Almost bought it last night

[astroprof]

I almost bought the farm last night.

Tuesdays, my wife has an 8 AM class, office hours then classes from 4:30 - 9PM. Being the concerned hubby, I've been taking her something to eat before her 4:30.

Last night, I bought us a sub, cut a piece for her and rode it up to school. I call it "Scooter Express Delivery". After I dropped it off, I proceed back out the road we share with the Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. UPJ started classes last week and there are a lot of vehicles on campus. I go that way because the scoot doesn't trip stoplights and I can usually tag in with somebody to get a green light. I'm coming up a little hill behind a couple students when all of a sudden, a little red cage pulls out of the UPJ faculty/staff lot right in front of me and 1/2 way across the lane. I was only doing about 15mph at that point. I hit the brakes and did a pretty good panic stop. The woman then gave me a dirty look and waved for me to go.

I'm glad I took the MSF course because it taught me to ride with my hands partially covering the brakes when I'm in "hazardous" areas and also how to do a panic stop.

[harrywr2]

Glad your alright Larry.

As you click off those miles if your observant you'll develop a pretty good 6th sense of which idiots are going to pull out in front of you...ALL OF THEM.

Ride like your invisible!!!! You could prolly ride nekkid and no one would notice.

[90GTVert]

I love it when people get angry at you after trying to kill you. What are they so angry about? "GRRRRRR! If he woulda kept going I coulda hit my 3rd scooter today for a new personal best!"

[oldchopperguy]

Don't ya just love those drivers?

I had the same thing happen a week ago, except this guy did it intentionally. The fellow (a nicely-dressed businessman) then had the gall to pull up next to me at the first red light, crowd me into the oncomming traffic lane, and shout some profanity at me, letting me know in no uncertain terms that scooters had no right on the road, and he could just "squash me like a grape" with his Lincoln SUV.

I smiled, and politely reminded him that his cute driving was aggravated assualt with a deadly weapon, and I could just as easily return THAT favor, with my licensed .45, but nice people don't indulge in such things. I'm a nice person, and he should attempt to be a little nicer. It's just good health insurance.

Drive like you're invisible? Good advice! And watch out for yourself. This economy has a lot of people going homicidal.

Stay safe!

Leo in Texas


PS: Before I get a load of negative replies, please note I never advocate bantering words with a guy like this. He already had me blocking traffic, and wasn't going to let it alone. Experience told me that in a few seconds, I was about to be on the wrong end of a dose of lead, so I talked fast and politely, phone in my visible hand, and the Colt in the other, hidden under my jacket.

It's best to not confront road ragers, but I got stuck with few options this time... Fortunately it worked. You CANNOT count on that. These situations get ugly and messy very, VERY fast, so if possible, get loose from the confrontation before the cretin can escalate it to an "OK Corral" phenomenon.

[astroprof]

Leo, Brent, Harry - like the old sarge on Hill Street Blues used to say - Let's be careful out there!

Leo - since I retired and returned to the civil folks in the mountains, I don't carry much any more. I can't have it on campus anyhow!

[Rocketdog]

I'm glad you're all ok. I've had my share of those as well. People trying to kill me tends to make me a bit miffed at them. Especially the ones that mean to.

RD

[trx1]

damn cagers!

[FootScoot]

That happens here all the time, and not just to scooters. Around here you could be driving a semi and they wouldn't pay no more attention to you than the man in the moon.
The biggest problem is they are too busy talking on the phone, eating, drinking, and being in a big hurry. They have the "I'm the only one on the road" attitude.

[Rebel]

Sometimes I think that the cell phone should not have been invented, and wonder why they even put turn signals on vehicles because nobody uses them.

[Rocketdog]

Sept 2, 2009 6:20:03 GMT -5 astroprof said:

I almost bought the farm last night.

Tuesdays, my wife has an 8 AM class, office hours then classes from 4:30 - 9PM. Being the concerned hubby, I've been taking her something to eat before her 4:30.

Last night, I bought us a sub, cut a piece for her and rode it up to school. I call it "Scooter Express Delivery". After I dropped it off, I proceed back out the road we share with the Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. UPJ started classes last week and there are a lot of vehicles on campus. I go that way because the scoot doesn't trip stoplights and I can usually tag in with somebody to get a green light. I'm coming up a little hill behind a couple students when all of a sudden, a little red cage pulls out of the UPJ faculty/staff lot right in front of me and 1/2 way across the lane. I was only doing about 15mph at that point. I hit the brakes and did a pretty good panic stop. The woman then gave me a dirty look and waved for me to go.

I'm glad I took the MSF course because it taught me to ride with my hands partially covering the brakes when I'm in "hazardous" areas and also how to do a panic stop.

That's about the point where I get off the scoot and ask them, why they are trying to kill me. I have no sense of humor about that. Now you mentioned trippin the lights, one decent law we have here in TN is that a motorcycle can use a stoplight as a stop sign. For just that reason.

RD

[FootScoot]

Feb 3, 2010 12:50:55 GMT -5 Rebel said:

Sometimes I think that the cell phone should not have been invented, and wonder why they even put turn signals on vehicles because nobody uses them.

Turn signal non-use is one of my biggest peeves. If I'm in a particularly spunky mood I ask them if turn signals were optional on that year vehicle, or if their left hand is broke. GRRRR!