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.