RE: UNCONSCIONABLE ACT OF BRAKING!!!!!!

[Rob Winchell <rbw@avs.com>]

OK. for the last time and for all involved, nobody in their right mind 
would stick their arm out to hit someone else. If the person is 20 feet 
back, maybe to show them you don't want them doing what they are doing 
(lane splitting). I am perfectly willing to share the road. I am not 
willing to share my lane. That's why there are lines painted there.

Don't _even_ get me started on bicyclists. I live in Boston, right next to 
a bike path, so I see a lot of bikes. I can't remember the last time I saw 
a person on a bike wait for a red light, or walk their bike across a 
crosswalk, or get off the bike when they go on a sidewalk. Most bicyclist 
around here expect to be treated like a car by other cars, but also like 
pedestrians, which they are not. I am not saying all bike riders are like 
this, just 99% of the ones I see around where I live. The sad part is that 
as pitiful as US drivers are, bicycle riders are even more ignorant of the 
rules of the road/sidewalk.

I am very careful around bicyclists, since I have seen way too many jammed 
on opened doors, hit crossing on a red light, or T-bone a car.

Rob Winchell


On Friday, June 20, 1997 4:03 PM, MSV96@aol.com [SMTP:MSV96@aol.com] wrote:
> In a message dated 6/19/97 Fringe Ryder <fringe@ai.net> writes:
>
> <<For my part, I am -very- considerate of motorcyclists.>>
>
> That is good. I am not a motorcyclist, but as a bicyclist I suffer from 
the
> same (or worse) motorist rage, frustration, and lack of understanding of 
the
> basic laws which entitle all vehicles to share the road. The key is that 
we
> must all share the road and get along!
>
> <<Some, however, are idiots and zoom between cars at stops much quicker 
than
> is safe -or- legal. (Calfornia, at least, has a speed differential 
limit.)>>
>
> Agreed, a couple points to add...as a bicyclist the "idiots" in question 
are
> car drivers who feel it is their god given right to make unsafe passes 
and
> other maneuvers to a bicycle or motorcycle (like sticking your hand out!)
> that they would never try with another car. *That* is using your car as a
> potentialy lethal weapon to some innocent person...perhaps someone who 
has a
> family to support, drives a quattro (with verve at times), and is a 
member of
> this here list! (Like me :)...)
>
> Now then about the speed difference law...I am born and raised here in 
CA.
> and have been driving for now near 20 years. I have never heard of such a
> law...but I am aware there is the "basic speed law" which requires 
judgement
> of "safe for conditions" speed. The people who make this judgement as to
> legal or not are the peace officers and courts after each driver makes 
their
> own judgement. Noticing that CHP motorcycle officers "lane-split" (which 
is
> legal here) at very high speeds while traffic is at a stand-still it is 
hard
> for me to understand what the speed differential law is really all about. 
I
> do know that as a bicyclist that I am entitled to use as much of the 
roadway
> as *I* feel is safely practicable and if there is faster traffic, cars
> typically, that they must wait until there is a safe opportunity to pass. 
I
> also have enough common sense not to push this issue because doing so 
will
> get me killed. On SF Bay Area freeways, motorcycle commuters do reduce 
the
> severe congestion on the road...so when they do "lane-split" they should
> upset nobody since their very presence makes for less cars in your way! I 
am
> not sure I agree that it should be legal...I have almost hit motorcycles 
when
> they catch me by surprise with a 30mph+ speed differential. The lesson I 
have
> learned is to be aware of them and be that much more careful...the same
> respect and considoration I expect as a bicyclist. Bottom line is all 
legal
> vehicles are entitled to share the road...be it a super-car, a 
motorcycle,
> bicycle, or horse and buggy in some ares of the US. It is very easy to 
get
> angry, but you may all recall my take on "road rage" and again, it is a 
very
> frightening thing...best bet is get along and try and keep emotions out 
of
> driving decisions.
>
> Mike Veglia
> 85 4ksq
>