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Respect
Aug 10, 2007 8:19:23 GMT -5
Post by WarrenS on Aug 10, 2007 8:19:23 GMT -5
We don't get respect from others when we ride. Most people don't look at us and think how we are saving the planet with our economical scooters. They think we don't belong on the roads because our scooters are not a real vehicle. I believe this is because riding on 2 wheels is considered a sport or pastime, not a legitimate form of transportation. This idea is reinforced when we act that way. We have to earn respect. I really don't have a solution for this. It just is something that has bothered me for a long time and I felt the need to vent.
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Respect
Aug 10, 2007 9:24:57 GMT -5
Post by scooterlizard on Aug 10, 2007 9:24:57 GMT -5
For all the years(27) that I have been riding that has been one thing that has always stuck in the back of my mind as to why someone on 2 wheels is dirt under some cagers tires. I would say in the last 5 to 7 years it has really gotten bad. I guess people are so caught up with their little world and techno toys that we are nusiance on the road. Oh, I still get things tossed at me as they pass, a few choice words said at me, and even the universal salute. I just keep on going. You are not alone with that feeling. I agree with you, any way you look at it, you have to earn it. So which one of my weapons do you want to borrow, baseball bat or shot gun.
Scooterlizard
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Respect
Aug 10, 2007 9:56:47 GMT -5
Post by tankcommander on Aug 10, 2007 9:56:47 GMT -5
Lizard, Out west we carry things a little heavier than a baseball bat or a shot gun. Must be safer in Florida than the in the wild west.
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Respect
Aug 10, 2007 10:05:07 GMT -5
Post by scooterlizard on Aug 10, 2007 10:05:07 GMT -5
That seems to be the weapon of choice around here, I prefer the shot gun myself, it's bound to get somebody's attention. Ya packn' a 50, where do you hide it on a scoot.
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Respect
Aug 10, 2007 20:12:12 GMT -5
Post by Aerostudent on Aug 10, 2007 20:12:12 GMT -5
Where I live ( Riverside, So Cal) I get pretty good respect from others on the road. Sure I have a few tailgaters, but actually a lot less than when I'm driving a cage. I think out here that riders are known for being crazey, and most people don't realize my scoot is not a 'crotch-rocket' so they give me pretty good room for my 'stunts,' lol! As for my driving, I drive a little bit on the agressive side, but I'm still curtious and honor the rules (and laws) of the road.
Aero
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Respect
Aug 15, 2007 16:05:27 GMT -5
Post by 90GTVert on Aug 15, 2007 16:05:27 GMT -5
It's not too bad where I ride. Some people are overly cautious around scoots, some are just jerks.
The thing that I get the most is from younger guys mostly... lots of yelling about my sexual preference, just because I ride a scooter. Apparantly you cannot be a straight male and ride a scooter. That's fine though, whenever possible I get my exhaust near their open window. Most peoiple find it very annoying, and it drowns out anything else they have to say. I did have one idiot hop out of a parked car and run out in front of me flopping his wrists (I'm sure you can figure out what he was suggesting). For a split second I wanted to plow over him, then I gained my senses and swerved. I kept going, if he had a problem his oh-so-cool Focus could catch me, then we could settle it. He never chased me though. After stopping later, I wanted to run him over, as I had thought initially. That may be the wrong logic, but it's a total lack of respect for his and my well-being running out in front of me. Couldn't he just follow me and start something once I get off the scooter... oh right, that would take balls, not just stupidity.
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Respect
Aug 15, 2007 17:31:22 GMT -5
Post by scooterlizard on Aug 15, 2007 17:31:22 GMT -5
Hi 90GTVert.
I went through the same thing here a while back with 80,000lbs. of equipment. I did manage to get the road tractor and lowboy stopped, before I could get the window rolled down to ask the individual what was his problem, he had already climbed up on the step and was yelling at me. I waited patiently for him to get it all out then I rolled my window down and politely said this to him, " I have PMS and a Bulldozer, any questions". He finally started to put it together that he was about to loose it if he didn't move it. I was trying to make a WIDE RIGHT TURN and he just about got pinched. But he was going to blame me for getting in his lane. So it doesn't matter what you drive or ride there is always going to be somebody that just doesn't give @#$% about who is on the road, they don't respect anything let alone themselves. Turning the other check at times is far better than having it wired shut, that in itself is respect.
Scooterlizard
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Respect
Aug 22, 2007 15:52:45 GMT -5
Post by aristide1 on Aug 22, 2007 15:52:45 GMT -5
It's a natural but incorrect response to generalize. That's why the saying about "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch." Nobody will remember all the decent and respectful moves you and others make, they will remember the lunatic who zig-zagged between cars doing 90mph. That said I would add this: Some 250+ pound person buys a 50cc scoot and believes he's entitled to be on a 2 lane road with a 55mph limit and never pull off to the side to allow others to pass. That kind of arrogance also gets remembered and frankly I don't like it either. That combo is so slow I could rid my zero cc bicycle faster than that. There's no sensibility there, it shows a total lack of respect, which is what is going to be returned and generalized. It's sad, but what can you do? Sometimes I've seen farm tractor drivers like that, but most of them pull off to the side at decent interval. Added - As for some of the crazies that people here have encountered I believe I finally found a purpose for that camera in my cell phone.
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Respect
Aug 22, 2007 16:07:02 GMT -5
Post by aristide1 on Aug 22, 2007 16:07:02 GMT -5
Another reason for the generalization happened this past Sunday. Two loud Harleys passed me and the last guy was coming up but still behind me. At this point I am in my car and the windows were up. I couldn't hear the road noise, or the engine noise, or the radio, with my windows up. I recalled how many times I was enclosed in my house watching TV when somebody like that rode passed, I couldn't hear a thing in my own house even with all the windows closed. They think that's funny and they never get tickets. It makes for a lot of bad feelings.
Knowing full well many people today just laugh at the one finger salute I used the 2 handed Bart Simpson gagging display. The biker was pissed and of course he made more noise and stared at me. So much for the road. I put my fingers in my ears, he gave me the finger. Watched me more than the road. Yeah, like I'm going to respect that.
The really ironic thing about this group is if you gave them a ticket for making noise they would start whining "They are taking away my rights."
Don't get me wrong, I don't single these guys out. Teenagers in their floating boom boxes or the others with their coffee can mufflers are no better, they just aren't applicable to this conversation.
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Respect
Aug 22, 2007 16:27:31 GMT -5
Post by 90GTVert on Aug 22, 2007 16:27:31 GMT -5
Another reason for the generalization happened this past Sunday. Two loud Harleys passed me and the last guy was coming up but still behind me. At this point I am in my car and the windows were up. I couldn't hear the road noise, or the engine noise, or the radio, with my windows up. I recalled how many times I was enclosed in my house watching TV when somebody like that rode passed, I couldn't hear a thing in my own house even with all the windows closed. They think that's funny and they never get tickets. It makes for a lot of bad feelings. Knowing full well many people today just laugh at the one finger salute I used the 2 handed Bart Simpson gagging display. The biker was pissed and of course he made more noise and stared at me. So much for the road. I put my fingers in my ears, he gave me the finger. Watched me more than the road. Yeah, like I'm going to respect that. The really ironic thing about this group is if you gave them a ticket for making noise they would start whining "They are taking away my rights." Don't get me wrong, I don't single these guys out. Teenagers in their floating boom boxes or the others with their coffee can mufflers are no better, they just aren't applicable to this conversation. I've got 500+HP at the engine and around 600 TQ. My car isn't as loud as those Harleys, I have exhaust, and I am always just waitng to be pulled over. They run around with 1/10 the power and 2X the noise, and know they can get away with it. I know it's off topic, but I'm surrounded by Harleys here. That said, my scoot is pretty loud. My only options are slow and quiet or loud and faster. The cruisers can be quiet AND faster.
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Respect
Aug 23, 2007 9:36:08 GMT -5
Post by aristide1 on Aug 23, 2007 9:36:08 GMT -5
There's an old saying - There is no replacement for good old displacement.
Me too. You have my sympathy.
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Respect
Aug 23, 2007 10:14:06 GMT -5
Post by 90GTVert on Aug 23, 2007 10:14:06 GMT -5
There's an old saying - There is no replacement for good old displacement. I've got a 70cc kit on it... there is also no replacement for not needing a motorcycle license. Working on that now, at the time just wanted to ride.
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Respect
Jun 11, 2008 3:25:21 GMT -5
Post by benrama on Jun 11, 2008 3:25:21 GMT -5
I read a great thing about getting respect on some State website. Kinda corny, but it mentioned that wearing proper gear lets other motorists know that you are serious about riding.
That being said, I've noticed that high school kids in their parents cars are the ones who elevate their lack of respect by actually pulling stunts that put peoples lives at risk.
I can deal with every tweve year old girl in the country laughing at me, but the kids that come behind you, see you, accelerate to eighty up to your taillight, then pass you close enough to touch, then cut over close enough to make you slam on your brakes as they try to lock up theirs, they kill people with their lack of respect. Not in the majority of motorists, most people are great, but the fact that they're on the road is enough to make one worry.
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Respect
Jan 25, 2009 16:13:50 GMT -5
Post by olderthandirt on Jan 25, 2009 16:13:50 GMT -5
Hi 90GTVert. I went through the same thing here a while back with 80,000lbs. of equipment. I did manage to get the road tractor and lowboy stopped, before I could get the window rolled down to ask the individual what was his problem, he had already climbed up on the step and was yelling at me. I waited patiently for him to get it all out then I rolled my window down and politely said this to him, " I have PMS and a Bulldozer, any questions". He finally started to put it together that he was about to loose it if he didn't move it. I was trying to make a WIDE RIGHT TURN and he just about got pinched. But he was going to blame me for getting in his lane. So it doesn't matter what you drive or ride there is always going to be somebody that just doesn't give @#$% about who is on the road, they don't respect anything let alone themselves. Turning the other check at times is far better than having it wired shut, that in itself is respect. Scooterlizard Cagers just don't get it! Ya can't stop on a dime and give 9 cents change. Do a 360 in 10 feet. And cuss truck/ers and forget 90% of what they have was transported by a big rig.....
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Respect
Jan 25, 2009 16:17:19 GMT -5
Post by olderthandirt on Jan 25, 2009 16:17:19 GMT -5
I read a great thing about getting respect on some State website. Kinda corny, but it mentioned that wearing proper gear lets other motorists know that you are serious about riding. That being said, I've noticed that high school kids in their parents cars are the ones who elevate their lack of respect by actually pulling stunts that put peoples lives at risk. I can deal with every tweve year old girl in the country laughing at me, but the kids that come behind you, see you, accelerate to eighty up to your taillight, then pass you close enough to touch, then cut over close enough to make you slam on your brakes as they try to lock up theirs, they kill people with their lack of respect. Not in the majority of motorists, most people are great, but the fact that they're on the road is enough to make one worry. AMEN
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