das@cubsvax.UUCP (David Sassoon) (02/16/86)
Someone wrote recently to net.cycle: > When riding my motorcycle to and from work every day, I have noticed a > common theme amongst the knotheads of life who: > > * Come around curves from the other direction in my lane. > (And make no > attempt to get out of my lane when they see me.) > > (Attempt to force me off the road.) > >* Ride right on my rear tire in the slow lane, > then just before the exit > from the highway, change lanes as if to pass, > and then squeeze into the > 1.5 car length (too small anyway) distance > between me and the car ahead > of me with a quick lane change. > (This is hard to describe, but is > is a typical bonehead maneuver and quite dangerous.) > >* Run red lights in an effort to squash my motorcycle. > >* Attempt to force their way into my lane > (through me) because their lane > is closed and they didn't want to wait in line. > "The motorcyclist > won't stand up to a truck will he?" > [I refuse to move an inch; so far > none of the slugs have gotten close enough for me to kick their > vehicles. You might question my sanity at this point. I do.] > >* Drive the wrong way down WELL MARKED > one-way streets when I am visible > and coming the other way. > (I most often observe this in corporate > parking lots and in shopping centers with *divided* lanes.) > > > > Any comments netters? Has anyone else experienced this? > I would have expected > the sub-human jerks to drive a variety of vehicles. > (Pickups stand out as those who seem to go out of their way > to do these things on purpose.) > > __________________________________________________________ RESPONSE: And you are still riding after all these experiences? It sounds a bit as if you are doing something wrong on the road. True, it isn't your fault when people drive down a one-way street the wrong way, but don't motorcyclists drive in the city as if everyone in a car just does NOT see you???? Part of driving defensively is avoiding problems (cars in particular, I agree) before they even materialize. Part of the beauty of driving a bike is to be able to swiftly avoid many of the problems that would be more difficult to avoid in a car. On a freeway, I often find that someone (particularly in slow moving traffic) is less likely to pull a dumb stunt if you establish some kind of presence. This does not necessarily mean bright reflector gear, etc. More importantly, make eye contact with the driver. Wave or nod your head... if they nod back or smile, they are extremely unlikely to do something mean later on...if they growl back to you (yes, some people out there hate us), let them have their way. I suspect that part of the reason drivers do strange things in order to pull out in front of a bike is because they are actually afraid or uneasy to drive behind one... Anyhow, this isn't meant as a 'flame' but a general note to netters (cycle). Perhaps I should ask a general question to the net...Do others out there share such bad experiences as the person who wrote? Has my somewhat trouble free cycling in NY and NYC (hard to believe) been unusually peaceful??? In general, I find that most people have a bit of admiration for those of us on motorcycles, and are generally quite civilized (even those in pickup trucks!). David Sassoon Columbia Univ. (Biology)
hodges@ucla-cs.UUCP (02/22/86)
>True, it isn't your fault when people drive down a >one-way street the wrong way, but don't motorcyclists drive in >the city as if everyone in a car just does NOT see you???? All the bikers that I know ride as though auto drivers are blind. It is all too often the case that our mistakes in assuming that they see us and are considerate are fatal ones. The proof is in reversal. When I drive my (truck, hee hee) I often miss bikers altogether. It is very frustrating because I am in general on the lookout for good riders, nifty bikes, etc. >... if they nod back or smile, they are extremely >unlikely to do something mean later on...if they growl back to >you (yes, some people out there hate us), let them have their >way. I tend to disagree to some extent. People rarely smile back, but maybe the bike and tint on the shield are too awesome for them. Teeny bop girls often smile back, and I don't fear them. Unfortunately, I show off for them. The people that scare me get the fist or the finger (or both). Being terrified is just too strong not to reply in a strong way. If my heart is going to pound, then theirs better also. Let them have their way? I'm usually in the next county before they can decide. >...Do others out there share such bad experiences as >the person who wrote? Has my somewhat trouble free cycling in >NY and NYC (hard to believe) been unusually peaceful??? I ride in L.A. If there is a place to find experience on a bike its here. I haven't had too many problems, and they are generally discussed above. The article coming down on trucks is revealing insofar as this fellow's own paranoia is concerned, but I haven't found trucks to be any better or worse than other cars, or even bikers! There is no better way to ride than on a machine with lots of power, good brakes and handling, a defensive but aggressive nature, and a lot of experience.
Anonymous@convex.UUCP (02/24/86)
>>True, it isn't your fault when people drive down a >>one-way street the wrong way, but don't motorcyclists drive in >>the city as if everyone in a car just does NOT see you???? > >All the bikers that I know ride as though auto drivers are blind. Hello, glad to meet you. Now that we've been introduced, you can say that you know one who doesn't... <I don't drive as if auto drivers are blind -- I drive as if they have perfect vision and are out to _kill_ me...> blues, II (Paranoid? Me? Who tole you to ask?)