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RPBrown wrote:

suthdj wrote:
I am surprised she even used a turn signal.

As a side note you guys on 2 wheels should preach to your fellow(generally younger)counter parts about road rules like just because your bike fit between 2 cars does not allow you to move ahead at a stop light because your in a hurry or doing wheelies at 70 down the highway is stupid and illegal , and the speed limit is not 120mph. I see more of those then cars cutting off bikers.

That was her defense. It was her road because she had her signal on.

Iwish I could preach to them. I ride with 3 seperate groups, My church riders (biker church), Fellowship Riders, and Masonic Riders. In all 3 we are requiredto sit through a training video 4 times a year, must have your license, and would be prefered but not mandantory that you attend an MSF course.

If nothing else, it makes you stay alert just as carrying a weapon makes you aware of your surroundings

I learned early on that me and 2 wheels just don't make a good mix. I was a fan of Evil Knievel when I was a kid, and after a head injury I decided it wasn't so fun.

Now as for the turn signal observations on the rare occasion they are used it is only an after thought. Now it may not so much be a Texas thing as I am in an area that has a lot of transplants like me. However in all the places I have been this is the worst for blinker usage.

My motorcycle is my primary method of transportation and it is getting more and more scary to ride. People seem to have no regard to other drivers in general - it is worse because something small can turn into a big issue when you are on a motorcycle. My head is on a swivel around here, especially when I find I have to ride on 75 through Dallas. That is a real joy and a pucker factor of about 100,000 some days. I cannot tell you how many time some moron comes flying across four lanes of traffic and barely misses my front wheel so they can ensure they make the exit they should have know about three exits ago.

The worse part is it makes no sense to give people the single finger salute (you're number one, buddy) because of the size diffrential between cars and morotcyles. Make somebody upset and it is too easy to be run off the road.

I love riding, but some days I really contemplate getting a car just to stay more safe.

The wife and I love our Harley, and its a shame that others can't take the instant to swivel their heads before changing lanes, use their signals in an appropriate manner, accelerate/decelerate like reasonable humans, etc, etc, etc.......

I understand it must be VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE to see/hear my big, bright red, thundering Harley Road King, with all the lights on. It has to be VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE because so many fools cut me off, push me into other lanes and don't cooperate when I am entering/exiting a freeway.

To be completely fair, the same wonderful folks drive the same way because they can't see my full size Cadillac, either. It's just more noticeable on the bike. By nature I am a VERY defensive driver and that has certainly saved my bacon on many occassions. I make a special effort to see the clueless before they have a chance to put me and/or my wife in danger.

That being said, this to the wonderfully funny tie wearing person driving the Jaguar that day. Your misguided attempt at speeding up and slowing down to match me as I was trying to enter the freeway did not go unnoticed. It was difficult on the shoulder after the entrance ramp disappeared, but the wife and I made it home safely. I did not give you any indication I was upset, as keeping the bike upright on a debris strewn shoulder while cars are whizzing by just to my left had me somewhat occupied. The fact that you made direct eye contact with me several times let me know you did this deliberately.

Be safe out there, everyone! Not every weapon is a gun or knife, and there are those who just don't follow the rules, no matter what!

RPBrown wrote:Came close to getting it yesterday. Lady in a SUV turned her signal on (I was already next to her) she never even checked her mirror, and started comming over. I hit my brakes and blew the horn. She flips me off and cotinues comming over.

Pull over. Call 911. Report attemped murder. That was an intentional act and morally equivalent to pulling out a gun and putting a magazine full into the passenger area of her SUV.

lonewolf wrote:To be completely fair, the same wonderful folks drive the same way because they can't see my full size Cadillac, either.

Sounds like you need a beater. Nobody ever tried to run my Datsun 720 with mix-and-not-quite-match body panels and cut-down bumpers from something much bigger off the road. They never tailgated either. Any fool could see that I had no incentive not to trade paint if they wanted to play chicken.

suthdj wrote:

RPBrown wrote:

suthdj wrote:
I am surprised she even used a turn signal.

As a side note you guys on 2 wheels should preach to your fellow(generally younger)counter parts about road rules like just because your bike fit between 2 cars does not allow you to move ahead at a stop light because your in a hurry or doing wheelies at 70 down the highway is stupid and illegal , and the speed limit is not 120mph. I see more of those then cars cutting off bikers.

That was her defense. It was her road because she had her signal on.

Iwish I could preach to them. I ride with 3 seperate groups, My church riders (biker church), Fellowship Riders, and Masonic Riders. In all 3 we are requiredto sit through a training video 4 times a year, must have your license, and would be prefered but not mandantory that you attend an MSF course.

If nothing else, it makes you stay alert just as carrying a weapon makes you aware of your surroundings

I learned early on that me and 2 wheels just don't make a good mix. I was a fan of Evil Knievel when I was a kid, and after a head injury I decided it wasn't so fun.

Now as for the turn signal observations on the rare occasion they are used it is only an after thought. Now it may not so much be a Texas thing as I am in an area that has a lot of transplants like me. However in all the places I have been this is the worst for blinker usage.

If you want to feel good about blinker usage in TX, visit Connecticut. The observation by those of us who lived immediately on the NY side of the border with that state was that a CT driver would fail inspection if his turn signals were operational.

We also wanted to have NY pass a law making it mandatory for all CT drivers entering the state to keep their hazard flashers in continuous operation while on our roads (due to those folks' unusual and unpredictable vehicle piloting techniques) but just couldn't get it past the legislature.

the guys doing the wheelies at 80mph, whipping in and out of cars, constantly changing lanes jockeying for a perceived
better traffic position or splitting lanes......... are crazy, or loaded with about 500lbs more guts than I'll ever have.
Splitting lanes is legal in Ca. (more insane Ca. law). My wife and I did a small day trip yesterday to St Jo, Muenster etc.
Mostly back roads and FM's. However, we jumped on 35 north of Sanger headed south..... saw 2 "almost" wrecks before we could
get through Denton. Two cars in Lewisville decided to shoot each other the 1 finger salute while doing 75mph and then proceed to play cat and mouse. We got tailgated at least 3 times (you think it's scary in a car? try being on a bike). The above are typical incidents seen almost every time we travel.
I make no excuses for bikers that are traffic problems, but MOST bikers that are on the heavy touring bikes are highway savy and safety conscious. If you're in a cage, please keep a eye out for the guys on 2 wheels. Look twice before changing lanes or pulling into
traffic from a side road and give the biker some space. If you ride, ride like you're invisible to cage drivers, because many will drive as if you're not even there. Ride safe.

gemini wrote:We got tailgated at least 3 times (you think it's scary in a car? try being on a bike).

You haven't noticed that wonderful supply of bike-tailgater-discouragement cleverly disguised as random debris that's provided for you along the side of every road?

KD5NRH wrote:

gemini wrote:We got tailgated at least 3 times (you think it's scary in a car? try being on a bike).

You haven't noticed that wonderful supply of bike-tailgater-discouragement cleverly disguised as random debris that's provided for you along the side of every road?

The evil side of me has always waned to have a bag of marbles to drop behind me when that happens. But alas, the good wins ove the evil.

KD5NRH wrote:

lonewolf wrote:To be completely fair, the same wonderful folks drive the same way because they can't see my full size Cadillac, either.

Sounds like you need a beater. Nobody ever tried to run my Datsun 720 with mix-and-not-quite-match body panels and cut-down bumpers from something much bigger off the road. They never tailgated either. Any fool could see that I had no incentive not to trade paint if they wanted to play chicken.

Even if I had a beater, I was too busy paying attention to debris on the shoulder, the curve ahead, the traffic next to me, the possibility of getting hit by someone exiting at the rapidly approaching exit ramp.........besides, the Jag sped away and I would have had to drive like the dickens to catch him. Not worth it. Someday, somewhere, his attitude will catch up with him. I just hope no innocents are injured when it does.

As for the mental giants doing wheelies at 80+mph and bobbing and weaving through traffic at 100+, they'll eventually pay the price. Again, my only hope is that no innocents are hurt when it happens.

When I am on the bike, driving my car, or carrying my weapon (or any combination thereof) I tend to be as cautious as a mouse at a cat show. That doesn't mean I can't have fun, enjoy the day and the company, but caution, common sense and consideration of others is what I offer. I wish more would offer it to me in return when on the road.

lonewolf: "I tend to be as cautious as a mouse at a cat show. That doesn't mean I can't have fun, enjoy the day and the company, but caution, common sense and consideration of others is what I offer. I wish more would offer it to me in return when on the road."