Watch out for idiots, more than 1 is worse

[Aerostudent]

This is just a reminder to everyone to watch out everywhere (front, sides, and behind) while riding. If I hadn't been watching behind me I might have been in a pretty tight spot. I posted this story in a thread a day or so ago and thought I would share it here. This all happened on my way home from school. I might note that I was already doing 50mph on a 35mph road. Anyway I had a guy behind me being a dork, who decided I wasn't going fast enough. He goes around me, cuts me off, then slam on his brakes to make a right turn ( ), I had to brake and then swerve or eat his bumper (they don't taste good, trust me) so I naturally chose to swerve. I swerve around him and a truck that is about 5 car-lengths back, in the lane I swerved into, starts blaring his horn at me and then speeds up (probably to run over me ) so I get out of his way too by moving back into the lane I just swerved from, he then proceeds to speed past me so he could get to the red light 500ft away, 2 second before I did. As he is driving past me, he is shaking his fist out the window and possibly flipping me the bird. All this went down in about 15 seconds.

I was a little shaken up, but being 19yrs "old" it didn't really phase me all that bad. Just remember to ride alert. I am glad I stay alert for 98% of my riding, only occasionally "zoning out" for a few second until I catch myself and focus again.

Be safe and keep it shiny side up!!!

Aero

[Dennis D]

Anytime someone begins tailgating me really closely, I begin slowing down. If they're a total a-hole, following a half car length away, speeding up won't help.... it just seems to encourage them. I also drop my left hand, palm open, facing back, and "push" my hand back several times. Most, but not all, figure it out and back off then. As soon as they do, I speed up to the normal speed of traffic for the road I'm on. I don't expect them to keep a reasonable distance back.... most people aren't smart enough to know what that is... but a couple car lengths back anyhow. I just have to compensate for idiots following less than a second behind me by following at least 3 or 4 seconds back from whoever's in front of me.

If they don't back off as I slow down and signal to back off, I just gradually keep slowing down until they have a chance to go around me. They will seldom brake in front of me at that point.... as they're totally frustrated at going so freaking slow, that once they're around me, it's pedal to the metal until they get up to the next person they can tailgate.

[WarrenS]

I had a guy in a Buick next to me at a stop light. He was in the curb lane so I thought he would make a right turn. When the light changed I took off on my Helix and was 20 car lengths ahead of him. He kept in the curb lane and gradually caught up to me. He passed me on the right and cut in front of me.

I guess it was a moral victory for him. I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled.

[fulltimerart]

I have about a 5 mile long 2 lane road to get to the main hiway and the cagers must think 50 means 70 (its a nice road but not that nice). Luckily there is about a 2 or 3 foot paved shoulder so I just put my turn signal on and slow down and move over for them and then pull back out again and enjoy my ride. Art

[mikenvegas]

Okay now that I have had my Kymco Xciting 500 stolen and the POS Roketa 250 is in the shop.Totaly overheating! I have been in my cage of a car. And to be honest. I have had more close calls in my car in the last two weeks,than I have had on 2 wheels in over a month. So I guess even in a one ton car we aren't safe either

[WarrenS]

Riding and driving safe is a full time job. It requires your attention at all times.

[Aerostudent]

Yeah, if the guy was tailgating me, I would have just gotten out of his way. But he was riding a reasonable distance back untill aparently something just snaped in his head and he decided to do a manuver that might kill that " stupid scooterist that was driving so freakin slow" in from of him. Anyway, I'm getting a honda 750 that should be able to handle those freaks ;D but I'm still keeping my scooter 'cause it's SOOOO fun!!! I feel like a trator, but the Honda should be able to handle the 45 mile freeway comute that I will be doing next year (to school ). Keep it shiney side up y'all!

Aero

[newc77]

Aero and the gang are all very right. Driving or scooting safe requires sharp attention in all directions and hard work every moment. The MSF always recommends slowing for tailgaters and allowing them to pass while keeping a close eye on them all the while. Flashing your brake lights while you slow is a very good idea as well so they realize you are decelerating. Also try to stay in the center of your lane which will discourage them from cutting you off when they pass, however, think ahead in case they do anyway. Aero, nice to hear you are keeping that GSR even though you are moving up. We love our GSR too. Keep it safe!

[aristide1]

I saw a kid speed up in the left lane and cut back into the right lane in front of me. He fit in the spot by mere inches. He turned and and then had to wait at a light. There was a separate right turn there where I promptly said

"In case you didn't bother to evaluate it, you're incredibly stupid manuever got you absolutely nothing. Try using your brain next time." He sat there in disbelief and did all his dumb teenage passengers.

I don't put up with tailgaters in my car, left alone bared naked on a scoot. First I slow down and then I start tapping my brakes like crazy. One guy works where I work. When we got to work in the parking lot I said "I never understood why people tailgate." and he just looked at me. He was so stupid I had to add "I was talking about you!" and he said "Oh." Even worse he has the right to vote and probably the ability to breed. God help the human race.

[scootermikie]

Aristide, I just couldn't resist giving you your 1000th Karma

[aristide1]

Wow, and there's no blushing emoticon here.

Thanks.