Just another rant on dumb cagers

[wfd38383]

So I'm on my way to work for the first time riding my bike to work on 195E and right before Government Center there is an on ramp with a stop sign, merging on the highway due to construction. So here I come in the left lane not even in the lane that is being merged with oncoming traffic and i'm seeing this minivan 2nd in line to merge and the car is right on the car in front of it's ass and keeps hitting the brake lights. So I start to slow down in case this damn vehicle comes out in front of me and low and behold this damn minivan goes around the car in front of it and cuts across the lane barely missing another car and coming right into my land almost sideswiping me. So now I catch up to her and she looks and me and flips me off!!!!!!! I'm like you have to be kidding me. Damn 20 something year old with a couple kids in the back of the van talking away on the cell phone. You figure if ya almost kill someone you may feel kinda bad instead of flipping them off, but anyways sorry for the long ass rant. Drive safe everybody.

[Awesome]

Boot to the door/ boot to the mirror. Had that problem with a yuppy mercedes driver once. I'm sure he was in the body shop that afternoon.

[Slyder]

how you guys can commute on bikes in areas like that amazes me. My bike would stay parked and I'd cage it to work if I lived areas where people drove like idiots. I like it up here in the sticks. 5 cars is a traffic jam

***edit....hessogood has the right idea that will surely make you feel better but can also have a negative outcome. Benz driver / super sally soccer mom retaliates and sends the biker 6 feet under. not good.

people are friggin psychopaths nowadays.

[wfd38383]

how you guys can commute on bikes in areas like that amazes me. My bike would stay parked and I'd cage it to work if I lived areas where people drove like idiots. I like it up here in the sticks. 5 cars is a traffic jam

I had to today because my car is in the shop for maintenance. I never take the bike to work because of the traffic and also I need my car for work but today had no other option.

[Awesome]

It is dangerous. I find people are generally real tough until you confront them though. Stick and move.

[Tricky Mike]

Sounds pretty typical. Commuting in general is tough. It pretty much brings out the worst in most people. I see what you described more or less every day. Most often twice a day (once per commute). It's good times. I have a previous life as a bike messenger downtown... Now THAT really puts things in perspective. People don't really see you as a human... you're a traffic cone to them... if they see you at all.

[KillBill]

People get scared and their reaction is to get mad. It's the fight or flight response and usually a middle finger gets involved.


I carry ball bearings in my jacket pocket. Those things even at 30 mph make a nice ding in the hood of a fancy german car :

[Slyder]

one time on RT 9 in southern VT there were 4 of us, me and another safey, and sanely passed a slower moving mini-van.....when the other 2 guys came around it, the woman driver jerked the wheel left and tried to cut them off. she also had 2-3 kids IN the van with her. that stupidity just put 5-6 lives in jeapordy.

we stopped up the road and the two she swerved at were shaking, one was grabbing rocks and was going to use them but she never came through.

I agree though, tough in the cage but when they get confronted they cower.

[Kham]

there was this fat lady in a minivan decided to share my lane one time. i didn't know what to do because her passenger was cute looking.

[akira700]

Commute in traffic in a cage? No way, I'd go crazy.

On my bike I'm long gone and away from idiots
before the crap even starts.
The bike messenger experience helps for sure.
I learned my tricks in New York City.
Lane splitting is a safety skill much needed for today's urban riding.

Around where I live I wouldnt confront anyone in a cage.
All mofos carry guns nowadays, who wouldn't even think twice about
plugging someone right in the face.

[akira700]

Sounds pretty typical. Commuting in general is tough. It pretty much brings out the worst in most people. I see what you described more or less every day. Most often twice a day (once per commute). It's good times. I have a previous life as a bike messenger downtown... Now THAT really puts things in perspective. People don't really see you as a human... you're a traffic cone to them... if they see you at all.

Dude where were you a bike messenger? Boston?

[hammadown]

It is dangerous. I find people are generally real tough until you confront them though. Stick and move.

+1 especially when there is more than one biker. A friend of mine passed a minivan on the right because the dumbass wouldn't move out of the passing lane. As he was passing, the van changed into his lane and ran him off the road. It seemed almost intentional as he gave the finger while doing it. Three of us were a little behind and saw the whole thing and sped up to catch the van. He wasn't so tough with 4 bikes surrounding him staring him down at the light.

[SSearchVT]

It boils down to a lack of responsibility - She cut you off and nearly hit another car. It's not her fault - you should have been paying closer attention, and the other car shouldn't have been there. She was on a very important call (more important then paying attention while driving) and had to get the kids to day care.

Unfortunately this is getting more common. It's easier to play the victim.

[978chris]

It is dangerous. I find people are generally real tough until you confront them though. Stick and move.

This is a good point here.

I had a very "urban" commute back home in the Bay Area; I used to carry around a pocket full of pennies that I would throw at cars that did shit like that.

It is kinda like gambling though, occasionally someone will chase you.

[978chris]

I carry ball bearings in my jacket pocket. Those things even at 30 mph make a nice ding in the hood of a fancy german car :

Good idea too.

Glad I'm not alone either, haha.

[noudidnt]

I commute everyday on the bike...I agree, everyone on the road is so busy doing everything except driving, and dont bother trying to get people to take responsibility for thier actions..not gonna happen...
I dont agree with damaging a car...it is pointless, and only going to serve to escalate the situation. if you are really pissed off, follow them for a while, they get really nervous and hopefully learn a lesson.....

[Tricky Mike]

Dude where were you a bike messenger? Boston?

Yep. Rode for First Call (based out of Southie) 96-98 ish... If I'm remembering correctly. Used to love it. Winters kind of sucked, but that's where the money is. Also wrenched at Sid's on 34th st for a couple years in NYC. Shit. We may have even met