Understanding instead of road rage
Understanding instead of road rage
So on my ride home today I’m in the left lane in moderate traffic on a 40mph 4-lane road with a center turn lane. As usual I’m trying to stay just left of the SUV in front of me so I can see the traffic ahead and give myself an escape route in case someone comes flying up from behind. The SUV however, I’m assuming thought I was planning to use the center turn lane (which is share by both sides of the traffic) to pass. So the farther left I would go in the lane, the farther left she went until we were both over the double yellow and half a car width into the center lane. She actually almost hit a truck that was using the center lane to turn. My first lizard brain thought of course was just to blow past this nimrod and show her! Thankfully I took a beat to relax and think it through. Instead, when we came up to the next stoplight I pulled up beside her driver side, opened my helmet so she could see my warm and loving smile and knocked on her window. I told her that I noticed the farther over left I got, the farther she did and then explained to her why I was trying to be to the left (and several car lengths behind of course) of her vehicle. It allows me to see the traffic ahead and gives more reaction time if something is happening. It gives me an escape route if a car comes flying up behind me that likely doesn’t even see me. I was extremely polite and tried to convey this in my warmest tone. For her part, she thanked me for explaining and was also very nice. Just wanted to share this because I’m fully aware of the many other ways it could have gone. I could have let it piss me off and ruin my great riding vibe. Worse, that anger could have distracted me causing me to ride too fast, possibly do something truly stupid like punch out one of her mirrors (ok, that’s just really not me at all, but I’ve seen other riders do it to cars that upset them), or even get in a wreck. All because of a simple misunderstanding easily rectified with a few kind words. And I got to enjoy the rest of my ride with a smile and the hope that maybe she’ll be more understanding as well with the next biker. Of course I also left the light faster and wasn’t behind her anymore either LOL. Happy riding everyone!
I guess you are a better person than I. The issue I have is her thinking. She's attempting to be the enforcer of the rules of law based on her notion of what others are doing. She assumed that you were going to break the law so to ensure you're a good little rider she was willing to break the law and almost hit someone else not even in this stupidity. Good on you, fuck her.
I completely agree and that’s what initially started me down the road rage trail. However, I feel like the calmer resolution was generally better for all involved. I didn’t allow her need for authority to ruin my mood, cause me get reckless and potentially crash or get a ticket. Maybe I’m just getting old LOL.
You did the right thing.Definitely the safer way of handling things. Besides attempting to educate her. As someone said most people in my experience that do that type of "law enforcement" are ready for a confrontation. I prefer the finger and removing myself from the equation method which sometimes exacerbates the situation.:)
Some people just automatically have problems with bikes, and they feel they are the vigilantes of the road. I have had to explain to multiple dickwads over the years the following two truths:
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I am not racing you. No, really, I am not racing you. I am riding my motorcycle in a normal and lawful manner, not interacting with you, and totally regardless of whatever your major malfunction is.
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If I wanted you dusted, believe me, you would be dusted. My motorcycle goes 0-60 in three seconds. My motorcycle has a top speed well north of wherever your rusted out shit-box runs out of legs. You have no chance, therefore I already know I don't have anything to prove to you.
I remember reading a traffic survey about California drivers, where lane splitting is legal mind you. Something like 9% of respondents filled the bubble for "I actively prevent lane splitting" that told me there's a significant overlap between people who prevent lane splitting and people who admit to crimes on government surveys.
They’re the people referenced in @Mellow12 ‘s Blazing Saddles post below… “you know, morons.”
I will admit I had to bite me tongue to keep from letting her know that if I really wanted to pass, there’s no way her old SUV could stop me LOL. On the flip side, I have zoomie days and have been known to occasionally split traffic at what some might consider unsafe speeds; which I’m sure might startle some drivers. So I try to see both sides.
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Most people do NOT understand what motorcyclists are up against in traffic and on the road. I wish someone would make a short film that explains it and that it be made mandatory in (passenger vehicle) driver's ed.
Riders need cagers to understand us better. Except those crotch rocket guyz...they're crazy...
I’d like to see a VR experience for everyone getting a car license. Put them virtually on a bike and expose them to what we deal with.
And yeah, I occasionally think I’m really getting crazy on the bike, riding fast and loose for the rush; then I watch videos of real fearless and skilled rocketeers and realize just how old I am 🤣
VR is a great idea.
I was on a motorcycle trip a little while back. The first person I met at my first camp was this crazy older Brazilian lady who worked for the NPS. She was amazing. She told me to be careful on the bike because "there are people out there who will just hate you just for who you are and what you are doing." A few days later I managed to find her to say by and she insisted on giving me some weird Catholic? blessing.
Every time some dumb cage does something I try to remember her words.
Sad but true. Bet she was a hoot to hang out with though. Hope you had a great trip!
It was a pretty good trip, 6 weeks and 3500 miles. I rode the SW of the US during winter. I went from 6° to 80 in two days.
Kudos for staying cool headed. Sometimes it’s hard to do when people are grossly inconsiderate.
I love Blazing Saddles and that perfectly describes some cagers in relation to bikers! 🤣
Did she tell you why she was doing it or did she only give you some platitudes and thanks?
Because a lot of people are not used to be talked to, and even if they are all rage inside the car, they get scared quite fast when someone fully geared on a motorbike knocks on their window - and tbh I think it is pretty understandable.
Still, good on you, I usually just let them go and change road - when feasible. There's no need to waste a good riding day with some knucklehead.
I really wasn’t expecting any kind of apology or explanation. I was only hoping to impart some knowledge, diffuse the situation, and hopefully make it better for the next rider. To be honest, I was a bit surprised she even rolled down her window. Thankfully I have a touring style helmet that allows me to open the entire front so she could see that I was smiling and polite and not angry and ready to fight; otherwise she likely wouldn’t have even done that.
I'm the drop one and disappear type.
Nothing wrong with extricating yourself from the situation entirely and probably what I should have done. I could have just as easily been met with the barrel of a gun instead of a granny when I knocked on the window…
That was a risky move to take, especially if it was in the US. Granny could've rammed you instead. Did she clarify her actions?
Wrong thread