To Pickup Drivers who...

[CaliforniaFJR]

I am a motorcyclist and I LEGALLY and safely lane share in California. Today, like many days, a pickup driver noticed me coming between the cars and pulled forward and into my path to make me stop and then said, "You guys are stupid and have a death wish."

I have a canned reply for these guys now, "My legal driving is made dangerous only when people like you decide to break the law and pull into my right of way."

I don't cuss, I don't use an angry tone. I just say it with a matter of fact tone. My hope is that they'll THINK. Fat chance eh?

I have to say that the ONLY time that this kind of thing happened to me and it was not a pickup driver doing it, the vehicle was a Isuzu Rodeo 4x4.

Is it true what they say about pickup drivers? They need to find some way to exert some kind of authority because they lack it in other parts of their lives (or anatomy). Well, it sure seems so when it comes to lane sharing and pickup drivers almost exclusively being the drivers that have a problem with a bike taking up open space.

Lane sharing is legal, makes sense, is safer for the rider (prevents bikes being rear ended) and the fact that a bike passes them in this manner does not mean that we are cheating them in their efforts to aggressively drive by everyone possible on their way to their destination. Just because a rider can get past them does not reduce the number of people that they can cut off, prevent from merging, or generally act superior toward.

Pickup drivers that don't like bikes lane sharing, please get a clue, but more importantly, QUIT PULLING IN FRONT OF BIKES!

[directory]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaFJR

QUIT PULLING IN FRONT OF BIKES!

yeah! open you doors on them instead!

[quteasabutton]

wow i didn't know people were such assholes. it seems like a lot of truck drivers *but not all!* seem to think they own their road cuz they take up the most space and that gives them the right to act like that toward other drivers. it's cool you keep your head in situations like that, maybe someday those people will get some sense when they cut off the wrong biker and ruin their truck by causing an accident. hopefully it won't have to come to that tho.

[BP2K2Max]

i hear ya. i don't see what the big deal is. why do people get so bent out of shape when you take advantage of the fact that you're on a bike? they're stuck in traffic regardless, why do they get mad at the fact that you don't have to be. i've seen the same thing happen, my friends and i will be riding through traffic and all of a sudden some jerk sees you coming and decides to pull the front of his car right into your lane of travel. it pisses me off to no end. next time just squeeze by and bash their side mirror off, it's not like they can follow you.

and it really is mostly truck/suv drivers that pull that shit.

[quteasabutton]

ooo we can't forget the rude people who when there's a HUGE traffic jam, feel the need to drive down the center of both lanes on purpose to make sure they get the faster lane and when someone tries to get past them serves at them.

[BleedDodge]

Just because it was a guy in a pickup who said it...

[sameintheend01]

being from CA, i HIGHLY doubt most people even realize that bikes can lane share. I always have a habit of pulling over to the side of a lane as much as i can when they try to pass to let them easily go by. I know if i was riding, i'd like someone to do that for me. But seriously, sometimes u don't even see them coming up on you and that gets kinda scary.

[Gohan Ryu]

I don't think it's limited to guys driving trucks - I've seen plenty of assholes in cars deliberately squeeze close to the car next to them if they see a motorcycle in their mirror.

On the other hand I've seen plenty of assholes on motorcycles split lanes to get in front of everyone at a red light, then when the light changes they go 30mph (in a 35mph zone) and slow up the all traffic they just cut off. It's not usually the guys with the crotch rockets that do this, it's usually some guy with a touring bike (saddlebags and all that crap).

[imtheoneandonlyD]

face the facts, everyone who owns any type of motor vehicle is in one way an asshole. I've seen numerous threads, "damn soccer moms","damn pickup drivers","everyone who drives a mazda is a moron". We should just have one big sticky that says, " NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE"

[quteasabutton]

Originally Posted by imtheoneandonlyD

face the facts, everyone who owns any type of motor vehicle is in one way an asshole. I've seen numerous threads, "damn soccer moms","damn pickup drivers","everyone who drives a mazda is a moron". We should just have one big sticky that says, " NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE"

[BleedDodge]

Just because it's legal doesn't mean you HAVE to do it. Sharing lanes is one of those things. It's a risk.

It's legal for you to walk downtown in the middle of the night to get a newspaper, but does that necessarily mean you would do it? Another risk.

[v10_viper]

Originally Posted by directory

yeah! open you doors on them instead!

LMAO


Hey buddie...I'm a pickup driver AND a motorcycle rider. I've personally had more cars cross the center line than any other vehicle...maybe I'll go start a thread and bitch at them. I'm pretty much nothing but a defensive driver...I worry about myself on the road, and nobody else, because if they're going to cross into my lane that's their fault, not that I won't move over to avoid an accident but if you pull halfway into my lane, guess what, I'm NOT moving. It's your own responsibility to protect yourselves out there, so don't bitch about other drivers, let them handle the consequences if needed so. Although on a motorcycle, I'll do anything to avoid an accident, so I'll understand where you're coming from, but let's stop blaming the other drivers ok?

[1stGenRocks]

CA people suck lol. at least your allowed to lane split over there. every other state in the US bikes have to sit in traffic just like cars. and damm is it hot sitting in the sun in leather with a engine stuffed between your legs.

[TexasF355F1]

Just because it was a truck today, doesn't mean it'll be a truck tomorrow. I'm very very conscious of cyclists, and move in my lane away from them to note the fact that I see them. Cruiser guys rarely even give me a look, sport bikes always give me a nod of thanks. Sometimes even throw in a wheely.

Anyways, I wouldn't advise riding b/w cars, that in and of itself is very dangerous. I will however move my truck half into the emergency lane if the jack asses decide they have the right to drive in the emergency lane b/c their exit is coming up.

[eversio11]

I didn't know that was legal. It never really bothered me, but it seemed so dangerous I just assumed it was illegal. I'd be really cautious if I was on a bike lane sharing, because of people like you mentioned.