Cagers, cell phones and looking for CD's

[Blitz]

So, I had a wonderful ride throught Northwestern CT. yesterday, perfect temps. Beautiful roads, no traffic and get about 5 miles from home after a three hour tour. Sitting at a traffic light behind a lady in a Mits. Eclipse, she's about 60 years old, I see her rolling backwards as she's fiddling around with her left hand in the center console with her right hand sticking a cell phone to her head. " BEEP BEEP" the little beakster shrieks... NOTHING. "BEEP BEEP BEEP" can't back up cause there is a car behind me. She continues her search for CD's or something as she gabs away, rolling closer and closer at a snails pace. All I can see the me at the BMW dealership inquiring about a new fender and god knows what else. Fortunately, a long steady shriek from the horn and a flip face helmet with "Hey what the...!!!" got her attention and she stopped inches from my beloved machine. SIGH! I passed on the hand gesture, although it was tempting and motored along. GRRRRRR , I really wish everyone rode bikes....and I swear, after thinking about it, this was the same lady that T-boned me in my wifes Honda about four years ago. Same big ugly head, no driving ability and the same car! I think she's a hired hitman (person)!!

[Pat]

I DON'T LIKE HER EITHER ! ! !

[popgazer]

You lucky got ONLY one those in CT!!
The production line is over here in LA

[Gord]

... I really wish everyone rode bikes...

Bang on Blitz. There is something about riding two wheels that brings out the best skills in people. I remain convinced that the tests to get your motorcycle licence - at least here in Ontario - are more demanding than the tests to get your cage licence. We riders have to work harder to pass tests to prove we can protect ourselves from the people who didn't have to work as hard to prove that they will protect the others on the road from themselves!

Go figure. If you can figure out what I am trying to say

[gel9001]

Blitz, I feel your pain. A chronic butt crevice, quite familiar with the species. You may want to do NW Ct. a public service and give her a call and let her have it. You got my support.

G

[R4R&R]

I really wish everyone rode bikes....

Years ago I thought that a part of the normal driving test should require two weeks of riding a motorcycle. That it would make people more aware but I don't think it would make a difference. Some lemmings would do what they need to get through the test/training and forget everything they temporarily learned.

[Blitz]

Bang on Blitz. There is something about riding two wheels that brings out the best skills in people

Thanks! Just needed to vent, the steam pressure rose to astronical heights..and Bang to you Gord...very well put. These cagers need to appreciate the pavement and all its obstacles, rather than thinking they are immune to the rest of the commuting public because they are surrounded with sheet metal! Two wheels for ALL!

[tor1150r]

I concur with you Gord....the Ontario testing is more intense than auto testing - at least here in Ontario.
I found myself becoming a lazy cager until I began riding. WOW..did that ever knock my car driving habits back in line. I find I now drive with the same awareness/cuation as I ride (more folks should ride for this reason alone!).
In fact, I feel a little safer (in a sense) riding due to the hightened seeing/hearing/smelling senses that you do not have in a car. I can see way more around me. When I am driving I feel the 'cage' barriers around me as though I am always 'missing' something on the road.

....and then there's the cyclists and cab drivers....ok another rant later

[yjleesvrr]

A similar thing happened to me a couple years ago in the parking lot of a restaurant. My Roadster was parked while I was standing next her gearing up to go home when a lunkhead with his family in a mid-sized SUV started backing straight across the parking lot toward my bike. I saw what was about to happen so I leapt forward and banged away at his rear window. This brought him to a quick stop, about six inches away from my front tire.

The recalcitrant oaf didn't even apologize.

Cagers. Oy!

[wncbmw]

Now Yong - lets not talk bad about our cager friends. After all, we all drive cages sometimes. Aren't we all really a brotherhood? Let's not be prejudiced just because someone rides a cage!

(OK, just in case no ones gets it, this is a satire on another current thread referring to Harley riders. )

[beekstersocal]

thats why i split traffic, i almost never sit behind a car [ it is leagal in ca to ' LANE SHARE" but in most states it's not ,i think thats stupid ,i think especially at intersections its unsafe to sit behind a car at a light , oh well these are just my opinions and im sticking to them

[Airman1]

I hate cell phone users on the road almost worse then anything. I'm installing bike to car missiles on the R that home in on cell transmissions.
You UK guys can at least buy jammers and have a little satisfaction.

[Rock986]

That has happend a couple of times to me as well; I now pull up so my headlight is right in the driver side mirror. It helps to also stay out of the "oil drip" lane.

In fact, while "caging" I like to follow 'cycles as a "brotherly" gesture, jsut so some other a!@#$ doesn't tailgate them.

[Boxer]

now pull up so my headlight is right in the driver side mirror

I second that emotion. Plus, if you are over to the side, you have a little better chance to scoot up if the next cager behind you decides he wants to squish you between him and the one in front.

[wncbmw]

In fact, while "caging" I like to follow 'cycles as a "brotherly" gesture, jsut so some other a!@#$ doesn't tailgate them.

I do the same thing! Until some butt hole squeezes into the buffer space I left for their protection!

[mistercindy]

Its shocking how much you notice car drivers not paying attention when you're on a bike. I'm glad she stopped in time.

I really wish everyone rode bikes....

Couldn't agree more. It changes the way you drive everything. I believe it even changes the way you cross streets as a pedestrian.

[wncbmw]

Since I sold my wife's car out from under her, she has mine and I am commuting on the bike. Although riding is fun, riding is heavy morning and afternoon traffic isn't, which is why I seldom commute on the bike. But I did notice today that the bozos gabbing on cell phones are more obvious when I am on the bike. The more I am paying attention, the more I notice how little the rest of them are!

I did have one nice commuting moment today, though. Some idiot trying to merge with traffic going 65 while doing 40! I goosed the Roadster, when by him on the right as he eased into traffic, causing everyone to brake and slide nicely into traffic ahead of him just before the lane ended. Couldn't have done that in the Subaru!