Removing wing mirrors...

[Dave Lobster]

And for all the other occasions (99.9% of the time) when its a genuine mistake, a tut-tut finger or headshake is all that is necessary.

No no.. a genuine mistake is putting your socks on inside out, or getting one bottle of milk from pak 'n' save when you should have got two.

A mistake involving a deadly weapon (car) endangering someone's life is NOT a genuine mistake. It's driving in a manner endangering life. The same slack attitude with a firearm would be dealt with harshly (if caught). Why not with a car?

[XRVrider]

As a bicycle courier, you get the most grief possible from all road users, Pedestrians and all. As well as having the least protection to save you from bodily damage.

But from motorcycles I've had the least (have raced motorbikes across London and beaten them) so I broke very law going to make the most money possible, ran every light, and stop sign, held onto cars, buses and trucks for a tow with no regret. But I never put anyone at risk willingly, and tried to keep my nose clean. I never caused an accident by being what might be called reckless (by those who didnt ride a bike).

To those drivers who simply made a mistake putting my safety in danger I asked them to explain or just blanked it and carried on with a wave. If the person said Im sorry or waved I said "no problem, have a good day, or please be careful".

But if they gave me the finger after putting my safety at risk or told me to f off, or swerved at me I spat on their car and gave the finger. This was to rile them up same as I was, to show what it felt like, and had some very funny times watching their reactions. Fat cabbies getting out of cars and running after me etc.. with me yelling cmon fat boy, run faster... too many fry ups huh? I never got caught.

Guys who tried to run you over, and believe me it did happen, with me just minding my own business (I doubt another cyclist upset them first), I have been run off the road, knocked off etc... Then my reaction was to match theirs and spoil their day. One time with me knocked off lying on the road and bleeding the guy stopped, wound down his window and shouted "ha fucken ha, wish Id killed you". Red mist time from me. Got up ran to his stopped car and kicked in the entire side (all 4 panel's fully ruined) and shouted for him to get out.... he did, three onlookers grabbed him and held him down and asked me if I was alright. This was a Black Cab driver who was a nutter, but a dented cab isnt allowed to trade, so had to get off the road for repairs.

No-one wins but what he did was wrong, you dont go trying to kill someone and get away with it. I only damaged his car, thats nothing.

Not interested in what you think I might have done wrong here Katman, we are all different, some of us have balls.

[Katman]

"We need to reduce the number of irate drivers not create them." - Katman

Fair enough, but how do you propose to do this ? Fist waving ? Calling the cops ? A letter in the mail ? Roadside chemical neutering ? What ?

And how exactly is smashing off someone's wing mirror going to reduce the number of irate drivers?

[oldrider]

If you clock some chap upside the skull outside a pub while wearing your Repco work shirt, that dude is hardly going to unprovokedly attack the next random person he sees walking along the sidewalk wearing a Repco work shirt.

Same thing applies to the road.

If they see YOU again, they may indeed do something silly. But they're not going to attack just any ol' biker they see, unless they're already substantially more fucked in the head then your average human being, at which point there is no point factoring them into the equation because they're just that - outside of the norm.

Unfortunately, you just described the average New Zealand motorist of today!

[PirateJafa]

Unfortunately, you just described the average New Zealand motorist of today!

Try moving out of those barbaric southern climes, mate.

[oldrider]

Try moving out of those barbaric southern climes, mate.

Thought about it today, it was bloody cold here this morning!

[FROSTY:Me]

Dave Lobster. One of my favorite little sayings is "let he who has committed no sin cast the first stone"
Could you HONESTLY look me in the eye and say I have never made a mistake on the road ??

Heres the thing noone in this thread has discussed.
Whats happening to you whilst busy kicking the mirror off and zipping away. You're all pissed off and speeding. Dunno about anybody else but for me thats a recipe for me ending up having an accident cos Im so wound up.
To me staying alive is just so much more iportant than proving how right I am.

[FJRider]

Try moving out of those barbaric southern climes, mate.

To northern clime's ... where they kick mirrors off cars you mean ... ???

Thats one step away from shooting out their lights ...

[FJRider]

Thought about it today, it was bloody cold here this morning!

Wasn't cold here ... only minus 2 ....

[Dave Lobster]

Dave Lobster. One of my favorite little sayings is "let he who has committed no sin cast the first stone"
Could you HONESTLY look me in the eye and say I have never made a mistake on the road ??

Heres the thing noone in this thread has discussed.
Whats happening to you whilst busy kicking the mirror off and zipping away. You're all pissed off and speeding. Dunno about anybody else but for me thats a recipe for me ending up having an accident cos Im so wound up.
To me staying alive is just so much more important than proving how right I am.

Ignoring the godbothering bit... I don't get angry with them. I don't get wound up with them. I seldom lose my temper. All of these things are a recipe for me not having an accident until another half asleep tortoise tries to have me off.

[FROSTY:Me]

Nahh DL heres the thing --doesn't matter where a good idea comes from its still a good idea.

[Katman]

Not interested in what you think I might have done wrong here Katman, we are all different, some of us have balls.

Really? Spitting on someone's car then racing off down the road while they tried to chase you doesn't sound like balls to me.


And btw, I was a motorcycle courier in London for 4 years. I do know exactly what it was like.

[Zuki lover]

Who needs mirrors anyway.... don't use them when racing either

[Ixion]

And how exactly is smashing off someone's wing mirror going to reduce the number of irate drivers?

And your solution is ? You are still evading the question. Put up or shut up.

..
me knocked off lying on the road and bleeding the guy stopped, wound down his window and shouted "ha fucken ha, wish Id killed you"
.

Do you really think that turning an amicable blind eye to this man will make him any less violent toward the next victim he selects ? That in an instant he will be converted by your Christlike forgiveness ? If you really believe that , and could thus forgive if it was you, or someone you loved, that was bleeding, then I genuinely respect you, you are a better Christian than I . Somehow, I don't think it's true

I really wish you DID have a solution. I don't have a good one.

Peple who do this sort of thing are sadists. They get their jollies (usually sexual, though not always) from hurting people. They enjoy causing pain. The odds are that the man in the quote above got an erection doing it. They select people they perceive as weak or vulnerable to hurt. Children, women, old people. And motorcyclists . Turning a blind eye to his behaviour isn't going to change him. It's just going to encourage him, to assure him that he can get away with it.

Don't know an answer. Most of the time circumstances are such that all you can hope to do is run - get out his way. Calling the cops is useless. reasoning with him (let alone plaintive letters in the mail) is meaningless. Giving him pain in return may at least make him pause next time.

[rosie631]

You sound like you're in need of some panty shields.

And you sound like a self righteous, sanctimonious twat