionally spraying cyclists with windscreen washer

If you turn on the wipers it will spray the washer to either side..

They could be just oblivious to its effects on those nearby whether in a bike, on foot or in another car.

Ive often had my windscreen 'washed' by the 'thoughtful' car in front so i can imagine a cyclist could be sprayed if a cars wipers werent set properly.
I couldnt imagine anyone being petty enough to do it on purpose but then again....

Pompous wrote: »

Good old boards nobody addressing the actual question I asked haha xD instead let's have a debate about whether it's possible or not... I don't know why I bother any more xD

You're a gas crowd

By process of elimination, that's data which should probably tell you that they haven't experienced it and are dubious as to whether it's a phenomenon.

You can adjust the windscreen washer jets direction with a pin. They're often misaligned, doubt if it's on purpose.

But I did come across a few youngfellas in dads car spraying cyclists (mainly kids) with a water pistol last summer. I caught up with them and told them that spraying minors with an unidentified liquid might not be a good idea. There was a dawning of realisation on their faces and they stopped.

Then some dude (previous water pistol victim I assume) rocked up on his road bike in between me and the lads and emptied/sprayed the content of his water bottle all over them, front and back, the dash, the radio, the statnav, and the expensive upholstery. Didn't even unclip...

Karma.

I've heard about this happening, but only had it (possibly) happen to me once.

I remember one time a car had to stay behind me for a while going round a long bend, and as soon as it could go past me, on came the windscreen spray. It is impossible to know why though.

osarusan wrote: »

...I remember one time a car had to stay behind me for a while going round a long bend, and as soon as it could go past me, on came the windscreen spray. It is impossible to know why though.

How is it "impossible to know why"?

Most likely that the long bend you described led the car in the direction of a low sun which would highlight dirt on the windscreen so the driver simply decided to use their windscreen washer. No conspiracy theory there.

Pompous wrote: »

Well folks, believe it or not, some people do do this on purpose. I understand your doubt... That cyclists tend to play the victim and overreact etc etc...

But today I was passing the airport and one of those enterprise van drivers came up along side me, sprayed me several times, and then took off.

When I chased him to his location and asked him why, he said because I was cycling on the bus lane instead of the cycle lane.

I have this all on camera but can't post it here, but it's proof he did it intentionally.

I didn't get mad, not even upset. The man driving that van is just frustrated with cyclists who are not using the cycle lane and has decided to start spraying them with windscreen washer. Yes, I could taste the chemicals. No, he didn't show any remorse for his actions.

To the people who find this behaviour hard to believe, I say try cycling in Dublin a little more often. Pigeons get more respect.

And finally, I would like to add, that if you know the stretch of road I'm talking about that passes the airport southbound, you know very well why I was not using the 'cycle lane'.

Pompous out.

I know that road well. Next time I'm on it I'll spray every car that passes me with my water bottle. If anyone asks me why I'll say it's because all of them were using the old Dublin/Belfast road when there's a perfectly good motorway just around the corner!

Has happened me a few times but wouldn't think it was ever deliberate.... nice on a hot day!

Had it happen a couple of times. Usually don’t think much of it - some washers seem to deflect the water jet up and over the roof more easily.

In saying that, if it was deliberate, I might find myself tapping on their window in heavy traffic and accidentally missing my mouth with my bidon....

Pompous wrote: »

Enterprise is a car rental place as far as I know. This man works for them and ferries people between the car rental location and the airport. All day long. So he uses this stretch of road all the time and has worked himself up enough to resort to this childish behaviour.

Car rental places normally use cars to transport people not vans.

Anyhow, I'm a driver and I can't understand why cyclists use roads around Dublin. It's scary the amount of sh2te you see. When I take my bike out I stay on the cycle lanes because it's just not worth it. Too many lunatics in cars...gets us all a bad name

Ken Tucky wrote:

Car rental places normally use cars to transport people not vans.

In fairness to op, they use mini buses mostly. Many mini buses are vans with seats in them

I get sprayed often when riding motorbike, usually when I catch-up with the car ahead and waiting for an opportunity to overtake, or waiting for them to move over from the overtaking lane on motorways etc. Its not too bad as I have full face helmet and waterproof gear head to toe, way more unpleasant if you get sprayed while out cycling.

I've received a lot more spray from cyclists without mudguards!

I've thought about adjusting mine to spray cyclists, especially after coming home to Ireland for a break recently and had cyclists two and threes keeping me from passing on the way out to Glendalough for 30 minutes. Thought this kind of ****e was only in the imagination of boards.ie users and Kavanagh poems but I finally witnessed it myself.

Ken Tucky wrote: »

Are Enterprise not a van rental company.?? Random driver finds rental van washer jets are spraying outside windscreen area and acts the prick. Outrageous stuff indeed

They do long term lease too I think, I've seen them used by other companies when their branded vans have been off the road or the company needs extra vehicles.

AlphabetCards wrote: »

I've thought about adjusting mine to spray cyclists, especially after coming home to Ireland for a break recently and had cyclists two and threes keeping me from passing on the way out to Glendalough for 30 minutes. Thought this kind of ****e was only in the imagination of boards.ie users and Kavanagh poems but I finally witnessed it myself.

30 minutes? Didn't happen.

Lumen wrote: »

Don't come back. Thanks.

Nah sorry mate the MTB is just too good in Ireland.

Happened to me 3 years ago. A car (which I thought was overtaking me) slowed down on the then empty Mt Merrion avenue to match my speed and I remained level with the front of the bonnet. Then it suddenly started to drown me. The jet came directly from the front light washer and was set only to the left of the vehicle, i.e. it didn't rebound off the lamp. Then I heard some laughter and a shout of "get off the road you pr*ck" and they sped off to the red light at the top of the hill.

This happened me some years back, way before helmetcams were a thing unfortunately. Four young lads in mammy's car came past, adjusted their position, sprayed me, roared laughing and took off. With my local knowledge, I headed round the corner, caught them trying to exit onto the main road, dropped the bike on the road in front of them, went round to the driver's window and we had a little exchange something like this, just without the choking;
https://youtu.be/SO5r53i97eE?t=26s

They were fairly terrified, and 'we were only joking' was the best they could come up with. I think I may have reported them to the coppers, but I can't recall if it went anywhere.

I had a taxi man who gave me a mouthful of soapy water in traffic recently - not deliberate or directed at all, just careless timing. He was slightly incredulous at my suggestion that it would be a good idea to check his wing mirror before spraying the windscreen next time.

Pompous wrote: »

Well folks, believe it or not, some people do do this on purpose. I understand your doubt... That cyclists tend to play the victim and overreact etc etc...

But today I was passing the airport and one of those enterprise van drivers came up along side me, sprayed me several times, and then took off.

When I chased him to his location and asked him why, he said because I was cycling on the bus lane instead of the cycle lane.

I have this all on camera but can't post it here, but it's proof he did it intentionally.

I didn't get mad, not even upset. The man driving that van is just frustrated with cyclists who are not using the cycle lane and has decided to start spraying them with windscreen washer. Yes, I could taste the chemicals. No, he didn't show any remorse for his actions.

To the people who find this behaviour hard to believe, I say try cycling in Dublin a little more often. Pigeons get more respect.

And finally, I would like to add, that if you know the stretch of road I'm talking about that passes the airport southbound, you know very well why I was not using the 'cycle lane'.

Pompous out.

That's outrageous. If you have decent footage, and particularly if he admitted it was deliberate, you should take the footage to the Gardai by reporting it to the TrafficWatch phone line. At a minimum, you should report it to Enterprise, so they can take action with their customer or employee, whichever it is.

Ken Tucky wrote: »

Anyhow, I'm a driver and I can't understand why cyclists use roads around Dublin.

For me, I usually use roads to get to and from work.

AlphabetCards wrote: »

I've thought about adjusting mine to spray cyclists, especially after coming home to Ireland for a break recently and had cyclists two and threes keeping me from passing on the way out to Glendalough for 30 minutes. Thought this kind of ****e was only in the imagination of boards.ie users and Kavanagh poems but I finally witnessed it myself.

So you're thinking of being a bully, is that it? I'm thinking of landing a nice gozzy of phlegm on the windscreen of those drivers in heavy urban traffic who don't move out of my way, because I assume that my journey is more important than them. You'd concur with this approach, yeah?

For the record, no, I don't spit on windscreens and I'm not thinking about spitting on windscreens.

Pompous wrote: »

I have this all on camera but can't post it here, but it's proof he did it intentionally.

Why can't you post it here?