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Post by oldchopperguy on May 7, 2014 1:32:12 GMT -5
OK, guyz and galz...
A quick rant on an "adventure" I had a couple weeks ago... I'm riding home from the dealer, and stop at a red-light. On my right, a lane is just beginning for right-turn-only traffic. It's just starting, about 4 feet wide. It's WINDY so I've got BOTH feet firmly planted on the tarmac.
On my right, a shiny-new Corvette is trying to edge into the new lane. Of course, he does NOT want to scrape his thousand-buck wheels and tires on the right curb. So... with his left wheels, he runs over my right foot...
Now, I realize he was preoccupied, being a gentleman in his 70's, or 80's, with what SURELY was his grand-daughter snuggled up half in his lap. I think she must have been cold... Since she was no more than twenty, and clad only in shredded Daisy-Dukes she must have gotten when she was about 12, and a torn-off T-shirt top-half... Grand-Dad was most likely concerned with getting her to Wally World to buy her some more clothes... Yup... Must be the case... Definitely... Going to Wally World for more clothes. Absolutely!
But HONESTLY... "Minnie Mouse" is not a skinny-tire, barely-visible 10-speed bicycle, and I'm not a  -pound lettuce-eater fashion model. With me aboard, and both feet on the pavement, from the rear she resembles a 600-pound penguin with illuminated tail-feathers, squatting to lay an egg... At LEAST as bulky as a "Smart Car" yet not QUITE a school-bus... We are MORE than VISIBLE, feet and all!
My helmet's off to the really cool Jewish guy behind me who screamed "Cheesh, schmuck! The old guy's trying to ride his MOPED here! Does his FOOT look like a passing lane?" I'm not Jewish, but I couldn't have said it better!
Now, those fancy 'Vettes are pretty light-weight, and do have monster-fat, squishy 200 mph tires, and besides a sore foot, the only damage was my favorite lizard boots now have a tire-tread amongst the scales... I have enough arthritis that a little more pain was barely noticeable. But, it's STILL piss-poor driving!
Gee, I surely hope he got his little grand-daughter some more clothes...
Leo (the hurtin' went away and the boots cleaned up in a few days, with plenty of laughter...) in Texas
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Post by rockynv on May 7, 2014 4:29:53 GMT -5
The carbon fiber armor on my 2XL sized gloves may have made a similar minor blemish on his fender when the tire hit my foot. Drivers like that make me wish sometimes that I had the gloves with the stainless steel armored bits instead.
Had a guy in a Isuzu Rodeo give me some adventure yesterday evening as he pulled from a parking lot right out into the middle lane in front of me doing about 30 mph below the flow of traffic. Had a Yellow Cab to my right, a Sprinter Van to the left and a Dualy Pickup behind me. Glad the Aprilia has twin front discs. Didn't think the truck behind me was going to be able to stop in time but he did. Guy then realized he really wanted to be in the right lane and cut off the Yellow Cab to get back there. Gives me a drity look after he pulled a stunt like that and makes a comment about bikers thinking they own the road. Maybe I should have layed on the horn and swerved around splitting the lane and leaving a bar end weight track in his paint instead of doing an edge of adheasion panic stop and taking my chances with the Dualy.
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Post by spandi on May 7, 2014 19:30:51 GMT -5
Leo I laugh every time I see some Alta Kaka trying to be 25 (and thinking everyone is fooled) when they're 70 by driving around in a Corvette. He was probably in a rush cause Maalox was on sale at Wally-World  At least you had one of the "chosen people" to give him a piece of YOUR mind....OY GEVALT! |
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Post by SylvreKat on May 7, 2014 22:10:36 GMT -5
I'm afraid I wouldn't be so equitable about it. Like rocky, I'd probably have smacked his car backhanding with the knuckles of my glove. Just like I cross the parking lot to my car with my keys out and ready, 'cause there's some doink-heads that whip through and don't give a pedestrian much clearance. I figure if the car's close enough I'm keying it, then it's too close and very likely could've hit me.
Then again, I *AM* a 'Kat you know.
>'Kat
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 8, 2014 0:33:27 GMT -5
I'm afraid I wouldn't be so equitable about it. Like rocky, I'd probably have smacked his car backhanding with the knuckles of my glove. Just like I cross the parking lot to my car with my keys out and ready, 'cause there's some doink-heads that whip through and don't give a pedestrian much clearance. I figure if the car's close enough I'm keying it, then it's too close and very likely could've hit me. Then again, I *AM* a 'Kat you know. >'Kat I do agree, but after the keying, y'all better duck because (at least around here) you're likely to get a hail of lead for a quick reply... Keep them claws sharp!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 8, 2014 0:36:37 GMT -5
Leo I laugh every time I see some Alta Kaka trying to be 25 (and thinking everyone is fooled) when they're 70 by driving around in a Corvette. He was probably in a rush cause Maalox was on sale at Wally-World At least you had one of the "chosen people" to give him a piece of YOUR mind....OY GEVALT!
OY and THEN SOME, y'all! LOL!Hang in there my friend! And keep your feet tucked in...Leo |
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Post by spandi on May 8, 2014 1:07:08 GMT -5
Leo I laugh every time I see some Alta Kaka trying to be 25 (and thinking everyone is fooled) when they're 70 by driving around in a Corvette. He was probably in a rush cause Maalox was on sale at Wally-World At least you had one of the "chosen people" to give him a piece of YOUR mind....OY GEVALT!
OY and THEN SOME, y'all! LOL!Hang in there my friend! And keep your feet tucked in...Leo Thanks!....You too Leo!  (at least you were able to use it as "inspiration" for another of your ironically hilarious stories!) |
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Post by JerryScript on May 8, 2014 1:27:48 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear you came out of it relatively unscathed! Not sure I would have been as calm about the situation as you were.
Before I got my scooter last year, I rode an electric bicycle for over 5 years. Hard safety lesson learned along the way: when a person sees a bicycle, the brain instantly thinks it's not going more than 10mph due to a lifetime of experience seeing them ridden that way. One time a cager turned in front of me, not realizing I was cruising along at 25mph on a motorized bicycle. I raised my foot in an attempt to push off the side of the car, but ended up hitting the wheel which took my foot right under. My forward momentum and the car's motion across my line of travel sent my upper body onto the windshield, while the wheel finished rolling over my foot, giving the driver an up close look at what must have been a horrific expression on my face as it pancaked against the windshield. I came away with a bloody foot, banged up knees, and a nice shiner across one side of my face (bicycle helmets are worthless).
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Post by SylvreKat on May 8, 2014 6:25:31 GMT -5
Jerry, did the driver at least stop?
Leo, here in JoCo I'm more likely to get sued than shot. But it'll be easy enough to prove how close the car was by the level of scratches, and prove he was way too close to me for my safety and that I legitimately worried about getting hurt.
"bicycle helmets are worthless" and yet our most exciting-to-watch meteorologist would tell us to go grab our kids' bike helmets and put them on whenever we had a tornado warning.
>'Kat
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Post by Jarlaxle on May 8, 2014 9:29:55 GMT -5
I'm afraid I wouldn't be so equitable about it. Like rocky, I'd probably have smacked his car backhanding with the knuckles of my glove. Just like I cross the parking lot to my car with my keys out and ready, 'cause there's some doink-heads that whip through and don't give a pedestrian much clearance. I figure if the car's close enough I'm keying it, then it's too close and very likely could've hit me. Then again, I *AM* a 'Kat you know. >'Kat I do agree, but after the keying, y'all better duck because (at least around here) you're likely to get a hail of lead for a quick reply... Keep them claws sharp!Leo As it should be. Singapore is too soft on vandals! |
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Post by JerryScript on May 8, 2014 11:38:51 GMT -5
Jerry, did the driver at least stop? Leo, here in JoCo I'm more likely to get sued than shot. But it'll be easy enough to prove how close the car was by the level of scratches, and prove he was way too close to me for my safety and that I legitimately worried about getting hurt. "bicycle helmets are worthless" and yet our most exciting-to-watch meteorologist would tell us to go grab our kids' bike helmets and put them on whenever we had a tornado warning. >'Kat The driver stopped long enough to give me a dirty look for daring to be on her road. I've gotten that look a couple of times on my scooter as well, but I just smile back and scoot away!  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 8, 2014 14:34:22 GMT -5
Jerry, Kat, and all the riders who have experienced thoughtless behavior..
I'm pushing 70 now, and been around the world in the Army, and experienced every aspect of major business, both good and bad, politics, organized crime, and sort of "seen it all" at one time or another. One thing I've learned is that very GOOD people are a true blessing, very BAD people are a true curse, and a third category of people who just don't give a dang about ANYBODY but themselves MAY be the WORST of all.
40 years ago, I'd guess about 70% of America was good. 25% bad, and maybe 5% didn't care at all. Today, in my daily "interaction" with the population, I'd honestly estimate about 20% to be GOOD, 40% to be truly EVIL and the final 40% just don't care about ANYTHING but their immediate gratification.
No joking here, this is my honest observation. Dealing with good folks is easy, and fun. Dealing with bad folks is also easy, but not fun... BUT... Dealing with those whose every action is ONLY to gratify their immediate desire is not only not any fun, but extremely difficult.
GOOD people will go out their way to AVOID hurting you, and if they do, they'll try to make it up. BAD people will go out of their way TO hurt you, and are proud of it. Rotten, but predictable... You CAN learn to deal with them... But those who just don't care will do, on the spur of the moment, ANYTHING that passes through their mind, with NO thought as to who gets hurt.
They just don't care, so they exhibit no conscience, and suffer no remorse for their actions. If they want to change lanes, they just change lanes. They don't look first, and they don't care if they cause a death. "NOT their PROBLEM..." If someone has the audacity to inform them they just ran over a pedestrian, or a biker, they roll their eyes and say "So..." They just don't care.
With the advent of "politically-correct" thinking, patriotism, decency and traditional values have been demonized. It's taught in our schools, it pervades the government and becomes law, and has brought about a MASSIVE percentage of Americans who just don't care. If you don't care, you don't have a conscience. If you don't have a conscience, you don't feel remorse. If you don't feel remorse, you'll kill, injure and destroy those around you without a care in the world concerning your actions... Sure makes YOUR life easy, but makes it mighty tough on the rest of us.
There's a saying in Texas that is a good guide to life in general: "Learn to KNOW when somebody's pissin' on your boots, and tellin' you it's raining..."
Just an observation, but it's LONG-TERM, and has kept me alive for a lot of decades... Expect the worst from those around you, and you'll be right most of the time. When you're WRONG, and they exhibit their best, ENJOY the surprise!
Ride safe, and watch your six...
Leo in Texas
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Post by wutzthedeal on May 9, 2014 1:13:14 GMT -5
I personally think being generally politically correct is to be more aware, not less aware, of the needs and concerns of others. I like to paint by contrast, so in my mind, I ask, "Ok, let's remove politically correct; get me from there to a better, more considerate time for all," and I can't make that connection. Just one guy's opinion. I'm only pushin' mid-40s, and never left CONUS while serving honorably in the USAF, and I cawwww from the East (VA, born in IN) so we're in different mindsets, really, and maybe that's congruent with what separates us in the other areas.
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 9, 2014 1:58:35 GMT -5
I personally think being generally politically correct is to be more aware, not less aware, of the needs and concerns of others. I like to paint by contrast, so in my mind, I ask, "Ok, let's remove politically correct; get me from there to a better, more considerate time for all," and I can't make that connection. Just one guy's opinion. I'm only pushin' mid-40s, and never left CONUS while serving honorably in the USAF, and I cawwww from the East (VA, born in IN) so we're in different mindsets, really, and maybe that's congruent with what separates us in the other areas.
We are much more alike than you may think... I agree with your entire thought process here. I'm only commenting on my experiences with today's general population, versus that of 40 years ago. The people in America (and probably those in most other nations) has changed RADICALLY over the last half-century... Some for the better, but much for the worse. You're just slightly too young to have lived in the "Leave it to Beaver" generation. It was very, VERY good. Ride safe, my friend, and do keep trying for that more considerate time for all. It's a good goal! Sincerely,Leo in Texas |
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Post by SylvreKat on May 9, 2014 5:57:37 GMT -5
I'm not sure, Leo. There still seems to be a lot of good, decent people around.
Like yest. Young 25-year-old gal who was just as nice and understanding as can be despite I'd rear-ended her. It was her first ever accident, and was just the second thing (after a door-ding) to happen to her new 2011 car. Boyfriend was equally nice about it. Probably helped that her car looks to've suffered only paint loss, while mine the bumper is cracked and front face pushed in so the hood is slightly skewed. But regardless, was very nice from the start. Except like me, she was irritated by how long it took a cop to show up, and by traffic not letting the blocked lane in (and esp the one idiot who honked us--really dude? You think honking's gonna' help clear up our accident? Seriously??)
Maybe your analysis is more accurate for "don't care" at a remove, rather than actually interacting. I mean, I can see folks not caring if they're not really involved in any way. But actually standing here with me? Most seem pretty nice then.
>'Kat
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-pound lettuce-eater fashion model. With me aboard, and both feet on the pavement, from the rear she resembles a 600-pound penguin with illuminated tail-feathers, squatting to lay an egg... At LEAST as bulky as a "Smart Car" yet not QUITE a school-bus... We are MORE than VISIBLE, feet and all!
