(Before reading this next post, see my other post about my nighttime light setup. Yes... I'm pretty sure most folks can see me.)
So, tonight I'm cruising home and I'm keeping a real good pace. A car is ever so slowly passing me. The passenger of the car looks over at me for a few moments. I guess that they are probably surprised that I'm traveling with them at 20+mph.
Out of nowhere, with no turn signal... or for that matter, no right hand street to even turn onto, this car just begins drifting into the breakdown lane and pushing me into the curb. Stunned, I stand up and start braking while looking around to figure out what's going on, I mean... I was right at their door! They must have been staring at my blinking ass-end for the last quarter mile at least. The occupants of the car look oblivious to the fact that I'm there!
They keep pushing and I start to freak because I'm pinned in with no good exit. Do I stop completely, or sprint past them?
Suddenly I hear a 'Whoot-Honk' siren and a red light flashes. Someone is yelling.
An EMT ambulance had been behind the drifting car and saw them nearly drive me into a mailbox. They flashed the lights and drove up alongside the drifting car. The passenger EMT is screaming at the motorist.
"What the hell is wrong with you? What are you doing, don't you see the guy on the bike?!"
This kind gesture, unfortunately, only makes the situation worse. The clueless motorist, frightened by red lights and a uniformed person yelling at them, swerves towards the curb even more. The car is now literally about six inches from my handlebar and moving closer.
I am forced to bang on their window. I didn't want to hit their car but, I'm trapped and about to get squashed.
"Hey! what the fuck? you're about to kill me!" I shout at the passenger window while banging my hand against it.
The driver stops instantly. I guess for some people, when confusion gets overwhelming, that is a logical response.
I just sneak past the car and start speeding away. The ambulance, now with the red lights off, slowly passes the car and pulls along side me. I look at the passenger EMT, shaking my head in disbelief. He says "what the hell is wrong with some people? It's not like he couldnt see you... you couldnt possibly have any more flashing lights on you!"
"Thanks" I say "I'm glad somebody noticed me"
Just another wacky commute in the world of insane motorists I guess.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
bicycle lights
I'm not afraid of riding alongside cars. I don't the fear chaotic urban streets. I don't fear angry and impatient motorists.
I do however fear getting killed by someone when riding after dark.
So, here is my current light setup for wintertime commuting.
I do however fear getting killed by someone when riding after dark.
So, here is my current light setup for wintertime commuting.
- Princeton Tec RF6 blinkie on my seatpost.
- Cateye SL-LD100 blinkie hanging from my messenger bag.
- Cateye TL-LD130 blinkie also hanging from my messenger bag.
- Reflective decals on by fenders, cranks and seatstays.
- My Bailey Works Super Pro messenger bag also has big reflective patches on it.
- Light and Motion Vega 4watt LED headlight.
- Princeton Tec EOS 1watt LED in blink mode.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
satan is my motor
Yesterday I drove the car because I had to go to the Mass office.
On the way home I pass right by our Providence office that I normally bike-commute to. Around the time I got to the Providence office it seemed that every road and highway in the state came to a complete standstill. This is a common occurence for about a week or so after the daylight time change. Folks seem to forget how to drive in the dark and widespread chaos breaks out.
Anyway, a commute that should take only 15-20 minutes took me over ONE HOUR! Yes, 65 minutes to travel the 7.5 miles from the Providence office to my house. I sat at one intersection through SEVEN light-cycles before I got through. I was so pissed off. I just kept asking myself "Why? why am I stuck in this car? I HATE this!"
At one point I saw a guy behind me get so frustrated that he pulled out of the line of stopped cars, crossed the yellow line into oncoming traffic and... drove! He just drove up the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. The oncoming traffic blew their horns, flashed their lights and swerved to get out of his way. He went for about a quarter mile before turning left onto a side street. Insanity!
I saw only one bike commuter. Sad.
So, after last night's drive from hell, there was NO WAY I was getting in a car today! Rain and darkness be damned! Today, I'd ride naked through a blizzard in Nome Alaska just to avoid sitting in traffic again!
My bike commute took me only 35 minutes. Same as it does every morning and, yes, I stop and wait at all (ok, about 95%) of the traffic lights.
OK, I'm glad that riding my bike to work is healthy for me, green for the planet and all that other happy crap but honestly, it would be closer to the truth to say I do it because I'm impatient, I hate sitting still and I hate stupid people.
Is that wrong?
If caring for the environment doesn't fuel your bicycling engine, let hate do the job. It works for me.
On the way home I pass right by our Providence office that I normally bike-commute to. Around the time I got to the Providence office it seemed that every road and highway in the state came to a complete standstill. This is a common occurence for about a week or so after the daylight time change. Folks seem to forget how to drive in the dark and widespread chaos breaks out.
Anyway, a commute that should take only 15-20 minutes took me over ONE HOUR! Yes, 65 minutes to travel the 7.5 miles from the Providence office to my house. I sat at one intersection through SEVEN light-cycles before I got through. I was so pissed off. I just kept asking myself "Why? why am I stuck in this car? I HATE this!"
At one point I saw a guy behind me get so frustrated that he pulled out of the line of stopped cars, crossed the yellow line into oncoming traffic and... drove! He just drove up the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. The oncoming traffic blew their horns, flashed their lights and swerved to get out of his way. He went for about a quarter mile before turning left onto a side street. Insanity!
I saw only one bike commuter. Sad.
So, after last night's drive from hell, there was NO WAY I was getting in a car today! Rain and darkness be damned! Today, I'd ride naked through a blizzard in Nome Alaska just to avoid sitting in traffic again!
My bike commute took me only 35 minutes. Same as it does every morning and, yes, I stop and wait at all (ok, about 95%) of the traffic lights.
OK, I'm glad that riding my bike to work is healthy for me, green for the planet and all that other happy crap but honestly, it would be closer to the truth to say I do it because I'm impatient, I hate sitting still and I hate stupid people.
Is that wrong?
If caring for the environment doesn't fuel your bicycling engine, let hate do the job. It works for me.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Almost killed this morning
Scary, scary morning. I've been shaken up all day from this.
Here's the scenario, so you can try and picture it in your head.
I was waiting at a stoplight. It is a two lane light. One lane goes left and one goes right, straight is not an option here. I need to go left so... I wait on the white line between the two lanes. Sitting there keeps me out of the busy right-turn-on-red lane and, because it is a wide intersection, left-turning cars still have plenty of room to take off when the light turns green. I always ride ride straight across to the far side of the intersection before turning left, thus keeping me almost completely out of both of the lanes of flowing traffic.
So anyway, the light turns and I start to go across the intersection. Behind me I hear a horn start blaring. I finish making the left and I turn to make eye contact with the noisy driver.
The driver of a white Nissan Maxima is seriously agiatated and he wants me to know it. He is yelling something and pointing a finger at me. He pulls up beside me and rolls the passenger window down and starts shouting something. I really can't make out what he's yelling about.
"What?" I ask, shouting over him, "I wasn't in your way and I wasn't slowing you down... so what's the problem?!" He keeps on shouting and I repeat myself "I wasn't slowing you down, what's your problem?!"
He is still yelling, so I stand up on the pedals and start sprinting away. The driver then speeds up to overtake me and CUTS THE WHEEL HARD RIGHT. The car swerves wildly into the breakdown lane, directly at me. I stand on the pedals while jacking hard on the brakes. My back wheel locks and I start skidding towards the curb. I almost lose control, but my ninja bike handling skills save the day.
The driver begins speeding away while looking over his shoulder at me.
I yell something.
I cant remember exactly what, but I'm pissed! It probably went something like "Fuck You, you Fucking Fuck!"
The road-rage maniac apparently hears me shouting and slams on his brakes so hard that all four wheels lock up. Smoke is coming from the tires as he skids toward the shoulder.
I speed up along side of him and he starts chasing me. He is directly to my left but I've got an open parking lot to my right now so, I can swerve away from him if he tries the ramming stunt again.
I lean toward the window and begin shouting things that insult his manhood for attempting to hit me with his big metal car.
The driver begins shouting some more and making gestures like he is going to stop and get out of the car. I reach up to the strap buckle on my messenger bag so I can get it off quickly if this turns into a self-defense situation.
He must have been really late for work because he decided he didn't want to continue trying to run me over and instead he sped away. I flip him off repeatedly, yelling "Fuck You" at the top of my lungs.
For a moment I fantasize about catching him at the next stop light, dragging him from his car and beating him with my U-lock but, he never stops at the light. I hear him screetch around the corner and rocket towards the I-95 onramp.
Nice...
What would I have done if he got out of the car? What if he had a gun? A knife? I'm glad I didn't have to find out.
So tonight, I got home from work, poured myself a beer, counted all the things I'm grateful for and thanked the universe that I'm still on this side of the dirt. It could have been worse. Much worse.
Now I need to map out a new commute route to work before tomorrow.
Here's the scenario, so you can try and picture it in your head.
I was waiting at a stoplight. It is a two lane light. One lane goes left and one goes right, straight is not an option here. I need to go left so... I wait on the white line between the two lanes. Sitting there keeps me out of the busy right-turn-on-red lane and, because it is a wide intersection, left-turning cars still have plenty of room to take off when the light turns green. I always ride ride straight across to the far side of the intersection before turning left, thus keeping me almost completely out of both of the lanes of flowing traffic.
So anyway, the light turns and I start to go across the intersection. Behind me I hear a horn start blaring. I finish making the left and I turn to make eye contact with the noisy driver.
The driver of a white Nissan Maxima is seriously agiatated and he wants me to know it. He is yelling something and pointing a finger at me. He pulls up beside me and rolls the passenger window down and starts shouting something. I really can't make out what he's yelling about.
"What?" I ask, shouting over him, "I wasn't in your way and I wasn't slowing you down... so what's the problem?!" He keeps on shouting and I repeat myself "I wasn't slowing you down, what's your problem?!"
He is still yelling, so I stand up on the pedals and start sprinting away. The driver then speeds up to overtake me and CUTS THE WHEEL HARD RIGHT. The car swerves wildly into the breakdown lane, directly at me. I stand on the pedals while jacking hard on the brakes. My back wheel locks and I start skidding towards the curb. I almost lose control, but my ninja bike handling skills save the day.
The driver begins speeding away while looking over his shoulder at me.
I yell something.
I cant remember exactly what, but I'm pissed! It probably went something like "Fuck You, you Fucking Fuck!"
The road-rage maniac apparently hears me shouting and slams on his brakes so hard that all four wheels lock up. Smoke is coming from the tires as he skids toward the shoulder.
I speed up along side of him and he starts chasing me. He is directly to my left but I've got an open parking lot to my right now so, I can swerve away from him if he tries the ramming stunt again.
I lean toward the window and begin shouting things that insult his manhood for attempting to hit me with his big metal car.
The driver begins shouting some more and making gestures like he is going to stop and get out of the car. I reach up to the strap buckle on my messenger bag so I can get it off quickly if this turns into a self-defense situation.
He must have been really late for work because he decided he didn't want to continue trying to run me over and instead he sped away. I flip him off repeatedly, yelling "Fuck You" at the top of my lungs.
For a moment I fantasize about catching him at the next stop light, dragging him from his car and beating him with my U-lock but, he never stops at the light. I hear him screetch around the corner and rocket towards the I-95 onramp.
Nice...
What would I have done if he got out of the car? What if he had a gun? A knife? I'm glad I didn't have to find out.
So tonight, I got home from work, poured myself a beer, counted all the things I'm grateful for and thanked the universe that I'm still on this side of the dirt. It could have been worse. Much worse.
Now I need to map out a new commute route to work before tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
rainy ride
Today was the first day of bad weather riding I've had to endure since I started this whole pedal-power crusade.
It pretty much sucked... my shoes got soaked and I really don't like to ride my nice vintage Gios in the rain.
Anyway, I was really pushing it because I was miserable and wanted to get home FAST. On Broad Street, about 2 miles from home, I heard someone yelling at me. "Great... who did I piss off now?" I though.
I turned to my left to see a car pacing me. The driver of a pimped-out Acura was leaning over the seat towards the open passenger window. "Man! you're pretty good!" He shouted. "I saw you all the way back at Friendship Street, and YOU BEAT ME to here! That's cool man!". I laughed and waved as the driver gave me a thumbs up and took off.
It pretty much sucked... my shoes got soaked and I really don't like to ride my nice vintage Gios in the rain.
Anyway, I was really pushing it because I was miserable and wanted to get home FAST. On Broad Street, about 2 miles from home, I heard someone yelling at me. "Great... who did I piss off now?" I though.
I turned to my left to see a car pacing me. The driver of a pimped-out Acura was leaning over the seat towards the open passenger window. "Man! you're pretty good!" He shouted. "I saw you all the way back at Friendship Street, and YOU BEAT ME to here! That's cool man!". I laughed and waved as the driver gave me a thumbs up and took off.
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