Mommy...why don't they like me?

symonjester · 08-20-2003, 8:58 PM

I haven't posted in some time. So first I thought I would say 'I'm still alive' (not that anyone was waiting with baited breath)

On another note - what is up with cars trying to edge out, or otherwise create bad situations for lane splitters? I had a guy open his passenger door at 20 miles an hour on me?! I narrowly missed his door (on a bright note, I did my first stoppie - accidentally of course). And a women in a little compact car looks at me, and then proceeds to squeeze me by cutting in sharply at me going over the line but never actually changing lanes.

Fortunately I remained calm, and proceeded with the situation accordingly...okay, that's not true - I booted their cars.

Has it happened to you and if so - what did you do about it?

eeeeek · 08-20-2003, 8:59 PM

I boot their cars.

Mattress · 08-20-2003, 9:01 PM

Quote:

eeeeek : I boot their cars.

symonjester · 08-20-2003, 9:05 PM

Now I'm worried I'm going to see these people in traffic that is moving quickly and they are going to pull the same @#$% only this time it won't end in little dent.

Crash · 08-20-2003, 9:31 PM

Quote:

Mattress : Quote (eeeeek @ Aug. 20 2003, 11:59am)I boot their cars.

Several cars in the valley, now carry the Limited Edition 'Crash Boot Print'

deez · 08-20-2003, 9:31 PM

Get used to it, people are always going to be jealous of the man on a motorycle cutting lanes and moving up. *When I used to do 100 mile roundtrip commutes to finish my degree they would do the same thing (edge into my lane trying to pinch me between cars) daily. *Make sure you are bright, and alert at all times. *With the power and brakes of that bike, you can get through it everyday. *Just assume everyone is out to kill you and you will be just fine, don't give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Not everyone can pilot a cage, some people just don't have the motor skills, some may never see you at all.

fl-929 · 08-20-2003, 9:46 PM

Remove their side mirror as you drive by. It's a public service thing as you are removing their temptation to be an a$$hole.

GhostRider · 08-20-2003, 10:06 PM

Time to start carrying the Glock.

2OHOH2 · 08-20-2003, 10:10 PM

Quote:

GhostRider : Time to start carrying the Glock. * *

...eighteen, that is

resuscit8u · 08-20-2003, 10:20 PM

I use the boot, but My Dad used to carry old spark plugs. He would get in front of the offending vehicle and wing a plug over his shoulder. The porcelain hitting the windshield makes a really cool pattern I am told. Also renders the vehilce illegal to operate.

BladeRider · 08-20-2003, 10:40 PM

The boot or a elbow to the side mirror. I will say I also always give a wave to the kind people that move over to give me more room.

RacerCutie · 08-20-2003, 10:40 PM

Mean cagers suck.
I don't get too many that block my path though while lane-splitting. Most are pretty nice, even moving out of my way.
(to which I give a huge and a smile back).
But I've had cigarettes thrown at me, my bike spit on, and hot coffee (that missed) thrown at me. Nothing you could really do as your passing but give 'em the bird.

alexandra · 08-20-2003, 11:01 PM

Uh oh...I am probably going to get * for this but...

I don't agree with lane-splitting/driving in emergency lane and it drives me nuts. *Now for motorcycles I don't open my doors or block them but it does make my blood boil. *

NOW on the other hand when I am in my truck and I see a car coming up along the side in the emergency lane I pull over to block them. *My fiance works on the highway and I don't know how many times he has almost gotten hit or has seen someone doing that causing an accident. *

Good example the other day I was at an intersection in the right lane about 5 cars back and in the other lane about 4 cars back was a dumba$$ on a piece of junk motorcycle that he had to keep reving continuously, well he decided that he wanted to be in the front and pulled up through all the cars and cut infront of the first car to wait for the green light. *I came so close to jumping out and giving him a piece of my mind. *That makes us bikers look bad IMHO. We should respect the rules of the road and others. And plus its dangerous for us or the other people on the road.

Ok I am off my box now * Don't hate me

*

CBRVFR · 08-20-2003, 11:07 PM

Alex, as you probably know, lane splitting is legal in Calif. and encouraged by the CHP, whereas in our neck of the woods cagers will rat us out on their cell phones at a minimum.

resuscit8u - I wish you hadn't told me about the spark plugs. There's a pile of them in my garage..

RacerCutie · 08-20-2003, 11:18 PM

there was an article recently about lane-splitting
Pretty good article, made the front page of the paper I hear. Too bad it's not a mandatory read for cagers.

Oh yea and the last part of the article:
And, rather than getting angry, car drivers might remember that the lane splitters are vehicles that are not adding to traffic congestion.

Anuts954 · 08-20-2003, 11:26 PM

more reading. this guy sounds like he should be posting over at 954rr.com. that bunch is more his speed when it comes to reckless riding. lane splitting aint very safe. becarful.

resuscit8u · 08-20-2003, 11:31 PM

Quote:

alexandra : *That makes us bikers look bad IMHO. We should respect the rules of the road and others. And plus its dangerous for us or the other people on the road.

Ok I am off my box now * Don't hate me

*

Lane splitting is legal in many states, has been for years. It has been proven to be safe when done properly and help with the flow of traffic in high congestion areas. Not a flame, but a fact. I have been doing it for years. There is of course a right and a wrong way to do it. On the shoulder or emergency lane is not lane splitting. It is stupid, and illegal.

BladeRider · 08-20-2003, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Anuts954 : more reading. this guy sounds like he should be posting over at 954rr.com. that bunch is more his speed when it comes to reckless riding. lane splitting aint very safe. becarful.

Anuts, do you ride in Cali? *Everyone here lane splits including Hardleys, goldwings and LEOs, it's a fact of life here. *It isn't reckless when you do it at a safe speed. *Most of the times I do it is when traffic is completely stopped or moving slow on the freeway and at always at red lights. *If you come here and think lane spliting is reckless you might as well sell your bike and get yourself an SUV like the rest of the turds in CA that drive up our gas prices.

Mattress · 08-21-2003, 1:16 AM

If traffic is going over 30-40, I don't, lower, I do

krash954 · 08-21-2003, 2:00 AM

Lane splitting is a way of life for me. 80 miles each way for a commute will do that to you. I do around 25,000 - 30,000 miles a year on my bike just commuting. A 5 day work week is 800 miles, and if I do it on the bike it is about an hour and a half each way. But in a car it is between 2 to 3 hours each way, so without lane splitting I would be completely screwed.

I have taken a few mirrors off in the last 3+ years of commuting, but generally people are pretty cool to bikers in the Bay Area. I have always wanted to do the spark plug trick, but just thought it to be too cruel, and would be worried about seriously hurting innocent bystanders.

RC, that is a good article, thanks for the link. I printed it and I think I will keep a copy in my tank bag with me, just in case .

Oz · 08-21-2003, 2:12 PM

I do it all the time, and have had good luck with the cagers. I rarely get pinched, and assume it's not intentional when it happens (my choice to believe what I want, less stress this way). I got hit once in the Bay Area (saved it) by a lady that changed lanes without looking, but mostly cagers seem to give me some extra room if they see or hear me. I always nod and/or wave when that happens if it's safe to take my left hand off the grip for the guys on the right or at least a couple fingers if they're helping me out on the left.

The key is to keep your eyes open for turn signals and watch for gaps that someone might try to jump over/into, being extra cautious and (as always) being ready for someone to make a mistake.

CBRjack · 08-21-2003, 6:27 PM

If someone opens their door when they see you coming I would take down their plate and report it. I beleive that is considered assault with a deadly weapon. Be careful out there.

Holeshot · 08-21-2003, 6:33 PM

Quote:

eeeeek : I boot their cars.

Yeap. *That activity is criminal (I mean on the part of the cager). *If lane sharing was legal here and that happened, there would be a lot of cagers in the hospital with gunshot wounds. *Dman that shiznit pisses me off.

Holeshot · 08-21-2003, 6:35 PM

Quote:

alexandra : Uh oh...I am probably going to get * for this but...

Yeap! Best find your Nomex!

Lane-sharing should be legal everywhere. It's a safty issue for us.

That is all.

Holeshot · 08-21-2003, 6:39 PM

Quote:

Mattress : If traffic is going over 30-40, I don't, lower, I do

Anything below 70 was OK by me. Maybe because I spent 50 miles a day between cars on my 200 mile commute from Sac->Pleasant Hill->Sac every day.. the level of tollerance for *slow* traffic goes down.

Lane splitting is one of those fun little things I try to enjoy as much as I can any time in the fine People's Republik of Kalifornia.

2OHOH2 · 08-21-2003, 6:41 PM

Quote:

Holeshot : Lane splitting is one of those fun little things I try to enjoy as much as I can any time in the fine People's Republik of Kalifornia.

Would that be PRiK for short?

bwhip · 08-22-2003, 12:36 AM

When I used to commute in SoCal I had all kinds of hostility directed toward me while splitting. Many people think it's illegal, but don't realize how many bikes are air-cooled and have to keep moving. It always puzzled me that splitting was legal but riding on the shoulder wasn't, but I guess with all the debris in it and so on, it's understandable.

The key was definitely to expect the worst, watch for gaps that people would change lanes into, etc. I had cigarettes thrown at me, foul language, some punks sticking a broom handle out a van window at me, etc. Had to boot a few.

Fig · 08-22-2003, 2:47 AM

I've had the occasional asshole. I had two guys pull close in together and basically stopped me in my tracks. I gave the guy to the right an earful of engine when I finally rolled by. His window was down, and my exhaust was right about head height. I hope it hurt.. I was following someone one time, and a car pulled out in front of him, changing lanes without looking. He pulled up next to the car and proceeded to knock their passenger side mirror off with his fist. He left it dangling by some wires.

Alexandra, trust me, if you were in what has been more than 10 miles of completely stopped traffic, with temps hovering around 100, and wearing gear, you would lane split. Trust me, it's a necessity out here. When I take the car, I always get home about 30-45 minutes later than when I am on the bike. I have a 35 mile commute one way, and the other day, I spent about 95% of it lane splitting. It was crazy, and it would have taken me possibly 2-3 hours to get home, minimum, in the car. Sure, it might piss some people off, but they are usually sitting in their air conditioned, comfy seat, listening to some soothing mood music, and chatting it up with friends on their cell phone. Me, I'm out in the heat, with gear, nothing but engine and wind noise, and dodging dumbass drivers and mirrors. Guess which I prefer!!
Fig

nomad · 08-22-2003, 2:52 PM

I don't believe lane splitting is legal anywhere in Canada so I get pissed when I see lane splitters. I don't do anything to the bikes 'cause I know it's dangerous for them but for the azzhole cars that sneak up the shoulder or run all the way to the end of a merge lane then try to jump back into traffic I usually block. What really gets me is the ones that pull over to an off ramp, pass everyone then slam on the brakes trying to get back into traffic hence blocking the off ramp as well! These people cause and add to the traffic congestion.

Hey... if lane splitting is legal and is less dangerous than the heat then go for it. Otherwise, get in line with the rest of us poor caged saps.