| Subject: | Re: Road rage. What to do...? |
| Date: | 09/29/2004 04:29 AM |
| From: | david baker |
|
When I am on the road I try to be as courteous as posible to other traffic, whether I am in a car or on a bike. If I am going the speed limit on my bike I do not ride in the center of the road, in fact the only time I ride in the center of the road is just before entering a traffic circle. Just the same way that if I am driving a car the speed limit I know other people may want to go faster. I allways stay as far to the right as logical and let whomever might be wanting to pass me make that descision for themselves. Whether or not I get upset with their pass depends on the width of the road, size of their vehicle(or bike), their speed, my speed, road conditions, etc. I leave it is up to the passer to determine since I do not allways know all of those factors. I have seen a lot of rage between cyclists and car drivers and think both sides need to try to understand where the other side is coming from. He may have gotten mad just for what he saw as an arrogant jesture of blocking the road, and may not have passed, or gotten mad, if you were on the right side. There is no excuse for his reaction of braking and or moving into your way. I have gotten upset with drivers before because some of them do not seem to understand that if is not safe to pass you just do not pass, period. But to assume they are all that way will continue to escalate this bad relationship. I do not mean to minimalize the severity of his anger issues, just trying to promote ways for us all to get along. ----- Original Message ----- From: <Cp53-@aol.com> To: <TSch-@mackaysposito.com>; <cmur-@obra.org>; "obra" <ob-@topica.com> Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 9:55 AM Subject: [OBRA Chat] Road rage. What to do...? Hey fellow two wheelers, I need the the legal advise of anybody willing to give it. I was riding with 2 other guys on Saturday and had a "run-in" with an ANGRY driver. It was between Fairhaven and HWY 26 on Skyline. We were coming down the hill (doing 25-30mph...it's a 25 zone) and this guy was riding our wheel so close and trying to pass on every bend. We were in the middle of the lane--as we were doing the speed limit. Also because I've ridden up that rode and enough others to know that he could very well pass us into the on-coming lane and hit some other riders head-on or a car with a family in it or whatever. That's why there is a double yellow line there. Anyways, we got to the bottom of the hill where it opens up a bit and he came right up next to me and slams on his brakes to cut me off, forcing me to lock up my rear wheel and fish tail. I managed to stay upright. A yelling match ensued (he had 2 boys in the car with him-probably between 9-13 yrs old-I bet they were proud of ole' dad) and then he took off proudly waving his middle finger out of his convertible beamer. I called the Police right away and they said since nothing happened (no contact damage or injury) there was nothing they could do. What I needed to do was call the DMV and they would send him a letter. So, I call the DMV and guess what? You got it. They say "I don't know why they would tell you that, we're not an enforcement agency". I would like to send message to this guy and remind him there are laws and that he's driving around a car with a license plate on it. It's easy to find out who you are. WHat can I do? Thanks for your help. ENjoy the ride! Chris To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com |
