So on my ride home today I’m in the left lane in moderate traffic on a 40mph 4-lane road with a center turn lane. As usual I’m trying to stay just left of the SUV in front of me so I can see the traffic ahead and give myself an escape route in case someone comes flying up from behind. The SUV however, I’m assuming thought I was planning to use the center turn lane (which is share by both sides of the traffic) to pass. So the farther left I would go in the lane, the farther left she went until we were both over the double yellow and half a car width into the center lane. She actually almost hit a truck that was using the center lane to turn. My first lizard brain thought of course was just to blow past this nimrod and show her! Thankfully I took a beat to relax and think it through. Instead, when we came up to the next stoplight I pulled up beside her driver side, opened my helmet so she could see my warm and loving smile and knocked on her window. I told her that I noticed the farther over left I got, the farther she did and then explained to her why I was trying to be to the left (and several car lengths behind of course) of her vehicle. It allows me to see the traffic ahead and gives more reaction time if something is happening. It gives me an escape route if a car comes flying up behind me that likely doesn’t even see me. I was extremely polite and tried to convey this in my warmest tone. For her part, she thanked me for explaining and was also very nice. Just wanted to share this because I’m fully aware of the many other ways it could have gone. I could have let it piss me off and ruin my great riding vibe. Worse, that anger could have distracted me causing me to ride too fast, possibly do something truly stupid like punch out one of her mirrors (ok, that’s just really not me at all, but I’ve seen other riders do it to cars that upset them), or even get in a wreck. All because of a simple misunderstanding easily rectified with a few kind words. And I got to enjoy the rest of my ride with a smile and the hope that maybe she’ll be more understanding as well with the next biker. Of course I also left the light faster and wasn’t behind her anymore either LOL. Happy riding everyone!
Some people just automatically have problems with bikes, and they feel they are the vigilantes of the road. I have had to explain to multiple dickwads over the years the following two truths:
I am not racing you. No, really, I am not racing you. I am riding my motorcycle in a normal and lawful manner, not interacting with you, and totally regardless of whatever your major malfunction is.
If I wanted you dusted, believe me, you would be dusted. My motorcycle goes 0-60 in three seconds. My motorcycle has a top speed well north of wherever your rusted out shit-box runs out of legs. You have no chance, therefore I already know I don’t have anything to prove to you.
I remember reading a traffic survey about California drivers, where lane splitting is legal mind you. Something like 9% of respondents filled the bubble for “I actively prevent lane splitting” that told me there’s a significant overlap between people who prevent lane splitting and people who admit to crimes on government surveys.
They’re the people referenced in @Mellow12 ‘s Blazing Saddles post below… “you know, morons.”
I will admit I had to bite me tongue to keep from letting her know that if I really wanted to pass, there’s no way her old SUV could stop me LOL. On the flip side, I have zoomie days and have been known to occasionally split traffic at what some might consider unsafe speeds; which I’m sure might startle some drivers. So I try to see both sides.