Not just there and not just for bicycle riders. Out west, most hill/ mountain roads have signs every few miles "slow vehicles must use turnouts" - apparently that message is in some indecipherable alien language.
When I was pulling a big 5th wheel I'd check my mirrors and use the turnout if there was even one vehicle behind me. I've seen motorhomes and trailers with 10-20 cars behind them go blithely past turnout after turnout.
Ouch ... I had one laydown that left a lasting impression, and I'd bet not only on me.
I might have told this one here before, but ...
On an Easter Sunday morning, an idiot with his wife and kids in tow, passed me while I was driving the speed limit (35) in the right lane of a four lane boulevard; just as he was fully into my lane he slammed on his brakes to make a right turn into, fercrissakes, a church parking lot (???). Sensing the danger as he'd passed, I'd already hit the brakes, but still had to lay the bike down to keep from going over the top, and me and the bike skid further than I cared to under his back bumper.
Unhurt, but highly pissed, I extricated myself and the bike while he just sat in the car as if nothing happened. As I walked up on the drivers side, he rolled his window down, and before he could say a word I had him by the lapels of his christian leisure suit and had hauled the best part of his funky ass out the window while banging the back of his head against the top of the window frame with each tug, all the while telling him what a stupid SOB he was in a most unchristian manner, a sermon everyone in the church parking lot had not anticipated on an Easter Sunday.
If his wife hadn't started screaming, and the kids crying, I'd probably still be pounding on him ... Yep, most unchristian like behavior on my part, but thanks ONLY to the relatively low speed, and me laying the bike down, it was NOT me that he _did_ kill.
I dunno, Lew, you may be on to something there. From what I've seen of them anyway... :)
Defensive driving was hammered into me by both Mom and Dad before I got my bike. Kudos on using that same principle to save your life. It's a nightmare out there.
A most excellent way to put the fear of God into the guy, and what an appropos setting for everyone to start thinking about others on the road besides their hypocritical, asshole, Christian selves. (apologies to the 3% of churchgoers who _aren't_ HACs.)
Har! I'd likely have done the same thing if my accident had been caused by anyone other than a stupid, blind old lady. I hope she lost her license for that. I had my headlight on and everything. I certainly hope that your little motivational session with the guy made him more aware of his surroundings while driving every time he drove after that.
-- It is easier to fool people than it is to convince people that they have been fooled. --Mark Twain
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"Richard" wrote:
------------------------------ As Bill Pinkney observed when he stopped in OZ on his way around the world.
"The milling of the Searays is the same the world around."
Lew
And just last month, I came upon a pair of bicyclists who were riding tandem, taking up half my lane. There was another car coming and the riders still didn't get off the road or go single file. I glared at them on the way by, slowly, and they looked at me as if was from another world and wondering "What did _we_ do?"
This morning, on the way into town, a girl was stopped in the right lane, halfway up the hill. She stood on the road with her front tire a foot into the lane and just looked at me as I had to veer into the other lane to pass her. Again, the "What are you looking at?" look. These riders are not only stupid and arrogant, they're just sitting ducks for inattentive drivers.
Viva la Darwin Awards!
-- It is easier to fool people than it is to convince people that they have been fooled. --Mark Twain
"Swingman" wrote
A cop once told me that Easter Sunday crashes are quite common. Lots of folks go to church once a year, on Easter. And they are often late and get a little stupid trying to get to church on time.
I witnessed a collision between two Easter Sunday church goers myself. I was walking by the church when it happened. They crashed into one another right outside the church. They got out, exchanged information and went to church! I guess it is just so hard to get it right when you only do it once a year.
"Mike M" wrote
:)
Yup, two people were killed a few weeks back on our 407 toll highway like that. Perhaps somebody else knows the details.
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This morning, on the way into town, a girl was stopped in the right lane, halfway up the hill. She stood on the road with her front tire a foot into the lane and just looked at me as I had to veer into the other lane to pass her. Again, the "What are you looking at?" look. These riders are not only stupid and arrogant, they're just sitting ducks for inattentive drivers.
Viva la Darwin Awards!
Nice Land Cruiser. Looks in good shape...
I wish I had that Kubota... I could use it..
How does a Sportster get stolen? Ignition gets picked or punched or the bike gets dragged onto a flatbed and driven away?
On Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:23:27 -0700, Mike M
In THAT case, here's a way you can have some GREAT fun. :)
The other problem with bicyclists is that they don't think that the traffic laws apply to them. I've seen them go cruising through stop signs and red lights like being on a bicycle gives them the right-of- way. And then there are the ones who ride facing traffic.
Chain cut, picked up, loaded in a pickup, and it's gone. Our banditos are nothing, if not brazen ... hell, they can steal an entire AC condenser unit, without losing the freon, in less than two minutes. DAMHIKT
Much of this stuff ends up in Mexico. Highway 59 going South out of Houston, on any given day, a caravan can be seen, one car/truck pulling another, both loaded to the gills with loot, heading for distribution South of the border.
Your bought and paid for politicians just look the other way ... so why not?
Works both ways.
Case in point, in Idaho a rolling stop ("stop sign as yield") on a bicycle is perfectly legal. Title 49, Chapter 7, section 720. Been on the books for almost 30 years. Its right there in the state drivers manual as well.
Yet the only motorist I meet who seem to know about it are also active bicyclist.
As far as I know, the bicyle/car accident rate in Idaho is no different than any other state.
I thought the idea of a helmet was to wear it on your head ?
+1
Mike M
I guess actually 4 then as I've got the dog's brother too.
Mike M
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