Flipped off some lady this morning

[invalidsession]

I have no idea what a "Stebel" is but once again it sounds like a severe lack of anticipation on the part of the rider. Neither a rider nor a driver owns a piece of the highway, we are merely borrowers. Ignorant people arrive both on bikes and in cars, as bikers we have to take the higher ground and do our best to anticipate the actions of others around us. We are simply more vunerable. Look at this way; being defensive and observant makes us less likely to be involved in incidents at any level no matter whether we are riding our bikes or piloting our trucks.


Chris.

[pixelpusher]

Originally Posted by invalidsession

I have no idea what a "Stebel" is but once again it sounds like a severe lack of anticipation on the part of the rider. Neither a rider nor a driver owns a piece of the highway, we are merely borrowers. Ignorant people arrive both on bikes and in cars, as bikers we have to take the higher ground and do our best to anticipate the actions of others around us. We are simply more vunerable. Look at this way; being defensive and observant makes us less likely to be involved in incidents at any level no matter whether we are riding our bikes or piloting our trucks.


Chris.

You are entitled to your opinion about my lack of anticipation to the merging cop car, however, as I said in my previous post:

I anticipated it by staying clear of his left rear bumper, but he changed lanes into my lane with NO turn signal at all.

I am well aware that there are I attentive drivers and riders after riding/commuting for the last couple of decades during LA freeway rush hours.

I was illustrating that a CHP merged without paying attention.

I also enjoyed blasting him with the Stebel.

[proto]

Originally Posted by pixelpusher

You are entitled to your opinion about my lack of anticipation to the merging cop car, however, as I said in my previous post:


I am well aware that there are I attentive drivers and riders after riding/commuting for the last couple of decades during LA freeway rush hours.

I was illustrating that a CHP merged without paying attention.

I also enjoyed blasting him with the Stebel.

As a representative of the anonymous (and not so anonymous) lurkers who may or may not be ignorant...we ask you again.

What is a Stebel?

[proto]

I am very, very new to these boards but I am seeing a very repetitive pattern already for this topic being recycled: reactions to negligent drivers, and the ethics behind those reactions.

I had about 10 years of experience on the road (behind the wheel of a car, I have two months of road experience on my bike). I've made virtually every kind of negligent offense you can name: texting while driving, using a cell phone while driving, changing lanes without double checking, etc...And I can tell you, any time I was the catalyst of a potential accident, it was never "intentional". People are not going out of their way to try and take you out, even if it may seem that way at times. Reacting in a burst of road rage and attempting to damage another vehicle, particularly a cage, or using offensive gestures is downright idiotic, and nothing less than suicidal; your putting yourself in danger because of your own damned ego.

Today while driving back to work from my lunch break, I was involved in nearly 3 accidents (it's only a 1.5 mile drive to my work).

The first was someone in a suicide lane merging into my lane without realizing I was next to him, I noticed out of the corner of my eye what was happening, quickly swerved into the right lane (luckily nobody was there) and blared the horn for a second just enough to let him know I was there. Apparently that upset him enough to get him to start tailgating me, but I avoided eye contact and kept track of him via the side mirrors until he backed off.

The second one was at an intersection where I was in the left turning lane, my light was green to turn left, and obviously the lanes going straight were red - some teenage girl, who appeared to be texting, drove straight through the red light without glancing up. there were two turning lanes, and the car next to me also turning blared on the horn after we both slammed on the breaks to avoid getting t-boned. I don't think she even looked up or back at us.

The third incident was literally 100 feet from that light, where a car was sitting in there driveway and apparently thought it was safe to pull out right when both me and the other driver in the right hand lane were about to pass. I see him start to pull out then realize the car next to me had to pull into my lane to avoid getting hit, so I swerved into the suicide lane while the driver next to me again, laid down on the horn to get the attention of the guy who effectively cut two of us off. He laid on the horn longer this time, obviously irritated at the second close-call.

30 seconds later I pulled into work, shook all 3 incidents off, and went on with my life. I think this example illustrates an old saying very well, "it takes a mistake from one driver to cause a close call; it takes two drivers to make a mistake to cause an accident".

We are obligated to drive defensively for our very own lives. Let the ego go, don't make mistakes that could cost you your life (or someone elses!) and live to ride another day!

OK, my 2 mins are up, stepping off the soapbox so someone else can have a turn.

[1rusty1]

Originally Posted by proto

As a representative of the anonymous (and not so anonymous) lurkers who may or may not be ignorant...we ask you again.

What is a Stebel?

It's an aftermarket very loud horn.

[proto]

Originally Posted by 1rusty1

It's an aftermarket very loud horn.

Aye a quick google search and I already knew the answer before I posted; that was just my (lousy) attempt at sarcasm/humor. But I appreciate the polite response!

[pixelpusher]

It's supposed to be 139 decibels.
It is certainly a loud, compact air horn. Effective if you need it.

[mattyo]

I want to get an extremely loud horn as well; still on the to-do list. But my pragmatic side says, if you have time to hit the horn, the danger has already been avoided. That's why I like my loud pipes and (purposely) lots of popping on decel. Personally I can't find time to dodge a cut-off and hit my horn at the same time (I should work on that). It hasn't happened yet, but if I get cut-off really bad, well it hasn't happened, I don't know what I'll do.

[vonh]

In '68', just a few years ago, I had someone cut me off bad and i'm not proud of what I did. I haven't had road rage since!! Now I chalk it up to busy people just not thinking and let it go!!

[04LowShadow]

All I know is 4 riders died here in Central FL on Tuesday. All do to driver in there cars claiming "I didnt see him"
At least a couple times a week I ride to work (rest of the week I drive my car) and on those days I ride I experience near death incidents due to car operators not paying attention and the result is me yelling at them at the next stop light or flipping them off as I move around and past them. I read on here that cops even drive like morons and yes I can agree that even a cop road on my back fender for miles, and not he wasnt running code 3. So I felt I didnt have to move over. Yep he got flipped off on that morning.
I ride defensive/aggressive, I want to be at the head of the pack of traffic and if the idiot want to hit and kill each other they can do it behind me. On a 4 lane road I ride in the Left hand lane to give my self more time and room for those idiots coming out of side streets and if the car behind me want to pass then he can go around.
Anyhow I could go on and on but I have to go to work. And its cold this morning so Im taking the car. I look out for fellow bikers!!!!

Have a good day all!!!