Road rage
More like road annoyance.
Tam has it. The utter cluelessness of people on the road is mind-numbing. They pay no attention to their surroundings once they get in that big chunk of metal. My recent road annoyance involves a Harley Davidson. I’m not bashing Harley riders. The only problem with them is the same problem with people in four wheel vehicles: about 70% of them are stupid.
I was on the interstate, in the right lane about to make my exit. At the last minute, a guy on a Harley in the left lane (going slow, natch) decides he has to get off right now and whips right over in front of me. Going slower than me. Forget the general dickheaded nature of such a move and focus on the stupidity of it. If I’m not paying attention and hit you, all I’m going to need is some touch up paint and a new windshield. You on the motorcycle are probably going to be paste. When he got in front of me, I eased up on the gas so as not to have to buy a new windshield.
Apparently, the guy was upset that I didn’t lock up the breaks to ensure proper following distance. I was slowing down but still too close to him for his taste. After all, he did pull in front of me. I annoyed him so much he decided to teach me a lesson by revving his loud Harley motor at me to show me he meant business, or something. Meh. No big deal. We continue on our way. And start approaching a red light.
Then, I have evil thoughts. And whip around the guy ensuring that, at the light, he would be behind me. I watched in the mirror, making sure he got good and settled a few feet from my bumper. Then I had my fun and let loose with three hundred thirty something horse power at about 7k RPMs of rice burning fury. He was about startled off his bike. And was cussing. Don’t dish it out if you don’t like it.
I laughed all the way home.
June 2nd, 2011 at 9:52 am
very mature.
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:21 am
http://twitter.com/#!/GunmartBlog/status/73488641560805376
๐
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:41 am
If it’s any consolation, I hate those guys even more than you do.
You see, they make life difficult for *me* when *I* am riding, because people see *me* and think of *that idiot*.
It’s hard to decide which ones I hate more – the obnoxious Harley riders with 900 db pipes who are utterly oblivious to traffic, or the 20 something squids on the sportbikes racing in and out of traffic…
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:44 am
Like i said The only problem with them is the same problem with people in four wheel vehicles: about 70% of them are stupid.
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:54 am
Unpossible. You are supposed to shoot them, mouth agape and dragging your knuckles after you holster your assault pistol. /media hysteria 101 for permit holders
June 2nd, 2011 at 11:32 am
That’s what oil ejectors are for!!
June 2nd, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Jay-
I’ll solve this complicated mathematical equation for you… The ones that deserve the most loathing are the idiots that ride bicycles on busy streets.
*Rant on!
I’m sorry, but if you stupid Lance Armstrong dressed morons with a death wish dont go find some rural country road to ride down instead of a busy city street that is congested with bumper to bumper automobiles traveling about 30 mph faster then you are, I am gonna lose my ever loving mind.
I’m sorry, but there is just no reason for you to be there. There is no reason for you to be traveling in packs of 15, and if the road that is filled with cars has a sidewalk on the side, then use it!
I cant stand it… and its only a matter of time before these clowns get someone killed.
*BTW – Dont give me the finger when I honk at you… I’m doing it because I dont want you to die!
*Rant off!
There, now I feel better.
June 2nd, 2011 at 12:21 pm
My recent peeve — idiots who drive with their high-beams on all the time. It’s bad enough that we have all this stupid blue-light blind you even on low lamps out now — these idiots run those and the highbeams on.
“Derp, I can see better this way! Herp!” Yeah, and I can’t. Asshole. I really wish cops would start issuing tickets for that.
(c) A person who operates a vehicle on a roadway or shoulder shall select a distribution of light or composite beam that is aimed and emits light sufficient to reveal a person or vehicle at a safe distance ahead of the vehicle, except that:
(1) an operator approaching an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet shall select:
(A) the lowermost distribution of light or composite beam, regardless of road contour or condition of loading; or
(B) a distribution aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the lamp projects into the eyes of an approaching vehicle operator; and
(2) an operator approaching a vehicle from the rear within 300 feet may not select the uppermost distribution of light.
That’s Texas. I’m sure Tennessee has a similar law.
June 2nd, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Not entirely sure that was cool unc… All you proved is that you could asshole as good as he could asshole…
June 2nd, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I’m with Jay G. When bikes were less popular, a higher percentage of riders had some brains. Since more people are buying them, the stupidity quotient has gone way up.
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:05 pm
“Im sorry, but there is just no reason for you to be there. There is no reason for you to be traveling in packs of 15, and if the road that is filled with cars has a sidewalk on the side, then use it!”
Sorry Gunmart, bicycles are considered vehicles and have full rights to traffic lanes. In fact, in some areas it’s illegal for them to ride on sidewalks.
Next time you’re stuck behind a bicycle or three, just sit back and abide.
Phelps, the officers at my former department would give out “improper use of headlight” citations all the time when warranted.
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:22 pm
15 bikes is 15 fewer cars on the road, and that is pretty neat.
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Sorry Gunmart, bicycles are considered vehicles and have full rights to traffic lanes.
Riding a bike in the middle of the road in the middle of rush hour* is the same thing as open carrying a shotgun in a library.
Yeah, it’s legal, but that doesn’t make you not a dick.
Funny how the bicyclists think you should respect them, but they have no respect for other people using the road in the manner in which it was designed.
*This happened on a daily basis on my morning commute for about a year. Traffic was backed up a mile or so because of a Lance Armstrong wannabe going 15mph on a two lane 55mph road.
June 2nd, 2011 at 1:52 pm
I’m kind of with John Smith on this one. If you were carrying at the time, and the situation was escalated (regardless of who makes the next move), you would not be blameless.
June 2nd, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Bike riders indeed cause more than their share of problems. When I’m riding, my attitude is “Cars are bigger than me. Cars can hurt me.” therefore I ride paranoid. It won’t be much consolation that it was the other guy’s fault if I’m laying in a hospital bed paralyzed.
Some of these douchenozzles expect the same privilege as cars, but refuse to accept the responsibilities. Yes, you are required to stop for a school bus. Yes, those signs planted all along the road do apply to you. Yes, you have to look for us and not assume we’re seeing you. And get the fsck out of the way; following you at 10-15 in a 40 zone is not compatible with traffic patterns, and will likely cause a backup. Sitting back and abiding won’t get me to work on time, and it’s not (yet) reasonable to leave early with the assumption that that’s how fast I’ll be going.
As far as the motorcycle goes, good for you. I’d give him a rev as well, just to raise his systolic a few points. Served him right. I know you’re as cool carrying as I am.
June 2nd, 2011 at 2:42 pm
And now a word from the bike riders civil liberties union… “Were here, were
queerdressed like idiots, get used to it!”Look, all you bike riding civil rights loons need to get your heads out of your ass and realize that what you are doing could get you killed. I am so pissed off about this not because it is an inconvenience or rude but rather because it is gonna get someone killed. It has become an epidemic on the road right in front of my neighborhood – a very high traffic road with hills and tight corners. I travel said road at a ridiculously slow speed because these morons are so prevalent (and yes, traveling in packs of 15) and I still cant see them until I am right on their ass.
I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH RUNNING SOMEONE OVER WITH MY CAR. So, legal right to do so or not, they need to go find some rural country road and enjoy themselves in a way that does not put me at risk of accidentally taking another human life.
Read my entire post next time… I am honking because “I dont want you to die!”
*Rant off, again.
June 2nd, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I’ve followed Uncle on the road. I can confirm he has quite a lead foot. That engine is definitely not wasted on him.
Pretty sure he managed 0-70-0 between Coal Creek and the first stop sign.
June 2nd, 2011 at 2:47 pm
@11 Lance
Bike or car, if you can’t stay at least reasonably close to the posted speed limit, you should stay the hell off the road.
And I say this as someone that commuted to work by bicycle for a while.
June 2nd, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Only 370-something BHP? I thought you said your car was fast. ๐
June 2nd, 2011 at 3:05 pm
I would think less of Uncle if he didn’t have a lead foot.
June 2nd, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Now, if you’d got the STI you wouldn’t have been able to do that. You’d just have taken off like a bat out of hell.
June 2nd, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Besides, driving is considered a privelege, and one that must be paid for. As soon as these retards on bicycles start paying a registration fee on their wheels and a tax on their food intake to pay for the roads, we can start talking to them about their privelege to ride on our paved streets.
June 2nd, 2011 at 7:47 pm
All that I ask of bicyclists is that they keep up with the pace of traffic or get off the road.
June 2nd, 2011 at 8:33 pm
LOL- Payback… how sweet the sound ๐
June 2nd, 2011 at 8:46 pm
My old Ghia with the wasted rings used to load up at idle and you could suck-down a bunch of unburnt fuel with a quick blip, flip the ignition off and then on and then wait a sec and hit the starter button and launch a huge stinky cloud of smoke and blasting backfire at the same time. Worked great on inattentive old ladies in Cadillacs, unless they let off the brake in shock and squashed me.
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:15 pm
“[B]icycles are considered vehicles and have full rights to traffic lanes.”
Maybe it’s time to reconsider that position. State by state. Legislatively.
I’m thinking us automotive types outnumber you bikers. The joys of democracy, what?
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Road Rage
Pickup driver tries to kill motorcyclist.
June 2nd, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Saw an interesting video a while back. Down in Argentina I believe. Big conglomertion of bike riders riding/blocking the road and some car driver panicked. Drove through the clog at a pretty high rate of speed. Looked like a bowling ball hitting the pins except the pins in this case were the bikers.
June 3rd, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Lance R. Peak:
That also includes obeying stop signs, stopping for schoolbuses and obeying ALL of the other traffic laws.
Including the one requiring you to pull over if you have X number of cars backed up behind you ( Winnabago laws ).
Critical Mass stopped protesting in Portland after a State cop gave them all a set of tickets totaling $250,000+ for backing up 107 automobiles on the Burnside Bridge.
June 4th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
To all those taking me to task, I never said anything about bicyclists not being required to follow all traffic rules or being unsafe by backing up traffic.
I was merely responding to Gunmart by pointing out that his derogatory comments towards bicycle riders were misguided at best, flat out hostile at worst.
I find it humorous that I am immediately labeled “you bikers” or “the bike riders civil liberties union” and my favorite “loons” when I haven’t ridden a bicycle in well over 15 years. Talk about your open minded discourse.
I did read your entire entry Gunmart, and making comments such as “Im sorry, but there is just no reason for you to be there. There is no reason for you to be traveling in packs of 15, and if the road that is filled with cars has a sidewalk on the side, then use it!” is identical to Fudds saying there is no reason for “black rifles” being used or needed to hunt. After all, Im sorry, but there is just no reason for you to be hunting with a black rifle there. There is no reason for you to be carrying magazines with round counts numbering 15, and if the area that is filled with hunters has a range on the side, then use it! Right?
I get just as pissed off when held up in traffic by a group of bicyclists as you do. It’s the same with people riding motorcycles and driving cars that are also not heeding traffic codes for the locality. My point is that those named groups still have the privilege of being able to use those roadways and be there, and it’s up to us to take the higher ground in situations such as that. Rather similar to people who carry firearms responsibly compared to those that don’t.
And then there is this lovely tidbit from someone else: “Maybe its time to reconsider that position. State by state. Legislatively.
Im thinking us automotive types outnumber you bikers. The joys of democracy, what?”
First off, I’m not a bicyclist as I’ve stated. I think you know what “assume” means. Second off, nice outlook because last time I checked non-gunners outnumber gunners. Are you saying you would be okay with your same logic being applied in that case? The joys of democracy and all, right?
Grow up people, really.
June 4th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
The problem with some of the bicycle riders out on the road is they seem to revert to their early childhood when they strap on their helmet. And act accordingly.