the police where I live (atlanta) are FAR more consumed writing speeding tickets than actual traffic tickets. We have people running redlights even, causing gridlock, etc all while the police just watch
Thanks for the candid reminder. We all need to ride smart.
RedShift's experience adds more fuel to my idea of enacting legislation to create a citizen traffic corp. The CTC would be specially trained and armed with a paintball gun. The paint would be of a special color. Full time law enforcement would be authorized to immediate seize and impound any vehicle with more than three hits of the paint.
The details of this program are sketchy at the moment. It would, at least, make the members of the CTC feel better to unload on someone just begging for it. :guns:
Another idea, and one more likely to succeed in legislation, would be a radar gun camera. GPS circuitry would display the speed limits of the road the CTC member was on. That would be integrated into the data taken on the suspect vehicle (remember, they are innocent until proven guilty). A photograph showing the posted speed and measured speed would be sent via wireless to the main CTC collection server. If the tag # is not visible, the event would be logged until more evidence is obtained.
Again, the CTC member would feel better.
Hey, it is just an idea... :dunno:
Thanks for the reminder to stay cool, especially when on the bike. Bike against minivan is no contest. People don't realize what they're doing until they injure a motorcylist, pedestrian or cyclist. I think 99% of people would have deep regret if they seriously injured a person but until then, they don't realize the potential is there to seriously hurt someone.
Oh yeah ... I like the paintball idea ... what could go wrong with that?!?
From my experience bicycling a lot of people will mess with you with no regards to anyones safety. A local radio station actually asked the listeners to door bicyclists, throw stuff at them, and a number of other things. It seems the sentiment also extends to motorcycles. :dunno:
Derek
Although i sport a fancy $310.50 speeding ticket, the one thing i do respect are schoolzones. Regardless you are not the only one who lost his temper.
Some people just like to toy with riders for fun. Some think its a joke.
I was leaving my college campus coming up to a green light behind someone in some gasshog of an SUV. They actually STOP... at the green light.... i think my agititation is obvious when my helmet shifts around as i swear inside of it and slap my right handle bar pretty hard. They finally get moving and i just hammer it around them at above 9000 rpms and even glare into their passenger window just in time to see them laughing at their own little joke as i blast by them. I also probably should not have lost it, but some people take us as a joke and that really scares me.
I have always thought that before any person gets thir first drivers lisence they should be required to take a MSF course so that they can actually understand what our limits are. Riding a bike makes me a better 4-wheeled machine operater.
Cheers,
Alex
Quote from: '04gs500f
Some people just like to toy with riders for fun. Some think its a joke...
I have read alot of articles on this forum over the last few months of cagers disrespecting bikers to the limit they could cause serious injury/accident. I can't believe people can be so disrespectful.
I guess I can be thankful that bikers are respected in my small town because I'm the type of person who'd lose it and burn those ignorant MOTHERS DOWN! :nana: :)
I agree with you Alex, all motorists should be required to at least take a motorcycle briefing course when they get their licences.
Now where's the sun? I've been cooped up for a week now with no riding :thumb:
JG
Hey Jeff
Dunno - had my share of ignorant cagers down in the Annapolis Valley when I lived there....I think they are everywhere!
Been in Germany now for 3 months, riding for 2. There are three distinct sets of motorcyclists here - the recreational evryday enjoy the bike but respect the law kind, the turn and burn, speed limits are for 4 wheels kind...and the (excuse my vernacular) supremist-minded rider who believes what they say is gospel and they are entitled to the road first.
I can deal with the speed demons - just gotta keep an eye out behind me. The last bunch are a bunch I respect as well, but will not associate with. They have taken road sharing to a right, not a priviledge.
Anyway - hope the weather gets better by the second week in June in NS - coming back for a weekend in God's Country!
Illo
In my experience, it's the people with minivans and SUVs, the ones who you assume would actually have kids, who respect school and residential zones the least. It pisses me off to no end. I never, ever speed in school and residential zones. I don't get these people at all.
QuoteSome people just like to toy with riders for fun. Some think its a joke.
This is why I think splitting/sharing lanes should be made legal in all states. If some cager wants to mess around with you, just split lanes and you're out of the "danger zone". Though people sometimes crowd me when I'm splitting (especially when its hot and cagers are irritated or zoning out), at least they know that they can't confront bikers because we can get away easily, so they generally just let bikers pass.
I think most cagers are generally nervous when driving around bikers, they're afraid of knocking us over, running over us, or pissing us off. But if we tick a cager off, their ability to hurt us is so much greater, and we really need to legally be able to get out of their way quickly.
If a car is after you, i doubt you will ged a ticket for lane splitting
QuoteSome people just like to toy with riders for fun. Some think its a joke.
I was leaving my college campus coming up to a green light behind someone in some gasshog of an SUV. They actually STOP... at the green light.... i think my agititation is obvious when my helmet shifts around as i swear inside of it and slap my right handle bar pretty hard. They finally get moving and i just hammer it around them at above 9000 rpms and even glare into their passenger window just in time to see them laughing at their own little joke as i blast by them.
That is why I keep a tire iron on the bike :-) just to see if they are laughing when it goes threw thier winshield.
Quote from: DarkCyDEQuote
That is why I keep a tire iron on the bike :-) just to see if they are laughing when it goes threw thier winshield.
Wonder why people don't like bikers..... :dunno:
haha Yeah. I can never imagine how bikers would get that stereotypical view with people like DarkCyDE :) ..
Igloo: If you are towards the Southern tip in June, leave me a PM, I'll hit some of the twisties with ya!
Good weekend guys. Ride safe.
JG
Ever been curb sideded by someone that thinks its funny to mess with somebody on a bike? Ever been run off the highway at 55? I'm sure if it does happen to you, your passive agressive peace, love and green grapes attitude will change. I only bring to someone what it brought to me. If its by mistake, I take it as such. But when someone is going out of thier way to take me out, well then I dont really care what thier attitude is about bikers. It seems pretty clear what thier attitude is. One of those types cost me a bike an almost 4 weeks in a hospital. He thought it was funny to play highway games with me.
Whatever works for you, is good for you. But dont act like Im somehow resposible for the view others take of bikers.
anyone else have a CC permit?
i will pass cars or lane split the second i find the car in front/behind me is a threat. well of course all cagers are threats but you know what i mean. the person who is on the brake all the time for example. the person who brakes the last second and turns w/o signals etc. i dont take chances if i dont have to. i've even gone around cars that have extremely smokey exhaust. ya several times i've been smoked to death so i just go around!
I go annoyingly slow in school zones - if the posted speed limit is 15mph (which it is where I live) then that is exactly what I do until it reaches 30mph again. Even in town, if it says 30, Ill always do under 35mph..even 30 right on the nose. When the road opens up to a 55/65..thats when I open her up a lil more 8)
QuoteOh yeah ... I like the paintball idea ... what could go wrong with that?!?
for one, its vandelisim, and may get the person beaten, severly. :x
it may prompt return fire from paint guns carried by the drivers who think they might be unfairly judged by "wanna Be Cops" :mrgreen:
And im sure someone will find away to wash off the paint, or find a wax that doesnt allow it to stick very well. granted i have always fallowed the rules on school zones and whatnot , calling in a tag is far safer.
besides, i would have to be a smart ass and use clingwrap on my car and peel the paint off :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Hey, thanks for your replys. It's been interesting to see your reaction.
I'm not on the side of Vandelisim, as that's no way to make friends and influence people.
My intent is to highlight that even if it makes you feel like you're making a point, you're unlikely to make a difference to the way the other guy thinks. The only way to really make a difference is to force a rational discussion on what just happened.
No way is that going to happen unless you're a police officer and have the authority to force a "time out" and lets have a talk.
There is no easy answer. I'm reminded of what the Computer said in the movie War Games, "The only way to win is not to play the game".
Roy...