Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Tailgaters

I'm back into riding after some time and I can't believe the awful change in attitutes and skills of automobile drivers as they relate to the motorcyclist and his/her bike. I was recently going down a 4 lane road traveling at the posted speed limit of 45mph in the outside lane. This young soccer (football) mom with a beast of an SUV and a cell phone up her ear was almost riding piggy back on my rear pad. After trying to shake her by touching the brake a few times, I motioned her to go around me BUT she wouldn't or just didn't see me waving. I actualy pulled over and let her pass me then got back on the road. I felt like flipping her the bird when she passed but was afraid she would run me over later :-) All I can say is that drivers were not like this the last time I had a bike or maybe I was younger and just didn't pay attention as much back then.

Bob

People have always been self-absorded doo-doo heads, its just become more obvious with the increased number of possible distractions- screaming kids, cell phones. When being tailgated I have also pulled over, but I usually drop below the speedlimit and make them go around.

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All I can say is that drivers were not like this the last time I had a bike or maybe I was younger and just didn't pay attention as much back then.

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When you were young you were probably riding the a$$ of some old biddy driving the speed limit in an old beat up pick up.

If your speedo read 45, you were probably only going about 40. But for those who insist on tailgating, it's best to make (or let) them go around.

Go to the toy store and buy a bag of clear marbles. Tossed over the shoulder, they make a nice attention getting whack when they hit the windshield. They also shatter into clear bits that can't be sorted out from the laminated windshield glass.

If you think it is bad on a motorcycle, you ought to try spending 20 hours a week like I do pedaling a bicycle. Now that becomes real scary sometimes. I know too many of my fellow enthusiasts who have spent tours in the hospital due to these cell phone talking/driving idiots.

Not to get down on you pedalmasher but a lot of the "Cyclist" around here seem to think they dont need to follow common sence traffic laws, they run stop signs, traffic lights, go straignt in left or right turn only lanes, just like the cagers do, they also seem to have the habit of doing 15 or 20 down the center of a 35, I had one
almost take me out once because he blew through a stop sign at a 4 way stop.Then he wondered why I was pissed. Fact is quit a few of them around here are just another hazzard I have to deal with. I'm not talking kids on BMX bikes here, I'm talking supposedly responsabe adults.

I think that is a case of a sub-set ruining the reputation for the rest of us, kinda like the guys who insist on riding wheelies on the cross-bronx expy. YIKES!! I like to pedal for exercise, and I admit to breaking some traffic laws, but now when cars are around! I don't trust em!!

Benny I was not trying to bash Cycleist, just pointing out some are morons....but back to the sujbect of tail gaiters.I came within inches today of getting busted for "road rage" some jackass in a Black VW bug not the old hippie bugg, the new yuppie bugg, Riding about 2 feet off my back tire. Traffic light ahead turned yellow, figured that was my chance i juiced it got through just under the red. But the jackass ran it with me. If I had changed my mind and stopped he'd a ran me over. We get to the next light its red I stop put the bike in neutral put the kick stand down stood up and truned around and looked at him,he put his hands in the air like "what did I do?". I swear 15 yrs ago I'd a dragged him out by the freakin neck tie. Instead I sat back down and waited the light turned green, I sat he beeped his horn, I sat, he beeped his horn i sat,
guy behind him beeped his horn, I sat, light turned red I ran it and left them all there beeping thier horn, yeah
I'm an As*ho*e.

oneijack: A lot of cyclists ARE idiots, and when they ****** people off, then they are going to take it out on the next cyclist they see, and riding over 300 miles a week, there is a good chance it will be me. I ride quite fast, because my hobby is racing bikes, and I am always training. I am not anxious to run afoul of a car which outweighs me slightly.

I live in a fairly rural area that has been invaded by NYers (city) and they still drive like they are in bumper to bumper traffic here. Cut you off , tailgate , toss trash out and I don't think any of them know what a stop sign means. Turn from the wrong lane etc.. In fact I think they are not comfortable unless they tailgate. There are accidents in front of my house all the time someone stops to make a left next thing you hear ssscccrrreeecchhh SMASH! one of the clowns was a little too close and slammed the guy in front. Then the same kids have the seat leaned so far back they can't possibly see over the dash. I have a great time with them when I'm out in the wrecker I stomp my breaks HARD and they aren't gonna do much to my 8,500 lb truck with the wheel lift sticking out the back wakes em up and they usually back off if they don't I take up the whole rode and drive 15mph.

rant over I say again nothing against normal NYers just the jerks here that can't act like they have a clue.

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Benny I was not trying to bash Cycleist, just pointing out some are morons....

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I completely agree

The same way there are moron motorcyclists....

I had a guy give me ****** cause I pulled over a lane and waved him by. At that moment I knew why some of the old bikers used to carry hammers within reach on their bikes.

I have also noticed less of this happening to me with the Kisan tailblazer installed.

I like gater tail,it taste like chikkin

Friendly discussions like that usually end in friendly sign language

Yeah, the sarcasm that was implied by "friendly discussion" was kind of lost in the writing huh?

Oh I got it!! And I've ridden in Warwick, I feel your pain...

In the course of my job, I drive a lot of new cars (Hondas, to be precise). It's come to my attention that there are far too many things WITHIN a vehicle to distract(kids/dogs notwithstanding). I'm of the opinion that, if the govt. (4-letter word) really want to improve safety on the roads, they should force car manufacturers to limit the amount of things that can be done whilst the car is in motion. My 1995 Citroen AX has, in total, 11 things that press or slide or 'work stuff'-this includes indicators, light switches, etc. I can close my eyes and operate everything and anything I want, because I know where it is and, also, the buttons/switches only perform one operation. I don't have to scroll through a series of sub-menu's to change, for example, the ambient temperature of the N/S/R passenger footwell. If only basic operations were available to the driver whilst the vehicle was in motion, the roads would be a ****** safer place...well, OK, there'd be less distraction inside the car. As a rider, it genuinely sickens me to think that most cage drivers have limited driving/observational skills, they're already distracted by kids and now they have a host of unnecessary goodies to play with, along with the phone and the dog. I also believe that the driving test should include time on a pedal bike and a scooter/small motorbike, so these drivers know the capabilities and limitations of them, and, most importantly, the vulnerability of those who ride them.
Perhaps I should lobby my MP.

Tune the XM radio, replot your course on the GPS, talk to your sweetie on the bluetooth cellular, confirm your dinner reservations over the onstar, fiddle with the climate control, yell at the kids in the back, check out the cutie walking down the sidewalk and, oh yeah, try not to hit that guy on the motorcycle.

You mean we're as high as EIGHTH in that list???!!!

What about: shave/apply make-up in the rearview, drop the food you're eating over your lap, light your ciggy, flip the bird at someone, rubberneck at the crash on the other side of the road, etc, etc, etc.??????????

... And check your e-mail on your mobile device, watch a movie on your in-dash dvd player, find a new song on you expansive ipod playlist, dig through papers for info for the meeting conference call your on...

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talk to your sweetie on the bluetooth cellular,

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You mean people actually use a hands-free???