Triumphrat

Nathan · 03-27-2007, 09:29 PM

Southeastern Virginia (did I mention we get to ride in comfort year round here) is pretty bad. It's not Boston, but it's bad. At least the Bostonians are predictably whacko.

Riding into work on my Bonnie (there's your Twins content, Moderatorperson) this morning and pull up behaind an enormous Ford Exponential thing. Driver has her rearview cocked off at 90 degrees so she can apply makeup are just examine how busy she looks or something.

She's in front of me so I'm not too concerned that she probably doesn't know I'm there. Wrongo! She puts her SUV into REVERSE without even straightening the rearview and starts backing into me. I'm honking my "upgraded" horn and backing my bike up as far as I can without boinking the car behind me. She finally sees/hears me and brakes, pulls into the next lane over and takes a left on red.

Riding home the same day: guy in a pickup going the wrong way on a divided city street. Looks at me like I'M nuts.

Aiieee!

DrEnglish · 03-27-2007, 09:32 PM

Nathan, I have experienced a similar thing many times, and posted on it before as well. It seems that some days the cagers all go nuts. Now, common sense might suggest that we just notice it more on some days, or that perhaps we are ourselves riding more aggressively, or in a new area, or...

But I have had the distinct sense on my regular commute that some days it's just a relaxing ride, and other days I get home feeling like I've just dodged the Grim One based on the pyscho behavior of the cagers.

I have no explanation or real data, but I know how you feel.

pabonne · 03-27-2007, 09:37 PM

Hit nearly 80 degrees here today in SE PA. Bikers were out in droves and I think we may have caught the cagers off guard.

I'm going to be extra cautious until they get used to us again. :-/

t-birder · 03-28-2007, 07:18 PM

Same here I think. Cagers looking a little confused at my bicycle with a motor.

Heck, on the way home today I had this college girl, talking on her cell phone, trying to drive up my a$$. I had to wave her off. It was hard enough to stay on the rode as it was, being a very windy day, without having to watch my back the whole time.

cobra935o · 03-29-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

On 2007-03-27 19:37, pabonne wrote:
I'm going to be extra cautious until they get used to us again. :-/

Thats how you should be anyway, from all the posts on here, you should know cars arent looking out for bikes, and even being a biker I know I have had bikes sneak up on me while driving the car (especially if you have the silent stock exhaust on your bike).

One thing that has been implemented recently here in ABQ, is that it is now illegal to talk on the phone and drive without using a hands free device, not that that is much better, but at least they should have one hand on the wheel now. I have seen some of these people, smoking, driving, and talking, what hand are they using to drive with?

Nathan

Bhakti-rider · 03-29-2007, 10:52 PM

You know, I've noticed that on some days, and on one within the last week - might have been the day you meant. It's weird when on one commute four or five or more drivers do really stupid things... it does happen, and I suspect there's really no accounting for it. I don't like it.