Cage driver on cell ran my son-in-law off the road today

[alanmcorcoran]

It's not the talking for me - it's the dialing. At my age, I have trouble seeing the numbers and poking them. I don't use my phone in the car much anymore for three reasons: not legal in California, rarely use it even when I'm not in the car, and I am hardly ever in a car anymore (and you really cant use one with a full face helmet unless you got fancy electronics.)

I seriously assume that every car at an intersection cannot see me and is possibly going to hit me and try to plan at least one "escape" route should they turn in front of me, move into my lane or all of the other dangerous moves they can make. I developed a lot of this sense when doing long distance road bicycle treks (bicyclists get killed by cars ALL THE TIME!) What's worse with a bicycle is EVEN MORE PEOPLE HATE YOU and many actively want you off "their" road. There is a case being deliberated in CA right now where a doctor (!) who didn't like being behind bicycles (going the speed limit) pulled his SUV in front of two of them and slammed on the brakes. He then taunted the guy that went through his rear window. Now he's claiming he "stopped to take a picture." There is no doubt than many cyclists can be major douchebags, but in my riding group, we nearly always went single file when there was no bike lane, we all wore helmets, and we stopped for lights, stop signs etc. Over the years, many of our number were run into ditches, cut off at intersections and otherwise harassed. Bicyclists, especially if you are wearing spandex, are just considered fair game out here. I think my experience as one of the hunted has been beneficial to my awareness on the motorcycle.

[Moedad]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Bicyclists, especially if you are wearing spandex, are just considered fair game out here. I think my experience as one of the hunted has been beneficial to my awareness on the motorcycle.

I'll second that. I've had things thrown at me, sprayed at me, I've been edged off the road, turned in front of, braked in front of, and even had a passenger on a motorcycle shove me.

[alanmcorcoran]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 7065.story

[burkbuilds]

Wow alan, that guy really seemed like he just totally lost it! Certainly different than what happened to my son-in-law, I don't think the car driver in his case had intentions of hurting anyone she just made a bad choice about driving and trying to do something else at the same time which caused the accident. I read further on your posted story and saw where that Doctor was convicted and taken into immediate custody until his December 3 hearing for sentencing.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

we nearly always went single file when there was no bike lane,, and we stopped for lights, stop signs etc.

In my experience (in both England & Spain) guys like you are in the minority. I've found that the majority are total arseholes - arrogant, & like to make car/bike drivers slow down to their speed (usually just above walking pace on hills) & pretend that they're totally ignorant of the vehicles behind them. They ride in packs, 5 or 6 abreast so that following traffic has no chance of overtaking safely, & they NEVER check behind or signal before making manouvers. It's as though they're challenging the other road users.

One other complaint I have is that in England cars/bikes have a heavy road tax placed on them every year. They are obviously not allowed to race on the highway, but the police think nothing of closing down whole sections of highway so that the cyclists (who pay NOTHING in taxes) can race their bicycles. Just imagine the furore if motorists asked for the highway to be closed so that they can race.

I've nothing against the guy who genuinely uses his cycle as a means of getting around. The problem seems to be TOTALLY the problem of the lycra clad "Look at me, I use a cycle not a car, so I'm better than you because I'm not polluting the planet" brigade.

Glad I got that off my chest, because it's been infuriating me for YEARS! :biggun: BTW, in England things are so bad that they're known as "lycra louts", so it's not just me that's pissed off with them!

[Water Warrior 2]

Just remembered this. A few years ago in Edmonton Alberta they experimented with cops on bicycles in the down town area. Seems some silly ass bumped a cop and tried to make a run for it. The cop chased him on foot and caught him as other police cruisers converged on the scene. The lesson here: Don't do anything you might regret. Luckily the bicycle cop was uninjured.

[bonehead]

Don't have enough time or space to get me started on bicycles on the road. Short version: they have no reason to be on the road with cars!

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by bonehead

Don't have enough time or space to get me started on bicycles on the road. Short version: they have no reason to be on the road with cars!

I couldn't agree more! Now, what do we have to do to get those damn cars off the road? :biggrin:

[burkbuilds]

One of my professors told us that in Belgium they actually have bicycle highways just for bicycles and they have cloverleafs and everything, but even with that they are having problems with extreme speed differences between cyclists who collide and injure one another fairly often.

[Water Warrior 2]

I used to putter along on the sidewalk with my bike. Ya I am slow. Got passed by skate boards regularly and one electric wheel chair.
Oh, just remembered. Clocked a skate board at 80 kms(50 mph) with the cage. Darn kids hitch hike up the road to a good slope on the highway and coast down. Was waiting for the bearings in those little wheels to seize up and spit him off. No safety gear at all just a big grin on his face.