more motorist weirdness

(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.

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.

REAR LIGHTS:

• 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.

FRONT LIGHTS:

• Light and Motion Vega 4watt LED headlight.


• Princeton Tec EOS 1watt LED in blink mode.

This might seem a bit excessitve but, you can never be too safe when it comes to nighttime riding.