Have a rant...

**Pwalo** · 23rd June 2005, 08:19

Gee you people up north really take things personally!

I think you're making the mistake that car drivers, or most other road users are even aware of your existence. Traffic must be a real pain in the @#$% up there.

**Lou Girardin** · 23rd June 2005, 08:26

Excellent, but why are you justifying it? It sounds well warranted to me.

**speedpro** · 23rd June 2005, 08:27

I just quietly folded the mirror back for one woman who did the "left lane to middle lane" where I was thing. No damage done but the look on her face when she clicked that I was handling bits of her car

**vifferman** · 23rd June 2005, 09:32

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

Infact, DRIVING home tonight, I actually thought for one second, would it be so bad if I rammed the car infront of me?

My bro-in-law was on the Southern m/way one day, when some guy did just that, obviously thinking, "Hey,fucktard - can't you drive at the speed limit?" or somesuch, and gave the guy in front who was impeding him a helpful nudge to get him up to speed. Good thinking, and obviously a case of civic-mindedness. But the cop in the mufti car he was helping didn't think so.

You never know who the other person is, or when you're likely to run into them again (not sure if that's an intentional pun)

I think we need to be more creative. I like the "opening the car door" thing, as it's non-harmful, funny, but annoying to the person concerned. The trouble is, that many of the fucktards on the road think that the way they are driving is OK, and justifiable on the basis that (a) it's them doing it, and they're a 'better than average driver', and (b) it's saving them time, and (c) everyone else is doing it, and lastly (d) no-one's going to do anything about it.

What we do in response is most effective if it makes them think (alerts them to what they've done wrong), attacks their conscience (assuming they have one), and doesn't put us in the wrong. If it's someone who inadvertantly does something stupid, and then has us retaliate for no apparent reason, they could be justifiably pissed off.

F'rinstance - the woman who I nearly smashed into yesterday. Thinking about this after cooling down, I realised that I was at fault, regardless of how incomprehensible her actions seemed. She indicated a lane change, even if there was nowhere to go, so I shouldn't have passed her. I was so intent on lanesplitting, I assumed she was trying to go around the bus when there was no way to do so, but maybe there was a small gap opening up to her right, and she thought if she put her indicator on and stuck the nose of her car in it, someone would let her in? I don't know, because I wasn't looking there, just where I was going. Because I was behind her, and overtaking, it was my responsibility to ensure it was safe to do so. And her saying, "That's how you cause accidents" was quite right - I did nearly cause an accident. But it was funny retorting with "Just how did you expect to fit in that gap, you stupid bitch!?!", because wherever she thought she was going, I'm sure it wasn't a car-sized gap.

I think something involving reverse psychology, and that doesn't stoop to their level (or below it) would be more effective. Like say giving someone a pre-prepared note, with a Lotto or 'Scratch Kiwi' ticket attached:

"This is to let you know that you have been very lucky today. What you just did was very careless, and broke one or more traffic laws. You are lucky I'm in a good mood today. You (and I) were lucky you didn't injure me. You were VERY lucky I'm not an on-duty policeman. You were extremely lucky that I'm not an 8-foot tall Hell's Angel taking offence at your careless driving.
Please drive more carefully in future, be more attentive, LOOK FOR BIKES and try to be more considerate of other road users. You are responsible for their safety. Have a nice day."

**Lias** · 23rd June 2005, 09:36

Some asshat tried to kill me on the weekend when i was driving down to new Plymouth. Big ute type truck towing a stockcar on a trailer, I'm behidn him, we come up to a passing lane, I pull out and start overtaking.

Dickhead decies he doesnt want to be overtaken, pulls right out too, forcing me to be riding in the oncoming traffic. With cars in the oncoming lane whizzing past me a few inches to my left, I slowed right down to let him go past me, but he kept coming right.. I have gouge marks down the side of my boot from the side of his trailer, thats how close he was to me.

Scared the ever loving crap out of me. I'm still not sure how I didnt get headon'd by the oncoming traffic, as to avoid him I was riding right down the lines.

People are just assholes

**Lou Girardin** · 23rd June 2005, 09:40

Vifferman it's her responsibility to change lanes safely, not yours to let her in.
Although most people think that once their indicator goes on they do have right of way.

**vifferman** · 23rd June 2005, 09:58

Y'know Lou, at the end of the day, it's MY responsibility to make sure I'm safe - I can't rely on anyone else to look out for my safety (especially in D'Auckland).

I've had four significant crashes on bikes, all of which were 'not my fault' from the police's and insurance company's point of view. But from my point of view, I could've prevented every one, and wish I had. If nothing else, I've learned from each one, not held tight to the point of view that it was the other party's fault and blamed them for causing me pain and damage.

Here's what I've learned:

Car failed to give way at an uncontrolled intersection, and I T-boned them. People don't always look, and if they do, they don't necessarily see you. Whether you have right of way or not, be prepared to stop.
(Also - stunting on public roads can have unanticipated circumstances)
Pedestrian stepped out in front of my bike.
Pedestrians (and people in general) are unpredictable, especially when they are in danger/threatened. Allow for more than just the most likely course of behaviour.
Car changed lanes on me, without sufficient warning, and without looking first.
The most dangerous time is when you're nearly at your destination.
People don't anticipate how fast bikes can accelerate.
Be alert ALL the time.
Don't swerve and brake at the same time.
Car u-turned into me.
Never assume people can see you.
Listen to that little voice (it said, "Tootle your horn, just in case")
Sometimes there is more than one possible interpretation of an action (I thought he'd seen me and was pulling over, whereas he hadn't seen me, and was preparing for a u-turn).
Discretion and caution are usually better than action.
Crashing sucks. Pain sucks even more.
Sometimes hurting to know you're alive isn't worth it...

**mono** · 23rd June 2005, 10:12

Ask any old person to share their views on the subject and they will tell you, "Drive/ride like everyone else on the road is an idiot and is trying to hit you". We have all been told this so why do these idiots still upset us. If you put yourself in the same time and space as another motorist, chances are that they will do something to disrupt your driving pleasure, but you can't get mad because this stops you from learning the lesson, "DRIVE/RIDE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD IS AN IDIOT AND IS TRYING TO HIT YOU

". Most drivers are at the limits of their driving ability at 80kph and having to deal with working the faster peddle, the slower pedal, steering and looking out the window is ALL they can manage. So if you start to feel sorry for these inadequate people and give them the space and understanding they need none of these complete WANKERS can hurt you.

**Marmoot** · 23rd June 2005, 10:16

hmm.....anger I sense.
Careful you must be! Anger leads to hatred.....and hatred...leads to the darkside.

Patience you must have
Drink now I need.......

**John** · 23rd June 2005, 10:58

Originally Posted by Marmoot

hmm.....anger I sense.
Careful you must be! Anger leads to hatred.....and hatred...leads to the darkside.

Patience you must have
Drink now I need.......

give me the sp1 you must...

**FROSTY:Me** · 23rd June 2005, 11:42

Originally Posted by mono

"DRIVE/RIDE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD IS AN IDIOT AND IS TRYING TO HIT YOU :

gee wizz I wonder where that came from??
For the past two years Ive been saying this. Pleas please lord let this sink in.
IT DOESN'T FUCKEN MATTER WHO'S RIGHT OR WHO'S WRONG.
YOU MR INDIGNANT ARE THE ONE WHO IS DEAD.
Heres a quick reality check folks -the general population doesn't give a shit about bikers and never will.
Ya just have to accept that and move on

**Ghost Lemur** · 23rd June 2005, 13:33

Originally Posted by FROSTY

gee wizz I wonder where that came from??
For the past two years Ive been saying this. Pleas please lord let this sink in.
IT DOESN'T FUCKEN MATTER WHO'S RIGHT OR WHO'S WRONG.
YOU MR INDIGNANT ARE THE ONE WHO IS DEAD.
Heres a quick reality check folks -the general population doesn't give a shit about bikers and never will.
Ya just have to accept that and move on

Got to agree.

It's the main lesson I learnt from being here and saved me a hell of a lot of pain (or worse) when I had my accident.
On the point of general population of cagers not giving a shit. I think that's a "good thing", could you imagine all those fools on bikes? The mortality rate would hit the roof and we'd see even worse/stupider restrictions and attention. Not to mention what it would do to our insurance and registration costs.

Keep 'em in cages.

**Lou Girardin** · 23rd June 2005, 14:18

[QUOTE=vifferman]Y'know Lou, at the end of the day, it's MY responsibility to make sure I'm safe - I can't rely on anyone else to look out for my safety (especially in D'Auckland).
QUOTE]

Quite right, but I thought you were taking a legal point of view.