A nearly fatal lesson in manners fro VA YKU-8383

[island_dude]

I headed out this morning to work thinking that it was going to be a great day to ride. Less than a mile from my house I notice some Ice patches on the road and a car broken down in the right lane. Traffic is slowed trying to negotiate the break down and the ice.

As I am approaching the breakdown (I am in the left lane), I realize that I am on top of a patch of ice. Meanwhile, some irritated lady in a mini-van is trying to get her turn to merge into my lane. When I didn't make any sign of letting her in she tryed to run me into oncoming traffic.

Somehow, I managed to manouver out of the way and avoid dropping the bike. It was the most frightening moment of my life. I finally found myself next to this "lady" stopped at a light. I shouted out to her that she nearly killed me. I don't think she really understood this though. She was too busy (after rolling her window down), explaining how rude I was not letting her in during "her turn". During this explaination she made use of helpful hand gestures to show me how cars alternate letting each other in. Judging from her aggressive driving style I don't think she thought any of that applied to her. I was shouting out to her that there was ice on the road and she could have killed me. This had no impact.

Well lady thanks for the lesson in consideration for others. I hope you encounter someone with much less restraint than I have next time. I hope that they mess you up good.

Its odd that she truly felt justified in trying to take me out because I didn't extend the favor of letting her merge into my lane. Perhaps she doesn't understand that she had no rights in this situation.

I guess I just had to vent.

[Flatbutt1]

Well at least you had the skill to handle it all, congrats on that. As for attitude of the cagers, try to remember, we're bikes first , bikers second, and people last. So they really do see only a bike. Talk to someone w/out them knowing you're a biker. You'll hear things like "this freakin' bike cut me off" or " some biker tried to get ahead of me". The rider just doesn't get recognized as a human.

[Luca]

Ditto what Flatbutt said.
Also, I don't want to seem misogynic, but women driving cars...

[SergioK]

1st International Meeting of Women:

[Steve Carlton]

You should have shot her. Seriously, glad you're okay. Assertive merging is pretty common out here when things get slow. People are frustrated and don't want to be "ripped off" of their turn. I do it sometimes myself (but shouldn't). It's nuts to do it to a motorcycle, especially with icy conditions.

[ErricZ]

Gotta admit ... one car from the left, one car from the right is what allows traffic to continue smoothly. I understand you had ice there and maybe it contributed to the incident, but then you should have been leaving more room between you and the cars.

Also, you could have just edged around her or another car and avoided the situation entirely.

Cagers do get annoyed when you try to "take their turn" or lane split because "if I am sitting, so should you" -- the last one is total crap, I agree.

On the other hand, you should see how the attitude differs over in Europe -- bikes and scooters drive where they want, when they want. Sidewalk is OK, shoulder is OK, I even saw a scooter go around a line of cars on the left (in the middle of the road) -- including a cop car at the head of the queue -- and made a right hand turn as the light turned green. Over here, people would have been crying and screaming, yet that is how bikes get around over there -- period.

Bikes are soon as tools over there where we are the ones seen as the tools over here. ****** cagers ...

[Rapid Dog]

....it's that New Generation of drivers, there is no courtesy or goodwill anymore, get use to it or die.
You did the right thing saving your skin, good job.

[island_dude]

Actually, if I had let her a head of me I could have easily found myself on my butt. I was on a patch and moving. I didn't want to stop and let her in because of that. Normally, I would have given her a chance to get in. Keep in mind though, that her vehicle is 2-3 times longer than mine. I was not causing her any inconvienence other than the outrage that she felt thinking she was entitled to get ahead of me.

[ErricZ]

I hear ya, ID. Just playing devil's advocate really. I wouldn't enjoy your situation either -- actually someone hit me from behind in traffic but thankfully I was in my Bimmer and not on my Beemer.

[JonyRR]

'You should have shot her'

I agree

or, 8OZ of uncatalyzed polyester laminating resin in the engine oil will do the job just fine....