Forced out of my lane TWICE on this morning's commute

[OfficerImpersonator]

This morning I was "merged in to" twice in separate incidents, both on Interstate 5, our main north-south highway through Western Washington and downtown Seattle.

In the first instance, I was in the HOV lane, stuck behind a slow-moving bus. I merged right into the far left general purpose lane and was in the process of passing the bus when a Honda Civic merged into my space and forced me to grab a handful of brakes and swerve back into the HOV lane behind the bus. I have two VERY LOUD horns, and I was blaring them constantly while the car was merging into me, yet the driver never looked my way even once.

In the second instance, I was in the far left lane and again moved into the center lane to pass slower traffic in the left lane. As I was passing the slower traffic on the left, a guy driving like a bat out of hell in his Ford Explorer cut me off as he merged into my lane from the right. Again, my horn was useless and the driver never acknowledged my existence. The SUV driver continued to drive like a maniac, illegally using HOV lanes and a HOV-only exit ramp through downtown Seattle. I use the same exit ramp, and attempted to contact the driver at the red light at the end of the exit. He had the nerve to mimic dialing 911 on his cell phone to report me to the police. I would have gladly welcomed police involvement at that time.

Immediately upon getting to the office, I wrote a letter to my state legislators demanding that the state conduct a motorcycle awareness campaign, and demanding that the state increase routine patrols of our highways during peak commuting hours. When there is an accident, the State Troopers show up right away, but I rarely see them simply patrolling the highways and looking for traffic violations. I specifically suggested the State Patrol deploy their beautiful fleet of R1150RT-Ps to area highways, as that would accomplish two goals - a greater law enforcement presence during the commute, and more high-visibility motorcycles out on the roads with me.

Otherwise, I'm going to be fighting back, leaving boot prints on the doors of cars that merge into me. If the police won't enforce the traffic laws, I will.

[PAULBACH]

Don't get mad, get of a set of these:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/ClipArt/0303Daytona152.jpg

Seriously,

SUVs and minivans are particularly worthy of caution. Sometimes kids are on board and the driver is distracted many different ways.

[OfficerImpersonator]

The problem with the 2nd driver was that he was the only occupant of the vehicle - which made his obnoxious use of the HOV lanes and the HOV-only exit that much more repugnant. If I had had a pen and a piece of paper, I would have written down his license plate number and submitted it to the HOV violator hotline.

This has pushed me even further towards the purchase of a RT-P. They'll be nicer to me if they think I might be a cop.

[wezul]

I assume that drivers don't see me, anticipating "stupid" moves. I try to put myself in positions that give me an "out". That is not always possible but I think it minimizes potential situations. Still, in the last couple rides I've found myself getting aggravated from traffic. It's part of the "game".

[OfficerImpersonator]

I think part of the problem is that many car drivers do view their commute as a game. Unfortunately, the stakes of the game are much higher for a rider than they are for a driver.

[wezul]

Indeed. That's why I have adopted a riding philosophy that is "defensive aggressive".
I also try to avoid "rush hour" rides. Those people driving to/from work are just plain pissed off!

[OfficerImpersonator]

99% of my riding is done during the morning and afternoon commute. Being able to commute by bike - and to enjoy the resulting relatively cheap gas and parking bills - is a big part of the reason I ride.

Otherwise, I'm stuck on the bus listening to everyone's cell phone conversations.

I pay my fair share of fuel, highway and law enforcement taxes (I don't just ride), and I'd like to see the system working just as hard to protect the little guy on the motorcycle as it does protecting the idiot racing through rush hour traffic in his SUV.

[PAULBACH]

Last Saturday M!KA had an article that might be worth your time to review:

Urban Guerrilla

Motorcycle riding tips for in the city (http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_9508_motorcycle_riding_tips/)

They are all out to get us!

[rgvilla]

I also comute to and from Pittsburgh from about 60 miles distant. I leave home around 5:30 am and return at 5 pm so I get peak comute time. I call it combat comuting and I try and ride like I'm invisible, always look for outs and expect the cars around me to do stupid things as if they were deliberatelly trying to kill me. I also try very hard not to get in pissing contests with drivers, it helps keep my blood pressure down and keeps me from doing something I might regret. I also know those cars out weigh me by several thousand pounds! Take a deep breath, slow down, get your mental self back into the ride and survive! Ride safe!

[OfficerImpersonator]

Last Saturday M!KA had an article that might be worth your time to review:

Urban Guerrilla

Motorcycle riding tips for in the city (http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_9508_motorcycle_riding_tips/)

They are all out to get us!

Great advice in the article linked above. Unfortunately, I was doing all the things suggested - accelerating hard to assert my lane position and to get abreast of the drivers so they'd see me in their peripheral vision.

Unfortunately, they moved in on me before I could get out of their blind spots.

Of course, cars don't have blind spots when the drivers turn their heads to look for traffic before they merge over. Cars only have blind spots when drivers refuse to look before merging.

[henzilla]

Be Careful!!! I share the commuting pains and try to let the benefits of riding two wheels cancel out the boneheads...
Glad they were "near misses" since they typically can be direct hits!
I luckily can avoid the Slab on my commute, and even though it takes longer, I keep my sanity...I know that is not always possible for everyone and I respect those that must use it...
I had to go to our corporate office during the 9AM rush this morning after a beautiful pre -idiot drive in to my regular location...I had to cut thru the heart of downtown near the Capitol (session in) and was scanning my ass off when a gal on a bike riding on the sidewalk ran the light in front of me...I missed her but noticed she was leaning her head to one side while pedaling....YOU GOT IT...On the freakin' phone! :banghead I ride pedal powered also and that was a first...This town is TOO connected!

[snoone]

Every morning commuting to NYC dodging cigarette butts and unaware road hogs has hardened me into an assault biker. I find I rely on my horn more than ever and use it to jolt the daydreamers, left lane elephants, makeup applying, phone talking and newpaper reading cagers more than ever. A day does not go by that someone doesn't cut me off or do something so stupid that my mind wants to explode.. I'm truly surprised that more people are not killed on the roads.. It is truly dangerous out there for us and you have to be on top of your riding game at all times. I'm not sure its ever going to get better.. The quality of driving skills has yet to bottom out. Enforcement of existing rules and laws is not going to put a dent in the problem.

[GlobalRider]

This morning I was "merged in to" twice in separate incidents...

You're assuming far too much when it comes to your average driver. No further comment.

[BubbaZanetti]

http://www.captaindaves.com/shop/media/boot-R5092.gif

somewhat difficult to shift with :ha

[kbasa]

I'd be interested to hear where you were with relation to the automobile when these encroachments happened.

Most drivers are too lazy to do a head check before changing lanes and I suspect you might have been in their blind spot.

Riding in traffic is all about managing your position relative to blind spots, watching the hands and heads of drivers as you pass them and observing their behavior in traffic around you.

Eventually, you can almost forecast what they're going to do.

[OfficerImpersonator]

I'd be interested to hear where you were with relation to the automobile when these encroachments happened.

Most drivers are too lazy to do a head check before changing lanes and I suspect you might have been in their blind spot.

Riding in traffic is all about managing your position relative to blind spots, watching the hands and heads of drivers as you pass them and observing their behavior in traffic around you.

Eventually, you can almost forecast what they're going to do.

I freely admit I was squarely in their blind spots, accelerating around slow traffic in the left lane (part of the problem!), when they moved into "my" center lane from "their" right lane in both instances.

I knew I was temporarily traversing their blind spots, and I was cognizant of where I was and what I needed to do to get out of their blind spots and into clear lanes ahead.

It was in these two brief periods of time that the drivers merged over without looking to see if the lane was already occupied. I do try to follow the defensive/aggressive game plan - plan defensive space and aggressively transit indefensible spaces - but in both instances it just took that split second as I tried to pass that the vehicles came into my lane.

I think I'm going to duct tape one of those boat horns that run on compressed air to my mirror stalk. Perhaps if they think they're merging into an oil tanker, they'll think twice - or at least glance in my direction.

[EXR911]

Otherwise, I'm going to be fighting back, leaving boot prints on the doors of cars that merge into me. If the police won't enforce the traffic laws, I will.

Please do not lose your cool and retaliate or do something else in anger. A rider in dense traffic needs all his or her skills these days to survive. Anger and revenge ideas do not help. They just lead to taking chances that are not worth it. Almost every other vehicle on the road is bigger and tougher than a rider on a motorcycle and you or I can be bunted off the road and into eternity by some joker, idiot, hophead, drunk, nutcase or whatever - and they will just laugh.

Let them go. Get a plate number, if that is easy to do, and lodge a complaint with the cops. Then forget about it.

Even if you were riding a 1942 BMW R75 sidecar outfit complete with machine gun you would be unlikely to get respect from smog-box drivers. In traffic around my way they are usually on the cell phone, eating, drinking a latte, shaving, doing their make-up, etc., etc.,

Example -
Last fall I was stopped in a line of left turn traffic, the light changed and I followed a plumber's van around the corner onto a one-lane street. About 50 yards further on he braked to a halt to turn into a narrow driveway. I stopped behind him. There was a screech of brakes and rubber on pavement behind me and I braced for the impact. Nothing happened. (But it was close.) I looked behind and there was a 30-something blonde lady in a small yellow compact coupe. She had a whiter than white face. The van having turned in, I moved off and it was some time before the lady's car moved to follow. 300 yards further on, the road passed through a school zone (30 mph reducing to 25 mph) and she blew past me at about 50 mph. I saw - as she passed - that she was nicely dressed in a suit and using both hands to text message on her Blackberry device. What she was using to steer the car I couldn't see.

All I know is that it wasn't her brain - cause she didn't seem to have one.

PT9766

[PacWestGS]

Please do not lose your cool and retaliate or do something else in anger. A rider in dense traffic needs all his or her skills these days to survive. Anger and revenge ideas do not help. They just lead to taking chances that are not worth it. Almost every other vehicle on the road is bigger and tougher than a rider on a motorcycle and you or I can be bunted off the road and into eternity by some joker, idiot, hophead, drunk, nutcase or whatever - and they will just laugh.

Let them go. Get a plate number, if that is easy to do, and lodge a complaint with the cops. Then forget about it.

Even if you were riding a 1942 BMW R75 sidecar outfit complete with machine gun you would be unlikely to get respect from smog-box drivers. In traffic around my way they are usually on the cell phone, eating, drinking a latte, shaving, doing their make-up, etc., etc.,

Example -
Last fall I was stopped in a line of left turn traffic, the light changed and I followed a plumber's van around the corner onto a one-lane street. About 50 yards further on he braked to a halt to turn into a narrow driveway. I stopped behind him. There was a screech of brakes and rubber on pavement behind me and I braced for the impact. Nothing happened. (But it was close.) I looked behind and there was a 30-something blonde lady in a small yellow compact coupe. She had a whiter than white face. The van having turned in, I moved off and it was some time before the lady's car moved to follow. 300 yards further on, the road passed through a school zone (30 mph reducing to 25 mph) and she blew past me at about 50 mph. I saw - as she passed - that she was nicely dressed in a suit and using both hands to text message on her Blackberry device. What she was using to steer the car I couldn't see.

All I know is that it wasn't her brain - cause she didn't seem to have one.

PT9766


+1

dvandkq - Get used to it.

It is WARFARE out there and with experience comes patience and understanding. I have been forced to do something (avoidance skill) almost everyday - and I think I'm a better rider than some, but still they (cagers) keep coming and coming into MY space.

Horns are not and evasive maneuver. :banghead No matter how loud thay are.

Sounds like you are about ready to try lane-sharing :dance

Ride like you are invisible...:wave (And don't get mad, it only takes away from the next encounter)

[SIBUD]

Big time bummer. Most of us have had something like that happen and it makes one angry (mostly out of fear as to what could have happened).

Hope you don't have to kick doors.:wave

[OfficerImpersonator]

Actually, I have, once, put my boot into the door of a car merging into me when I had no place else to go.

Driver was on his cell phone, oblivious to my presence in the lane abreast of him. There was traffic in front, behind and to my left as he came into me from the right. He didn't hear my horn, and I was quickly running out of options when I put up the sole of my boot to fend off his rapidly approaching Porsche Carrera 4S.

As my boot crinkled the sheet metal on the driver's door of his beautiful silver Porsche, he finally noticed me next to him and he swerved back into his lane. I never saw him again, but my buddy who runs an auto body shop tells me I gave him a several thousand dollar lesson as to why one should pay attention to one's surroundings while driving and talking on the phone.

[OfficerImpersonator]

Sounds like you are about ready to try lane-sharing :dance

I fully realize this entire episode is simply a conspiracy by you and Lamble to force me into lane sharing, against my will :brow

[PacWestGS]

I fully realize this entire episode is simply a conspiracy by you and Lamble to force me into lane sharing, against my will :brow

Yes, (almost) tongue fully inserted in cheek LOL :D

I've gotten so good at riding in traffic I can practically drive everyone's car at the same time. At least that is how I have learned to ride.

ANTICIPATION - if someone is thinking they can, they will...

How's it going dvandkq? :buds (sorry you had a bad day, it happens)

[henzilla]

http://www.captaindaves.com/shop/media/boot-R5092.gif

somewhat difficult to shift with :ha

Not with the Touratech adjustable lever!:thumb :rofl

[DarrylRi]

I almost never use my horn in traffic. (And it's not because I can't remember which thumb to lift up.) My experience is that abruptly wakening a distracted driver to their alleged main task often results in a violent and random movement of their vehicle. Maybe they'll move back out of your way... and maybe they'll move fully into your way.

You've got to drive for the other guy, because he obviously isn't doing it. If you're trying to get around some slow traffic, and doing so is going to put you into the blindspot of some other driver, the odds are not disfavorable that they're going to move into the open spot you're eyeing, too. Don't do it unless there's room to get around them or brake when they do it. Otherwise you're gonna get merged into.

[kbasa]

I almost never use my horn in traffic. (And it's not because I can't remember which thumb to lift up.) My experience is that abruptly wakening a distracted driver to their alleged main task often results in a violent and random movement of their vehicle. Maybe they'll move back out of your way... and maybe they'll move fully into your way.

You've got to drive for the other guy, because he obviously isn't doing it. If you're trying to get around some slow traffic, and doing so is going to put you into the blindspot of some other driver, the odds are not disfavorable that they're going to move into the open spot you're eyeing, too. Don't do it unless there's room to get around them or brake when they do it. Otherwise you're gonna get merged into.

:thumb

Great advice.

[alien_hitchhiker]

dvandkq,

See the cars for what they are - obstacles in the road to be dealt with with skill and precision. They are no more than slow witted cows which have wandered onto the roadway - large, potentially dangerous, and prone to stupidity.

You are a motorcyclist. You are cool, dispassionate and focused and you are superior to their pitiful breed. What you experience astride your machine is incomprehensible to their limited bovine mentality.

They cannot ruffle your feathers. They cannot break your focus. They cannot touch your soul. When they take your space you deftly move aside, for you understand that their mass can hurt you, but they will never earn your respect.

Ride on Bro!

[Crow18]

Three things I've found that help with my commute:

1. Go in to work after the morning commute dies down a little. Where I am, there is a noticeable difference in traffic volume from 8:55 to 9:05, and the ones who are still on the road after 9:00 aren't in as much of a tearing hurry. This means you have to stay at work later, of course.

2. Find a surface route home. I have about 5 different low-traffic routes that I mix and match on the way home, depending on what the weather is like, how soon I need to be home, etc.

3. When you're on the freeway, try and figure out how each driver will try to kill you. It makes a fun (ha!) little game, it helps you spot most of the idiots before they jump in front of you, and it helps you control your anger. Getting angry does you no good, and probably throws off your reaction time.

Maybe it's just me, but I really don't trust horns. If you have a horn that sounds like a semi or a freight train or an old Buick, most people are going to look around for a semi or a freight train or an old Buick. Not like I have any hard data to back that up, but people see what they're looking for, and no horn exists that conjures "motorcycle" in people's minds.

[cjack]

This morning I was "merged in to" twice in separate incidents, both on Interstate 5, our main north-south highway through Western Washington and downtown Seattle.

In the first instance, I was in the HOV lane, stuck behind a slow-moving bus. I merged right into the far left general purpose lane and was in the process of passing the bus when a Honda Civic merged into my space and forced me to grab a handful of brakes and swerve back into the HOV lane behind the bus. I have two VERY LOUD horns, and I was blaring them constantly while the car was merging into me, yet the driver never looked my way even once.

In the second instance, I was in the far left lane and again moved into the center lane to pass slower traffic in the left lane. As I was passing the slower traffic on the left, a guy driving like a bat out of hell in his Ford Explorer cut me off as he merged into my lane from the right. Again, my horn was useless and the driver never acknowledged my existence. The SUV driver continued to drive like a maniac, illegally using HOV lanes and a HOV-only exit ramp through downtown Seattle. I use the same exit ramp, and attempted to contact the driver at the red light at the end of the exit. He had the nerve to mimic dialing 911 on his cell phone to report me to the police. I would have gladly welcomed police involvement at that time.

Immediately upon getting to the office, I wrote a letter to my state legislators demanding that the state conduct a motorcycle awareness campaign, and demanding that the state increase routine patrols of our highways during peak commuting hours. When there is an accident, the State Troopers show up right away, but I rarely see them simply patrolling the highways and looking for traffic violations. I specifically suggested the State Patrol deploy their beautiful fleet of R1150RT-Ps to area highways, as that would accomplish two goals - a greater law enforcement presence during the commute, and more high-visibility motorcycles out on the roads with me.

Otherwise, I'm going to be fighting back, leaving boot prints on the doors of cars that merge into me. If the police won't enforce the traffic laws, I will.

Bad choice of action. The best thing to do when other drivers violate your right of way is to keep safe if you can and stay alert and away from them. I think the best way to survive the streets is to blame only yourself if you get hit. You, if you did something stupid, or you, if you let someone do something stupid to you. You may not see it this way, but it is a prescription for enjoying the ride and living a long and healthy life...with a little luck thrown in.

[lamble]

Yep, that's where lane sharing would have come in, although I must protest, as I had nothing to do with paying drivers to behave that way towards you, in fact, they volunteered, along with many, many more, to perform such actions on a daily basis and not just to you, but to anyone be they on bike, in car, or using any other form of transport.

Horns don't work well. They rely on the other party taking action and you can't rely on them doing that as your situation proves.
Swerve/change position, or adjust speed, are your only options.

Ride safely.

[OfficerImpersonator]

You are a motorcyclist. You are cool, dispassionate and focused and you are superior to their pitiful breed. What you experience astride your machine is incomprehensible to their limited bovine mentality.

They cannot ruffle your feathers. They cannot break your focus. They cannot touch your soul. When they take your space you deftly move aside, for you understand that their mass can hurt you, but they will never earn your respect.

Ride on Bro!

I love this post! :clap

[blake]

one thing that i've noticed before and it seems to play a key role in your experience.
the HOV lane is the inner most lane in most urban areas. this puts the passing lane to the right of it. many times people in the HOV lane aren't the fastest vehicle, so you're passing them on the right, moving into what most people are thinking of as the "fast" lane.
i know in some cities probably partly b/c of this issue, you aren't allowed to enter/exit the HOV lane except in certain areas (solid white line).

you also admit that you were moving into a vehicle's blindspot. i think these 2 things combined caused the problems.
good luck on the ride home.

[OfficerImpersonator]

one thing that i've noticed before and it seems to play a key role in your experience.
the HOV lane is the inner most lane in most urban areas. this puts the passing lane to the right of it. many times people in the HOV lane aren't the fastest vehicle, so you're passing them on the right, moving into what most people are thinking of as the "fast" lane.
i know in some cities probably partly b/c of this issue, you aren't allowed to enter/exit the HOV lane except in certain areas (solid white line).

you also admit that you were moving into a vehicle's blindspot. i think these 2 things combined caused the problems.
good luck on the ride home.

Our (Washington State's) HOV lanes are, for the most part, the far left lane. The HOV lane is seprated from the far left general purpose lane by a solid white line - however, at least here in Washington, motorists are allowed to merge into/out of the HOV lane at any time.

I know California uses two double yellow lines - one on each side of two foot "median" - to separate the HOV lane from general purpose lane traffic and that it is illegal to exit or enter the HOV lane except in specific merge zones.

In my first instance, I was indeed passing slower HOV lane traffic on the right, in the "fast" lane the first time I was merged into. The second time I was riding in the "Express Lanes" (reversible lanes), which for most of their length don't have an HOV lane. I was passing slower traffic clogging up the far left lane by riding in the middle lane. A driver merged into "my" middle lane from "his" far right lane.

[Bob_M]

I commute on the motorcycle infrequently however this morning I did. Before I had gone half a mile, while I was still in the rersidential neighborhood with slow traffic (yea right) and stop signs, a lady was running hot into an intersection where she had a stop sign and I did not. She hit the brakes, but saw that I was slowing (for the obvious reason) so she just rolled right on through.

AND SHE WAVED! WTF?

I just shook my head and dismissed the incident.

[Newstar]

Charlie Gibson did a piece on World News tonight about drivers and their bad habits in Seattle. In particular, they are after drivers who cut to the front of the line at merges, ferry boardings, etc. The police are stopping them and treating them like 8th graders by sending them to the back of the line and making them wait their turn.

Not really related to this particular situation but made me think of this thread.

[wmubrown]

Don't get mad, get of a set of these:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/ClipArt/0303Daytona152.jpg

Seriously,

SUVs and minivans are particularly worthy of caution. Sometimes kids are on board and the driver is distracted many different ways.

Are those gatling guns or flame throwers?!?? Each would be rather effective I should think... ;)

[BradfordBenn]

It isn't just the motorcycle that this happens to, I have seen it happen when I am driving the car or when I am riding in the company semi truck. People just do not look around. So be vigilant no matter the vehicle you are using.

:banghead Yup I am amazed that people miss a 13+Ton 65 foot long 13 and a half tall tractor trailer.

[PacWestGS]

It isn't just the motorcycle that this happens to, I have seen it happen when I am driving the car or when I am riding in the company semi truck. People just do not look around. So be vigilant no matter the vehicle you are using.

:banghead Yup I am amazed that people miss a 13+Ton 65 foot long 13 and a half tall tractor trailer.

But those vanity (side) mirrors (they put on cars) are SOOOOoooooo small why bother looking...:stick

98% of the US population were never taught how to adjust the side mirrors on their car - let alone use them. :doh

A glance (eyes only - head/shoulders level) you should NOT be able to see the side of YOUR vehicle. But most people adjust them so they can see half of their car in the mirror and the other half needs major head movement (away) to see the lane next to them. :deal

Just like motorcycle mirrors (some are much worse than others and some downright suck) you should not see anything but MAYBE the tip/edge of your elbows in them - a clear view behind you and mostly the lane to the right and left in the right and left mirror.

I adjust mine so that a head check is necessary for that which is about 90-degrees to my side and I need to move a bit to see directly behind me. Otherwise, I can quickly glance in them to see what is in the safe space to my left and right. On all my vehicles, cars - trucks - and bikes. ;)

[GlobalRider]

But those vanity (side) mirrors (they put on cars) are SOOOOoooooo small why bother looking...:stick

I often wanted to take my boot to a side mirror or a hammer to a turn signal assembly. The look of the driver's face would be priceless. Hell, you don't use them...therefore you don't need them.


98% of the US population were never taught how to adjust the side mirrors on their car - let alone use them. :doh

Yeah, they adjust them to look down the side of their vehicle to the lane behind them instead of to the area where their field of vision when looking ahead ends.

[mrich12000]

The drivers of the non carring :thumb

[alien_hitchhiker]

Thanks for my new desktop wall paper :brad

Now that's who you are, I don't care what's funny.

[ptero]

I've learned that by the time I use the horn the situation is in hand already. Depending on their reaction, it may affect the outcome in terms of who goes where. I am already prepared to evade as necessary before getting to the horn.

I'll still use it to 'yell' at the offender more than anything. By the time I hit the horn I am already adjusted and safe - it's more of an after-thought.

Agreed that it should not be a first line of defense. That said, I have REALLY loud aftermarket horns that sound like a good sized car and they DO make an impression.

[ElTee2]

.45 auto usually gets their attention

[kbasa]

.45 auto usually gets their attention

Usually enough so that they call the cops and you get to have a discussion about "brandishing". :D

[BouncinBob]

I use the same exit ramp, and attempted to contact the driver at the red light at the end of the exit. He had the nerve to mimic dialing 911 on his cell phone to report me to the police. I would have gladly welcomed police involvement at that time.

It is not worth it. Trying to convince this numbskull he is in the wrong is a waste of effort. I pulled up next to someone at a light and he rolled down his window with a determined look on his face. I told him never mind. It is just not worth it.

I once had someone intentionally try to hit me with his car, and I had done nothing but go slow on a bad road in the rain with brand new tires on the bike. I crashed avoiding him. If I had been unable to avoid him, I expect my momentum would have arried me over the front of the car, and he was still rolling. I don't want to die trying to convince a numbskull his skull is too numb to drive. Report him or not, but relax and ride away thankful.

[mathew_hennessy]

I often wanted to take my boot to a side mirror or a hammer to a turn signal assembly. The look of the driver's face would be priceless. Hell, you don't use them...therefore you don't need them.


I always wondered if a staple hammer would fit in my tank bag.. Seemed sorta perfect for perforating tires, windows, sheetmetal... :evil :nra

[kbasa]

Lots of folks fantasize about kicking cars and the like. I will tell you that if you kick a Lincoln Navigator on the SE Expressway in Boston at rush hour, the Mass. State Police will stop all the traffic on I 93 to pull you out of traffic and talk to you about it.

Since that episode, I try to maintain thoughts of karma and how the wayward driver might get his naughty bits caught in a zipper, someone else will key his car or perhaps an 18 wheeler will extend him the same experience he shared with me.

Since then, my rides in traffic (and we've got plenty here, at times) have been much less angst ridden.

YKMV. :)

[OfficerImpersonator]

As someone who earns their living in the criminal defense business, I certainly had legal repercussions on my mind when I kicked in the door of the rapidly approaching Porsche a couple of months back.

For me, it boiled down to the following: It was my survival instinct that put my boot out in a feeble attempt to defend myself from a rapidly encroaching vehicle. I was/am confident that any investigating officer (if it had come to that) would view "my facts" favorably. The simple fact that the sound of my boot crinkling his door caused him to take notice of my presence and move back into his lane proves the ultimate wisdom of my instant reaction to the situation. In this case, the ends do in fact justify the means.

I'm on a $5000 motorcycle, fighting for my life. He's in a $100,000 Porsche, yakking on the phone, darting in and out of lanes trying to get ahead of everyone else in heavy rush-hour traffic.

I felt very comfortable with my legal standing in that particular situation.

Do I actively search out opportunities where I get to get someone's attention by damaging their property? Of course not. But when options are limited, and reaction times instantaneous, it was the right thing to do for that particular situation.

[lamble]

Do I actively search out opportunities where I get to get someone's attention by damaging their property? Of course not. But when options are limited, and reaction times instantaneous, it was the right thing to do for that particular situation.


So, who exactly, had put your bike in a position where this action was needed?

[BONEY]

I can understand the frustration. Sometimes drivers irk me as well, but I try to take it in stride. The last thing I want is a confrontation with someone in a vehicle that is more stable and outweighs mine 6 fold. I just shake my head and keep riding. I dare never say "now I've seen it all" as someone will always come along and prove me wrong.


[seeing things as a driver]
The problem with motorcycles in general is that they are hard to see and sometimes behave in an "unpredictable" manner with regard to the rest of traffic. I've been caught off guard by many a motorcycle while driving my cage. But rest assured, the first one to put a boot to my car will find himself under my wheels before he gets that boot back on his foot peg. I can come up with 1001 defenses as to why I panicked when the motorcyclist attacked me.
[/seeing things as a driver]


Precisely why I stay outta the way.

[OfficerImpersonator]

So, who exactly, had put your bike in a position where this action was needed?

I was heading southbound, through the Express Lanes in downtown Seattle. Here's what happens when you're entering downtown from the Ship Canal Bridge:

Once a rider/driver reaches the Mercer St. exit, the Express Lanes go under the "mainline" lanes. The far right lane is general purpose and is used for exiting to the Mercer St. or the Stewart St. exits. The next lane to the left is an HOV only exit for access to the Bus Tunnel (when it's not being retrofitted for light rail) and Pike St. The next lane to the left is the only through lane for either general purpose or HOV vehicles. This is the only "Express Lane" that reconnects with the I-5 "mainline" just south of the downtown high rise area.

There are no shoulders on these subterranean highways - only concrete pillars and tile walls on either side of the lane.

The far left HOV lane is HOV only from the south end of the Ship Canal Bridge all the way to it's terminus at the Columbia St. exit. Often HOV cheaters will try to avoid the long line backed up to use the one through lane and will dart out into the HOV lane at the last moment. I anticipate this and ride in the left position to give myself some space and always have a plan to deal with any car darting out into me.

Often these HOV violating cheats will chicken out and need to merge back into traffic, or legitimate HOVs will try to squeeze back into the backed through traffic lane as they don't want to exit at Columbia St. This backs frequently up the HOV lane until the merging car can enter the through lane.

It was under these circumstances that I - unfortunately - ended up creasing the door of a very nice Porsche. Traffic in front of me had slowed to approximately 4-5 mph. I was braking behind the car in front, with perhaps 15 feet of space between my front tire and the bumper of the car in front. I was anticipating coming to a full stop, and had my left foot off the peg, clutch in, and was using both brakes. At the same instant the car in front of me quit braking and accelerated as the obstruction had cleared, the silver Porsche Carerra 4S tried to dart out into my lane and follow the car in front of me. Unfortunately for both of us, he neglected to look before he changed lanes as he had a phone tucked between his ear and his shoulder. I sounded my horns. He was oblivious.

On my left was about 18 inches between the white line and the pillars and walls of the Express Lanes. On my right was a car approaching me rapidly, with an ignorant and distracted driver. I couldn't go left because of the wall. I couldn't go forward as the Porsche was coming in on me from the right. I couldn't go right, and my bike doesn't have reverse. I was going to either have to find a way to get this driver's attention, or I was going to get squeezed between the Porsche and the wall. Luckily, the sound of my boot hitting his door startled him into realizing what was about to happen and he swerved back into his original lane. He never missed a beat on that phone call, though.

[lamble]

The questions still stands.
Who put your bike in that situation, at that time?
The answer is, you did.
I seem to recall someone saying that, if they thought lane sharing was required they should, either move house, or change job.
May I suggest, you dont put your bike in a position where you will be at risk.
Accidents are unavoidable occurances, crashes are a build up of factors, whereby the elimination of any of those factors can be a reason the crash is avoided. You, your bike, your position on the road, your decisions are all factors that lead to this incident. You can change your actions, you can't change those of the porsche driver.
You are responsible.

[OfficerImpersonator]

The questions still stands.
Who put your bike in that situation, at that time?
The answer is, you did.
I seem to recall someone saying that, if they thought lane sharing was required they should, either move house, or change job.
May I suggest, you dont put your bike in a position where you will be at risk.
Accidents are unavoidable occurances, crashes are a build up of factors, whereby the elimination of any of those factors can be a reason the crash is avoided. You, your bike, your position on the road, your decisions are all factors that lead to this incident. You can change your actions, you can't change those of the porsche driver.
You are responsible.

I fail to understand the motive behind your post. If you claim all incidents - whether contact with another vehicle was made or was avoided - are ultimately the fault of the rider, then I reject your underlying premise that I'm responsible when another driver intrudes into my right of way.

If I wished to reduce my exposure to risk to zero, I'd stay in bed all day and pile eight feet of pillows on top of me in case a meteorite crashes through my roof. I take risks taking a shower in the morning, riding to work, and crossing the street from my parking garage to my office. I realize riding has risks, and I do what I can to minimize my exposure to them.

However, I also demand that other drivers obey the rules of the road and pay attention to driving. I don't think that's asking too much.

[henzilla]

here we go again...:fight

y'all cannot go without :stick :stick :stick each other...it's amusing ...but, :violin

I think we all agree you two disagree ...let's have a safe weekend and :love

[BouncinBob]

I fail to understand the motive behind your post. If you claim all incidents - whether contact with another vehicle was made or was avoided - are ultimately the fault of the rider, then I reject your underlying premise that I'm responsible when another driver intrudes into my right of way.


What I would take away from his post is that many many situations are avoidable. Sit back and watch traffic. How many of the close calls are because someone is exercising their right to their right of way. How often does the car coming in the lane you are signaling to move into accelerate to make sure you can't get there. Too often, let it go.

Nobody can make a mistake. Personally, most of the time someone intrudes into my space, I can see it coming. It is easy to avoid by slowing and giving the space. Does not matter if I had the right of way.

I try to exercise tolerance for the mistakes of others and courtesy. Yes there are far too many mistakes made by drivers distracted by far too many things. But hey, hopefully one day, I will be repaid when I make a mistake.

Making the demands you state above are fine. Honk of a horn, :wave hang up motion. But aggressive action to protect your right of way (many do it) will only provoke a reaction in many. Who cares if you are right, I like the rubber down.

[lamble]

I fail to understand the motive behind your post. If you claim all incidents - whether contact with another vehicle was made or was avoided - are ultimately the fault of the rider, then I reject your underlying premise that I'm responsible when another driver intrudes into my right of way.

If I wished to reduce my exposure to risk to zero, I'd stay in bed all day and pile eight feet of pillows on top of me in case a meteorite crashes through my roof. I take risks taking a shower in the morning, riding to work, and crossing the street from my parking garage to my office. I realize riding has risks, and I do what I can to minimize my exposure to them.

However, I also demand that other drivers obey the rules of the road and pay attention to driving. I don't think that's asking too much.

All I'm saying is, that if you had behaved differently, you wouldn't have been where you were. You need to accept that you had options and the ones you took lead to the conflict.
Staying in bed may have resolved the issue for a while, but over time even that action poses a risk.
Where as I'd feel happy lane sharing, you feel the risk is too great for us all. I may have felt the risk of being in the position you found yourself was too high for me. I may well have not done what you did in the circumstance and would have experienced a different outcome as a result.
So, you are responsible for your situation, not just in this case, but in every inch, of every ride you take. Responsibility is where freedom of choice gets paid for.

[cjack]

I fail to understand the motive behind your post. If you claim all incidents - whether contact with another vehicle was made or was avoided - are ultimately the fault of the rider, then I reject your underlying premise that I'm responsible when another driver intrudes into my right of way.

If I wished to reduce my exposure to risk to zero, I'd stay in bed all day and pile eight feet of pillows on top of me in case a meteorite crashes through my roof. I take risks taking a shower in the morning, riding to work, and crossing the street from my parking garage to my office. I realize riding has risks, and I do what I can to minimize my exposure to them.

However, I also demand that other drivers obey the rules of the road and pay attention to driving. I don't think that's asking too much.

You're not getting it. The job of the rider is to make sure nobody gets to him/her. When riding, get rid of all thoughts of blame and payback. If you let someone get to you, that's failing to protect yourself. The bottom line is if you have to think and do everything and anything you have to just to keep yourself safe. No time spent blowing the horn just to let the car know after the danger is gone. No thinking about blame, just vigilance to prevent the next bozo from getting you.
Fault doesn't matter when you are on a motorcycle. If you get hit, you lose. The only thing that matters and is worth thinking about is keeping safe.

[EXR911]

However, I also demand that other drivers obey the rules of the road and pay attention to driving. I don't think that's asking too much.

You can "demand" all you like but it will not make other drivers do anything. And to think that they should "obey the rules of the road and pay attention to driving" is a similarly silly (and dangerous to you) attitude.

My own view of other road users is that they are just as likely to be: drunk, doped up, high on prescription drugs, driving without their glasses, playing with the GPS, Stereo, CD, cellphone, Blackberry, shaving, putting on lipstick, drinking a latte/espresso/coffee/beer, reading a map/magazine/encyclopedia, etc., etc., etc., instead of "driving with due care and attention".

To expect otherwise is to fool only yourself. Assume the worst of your fellow road users - you won't be disappointed if they turn out to be better than you feared - but you will make it home.

PT9766

[lamble]

I don't think that's asking too much.

It appears it is.

[userw5]

My own view of other road users is that they are just as likely to be: drunk, doped up, high on prescription drugs, driving without their glasses, playing with the GPS, Stereo, CD, cellphone, Blackberry, shaving, putting on lipstick, drinking a latte/espresso/coffee/beer, reading a map/magazine/encyclopedia, etc., etc., etc., instead of "driving with due care and attention".
PT9766

Don't forget folding laundry. :)

[EXR911]

Don't forget folding laundry. :)

The Ontario Provincial Police in their Victoria Day traffic blitz on a controlled access highway to "cottage country" once stopped a guy who was making soup while driving at 60+mph.

This past Victoria Day weekend (May 18-21) they caught a guy who was 2X the alcohol limit, driving a car with no licence plates or insurance. The guy had no licence to drive; he had lost it four previous times for being impaired. He was on his way to jail to serve a weekend there as part of his latest impaired driving conviction.

The lights are on, but nobody's home - in his case.

PT9766

[lamble]

The Ontario Provincial Police in their Victoria Day traffic blitz on a controlled access highway to "cottage country" once stopped a guy who was making soup while driving at 60+mph.

PT9766

Does it matter what flavour soup it was?
Tomato has got to be easier to make while driving, than pea and ham, surely?:dunno

[rgvilla]

I've always thought that the attitude I took to the ride was the most important part of my defenses. I expect the worst from every driver and thus, as has been previously mentioned, my rides are usually much better as I don't expect anything but the worst from drivers and the worst is not often the case. As I stated before I ride like I'm invisible and everyone is out to get me. I know I will lose in an contest with a cage, it outweighs me several times over. I was once rear ended (I was in a cage) by a women who was changing her babies diaper! Thankfully the baby wasnt' badly injured. People do really stupid things when driving. One of the reasons I like motorcycle people so much is they are smarter than most, except today here in Western Pa it was close to 90 and the riders were out in force with shorts, flip flops, t-shirts no helmets etc. I saw every kind of bike, sport, cruiser and even a BMW with riders who were not ATGATT. Meanwhile I was sweating away in my hard armor, armored mesh pants and jacket, helmet, armored gloves and boots. I like my riding attitude it has seen me survive 44 years of riding and I hope will continue to do so for me. Ride safe everyone!

[100394]

I try to ride like I am invisible and try to manage my lane space. Occasionally I get cut off anyway. I think the person who invented the cell phone should spend eternity driving on the road with other cell phone users. It appears we are no better here though, there was a post here on about an Nolan helmet with bluetooth capabilities, why? So we can make cell phone calls when we're riding, do:doh

We can sit back comfortably on our computers and critique the op and the other rider who "knocked" on the porsche's door but we were not there. Maybe we would not have gotten into the situation, maybe we would have, maybe we would have handled it differently.

Like another poster I drive a tractor trailer, 70,000lbs and people cut us off constantly. I drove a school bus for a couple of years, it was the rare day someone didn't run my red lights. People driving just seem to be oblivious.

[lamble]

[QUOTE=100394;211951]

We can sit back comfortably on our computers and critique the op and the other rider who "knocked" on the porsche's door but we were not there. Maybe we would not have gotten into the situation, maybe we would have, maybe we would have handled it differently.
QUOTE]

My point is, we would ALL have acted differently and so could the rider in this situation. We all have options that are constantly changing as we ride. There are thousands upon thousands of influences. We weave our way through life taking the options we feel suit us at that moment. So, and here's my point...we are all ultimately responsible for the outcomes.

sorry I had to write this from the comfort of my computer, but if it helps, the chair could be better sprung!

[beemerguru]

You use all the correct driving techniques, keep plenty of distance wherever possible..and they still try to defy physics and occupy your space :dunno .

The last best thing I did for commuting in the Bay area traffic was to put ONE Stebel horn on each bike..except the /2 ;-(

Something about a horn that sounds like the semi is RIGHT next to you will make most drivers immediately jerk the wheel back where they came from and look all over the place for that truck they missed.

It works...at least in California.

[billy1200]

Reminds me of the Allstate commercial - "...Mr. Changing His Pants While Driving..." Funny, but sobering....

- Dave


You can "demand" all you like but it will not make other drivers do anything. And to think that they should "obey the rules of the road and pay attention to driving" is a similarly silly (and dangerous to you) attitude.

My own view of other road users is that they are just as likely to be: drunk, doped up, high on prescription drugs, driving without their glasses, playing with the GPS, Stereo, CD, cellphone, Blackberry, shaving, putting on lipstick, drinking a latte/espresso/coffee/beer, reading a map/magazine/encyclopedia, etc., etc., etc., instead of "driving with due care and attention".

To expect otherwise is to fool only yourself. Assume the worst of your fellow road users - you won't be disappointed if they turn out to be better than you feared - but you will make it home.

PT9766