Good article why Bikers need to give up righetous indignation...

[Kev m]

http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/motorcyclists-please-stop-being-sanctimonious-assholes-1709390920

There's some language in the videos and some of the article may not be work safe.

But it's not gratuitous and the author makes a good point.

I know over the years I've fallen into the trap of feeling this way, and occasionally acting improperly because of it.

[jomarti3]

Thanks for posting this- it's time we were made aware we're often part of the problem when traffic altercations happen.

[toaster404]

I'm out there, a high-speed barracuda, but I'm swimming in a sea of large sharks and need to behave.

On the other hand, when someone does something illegal that might have impacted me, or requires me to do any kind of sudden emergency response, and I can see them stop somewhere, I'll have a nice (I mean that) chat about keeping a lookout, rules of the road etc.  The worst I ever did was suggest to a fellow that he should consider having his wife drive, since he either couldn't see or didn't bother to look.  At that point I was head to toe high vis green-yellow with reflective strips, with good sun, perfect conditions!

Another odd problem around here is that several bikes may well be traveling in the same pattern and not know each other, so the guy yelling at me for some other guys loud bikes needs to get corrected.  Not all groups of three cars on the Interstate know each other!  Around here, at least, I'm often 1.5 seconds back in the right lane behind a group of 5.  Or used to be - with the Guzzi 1400 I don't seem to end up behind anyone very often.

[stmike]

Good article, gives us hotheads something to think about. Thanks for posting.

[Guzler]

http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/motorcyclists-please-stop-being-sanctimonious-assholes-1709390920

There's some language in the videos and some of the article may not be work safe.

But it's not gratuitous and the author makes a good point.

I know over the years I've fallen into the trap of feeling this way, and occasionally acting improperly because of it.

That is handing your self control to someone else, on a gold platter.

[bad Chad]

Good article.   I struggle with what to do about texting drivers a lot, I experience them constantly whether on my bike or in my car, they are everywhere.  I have tried to think of something I could do to express to them they shouldn't be doing what they are doing.  I thought of orally telling them politely to lay off the phone, or wag my finger in disapproval at them, but none of these options seem like a very good idea.  I figure more often than not it will piss off the offender, and not make them less likely to text in the future.  What to do?

[Orange Guzzi]

I will admit that I am part of the problem.  There I said it.  I have been telling my friends for years that they have just as much responsibility on their motorcycles as any other person on the road.  I have seen groups and individuals do so pretty stupid riding.  Including myself.  I did 70 miles of it yesterday.  It was fun. 

I would like to add, bad driver, drunk drivers and vehicles with safety concerns are decoys in my opinion.  They make for distractions while I am doing what I like to do. 

[mtiberio]

I just got back from Paris, and I rented a car and did plenty of driving in and around Paris. The skill and agression and sheer number of the lane splitting bike riders was amazing (both slow city, and highway). At one point, I was in slow city traffic, and I was a bit too far in the left side of my lane. The first bike said something (not yelling, but directed at me). The second re-iterated what the first said (I assume, since I don't speak french, and I couldn't really hear them, the splitters are ATGATT, read full face). I moved to the right slightly, and the third gave me the thumbs up.

I didn't feel offended...

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Or just shoot them.

[kevdog3019]

I had a biker cut me off today.  He turned right from a simple sidestreet onto a 55mph road I was coming down right at him.  He never turned his head to look right and eased out in my lane (he had two to choose from).  I saw it and realized early enough of course, but this guy won't last long not taking a good look.  I veered out and around him at speed after coming on him and shook my head.  I'm sure he knew what he had done I was on him so suddenly.  I believe he saw me in his rear view as well as it looked like he was taking a good look.  Bikers can do the same to their own.  Keep it simple how you let someone know and they will feel worse for their actions.

[zedXmick]

People are never going to stop texting and driving....just a fact of the modern age. Nothing we can do to stop it. You take your chances EVERY time you head out. Ride every ride like cagers ARE out to kill you....sometimes even that isn't enough. If I blew a gasket every time I saw a driver engaged with their phone while driving,I'd be locked up....

[fossil]

In the comments to the article some mentioned there is a big difference between there and here in Germany as German drivers would seldom change the lane without reason, unpredictable and without indicators. Well - is there a second Germany? Driving without reason in the left lane  (or - the newest variation - using TWO lanes!) is the normal way our car drivers behave. And indicators seem to be a work of the devil. Never use them! And don´t think a driver in the right lane will not come into your way even if you are  nearly beside him - regardless if you ride a bike or drive a Mercedes.

[Lannis]

People are never going to stop texting and driving....just a fact of the modern age. Nothing we can do to stop it. You take your chances EVERY time you head out. Ride every ride like cagers ARE out to kill you....sometimes even that isn't enough. If I blew a gasket every time I saw a driver engaged with their phone while driving,I'd be locked up....

That's true.   You'll never stop it ALL.   

But 40-50 years ago, drunk driving was in the same position as text-impaired driving is now.   Lots of people did it, comedians made a living playing drunks, enforcement was lax, and people said, "Yeah, I do it all the time, why not?" like the woman above.

In that time since then, drunk driving killed about 100,000 people, about half of them innocent bystanders.   I guess that's the butcher's bill that's needed to change things, because now, in 2015, drunk driving still happens but it's no longer socially acceptable.   You go to jail for it, no one jokes about it, no one defends drunks on the road, no one gives their kids liquor and sends them out on the road.

Maybe after another 100,000 people have died in or due to out-of-control cars with texting driver, texting on the road will go the same way?

Lannis

[Chuck in Indiana]

I think you're right, Lannis. There will always be some, but I think I'm seeing a little less of texting than even a year ago. For sure, *some* I know have quit. It's just not socially responsible, and many are getting the message. Going out to the nationals on the toll way, there are signs saying that text can wait, and turnouts where you can stop. They were in use. It's a start..

[Lannis]

  I had a conversation with an upper middle class woman that admitted to almost wrecking several times while texting , adamant she was going to continue the practice , as her time was simply too valuable , other drivers would just have to watch out and get out of the way .

  Dusty

I'm glad it was you doing the talking and not me.  I'd have said something that would have hurt her feelings so badly she'd either be crying or trying to assault me.

Economically - upper middle class.    Otherwise an egotistical sociopath.

Lannis

[LowRyter]

I was merging onto the Interstate Sunday and a woman in a black Suburban cut me off and ran me in the shoulder.

I gave her the bird twice, first when she ran me off and again when I passed her.

[oldbike54]

I was merging onto the Interstate Sunday and a woman in a black Suburban cut me off and ran me in the shoulder.

I gave her the bird twice, first when she ran me off and again when I passed her.

 John , you outlaw you  Of course in OKC the bird is almost like a friendly wave 

  Dusty

[Sasquatch Jim]

  "Stupid is as stupid does".  Forest Gump.

[StaysCrunchy]

That's a great article with a lot of truth in it. I've been guilty of such behavior... on multiple occasions. I've tried to be better as I grow older, I still fall back into that trap every now and then, but for the most part I just take a deep breath and continue on my way.

[Stormtruck2]

I text frequently while driving the truck.  But I never have to look at the phone.  I have a Blue Tiger headset, and the S5 has voice text.  Once it learns your voice it does a fairly good job texting. It reads the text back to me before I tell it send.  I don't text conversations though.  If it takes more than two text to conclude the exchange, I'll call you. Using a headset is no different than having a passenger in the vehicle while you're driving   I could tell you what I see on an hourly basis sitting up in the cab of that truck, but I'll just let you use your imagination.

[SteveAZ]

I'm also a cyclist in addition to being a motorcyclist. There is a certain persecution complex that a percentage of members of both groups have in spite of the fact that it's a choice to be there on the road in a physically disadvantageous way. It's true, dumbshits in cars have injured and in some cases taken my friends lives but it does zero good to have a verbal altercation in traffic and actually causes full time car drivers to hate bicycles and MCs even more than they might already.

I have absolutely failed to take my own advice at times, its hard to shut up or just use your horn and move along when these things happen but IMHO it's the best way to go. When was the last time someone enlightened you with previously unknown knowledge while you were driving? Some people just don't respect others or understand consequences. You can't fix them from a bike on the road.

I think most people are decent at heart and I regularly have folks scoot over to let me filter here in SoCal. I do the same when in my car. That sort of thing combined with intelligent conversation off the road, over beers at social gatherings or maybe your kids soccer game, is what will make things better.

I know some belive in taking a hard line here but I've never seen it amount to any good.

[56Pan]

In the comments to the article some mentioned there is a big difference between there and here in Germany as German drivers would seldom change the lane without reason, unpredictable and without indicators. Well - is there a second Germany? Driving without reason in the left lane  (or - the newest variation - using TWO lanes!) is the normal way our car drivers behave. And indicators seem to be a work of the devil. Never use them! And don´t think a driver in the right lane will not come into your way even if you are  nearly beside him - regardless if you ride a bike or drive a Mercedes.

Thorsten, I'm curious as to where you live in Germany?  I retired last Aug., but spent the previous 7 years working at the Leipzig/Halle Flughafen.  The type of bad driving you're describing above was something I almost never saw.  The people in my part of Germany were far and away the best drivers I'd ever seen.  Used turn signals religiously, no lane splitting, and stayed out of the left lane on the Autobahn if they were slower traffic.  But I heard from the locals that there were some cultural differences between East and West Germany.  All my time was in the East.  Where are you?

[LowRyter]

the bottomline here, is the guy in the Beemer needs to be locked up. 

That's the obvious point.

[markw]

Wonder if the pillock in the second video would have done the same thing to a man driving the SU? Sure would have been quite happy to put a few dents in my door by opening it and pushing him off and to really rub it in taking his key out the ignition-see how things escalate? when the red mist dies down the best course of action is to IGNORE him like a silly little boy .It is so hard to do this because you think HE thinks you are a wimp if you do nothing-BUT , you already know the guy has little thinking ability so why the concern.Had many instances where I have reacted to provocation but looking back I realise it would have been far better to just shake my head and ride / drive on. Gave this advise to both Daughters when they started driving -ignore idiots,dont rise to the bait ,and we all make mistakes,look at the bigger picture and realise what a speck of dust this incident is in the scheme of things.

[homebrew]

I know some belive in taking a hard line here but I've never seen it amount to any good.

That's just it.  What we're all doing is volunteering to be the smallest guy at the party.  If a fight breaks out it's going to go poorly for us.  So don't start fights.  Although I agree that sometimes one's temper fights with one's intellect.   We just have to let the intellect win if we want to stay safe and sane.

That said, I have been tempted to set up camp on the side of the road and take videos of people texting and talking while driving and post them to youtube with the license plates.  I swear, I was looking to make a left onto a busy-ish street yesterday and fully a third of the oncoming drivers were doing something besides driving.