 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Driving / April 2008Horn: Device for notifying people you don't approve of the way they handled your violating their ROW
Had an interesting moment this weekend. I was driving down a local 2- lane highway that's really not much of a highway at all, 45mph limit. I've got a dirt bike in the bed, so I'm not looking to execute any traction threshold maneuvering. An oncoming car suddenly brakes hard enough for me to see the nose dip and then the left signal comes on. This is taking place real close to me, with me gaining @ 45MPH and no traffic behind me. I'm thinking "they're not going to do this, are they?" just as they cut in front of me, barely accelerating, clearly expecting me to brake. To brake as hard as I needed to would have been most unpleasant, so I continued on at them planning to cut around the rear of the car as it moved toward the right edge of my lane and it's intended road. I was dumbfounded, and very nearly in quite the accident, when they stopped accelerating (may have stopped, I'm not 100% sure) to lay onto their horn and gesture angrily at me! It's no wonder I traded the street bike to ride in the dirt. On Apr 14, 10:12 am, "DanK...@gmail.com" <DanK...@gmail.com> wrote: > Had an interesting moment this weekend. I was driving down a local 2- > lane highway that's really not much of a highway at all, 45mph limit. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > 100% sure) to lay onto their horn and gesture angrily at me! It's no > wonder I traded the street bike to ride in the dirt. You probably made the oncoming driver drop the cell phone. :) >On Apr 14, 10:12 am, "DanK...@gmail.com" <DanK...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Had an interesting moment this weekend. I was driving down a local 2- [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >You probably made the oncoming driver drop the cell phone. :) Or drop their latte.... ;P -- C orny A lmanac of L eftcoast R oads O btuse & G rainy >Had an interesting moment this weekend. I was driving down a local 2- >lane highway that's really not much of a highway at all, 45mph limit. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >accident, when they stopped accelerating (may have stopped, I'm not >100% sure) to lay onto their horn and gesture angrily at me! I, too, have seen this phenomenon. They are well aware that they do not have the right-of-way, and so they are always prepared (but never happy) when their intimidation ploy doesn't work. OB Related Driving Story: I was stuck behind a Sloth on a two-lane road with no passing allowed. Sloth was doing about 15 under the PSL of 45 MPH. After about a quarter-mile, he flips on his left turn signal and S-L-O-W-S D-O-W-N even more in order to turn into a driveway on the left. As soon as there was (barely!) enough room, I gunned it and passed his Sloth a.s on the right, missing the right rear corner of his bumper by 2 or 3 carefully-calculated inches. Just at that moment, the Sloth honked at me! Clearly he had been watching me in his rear-view mirror the entire time, no doubt enjoying the fact that he was blocking my path. I guess he just didn't appreciate even a small amount of payback. :)  Signature"Dave's not here, man!" - Tommy Chong > I was stuck behind a Sloth on a two-lane road with no passing allowed. > Sloth was doing about 15 under the PSL of 45 MPH. After about a > quarter-mile, he flips on his left turn signal and S-L-O-W-S D-O-W-N > even more in order to turn into a driveway on the left. O M G! The nerve of some people! > As soon as > there was (barely!) enough room, I gunned it and passed his Sloth a.s > on the right, missing the right rear corner of his bumper by 2 or 3 > carefully-calculated inches. Your parents must be very proud. ----- - gpsman gpsman <gpsman@driversmail.com> wrote in news:fd47b366-7194-476a- 98b1-541ce5a03492@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com: >> I was stuck behind a Sloth on a two-lane road with no passing allowed. >> Sloth was doing about 15 under the PSL of 45 MPH. After about a >> quarter-mile, he flips on his left turn signal and S-L-O-W-S D-O-W-N >> even more in order to turn into a driveway on the left. > > O M G! The nerve of some people! So you're all for left turners to cut in front of oncoming traffic? > gpsman <gps...@driversmail.com> wrote in news:fd47b366-7194-476a- > 98b1-541ce5a03...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com: [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > So you're all for left turners to cut in front of oncoming traffic? No, I'm all for morons considering that someone might have a good reason for not driving while placing the moron's interests first. Say, like, looking for a landmark or the address of their destination. (I'm for morons taking remedial reading courses too.) ----- - gpsman >> >> I was stuck behind a Sloth on a two-lane road with no >> >> passing [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > good reason for not driving while placing the moron's interests > first. What the hell are you talking about? You made light of a situation above with your "The nerve of some people". That person being a moron who was making a left turn, right in front of the OP. > >> >> I was stuck behind a Sloth on a two-lane road with no > >> >> passing [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > What the hell are you talking about? If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand. > You made light of a > situation above with your "The nerve of some people". That's no "situation", Sparky, that's common "driving". Unremarkable; unworthy of a second thought, much less toting it and an overinflated sense of MFFY indignation all the way to Usenet. > That > person being a moron who was making a left turn, right in front of > the OP. Do you mean to say: 1) You think the "moron" was opposing traffic? (heh) 2) You think a driver with a vehicle to their rear should never turn? 3) You think a driver with a vehicle to their rear may turn, but may not slow to do so? ----- - gpsman gpsman <gpsman@driversmail.com> wrote in news:38c6063e-cb96-40e5-a86a- 92afd7987f8c@m44g2000hsc.googlegroups. com: >> >> >> I was stuck behind a Sloth on a two-lane road with no >> >> >> passing [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand. Translation: GPSMAN has no clue what the f.ck he's talking about. >> You made light of a >> situation above with your "The nerve of some people". > > That's no "situation", Sparky, that's common "driving". Turning in front of oncoming traffic is common? Of course, this doesn't surprise me, since you think stopping in the middle of the road is just find and dandy. > gpsman <gps...@driversmail.com> wrote in > news:38c6063e-cb96-40e5-a86a- [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > doesn't surprise me, since you think stopping in the middle of the > road is just find and dandy. It seems you mean to say that, since you can't read, I'm stupid. (That's the first time THAT ever happened! <rolls eyes>) Try this, it's your last "do-over": <quote> On Apr 14, 10:58 pm, Scott in SoCal <scottenazt...@yahoo.com> wrote: > I was stuck behind a Sloth on a two-lane road with no passing allowed. > Sloth was doing about 15 under the PSL of 45 MPH. After about a > quarter-mile, he flips on his left turn signal and S-L-O-W-S D-O-W-N > even more in order to turn into a driveway on the left. O M G! The nerve of some people! > As soon as > there was (barely!) enough room, I gunned it and passed his Sloth a.s > on the right, missing the right rear corner of his bumper by 2 or 3 > carefully-calculated inches. Your parents must be very proud. ----- - gpsman </quote> http://groups.google.com/group/rec.autos.driving/msg/4a5e9773b5ed9e9f?dmode=source ----- - gpsman <end transmission> > gpsman <gps...@driversmail.com> wrote in > news:38c6063e-cb96-40e5-a86a- [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > - Show quoted text - For the love of God, don't encourage him. He'll just keep posting and posting and you'll never understand where the hell he's coming from, because it'll never make sense. nate > > gpsman <gps...@driversmail.com> wrote in > > news:38c6063e-cb96-40e5-a86a- [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > posting and you'll never understand where the hell he's coming from, > because it'll never make sense. BUH WAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BUH WAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahaha...! ----- - gpsman > On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:12:11 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > time, no doubt enjoying the fact that he was blocking my path. I guess > he just didn't appreciate even a small amount of payback. :) I've had that happen too. Amazing. It makes my head hurt to try to figure the justification. "Don't pass me on the right when I'm turning left at 3mph on a 45mph road and already partially out of the lane and headed to my driveway!"??? Unfortunately I've not been able to have any sort of conversation with these people, as I'm sure I'd get a kick out of their logic. >I've had that happen too. Amazing. It makes my head hurt to try to >figure the justification. "Don't pass me on the right when I'm >turning left at 3mph on a 45mph road and already partially out of the >lane and headed to my driveway!"??? In that context, the horn probably means "Curses! Foiled again!" For some reason, there are people who like to delay other drivers as much as they possibly can when making turns. People like me pull over to the side so others can get by, or at least make their turn as quickly as possible so as to have as little impact on others as possible. But some people stay fully in the lane, slow down early, and proceed as slowly as possible, all in an effort to MAXIMIZE their impact on other people. I figure these are the same people who walk S-L-O-W-L-Y through the crosswalk at the stop sign intersection because they like making all the cars wait as long as possible. These losers all have very little power in their real lives - at work they are the bottom-rung employee, not the boss, for example - so the only time they have an opportunity to exercise any control over other people is when they can make people in cars wait for them. Thus, they milk every opportunity as long as they can. Signature"Dave's not here, man!" - Tommy Chong >For some reason, there are people who like to delay other drivers as >much as they possibly can when making turns. People like me pull over [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >proceed as slowly as possible, all in an effort to MAXIMIZE their >impact on other people. >I figure these are the same people who walk S-L-O-W-L-Y through the >crosswalk at the stop sign intersection because they like making all [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >in cars wait for them. Thus, they milk every opportunity as long as >they can. There was a moment a couple weeks ago or so I wanted to enounter one of those slow peds. I was on the arterial street and was making a right turn on to a side street but had to yield to a guy crossing the side street. Thing is, for the last mile I had this cop tailgating me. Would have been far better if the ped had taken a day and a half to cross :) That aside, I've seen these asshats vary their speed and even stop and wait so they could play their little game. There was this couple in a parking lot that saw me approaching and slowed their speed to crawl so they would be in front of me. If they had not, they would have been across long before I got there. I kept course and speed as long as I could and stopped 10 feet away from them. The woman then goes into a rage.... yelling and screaming about how dare I pretend not to see her. I don't say anything. the guy starts to move towards the woman to join her near the driver's side window. path no longer blocked... left foot up, right foot down.... left them there looking stupid. Now, I walk fast.... but I've had drivers try to run me down because they didn't want to wait a nano-second. One old man in gran marquis decided that he had right of way to turn left across my path into a parking lot.... this a.shole actually started to get out of his car when I dared rap on his window to let him know how fing close he was to me. Figuring that starting a fight with someone 50 years younger who doesn't need a car to get places he got back in his car and took off. Then there was the idiot who decided to start making a right on red when I was DIRECTLY in front of him. In front of the driver's side headlamp. Either one of them had only need waited about 1 second for me to me to be 6 feet away or more. >That aside, I've seen these asshats vary their speed and even stop and >wait so they could play their little game. There was this couple in a [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >her near the driver's side window. path no longer blocked... left foot >up, right foot down.... left them there looking stupid. Heh!! >Now, I walk fast.... but I've had drivers try to run me down because >they didn't want to wait a nano-second. One old man in gran marquis [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Figuring that starting a fight with someone 50 years younger who doesn't >need a car to get places he got back in his car and took off. I bet you were the talk of the Retirement Home later that afternoon. :) >Then there >was the idiot who decided to start making a right on red when I was >DIRECTLY in front of him. In front of the driver's side headlamp. Either >one of them had only need waited about 1 second for me to me to be 6 >feet away or more. I'm sure this is less of a problem in IL (especially Chicagoland, where there are always lots of peds), but in CA *nobody* walks, so drivers simply do not expect to see pedestrians. I have to practice defensive walking, take extra precautions to make eye contact, and always leave myself an out. :) SignatureJoin Operation Starve the Troll: Don't respond to his posts or click on his web site. Deny him the attention he so desperately craves and he'll go away! > On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:57:11 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > proceed as slowly as possible, all in an effort to MAXIMIZE their > impact on other people. I hear you. I'm the guy that plans his vehicle position carefully. If I am the first car to the light and there's enough lane that if I hug the centerline another car could squeeze by me on the right for a right on red. I also signal and pull off to the side I intend to turn toward, and generally try not to interfere with others. There is definitely a polar opposite out there, the person that'll inch right to block the car behind them from turning right on red because NOBODY is going ANYWHERE until THEY'VE gotten to go straight! > I figure these are the same people who walk S-L-O-W-L-Y through the > crosswalk at the stop sign intersection because they like making all > the cars wait as long as possible. That happens to me all the time, but it was intense this morning. A woman in her 20s, if I were to guess, and weighing about 2.5 times what could have been healthy must have taken a full minute and then half of the next to cross a 2-lane road. Of course this was at the last crosswalk before the light traffic was backed up at anyway, about 100 feet away, and on a green. > These losers all have very little > power in their real lives - at work they are the bottom-rung employee, > not the boss, for example - so the only time they have an opportunity > to exercise any control over other people is when they can make people > in cars wait for them. Thus, they milk every opportunity as long as > they can. Ever notice they're usually slovenly & overweight, or tweenage to teenage wannabe gangsters? When was the last time somebody in reasonable physical shape, aged 21-45 and wearing slacks, a dress shirt and dress shoes or the woman's equivalent moseyed or shuffled across a cross walk in front of your car, delaying you several times longer than reasonable? I can't recall it happening to me. >> These losers all have very little >> power in their real lives - at work they are the bottom-rung employee, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >across a cross walk in front of your car, delaying you several times >longer than reasonable? I can't recall it happening to me. That's because those people have POWER over their own lives. They are managers or professionals, they either have subordinates or get to exercise some decision-making skills and get recognition for making good judgements that help the company as a whole. The guy shuffling across the street in his baggy pants with his underwear showing, if he has a job at all, is a gas station attendant or maybe works as a stockboy at Wal*Mart. He has no real responsibilities; he is the bossEE rather than the bossOR; and "the man" is keeping him down. So he strikes back at "the man" in the only ways that he can. SignatureJoin Operation Starve the Troll: Don't respond to his posts or click on his web site. Deny him the attention he so desperately craves and he'll go away! >That's because those people have POWER over their own lives. They are >managers or professionals, they either have subordinates or get to >exercise some decision-making skills and get recognition for making >good judgements that help the company as a whole. Recongition for helping the company? In what non-dilbert universe is this? Recongition and promotion is only for the pointy haired kind. :) > The guy shuffling >across the street in his baggy pants with his underwear showing, if he >has a job at all, is a gas station attendant or maybe works as a >stockboy at Wal*Mart. He has no real responsibilities; he is the >bossEE rather than the bossOR; and "the man" is keeping him down. So >he strikes back at "the man" in the only ways that he can. He is sadly mistaken who "the man" is. >>That's because those people have POWER over their own lives. They are >>managers or professionals, they either have subordinates or get to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Recongition for helping the company? In what non-dilbert universe is >this? Recongition and promotion is only for the pointy haired kind. :) I think he's talking about the pointy-haired kind, or better yet, PHB's bosses -- the ones with contracts spelling out the sort of recognition they are going to get. SignatureThere's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one. > On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:57:11 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > "Dave's not here, man!" > - Tommy Chong ____________________ Here in SW Connecticut, on a typical 30mph two lane on the edge of town, the average "go-with-the-flow" speed is 40(what drivers actually drive). I refuse to drive that fast because turns that could best be described as ramps at the PSL turn into real devils at or above 40. Not to mention this street has both sides parking for large stretches of it, and drivers pulling out of side streets are often pulling out blind - so I have to be ready to brake suddenly. Lots of small family restaurants, supermarkets, dry cleaners, stretches of small single- families, paper stores, etc. So I typically hover around 35 on this particular artery, and am tailgated accordingly(mostly by women in SUVs). When I get ready to make a right turn, I gradually slow down well in advance, and activate my turn signal. I try to time my turn so I can take it reaallll sllllowww while there is traffic from the opposite direction. The idea being that the tailgater HAS to slow down and stay behind me until I've turned off, because they can't cut around me, cross the yellow, into the opposite lane -and the traffic! Whadda stinka I am! But for left turns on that street - absolutely, I get over as far left as I can(signalling of course), and peel rubber to the left - I'm outa there! I'm not waiting til New Years to make this left turn, people! -CC > > On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:57:11 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > until I've turned off, because they can't cut around me, cross the > yellow, into the opposite lane -and the traffic! Why? Is that really what makes you happy? I'd imagine one would need to lead one hell of a sad life in order to take pleasure in something like that. > Whadda stinka I am! I'd agree, though I'm still lost on how this is fun, funny, or at all pleasurable for you. Does it make you feel big to go real slow through crosswalks and make cars wait, too? For some reason my current mental image of you involves sweatpants, empty bags of lousy snack food and an empty seat at WW somewhere. On Apr 15, 10:30 am, "DanK...@gmail.com" <DanK...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:57:11 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" > [quoted text clipped - 59 lines] > > - Show quoted text - _________________ First of all, I feel safer at 5mph over the PSL than 10mph over on this particular street. Secondly, I take my sweet time making right turns ONLY when I feel the driver behind me is too close. Left turns I always try to make as quickly as traffic permits - tail-gater or no tail-gater. When travelling straight - no turns, I ignore tail-gaters until I have to make right turns. Then the right-turn tends to last a few innings. :D -CC >Here in SW Connecticut, on a typical 30mph two lane on the edge of >town, the average "go-with-the-flow" speed is 40(what drivers actually >drive). I refuse to drive that fast because turns that could best be >described as ramps at the PSL turn into real devils at or above 40. Heh heh. It always cracks me up when Roger Ramjet in his Crossover SUV is so eager to pass me going at least 85 (I'm doing 75) and then, as soon as we get to a long, sweeping transition ramp, suddenly I am passing them (still doing 75) because their topheavy vehicle feels scary at 85 on the curve. >So I typically hover around 35 on this particular artery, and am >tailgated accordingly(mostly by women in SUVs). When I get ready to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Whadda stinka I am! No doubt there is a similar thought process going on in the minds of all these Sloths. "How DARE anyione want to drive faster than I am going? *I* am the sole arbiter of what speed is safe, and I will single-handedly ENFORCE my chosen speed through any means necessary, including passive-aggressive bullshit." SignatureJoin Operation Starve the Troll: Don't respond to his posts or click on his web site. Deny him the attention he so desperately craves and he'll go away! > For some reason, there are people who like to delay other drivers as > much as they possibly can when making turns. I encountered something similar. Once I was on my bike waiting behind a car waiting to make a left. I see a pedestrian starting to cross, but, coincidentally, the driver ahead of me and the pedestrian happened to know each other, so they started having a conversation. At that point, I pass the driver on the left, get in front of him and take his place in line waiting to take a left. The driver behind me responded by revving the engine a few times, but there wasn't anything he could do about it :) > > For some reason, there are people who like to delay other drivers as > > much as they possibly can when making turns. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I pass the driver on the left, get in front of him and take his place in > line waiting to take a left. So you just skipped a place in line, but still had to wait? That's a bit of an a-hole maneuver. If there was nothing keeping you from going passing him would have been completely justified, but if you're queued waiting to turn anyway what harm is he doing by having a word with a friend while waiting? He likely would have terminated the conversation and moved on as soon as the light turned green, oncoming traffic cleared or whatever other obstacle was causing you both to wait "in line". Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone was chatting with a friend while waiting their turn to check out? > The driver behind me responded by revving the engine a few times, but > there wasn't anything he could do about it :) "I'm sorry officer, the sun was in my eyes and I just didn't see him." "My foot slipped off the brake" "It all happened so fast, I never saw him" >going passing him would have been completely justified, but if you're >queued waiting to turn anyway what harm is he doing by having a word >with a friend while waiting? He likely would have terminated the >conversation and moved on as soon as the light turned green, oncoming >traffic cleared or whatever other obstacle was causing you both to >wait "in line". In what country or on what planet? I've never seen one of these people terminate their conversation and go. They take a while to notice they can go or that they are blocking someone, then they linger there blocking someone before they go. The condition that allows them to go will not be noticed, it is no longer their priority. By the time they are clear the person behind them is stuck there waiting for the next green, opening in traffic, etc. > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just >cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone >was chatting with a friend while waiting their turn to check out? I've gone around the unaware and otherwise occupied in various situations. Usually they do not notice. The few that do are when I am driving or bicycling, these idiots are then suddenly in hurry to get some where when I go around them. If I were to sit and wait for them, they would not have any urgency to get moving. Now maybe I am good at picking out the unaware in person so I know as to when I can or cannot go around. If their conversation is the focus of what they are doing they won't even notice I went ahead of them. By the time they notice its time to move forward I'm long gone. This falls under your 'no harm no foul' argument. On Apr 15, 1:46 pm, tetraethylleadREMOVET...@yahoo.com (Brent P) wrote: > In article <3fe4a0b3-054a-479e-8cc7-9be73687b...@p39g2000prm.googlegroups.com>, DanK...@gmail.com wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > In what country or on what planet? I've never seen one of these people > terminate their conversation and go. I have. I grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Stoplight chats are standard issue, and when the light turns green they usually go. I certainly always do. I'd be bullshit if someone tried to pass me and cut in front of me while I was chatting @ a red light. I'd pull to the bumper of the vehicle in front of me making it impossible, but it'd still piss me off. Especially if/when they just went on and cut in front of the vehicle in front of me. > They take a while to notice they > can go or that they are blocking someone, then they linger there > blocking someone before they go. The condition that allows them to go > will not be noticed, it is no longer their priority. By the time they > are clear the person behind them is stuck there waiting for the next > green, opening in traffic, etc. Occasionally, but not normally in my observations. I figure it's like this: You're just as likely to know the person stuck behind you as you are to know the person you started chatting with, and you don't want to be rude. > > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just > >cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone > >was chatting with a friend while waiting their turn to check out? > > I've gone around the unaware and otherwise occupied in various > situations. Usually they do not notice. Clearly doesn't apply here, Arif was very clear that the motorist did notice and was angry about being cut. That suggests to me they were ready to go @ the green, had they not been rudely and illegally cut off by a cyclist. Now they're pissed at Arif, but he's long gone. With my luck I'm the next cyclist they encounter and it gets taken out on me. Next thing you know there's a homoside case and I'm involved. > The few that do are when I am > driving or bicycling, these idiots are then suddenly in hurry to get > some where when I go around them. If I were to sit and wait for them, > they would not have any urgency to get moving. I rarely display urgency to get moving at a red light, and rarely is any hurry I'm in visable when I'm at a red light. See, I'm usually stopped. Doesn't mean I won't be the first off the line when it turns green. > Now maybe I am good at picking out the unaware in person so I know as to > when I can or cannot go around. If their conversation is the focus of > what they are doing they won't even notice I went ahead of them. By the > time they notice its time to move forward I'm long gone. This falls > under your 'no harm no foul' argument. "The driver behind me responded by revving the engine a few times, but there wasn't anything he could do about it :)" That, to me, tells me that the driver was aware, and was angered, that he was cut (and likely held up) by said cyclist. No harm no foul doesn't apply. If you passed grammy chatting with gramps and they never noticed that may apply. However, the drivers reaction leads me to believe the situation you're describing is not the situation that Arif encountered. >On Apr 15, 1:46 pm, tetraethylleadREMOVET...@yahoo.com (Brent P) >wrote: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >> In what country or on what planet? I've never seen one of these people >> terminate their conversation and go. >I have. I grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone. >Stoplight chats are standard issue, and when the light turns green [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >impossible, but it'd still piss me off. Especially if/when they just >went on and cut in front of the vehicle in front of me. I grew up in MFFY country where it's 'do on to others before they do on to you', and while chats on the road are still standard issue they are done quite differently. First they aren't only at stops. Most I've seen are done MID BLOCK in the MIDDLE of the road. These middle of the road and block ones are a different breed than previously discussed. Just driving along minding my own business I come across these people blocking the entire road talking to each other. I stop. I wait a bit. I honk the horn. I get a middle finger in return... The stop light ones are only slightly different, in that often one can go around them on a bicycle un-noticed. >> They take a while to notice they >> can go or that they are blocking someone, then they linger there >> blocking someone before they go. The condition that allows them to go >> will not be noticed, it is no longer their priority. By the time they >> are clear the person behind them is stuck there waiting for the next >> green, opening in traffic, etc. >Occasionally, but not normally in my observations. I figure it's like >this: You're just as likely to know the person stuck behind you as >you are to know the person you started chatting with, and you don't >want to be rude. In MFFY country you don't know the person behind you, just the person you're talking to. Priority is the conversation, traffic blocked, "f$@k them", is the standard view. >> > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just >> >cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone >> >was chatting with a friend while waiting their turn to check out? >> I've gone around the unaware and otherwise occupied in various >> situations. Usually they do not notice. >Clearly doesn't apply here, Arif was very clear that the motorist did >notice and was angry about being cut. That suggests to me they were >ready to go @ the green, had they not been rudely and illegally cut >off by a cyclist. Now they're pissed at Arif, but he's long gone. >With my luck I'm the next cyclist they encounter and it gets taken out >on me. Next thing you know there's a homoside case and I'm involved. I've had drivers cut me off when I a biking to get to be first in the queue. Very rude behavior. I pass them right back. Sometimes they get angry, although all I did was preserve my rightful location in the queue before they gunned it around me and nailed the brakes. Motorists are often upset there is a bicyclist on the road. It's unlikely that he even noticed Arif going around him. Since the reaction occured after the fact my guess is the driver woke up and then noticed Arif in front having no clue from where he came only that he wasn't there before his conversation started. >> The few that do are when I am >> driving or bicycling, these idiots are then suddenly in hurry to get >> some where when I go around them. If I were to sit and wait for them, >> they would not have any urgency to get moving. >I rarely display urgency to get moving at a red light, and rarely is >any hurry I'm in visable when I'm at a red light. See, I'm usually >stopped. Doesn't mean I won't be the first off the line when it turns >green. I've had people sit on a green light. I mean just sit there. I go around them using the left lane because everybody else has gone through the intersection and it's clear.... This is the end of the green light and they haven't gone. Do this pass on a bicycle and then they may become violently angry that they've been passed. I've had it happen more than once. >> Now maybe I am good at picking out the unaware in person so I know as to >> when I can or cannot go around. If their conversation is the focus of >> what they are doing they won't even notice I went ahead of them. By the >> time they notice its time to move forward I'm long gone. This falls >> under your 'no harm no foul' argument. >"The driver behind me responded by revving the engine a few times, >butthere wasn't anything he could do about it :)" >That, to me, tells me that the driver was aware, and was angered, that >he was cut (and likely held up) by said cyclist. No harm no foul >doesn't apply. If you passed grammy chatting with gramps and they >never noticed that may apply. However, the drivers reaction leads me >to believe the situation you're describing is not the situation that >Arif encountered. Not exactly, but the driver is so unaware that he didn't notice for some period of time. Given that sort of situational awareness I would say he also passed up a chance or three to turn. I've gone around these unaware drivers both driving and bicycling, although I am gone before they wake up because I only do it to the most unaware with the clearest options to go around. The other option is to wake them up with a horn blast or yelling. This just angers them. It's easier to go around them. So one woke up before Arif was gone... big deal. He should pay attention to his driving not some conversation. > Clearly doesn't apply here, Arif was very clear that the motorist did > notice and was angry about being cut. That suggests to me they were > ready to go @ the green, had they not been rudely and illegally cut > off by a cyclist. Just to be clear, there was no traffic light, just a stop sign. Cross traffic doesn't have to stop. The car was waiting to take a left when I came up behind him. He has no obligation to wait other than to let cross traffic (pedestrians or vehicles) cross before making a turn. > Now they're pissed at Arif, but he's long gone. > With my luck I'm the next cyclist they encounter and it gets taken out > on me. Next thing you know there's a homoside case and I'm involved. I seriously doubt that anyone is going to run over a cyclist with hundreds of other vehicles and pedestrians around to witness it. > That, to me, tells me that the driver was aware, and was angered, that > he was cut (and likely held up) by said cyclist. I only held him up long enough to wait for traffic to clear in order to make a left turn. >I'd pull to the bumper of the vehicle in front of me making it impossible Which kinda makes you wonder why the buffoon left a gap large enough for the OP to cut in front like that. Surely the pedestrian could have walked forward a few paces and allowed the driver to close the gap? That's just further proof that the driver was an oblivious fool, and would not have noticed when the light turned green. Then, if the OP had dared to honk to let the buffoon know that it was time to end the conversation and move along, the buffoon would have undoubtedly gotten pissed off and dragged his feet even more, hoping to make zip through at the last possible moment and make the OP miss the light. Bottom line, when you're driving on the street, you need to be focused on the driving task, not on some random unplanned conversation. If it's so doggone important to talk to this person, pick up the goddamn phone once you're safely off the road and out of everyone's way, you MFFY scumbag! SignatureJoin Operation Starve the Troll: Don't respond to his posts or click on his web site. Deny him the attention he so desperately craves and he'll go away! >> I encountered something similar. Once I was on my bike waiting behind a >> car waiting to make a left. I see a pedestrian starting to cross, but, >> coincidentally, the driver ahead of me and the pedestrian happened to >> know each other, so they started having a conversation. At that point, >> I pass the driver on the left, get in front of him and take his place in >> line waiting to take a left. > So you just skipped a place in line, but still had to wait? He was in front waiting to take a left. When I got to the front, I had to wait for traffic to clear before I could take a left. I'm pretty sure he missed one opportunity to go before I moved in front of him. > That's a bit of an a-hole maneuver. Much like delaying traffic behind you by having a conversation with a pedestrian. > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just cut him off in line. He wasn't moving. > Would you try that in a supermarket if someone > was chatting with a friend while waiting their turn to check out? If they were in front and ignoring the cashier, then sure. >> The driver behind me responded by revving the engine a few times, but >> there wasn't anything he could do about it :) > "I'm sorry officer, the sun was in my eyes and I just didn't see him." > > "My foot slipped off the brake" > > "It all happened so fast, I never saw him" They'll just damage the bike at that speed and they can pay me for any damages (or for a new bike). >> > For some reason, there are people who like to delay other drivers as >> > much as they possibly can when making turns. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >So you just skipped a place in line, but still had to wait? That's a >bit of an a-hole maneuver. How do you figure? As far as Arif knew, those two jackasses were planning to continue that conversation for the rest of the day. When faced with some oblivious MFFY blocking the street for no good reason, I would have gone around the obstruction, as well. Just this evening I was stopped in the rightmost of two dedicated left turn pockets. Way at the front of the line, in my lane, I saw a guy jump out of his pickup truck and start to push it just as the green light came on. I waited for traffic in the lane to my left to pass me, then I changed lanes to the left and proceeded to make my turn. Most of the people who were stopped in the rightmost LTL ahead of me weren't so lucky; thanks to Jose and his jalopy pickup truck, they got to sit through an extra light cycle. So, was changing lanes to avoid a broken-down vehicle an "a-hole maneuver?" I certainly don't think do. I also see little difference between an arrogant jerk who blocks traffic to have a chat with some pedestrian and Jose with his disabled vehicle; in either case, I'm going to go around the obstruction. If you don't want me to go around you, then pay attention to your driving NOW and call your buddy on the phone later on when you get home. >If there was nothing keeping you from >going passing him would have been completely justified, but if you're >queued waiting to turn anyway what harm is he doing by having a word >with a friend while waiting? What assurance do you have that the chat was going to end in time for the OP to make the light? We've all seen a.sholes who chat at red lights CONTINUE TO BLAB even after the light has turned green, causing needless delays. However, by your own logic, what's the harm in Chatty Kathy slipping back one place in line? BTW, I do the same thing to those morons who purposely stop several carlengths back from the limit line at red lights (if it's advantageous for me to do so). It's selfish and arrogant to waste that much space, especially since by stopping so far back they are probably causing the entrance to a turn lane or driveway to be needlessly blocked. If they really want to prevent me from cutting in front of them, they can stop a normal distance back from the limit line like normal people do instead of being a road hog. > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just >cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone >was chatting with a friend while waiting their turn to check out? If their turn at the cashier was up, abso-f.cking-lutely. I see a.sholes on cell phones do this all the time. I will say very loudly, so that the party on the other end of the phone can clearly hear, "EXCUSE ME, IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO CHECK OUT, DO YOU MIND IF I GO AHEAD?" That usually gets 'em moving, but if not, I WILL cut in front. >> The driver behind me responded by revving the engine a few times, but >> there wasn't anything he could do about it :) [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >"It all happened so fast, I never saw him" "It's still your fault, and your insurance company will have to cover 100% of the repair costs." SignatureJoin Operation Starve the Troll: Don't respond to his posts or click on his web site. Deny him the attention he so desperately craves and he'll go away! >BTW, I do the same thing to those morons who purposely stop several >carlengths back from the limit line at red lights (if it's [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >them, they can stop a normal distance back from the limit line like >normal people do instead of being a road hog. Worse... they are too far back to trigger the sensor. > On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:19:28 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > How do you figure? As far as Arif knew, those two jackasses were > planning to continue that conversation for the rest of the day. Arif had to wait once he cut in front of this vehicle. That tells me there was something blocking the left turn, as we later learned oncoming traffic. Unless the chatting driver has missed reasonable openings to turn left already, there's no reason to assume he won't terminate the conversation if an opening is approaching. Innocent until proven guilty and all that. I do drive, cycle and walk as though everyone else is an idiot as a survival tactic. That said, I don't take it to such extremes as to assume one is going to hold me up in the future and then cut them off and hold them up now instead. > When faced with some oblivious MFFY blocking the street for no good > reason, I would have gone around the obstruction, as well. So would I. However, there is no evidence here this guy was a MFFY. Had he said "after watching this vehicle miss reasonable openings to turn left, I passed him and turned left" I wouldn't think he did any wrong. > Just this evening I was stopped in the rightmost of two dedicated left > turn pockets. Way at the front of the line, in my lane, I saw a guy [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > So, was changing lanes to avoid a broken-down vehicle an "a-hole > maneuver?" I certainly don't think do. Nope. I would have pulled over, jumped out and helped push, but that's just me. I can totally understand going around in that situation. > I also see little difference > between an arrogant jerk who blocks traffic to have a chat with some > pedestrian and Jose with his disabled vehicle; in either case, I'm > going to go around the obstruction. If you don't want me to go around > you, then pay attention to your driving NOW and call your buddy on the > phone later on when you get home. I agree. I don't think it applies here, since the vehicle Arif passed was waiting to turn left due to traffic, just like Arif was once he took the vehicles place in queue. > >If there was nothing keeping you from > >going passing him would have been completely justified, but if you're [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > lights CONTINUE TO BLAB even after the light has turned green, causing > needless delays. What assurance do you have that the next person you see won't shoot you in the face? None. Does that mean you can shoot them since you have no assurance they won't shoot you if you don't? Just because you have no assurance the person in front of you isn't an a.s doesn't give you the right to assume they will be and cut in front of them. > However, by your own logic, what's the harm in Chatty Kathy slipping > back one place in line? How do you figure that applies by my logic? > BTW, I do the same thing to those morons who purposely stop several > carlengths back from the limit line at red lights (if it's [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > them, they can stop a normal distance back from the limit line like > normal people do instead of being a road hog. How often does the car you're trying to cut shoot forward, leaving you hanging out in the oncoming traffic or right turn lane? There's no way in hell you'd get in front of me with an a-hole maneuver like that. > > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just > >cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > DO YOU MIND IF I GO > AHEAD?" That usually gets 'em moving, but if not, I WILL cut in front. Again different situation, these people have already committed the sin. I agree in that case. What I don't agree with is someone trying to predict the future, deciding that another person is going to do something undesirable in the future, and taking action against the wrong that you think was going to take place. > >> The driver behind me responded by revving the engine a few times, > but [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > "It's still your fault, and your insurance company will have to cover > 100% of the repair costs." And to many people I'm sure it's worth the $. I don't agree with it, I'm just pointing out that when a cyclist cuts in front of a vehicle illegally and says "there wasn't anything he could do about it" there are things they could do. It sucks, and it's wrong, but it's the truth. >> On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:19:28 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" >> >> <DanK...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >So you just skipped a place in line, but still had to wait? That's a >> >bit of an a-hole maneuver. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >oncoming traffic. Unless the chatting driver has missed reasonable >openings to turn left already That's a virtual certainty. Chatty Kathy had stopped well back from the limit line - far enough back that Arif could simply go around him and pull in front. It would have been impossible to take advantage of any gaps in trafic from that position. >Innocent until proven guilty and all that. This is a clear case of Probable Cause. This guy was NOT focused on the driving task; that makes him the equivalent of a broken-down vehicle AFAIC. >> When faced with some oblivious MFFY blocking the street for no good >> reason, I would have gone around the obstruction, as well. > >So would I. However, there is no evidence here this guy was a MFFY. You're kidding, right? >Had he said "after watching this vehicle miss reasonable openings to >turn left, I passed him and turned left" I wouldn't think he did any >wrong. How can you take an opportunity to turn left when you aren't even at the limit line yet? >> So, was changing lanes to avoid a broken-down vehicle an "a-hole >> maneuver?" I certainly don't think do. > >Nope. I would have pulled over, jumped out and helped push, but >that's just me. Thereby making your own vehicle a new obstruction? That cure is worse than the disease! >> >If there was nothing keeping you from >> >going passing him would have been completely justified, but if you're [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >What assurance do you have that the next person you see won't shoot >you in the face? Strawman. The guy next to me isn't pointing a gun at me, so my assurance is pretty high. OTOH, the guy having the chat is already showing signs of MFFY; when in doubt, I GTF out. >> However, by your own logic, what's the harm in Chatty Kathy slipping >> back one place in line? > >How do you figure that applies by my logic? If it's OK for Arif to wait behind Chatty Kathy, then why isn't it OK for Chatty Kathy to wait behind Arif? Food for further thought: suppose Chatty Kathy had been stopped at mid-block for his conversation, and Arif had passed him. Would you object? Why or why not? >> BTW, I do the same thing to those morons who purposely stop several >> carlengths back from the limit line at red lights (if it's [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >How often does the car you're trying to cut shoot forward, leaving you >hanging out in the oncoming traffic or right turn lane? Hasn't happened yet. In order to block my maneuver, these idiots would have to be paying attention. >There's no >way in hell you'd get in front of me with an a-hole maneuver like >that. Ah, but do you pull a-hole moves like stopping 5 carlegths back frmo the limit line? I bet you don't. >> > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just >> >cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Again different situation LOL!! Then why did you even bring it up? >What I don't agree with is someone trying >to predict the future, deciding that another person is going to do >something undesirable in the future, and taking action against the >wrong that you think was going to take place. So if you're on a through street with no stop sign, and you see someone rolling through a stop sign on a side street who looks like he might pull right out in front of your car, do you honk your horn? Or do you wait for him to actually pull out in front of you before you start to think about evasive action? SignatureJoin Operation Starve the Troll: Don't respond to his posts or click on his web site. Deny him the attention he so desperately craves and he'll go away! > On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:24:32 -0700 (PDT), "DanK...@gmail.com" > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > and pull in front. It would have been impossible to take advantage of > any gaps in trafic from that position. Arif was on a bicycle. He needed virtually no space to get in front, and you have no way of knowing if "Chatty Kathy" was positioned to make the turn. If not, I expect he would have mentioned that. If that were the case the whole situation is different, it's no longer a vehicle waiting to turn left, it's a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road to chat approaching the left turn. In that case I agree with going around 100%, and conveying your thoughts on their courtesy level. > >Innocent until proven guilty and all that. > > This is a clear case of Probable Cause. This guy was NOT focused on > the driving task; that makes him the equivalent of a broken-down > vehicle AFAIC. AFAIC? AFAICS I assume? Anyway, how do you know they weren't focused on the driving task? Where I grew up you'd always see people at the town center, at the only lights in town. You'd say hi, nice day, whatever but when the light turned green it was a quick "see you later", "call me" or "I'll call you" as the vehicle is pulling away as soon as the light changes. I've been the "Chatty Kathy" many times and certainly don't sit there on the green - I'm ready for it since I saw the cross light turn red. I'd be angry if someone cut in front of me while I was sitting at that red light, chatting or not. > >> When faced with some oblivious MFFY blocking the street for no good > >> reason, I would have gone around the obstruction, as well. > > >So would I. However, there is no evidence here this guy was a MFFY. > > You're kidding, right? Maybe you do it different out west. See my above paragraph. I have chatted at lights and there isn't the slightest bit of MFFY to it. When the light turns green I move. > >Had he said "after watching this vehicle miss reasonable openings to > >turn left, I passed him and turned left" I wouldn't think he did any > >wrong. > > How can you take an opportunity to turn left when you aren't even at > the limit line yet? Did Arif say anything about a limit line, or where he or the car was in relation to it? > >> So, was changing lanes to avoid a broken-down vehicle an "a-hole > >> maneuver?" I certainly don't think do. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Thereby making your own vehicle a new obstruction? That cure is worse > than the disease! Pulled over. That means off the road, out of the way. Parking lot, dirt shoulder, etc. I don't expect to need to specify that I wouldn't be leaving my vehicle in a traffic lane. > >> >If there was nothing keeping you from > >> >going passing him would have been completely justified, but if you're [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > assurance is pretty high. OTOH, the guy having the chat is already > showing signs of MFFY; when in doubt, I GTF out. Exchanging a few words while waiting for an opening in traffic or a green light isn't MFFY. Skipping your gap or staying there once the light turns green is, but that's not what happened here. > >> However, by your own logic, what's the harm in Chatty Kathy slipping > >> back one place in line? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > If it's OK for Arif to wait behind Chatty Kathy, then why isn't it OK > for Chatty Kathy to wait behind Arif? Because Kathy got there first. Until she does something to forfeit her position in line, like ignore gaps or a green light, it's her spot in queue. > Food for further thought: suppose Chatty Kathy had been stopped at > mid-block for his conversation, and Arif had passed him. Would you [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Hasn't happened yet. In order to block my maneuver, these idiots would > have to be paying attention. I find that shocking. I'd expect you to be bamboozled in that fashion at least half the time. A safety yellow vette isn't exactly inconspicuous. > >There's no > >way in hell you'd get in front of me with an a-hole maneuver like > >that. > > Ah, but do you pull a-hole moves like stopping 5 carlegths back frmo > the limit line? I bet you don't. You're correct, I don't. > >> > Unless I'm misunderstanding it sound like you just > >> >cut him off in line. Would you try that in a supermarket if someone [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > do you wait for him to actually pull out in front of you before you > start to think about evasive action? A horn is an audible warning. Quite different than cutting someone in line. >Arif was on a bicycle. He needed virtually no space to get in front, the 18 inches in width is virtually no space in the automotive world, but the length would be falling considerably short of the stop line. > Arif had to wait once he cut in front of this vehicle. That tells me > there was something blocking the left turn, as we later learned > oncoming traffic. Unless the chatting driver has missed reasonable > openings to turn left already, Could you explain how a driver directing his gaze at a pedestrian he's having a conversation with is able to spot openings in cross traffic to take a left turn. > there's no reason to assume he won't terminate the conversation if > an opening is approaching. Assuming he can actually see an opening when he's not even checking cross traffic. In any case, I do, on occasion, encounter people I know while driving or cycling. When I do, I just wave at them without stopping to chat. > DanK...@gmail.com wrote: > > Arif had to wait once he cut in front of this vehicle. That tells me [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > having a conversation with is able to spot openings in cross traffic to > take a left turn. Your initial post said nothing about the direction of the drivers gaze, nor the position of the pedestrian relative to the driver. I can sit at a stoplight and converse with a pedestrian on the island while still watching the light. > > there's no reason to assume he won't terminate the conversation if > > an opening is approaching. > > Assuming he can actually see an opening when he's not even checking > cross traffic. Aren’t you assuming that he wasn’t checking cross traffic? > In any case, I do, on occasion, encounter people I know while driving or > cycling. When I do, I just wave at them without stopping to chat. Your initial post gave me the impression he was stopped due to traffic, not stopped to talk. If he was only stopped to talk, why did you need to stop once you passed him? >>> Arif had to wait once he cut in front of this vehicle. That tells me >>> there was something blocking the left turn, as we later learned >>> oncoming traffic. Unless the chatting driver has missed reasonable >>> openings to turn left already, >> Could you explain how a driver directing his gaze at a pedestrian he's >> having a conversation with is able to spot openings in cross traffic to >> take a left turn. > Your initial post said nothing about the direction of the drivers > gaze, nor the position of the pedestrian relative to the driver. The pedestrian, when I first saw her, looked as if she was going to cross in front of the car, then I hear the driver greet her and she goes to the driver's side of the car and they start conversing. That tells me that the driver was directing his gaze at the pedestrian rather than cross traffic. >> Assuming he can actually see an opening when he's not even checking >> cross traffic. > Aren’t you assuming that he wasn’t checking cross traffic? He should have been able to take a turn right after the pedestrian finished crossing (that is if the pedestrian didn't start a conversation first). >> In any case, I do, on occasion, encounter people I know while driving or >> cycling. When I do, I just wave at them without stopping to chat. > Your initial post gave me the impression he was stopped due to > traffic, not stopped to talk. That's what I assumed when I initially pulled up behind him. I make a left at this intersection quite often. It doesn't take that long because there isn't that much traffic, and even if there is, it isn't moving that fast. > If he was only stopped to talk, why did you need to stop once you > passed him? To make sure I didn't get broadsided when making a left. I didn't have to wait more than 5 seconds to make a left after I got to the front. Many people here will be driving along, stop in the middle of the road and drop passengers off stopping all traffic behind them. For all I knew, this driver would converse a while, and possibly offer the pedestrian a ride, and I would end up having to wait while she walks around to the passenger side, opens the door, gets in, closes the door, etc. Why should I waste my time giving people the benefit of the doubt after seeing behavior like this over and over again? If I have the opportunity to go around people like this (in either a car or bike), I will. >> Arif had to wait once he cut in front of this vehicle. That tells me >> there was something blocking the left turn, as we later learned [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > In any case, I do, on occasion, encounter people I know while driving or > cycling. When I do, I just wave at them without stopping to chat. IMO,Arif was in the right. The guy had no business stopping in the road to chat with a pedestrian. SignatureJim Yanik jyanik at kua.net >BTW, I do the same thing to those morons who purposely stop several >carlengths back from the limit line at red lights (if it's [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >them, they can stop a normal distance back from the limit line like >normal people do instead of being a road hog. Not to mention that if the light is sensor actuated, worst case they'll actually never get the green until the idea to move up penetrates their skull. SignatureThere's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one. On Apr 16, 9:56 pm, russo...@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew T. Russotto) wrote: > In article <sama04lav6fh4mnfv6uq7qjsi8qsfhs...@4ax.com>, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > There's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can > result in a fully-depreciated one. No doubt about that, considering that usually the front of the sensors are a couple of feet or so from the stop line, and the back maybe one car length from the stop line. Sencors are not always reliable: I have run across one sensor near my residence that if you don't center your vehicle within maybe a half- foot tolerance the light cycle will run multiple times without giving your lane the green. I've had that happen to me a couple of times in a left-turn lane and a couple of times when I was the second vehicle in line in the lane, and have seen at least half a dozen vehicles share the same Whiskey Tango Foxtrot thought I had. "DanKMTB@gmail.com" <DanKMTB@gmail.com> wrote in news:3fe4a0b3-054a-479e-8cc7-9be73687b1cd@p39g2000prm.googlegroups. com: >> > For some reason, there are people who like to delay other >> > drivers as much as they possibly can when making turns. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > justified, but if you're queued waiting to turn anyway what harm > is he doing by having a word with a friend while waiting? Because he should be DRIVING, not socializing with pedestrians. >possible. But some people stay fully in the lane, slow down early, and >proceed as slowly as possible, all in an effort to MAXIMIZE their >impact on other people. I have, on occasion, gotten behind such a person -- who in addition to their slothiness, didn't signal -- and passed them on the left just as they were actually s..t..a..r..t..i..n..g t..o t..u..r..n t..h..e w..h..e..e..l. They generally honk, I generally respond with a grin (which they can't see) and a gesture. SignatureThere's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one. >>possible. But some people stay fully in the lane, slow down early, and >>proceed as slowly as possible, all in an effort to MAXIMIZE their [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >w..h..e..e..l. They generally honk, I generally respond with a grin >(which they can't see) and a gesture. I wonder what turns ordinary people into these passive-aggressive little pricks? A year or so ago, I was stuck behind some Sloth who was quite content to take all day to accelerate up to 40 MPH (in a 50 MPH zone) and cruise at that speed as long as I was behind him. However, the moment there was a gap in traffic and I was able to attempt a pass, SUDDENLY this Sloth decides he needs to go 65 and floors it. Fortunately, when it comes to escaping from behind Sloth, I never mess around, and I was already moving too fast for him to block my move. After I completed my pass and returned to the lane in front of him, I watched in my rear view mirror as the PASSENGER (some blue-haired old bag, probably the driver's wife) reached over and honked the car's horn! Now, I realize some retired people get bored and take up bizarre pastimes, but I never expected to see an old married couple playing passive-aggressive Sloth games TOGETHER!! SignatureJoin Operation Starve the Troll: Don't respond to his posts or click on his web site. Deny him the attention he so desperately craves and he'll go away! > A year or so ago, I was stuck behind some Sloth who was quite > content to take all day to accelerate up to 40 MPH (in a 50 MPH [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > pastimes, but I never expected to see an old married couple > playing passive-aggressive Sloth games TOGETHER!! It was probably the blue-hair that was telling her husband how fast to drive in the first place. Poor guy. >> After I completed my pass and >> returned to the lane in front of him, I watched in my rear view [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >It was probably the blue-hair that was telling her husband how fast >to drive in the first place. Poor guy. Heh heh - that DOES make a lot of sense. Imagine being completely whipped like that for 50+ years; he must be BEGGING for Death to come and take him. :) SignatureProud to be a wreckless driver. >>> After I completed my pass and >>> returned to the lane in front of him, I watched in my rear [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > completely whipped like that for 50+ years; he must be BEGGING > for Death to come and take him. :) Hell, he probably floored it to catch up to you, trying to flag you down for help! On Apr 14, 8:12 am, "DanK...@gmail.com" <DanK...@gmail.com> wrote: > Had an interesting moment this weekend. I was driving down a local 2- > lane highway that's really not much of a highway at all, 45mph limit. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > 100% sure) to lay onto their horn and gesture angrily at me! It's no > wonder I traded the street bike to ride in the dirt. I make the best of it when someone does something rude and there's a passenger in the car. I try to catch the attention of the passanger and make a screwball sign, then point at the driver. I often get an understanding nod. > On Apr 14, 8:12 am, "DanK...@gmail.com" <DanK...@gmail.com> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > and make a screwball sign, then point at the driver. > I often get an understanding nod. That's funny; I'm going to have to try that! Years ago I switched my response to aggressive a-hole drivers. I no longer flip the bird, or yell. If possible I best them in the situation at hand, and then regardless of the outcome if we have the opportunity to exchange I blow kisses. I've been in my share of these instances and I can tell you 9 times out of 10 a blown kiss and a wink will anger the mouthbreather who's screaming or flipping you off WAY more than flipping him back off or yelling back would. It's important to maintain a big smile, to make it clear you're happy as can be and the only one upset is them. Especially if you just got in front of them or blocked their attempted MFFY move. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.