What is with people who drive cars cutting off motorcyclists? I was cut off 2 times today and I am not a daredevil motorcyclist that gives other motorcyclists a bad name. I drive defensively, otherwise I would have been in 2 accidents today. So, to the lady driving the amber minivan who cut 3 feet in front of me coming off the Bedford entrance to Magazine Hill and the silver SUV that was parked in the care home who pulled out WITHOUT LOOKING into my path: SCREW YOU. Learn how to freaking drive and respect ALL drivers on the road. —Angry Hand Talking Cyclist
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2011.
Welcome to the wonderful world of motorcycling. After numerous decades of motorcycling I’ve got stories that would make your toes curl. If you are not new to this you know what I mean. Be careful out there.
I would guess these people just didn’t look. No matter if it was a bike, a car or an elephant. Not all the stupidheads on the road are out to get people on bikes. Everyone is fair game to them in their state of unawareness
I drive a minivan and still get cut off. Everyone in HRM has a severe case of whiplash since they never check behind or beside, I guess. I would love to buy a bike but am terrified of the idiocy and complacency evident in today’s mindset.
They don’t look, and they don’t see you when they do. Their brains aren’t wired in for ‘skinny thing on two wheels’, and probably never ever will be. Wear a reflective vest, get a day-glo helmet, drive like everyone is trying to murder you and always watch out for their mirrors and faces. You might get a heads up on whatever the mouthbreather of the minute is about to do.
My brother used to drive a bike, then was almost killed by some fool, trying to race him to an exit ramp, only 50 feet or so ahead of them. He took quite a spill, that left him in hospital for almost 6 months.
Someone got the other plate number, and up to today, nothing has happened to other party. If you speed, you deserve to die, not the other person, that you try to cut off.
If speeders deserve to die then we have to execute half the people on motorcycles right now.
In my experience…you wouldn’t have gotten in 2 accidents.
It would have been 1 accident & either you, your bike or both wouldn’t have been able to continue along to the scene of the second near accident .
Now , don’t you feel better .
Two things:
1) guyute drives a minivan. Lol
2) everybody speeds. I will guarantee that not one person who has ever driven a vehicle has not gone 1 km over the speed limit at some point.
There is a reason they call a motor ycle a dangerous vehicle. People don’t see them, not because they are assholes but because they don’t see them. There are blind spots in every vehicles mirrors this means you cannot see something if it is in that particular spot. I am very aware of motorcycles and the odd time when conditions permit, I have cut them off, I feel bad that it happened but what can I do, it already happened. The only reason these situations didn’t become accidents is because the cyclist saw what was coming and reacted before it happened. Same thing when people cut me off in my car, big deal, it’s gonna happen. Suck it up, if you don’t like it don’t drive. I’m sure you have never cut anyone off in your life, never made a mistake on the road that could even be construed as a minor inconvenience to any other motorist. To this I say shut up and quit whining.
i wish i had a minivan
LOL no you don’t. I WANT a slantnose 911 circa 1988, however then my two kids would be wayyyyy to close when they start to fight in the backseat. The minivan gets them far enough away I can drown them out with my tunes. Emphasis on the word DROWN
Everyone gets cut off in HRM….not just motorcycles. It comes part and parcel with driving here. Get used to it. Try driving more aggressively. Those minivan driving bitches don’t have a clue…..all they do is scoot from one soccer practice to another looking to hook up with daddies.
Do you even ride a motorcycle seb?
THE MIND OF THE MOTORCYLIST
Angry Hand writes: “What is (it) with people who drive cars cutting off motorcyclists?”
A few years ago Montrealman happened to be a guest at a campsite in St. Augustine, Florida. Unfortunately, he ignored the warning of the campground receptionist making the reservation when she told him it was “Biker Week.” Montrealman thought the reference was to the kind you pedal. He was wrong.
St. Augustine, the oldest town in North America, is the site of very interesting archaeological sites which Montrealman had the good fortune to visit. However, the town itself appeared to be under an invasion by Hell’s Angels types, pot-bellied and tattooed, with T-shirts sporting the images of large birds. There were also a lot of heavily bearded types scowling under their German-style helmets. All they did was blast around the town in an orgy of self-display.
Early the next morning, as Montrealman was leaving the shower building, he came across one of the Bikers trying to talk his “old lady” down off an all-nighter “bad trip.” Montrealman guessed that this was not an isolated incident. An atmosphere of degeneracy and suppressed violence pervaded the campground.
When not directly involved in the drug trade, the perception of Bikers is that they are self-aggrandizing, fascist narcissists. “LOOK AT ME!” they seem to be shouting. “FEAR ME BECAUSE I AM ONE BAD HOMBRE!”
Now you know, Angry Hand, why people who drive cars cut off motorcyclists.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
haha guyute, our boy is grown and gone and we are without four wheels. i really want one of these http://www.news-autosfocus.info/images/vol…
Way to paint all motorcyclists with the same brush Monsieur de la Mont! Delve a little deeper into the world of motorcycle enthusiasts and you will find that not all are in it for the same thing and that some of us are in it for intangibles that have absolutely nothing to do with American-style biker pilgrammages and the activities contained at such. We are the ones who are only interested in the spiritual connection that occurs between rider and machine on the open road. Witnesses not required.
So…..being intimidated by someone is justification for trying to run them off the road?
PS – Being a philosopher, you shouldn’t be criticizing ‘an all-nighter…of degeneracy’, you know, pot & kettle.
Symposium = Drinking party. 🙂
Paingirl, friends of ours had one for yeaaaarrrrs when they were new. They loved it and hated to dump it but it finally died. I think they had it in a sunflower yellow??
ever since the hub-unit came back from the west coast, he dreams of getting something like that and going on an adventure
Sweet set of wheels sis! Leave the hubbly-bubbly home. Where should we go? ROAD TRIPPPPPPPPP!
Do they come with the motorcycle mounted on the back?
RSVPs
: Oceanchick (11:13AM)
“We are the ones who are only interested in the spiritual connection that occurs between rider and machine on the open road. Witnesses not required.”
Ah, you can see what’s coming, can’t you Oceanchick. What, exactly, is that “spiritual connection” of which you speak? Can you supply some cognitive content? Otherwise, I’m sure the American bikers whom you so shockingly denigrate could come up with something along the same lines. Here’s your chance Oceanchick! Give it full throttle!
: The Turd (11:13AM) – No, not intimidated, just disgusted.
A Pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Y’know Annie, if an orangutan can stand up to a bunch of bikers; a professor of philosophy should be able to as well.
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-sn…
Because, you can debate, existentialism, nihilism, logical positivism , etc until you’re blue in the face; there isn’t a problem in the world that can’t be solved by an ape giving the finger.
L’homme du mont: If you do not have a motorcycling background then you won’t get it no matter how much I could write about it to try to make you understand. Those who ride get it.
RSVPs
: Scrotum (July 31, 6:43PM)
“there isn’t a problem in the world that can’t be solved by an ape giving the finger.”
I’ve heard of wisdom coming out of the mouths of babes but never out of the finger of an ape. Scrotum, how did you know this? Can you explain, or are you
going to cop an Oceanhick plea, i.e., I would have to be an ape to understand
the answer?
: Oceanchick (9:24PM) – Ah, as I expected, Oceanchick was unable to explain that
“spiritual connection” she has with her motorcycle. I just wouldn’t “get it.”
Not only that, I wouldn’t even get why I wouldn’t get it. I guess that’s what
“spiritual” means.
However, there was a bumper sticker a few years back which read: “Motorcycles: put something exciting between your legs.” Would that have something to do with
that “spiritual connection?”
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
“I would have to be an ape to understand the answer?” – Nope, just smarter with better comprehension….well, that would be an ape wouldn’t it.
OC – anybody who has a ‘passion’ will understand 😉 which is why it’s beyond mm’s ken.
Absolutely not Monsieur L’homme. Spiritual connections are found in the heart, “homme du Philosophe”.
While I have never felt anything spiritual while riding my bike… I sure have had times that were awesome while out driving. Something about a nice sunny day, riding on secondary roads , that wind & twist through the countryside going somewhere you’ve never been… views are unimpeded by the inside of a cage with windows, wind in your hair (yes I usually take my helmit off ) its almost like flying without leaving the ground ( & you don’t have to be doing a gazzillion miles an hour either). Or early mornings sun’s just rising as you travel along an oceanside road, flat calm, hinting at a beautiful day to come
If that’s what you meant by spiritual OceanLady. I can understand that, I simply call it something else .
i get the same sensation riding my bicycle, wind in the face, a sense of freedom…a lot like being at sea
more, you need not go quickly … because you physically can’t…
http://www.dobhran.com/images2/cowasockee.…
RSVPs
: The Turd (11:21AM) – Incomrehensible as usual.
: Oceanchick (11:2AM)- Ah, a romantic! Spiritual connections are found in the heart and not, presumably, the head. Could you elaborate on that, Oceanchick? No, I suppose not. Romantics are never very good at elaborating on things, are they.
: More (11:53AM)- Well, what else DO you call it More?
: Paingirl (12:05PM) – You’ve got to stop snorting that stuff.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
M & M…. read slower, you missed the word ‘awesome’ .
As in inspiring awe, impressive.
RSVPs
: More(2:04PM) – Well, I guess it’s a question of where “awesome” ends and “spiritual” begins. Oceanchick, could you help More out with that?
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
check this out chickpeababe http://www.daveandthomas.net/wp-content/up… this looks more practical http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SSR_d54u9SA/TRST…
leotards can ride bicycles too mr. fat, black is more flattering http://angrywhitedude.com/wp-content/uploa…
“Incomrehensible as usual.” – Only to you Sméagol, only to you. Silly Stoor Hobbit.