The other side of the coin

**slofox** · 14th July 2008, 12:56

It seems that not all two wheel riders take a lot of care when riding....

Was driving the cage yesterday, on a dual lane section of Cobham Drive, Hamilton and came up behind a scooter rider.

Being the good biker that I am, I watched this person very closely. Just as well......he/she was in the right lane. I moved into the left lane, prior to making a left turn. A few seconds later, scooter rider decided to move into the left lane as well - this move being undertaken without any signal of intention, without any head check and obviously without any mirror check either, to see if the way was clear . I had to brake to avoid the scooter which was without drama 'cause I was watching for just such an idiotic move....scooter rider proceeded on his/her way without even being aware of the close call.....so it would seem that not all close encounters of the cage kind are the cager's fault.....gawd, when will they ever learn?

**Mully** · 14th July 2008, 13:04

I maintain that a good portion of this is because people can ride scooters on cage licences.
See similar on the way to work all the time.

**Swoop** · 14th July 2008, 13:16

Sounds like you encountered one of the "Moron Few" out for a high-performance ride.

**slofox** · 14th July 2008, 13:19

Originally Posted by Swoop

Sounds like you encountered one of the "Moron Few" out for a high-performance ride.

hehehe Yeah - s/he was screaming along at at least 45km/h..........

**LittleAngel** · 14th July 2008, 13:21

Originally Posted by Mully

I maintain that a good portion of this is because people can ride scooters on cage licences.
See similar on the way to work all the time.

I would have to 100% agree with that! I reckon they need a learner motorbike license to ride a scooter!!

**vifferman** · 14th July 2008, 13:29

Originally Posted by slofox

....scooter rider proceeded on his/her way without even being aware of the close call.

Did you not resort to tootling melodiously with the horn then? (In a purely educational way, of course...)

**Griffin** · 14th July 2008, 13:29

I think its fair to say that mistakes are made in reasonably equal shares in both camps (Car drivers and Bike riders). The good twist on this story is that you were looking out for the possibility of something happening and in doing so have possibly saved someones life... you will never really know - but good on you.
This is what it should be like on the roads - people watching out for people... cos a mistake (whether due to misunderstanding or ignorance) is always going to be made by someone.

**slofox** · 14th July 2008, 14:08

Originally Posted by vifferman

Did you not resort to tootling melodiously with the horn then? (In a purely educational way, of course...)

Actually, no I didn't - thought that might cause panic, falling off of the rider and the ensuing running over thereof by myself.......just banged my head on the steering wheel in despair instead......but maybe a melodious tootling of the warning device might have been appropriate......

**slofox** · 14th July 2008, 14:10

Originally Posted by Griffin

I think its fair to say that mistakes are made in reasonably equal shares in both camps (Car drivers and Bike riders). The good twist on this story is that you were looking out for the possibility of something happening and in doing so have possibly saved someones life... you will never really know - but good on you.
This is what it should be like on the roads - people watching out for people... cos a mistake (whether due to misunderstanding or ignorance) is always going to be made by someone.

In truth, getting back on a bike has made me that much more aware of other two wheelers on the road.......

**Mountlocal1** · 14th July 2008, 14:28

One of the biggest problems is as soon as a kid turns 15 they can get their L plates.. With no actual time on the road. Then they go out and buy a scooter. The majority of youg scoot riders Iv seen lake any type of awarness of whats going on around them.

**Mikkel** · 14th July 2008, 14:36

Originally Posted by Mully

I maintain that a good portion of this is because people can ride scooters on cage licences.
See similar on the way to work all the time.

Nah, neither the car nor the bike license comes with a mandatory dose of common sense, therefore I am afraid that can not possibly be the reason. Unlike what some people on here, I don't believe for a second that bikers are necessarily any more competent of sensible than their car-driving cousins. Hopefully we are more aware of our arses being on the line though - because they are.

Just last night I saw a young kid on a scooter here in Chch - no helmet, speeding (70 in a 50 zone) and weaving around erratically. Looked a bit paranoid at the lights as well...

**madandy** · 14th July 2008, 14:51

Originally Posted by Mountlocal1

One of the biggest problems is as soon as a kid turns 15 they can get their L plates.. With no actual time on the road. Then they go out and buy a scooter. The majority of youg scoot riders Iv seen lake any type of awarness of whats going on around them.

better they ride scooters than be armed with 300hp 1500kg cages!

Everyone should start out on a scooeter

**musicman** · 14th July 2008, 17:08

Originally Posted by vifferman

Did you not resort to tootling melodiously with the horn then? (In a purely educational way, of course...)

+1

From your description the rider seemed completely oblivious to the close call and so will continue riding like so in the future. A short tootle of the horn (not a long angry blast) would have alerted him/her and hopefully make them more careful in the future.

**hang0ver** · 14th July 2008, 17:28

I had the exact same thing happen to me today, no indicating, no checking. Its a good thing I treat all scooter riders like pimply whatever-the-fuck teenagers (80%, except for the guy in the building where I work who rides his new R6 in every now & then) and anticipate their outlandish moves...

Remember the scooter mentality = Its not a motorbike and doesn't do 0-100 in 4 seconds so I will be fine.