Anyone have any interesting pet peeves about cagers (besides the whole them-wanting-to-kill-us thing)?
Here's mine:
- Tapping on the brakes. I can drive behind someone who taps their brakes 10 times per minute but doesn't actually slow down noticeably. It's as if they are using one foot on the gas and one foot on the brakes. With this behavior, it becomes tougher to tell when they are actually slowing down (thus, I try to switch lanes).
- No turn signals. Where I ride near San Jose, CA, I only see them use turn signals less than 50% of the time. It really makes no sense. Other places that I'm used to driving in have about a 80% ratio.
I don't want to get into any arguments but my pet peeve of drivers, usually in cars are people that are like 80 years old and driving. I think after the age of 65 the eye exam, written test and drive test should be taken every year. But like I said I don't want to start any arguments. It's just my opinion. I'm sure when I am 80 I will think I can drive and will do it as long as I can as well.
no argument from me on that one, but I also think they should do it every year for 16-20 year old drivers.
as for the topic, yeah I hate the whole no blinker thing too. but the one I hate the most is the guy/gal almost stop as they are turning, for no reason, driving down the road at 35 (speed limit) use signal, or not, slow for a turn that can be done anywhere from 15 to 20 mph, but instead almost completely stop for no reason, down to 2-3 mph.
I guess seriously my only "Pet Peeve" about Cage Drivers IS the deadliest one of all: “I didn’t see the Motorcycle”. Yeah, we’ve heard all the million and one reasons – blah, blah, blah…. Ad-Infinitum. Great…wonderful, they all get away with it and life goes on, at least for those who weren’t on the receiving end of they ‘temporary blindness’. The fact of the matter remains that tests were did and done to prove that the most visible presence of Law Enforcement to Motorists were in fact Officers on Police Bikes. Interesting how all these poor abused Cage Drivers can magically start seeing bikes when the distinct possibility exists of retribution?! I’m saying how much further can we take this? “Kill A Biker Go To Prison?!” How about Kill a Rider LOSE you’re Life?! Works for me….. I’d predict an immediate 500,000% reduction in Bike Fatalities… at least those involving Cars versus Bikes. As far as to what Riders most likely will continue to do to themselves (yup, been there/done that…) well we ALL can’t survive, now can we?! Nuff’ said.
Thanks Partner! "X-Country Thing"?! Swoosh... right over my head! Heck, I still prefer my old Shovelhead over all these new fangled contraptions! What can I say? Just about out of step with anything you could name?! Nuff’ said.
Tapping on the brakes. I can drive behind someone who taps their brakes 10 times per minute but doesn't actually slow down noticeably. It's as if they are using one foot on the gas and one foot on the brakes. With this behavior, it becomes tougher to tell when they are actually slowing down
That is my #1 also. Talk about "crying wolf". When I see that while I'm in my cage, I get in front of them do it to them, speed up, do it again, speed up, do it again... Then I just pull away from them.
i only mind cell phones when the person doesn't have the capacity to multi-task, and it's usually pretty obvious. i mean, driving an automatic car isn't all that demanding. but the people who can't walk and talk without tripping shouldn't be driving with a cell phone attached to their ear.
what really bugs me are people who can't seem to understand the concept of a turn signal. we have an intersection in town where a right turn just doesn't cancel the signal, and it seems that nobody realizes it. you'd think the clicking and flashing light would give it away. i saw one guy looking cool in his sportcar convertible just driving down the road with his right blinker going for nearly a mile. (it probably went farther than that, but i had to turn into my house.) then there are the people who just never use them, and seem to think you'll figure out what they're doing by telekinesis or something. just today, i had a guy pulling a big trailer stop in front of me. no blinker, no brake light, just stopped in the middle of the road. he decided he couldn't fit the trailer into the gas station at the current angle, then drove about 20 yards forward and turned left, still without a signal.
- No turn signals. Where I ride near San Jose, CA, I only see them use turn signals less than 50% of the time. It really makes no sense. Other places that I'm used to driving in have about a 80% ratio.
If it's any consolation, here in RI it's closer to 8%.
My #1, though? Swerving left to turn right, or vice versa. And of course, the people who move to the left side of the lane to make their right turn are also the ones who feel that they can't make it if they're moving faster than 5 mph.
I rarely use the blinkers because the person I am trying to get in front of will generally speed up around here so not using them is actually better. I use the C phone all the time while driving but never have to put the thing in my ear as it is hands free so I just tell it who to call.
As for brakes, hey, lets not forget the riders who brake in turns for no reason, make lane changes when things are way to close, follow behind cagers in blind spots, tailgate, do power wheelies when crossing intersections, have exhausts that can be heard in the next county, ride as close to naked as legally possible and this would include a lack of the old brain bucket......
The problems aren't just on the cager side of things so when we speak of what we don't like about cagers, think about what cagers are faced with when it comes to bikes.
ok here we go....
Cant stand those 2 or 3 barbies in a car driving down the road who chew there gum like theyre trying to give there jaws a workout, they cut you off cause they are on the cell or chating about how there nails look so gooooood...
Cant stand those kids who drive down the road with the Boom Boom shake the room music with theyre windows down and can barely see over the steering cause they think its cool to sit as low or as back possible....
Cant stand the older people
Cant stand those who stare at you as you drive by ..........
Cant stand.....wait a second....i think i suffer from road rage
Tap 10 times? Try driving with their brake lights ON! Either they're stuck without knowing or they thought they were driving a go-kart!
And turn signals - what is that? I haven't seen them on other cagers here (of course you know I'm kidding right?)
When I spent a few days in lancaster, PA, I don't think I saw anyone use their blinker at all.
My pet peeves are drivers that hold up traffic by doing various stupid things. Cruising in the left lane is a big one. You've got 3 lanes to choose from, you see everyone in the left lane doing 70, you're doing 60... and for some reason you get in the left lane and keep doing 60?
Keep right, pass left, for the love of God. One year of highschool should be dedicated to teaching this rule.
I agree with this however, if the limit is 70mph and there is someone sitting in the left lane going 70mph I have no problem going the speed limit. As far as passing goes, I learned to pass on the right or even up the middle a long time ago in a place far far away where they had roads that were 10 lanes wide in places.
The dorks that swing wide to make turn in either direction. As in: first turn the opposite direction and then make your turn. If they are making a left they will park their Festiva or Chevette on or over to the right of the white line and swing in when traffic allows. If making a right turn, swing towards the yellow line, cross over it and then swing back, at 5 mph max. (i have almost been hit this way, as I tend to ride near the yellow line) You would think they were driving a semi-truck.
The other is the use of on-ramps for freeways, instead of using the long, smooth ramp to accelerate and match the speed of the traffic for a painless merge, jerks will go 30-40 mph down the ramp all the way to the end, merge into traffic at half the speed of everyone else and then accelerate, but don't ever use your turn signal, their bad.
The other is the use of on-ramps for freeways, instead of using the long, smooth ramp to accelerate and match the speed of the traffic for a painless merge, jerks will go 30-40 mph down the ramp all the way to the end, merge into traffic at half the speed of everyone else and then accelerate, but don't ever use your turn signal, their bad.
The other one I hate is people who KNOW that the right lane is going to end, but instead of merging like a normal person, they speed to the end of the lane and then try and muscle their way into traffic when they have no where to go.
- Tapping on the brakes. I can drive behind someone who taps their brakes 10 times per minute but doesn't actually slow down noticeably. It's as if they are using one foot on the gas and one foot on the brakes. With this behavior, it becomes tougher to tell when they are actually slowing down (thus, I try to switch lanes).
It's funny that you mention that. First, I'll say that I hit my brakes as little as possible because I like to save gas and keep traffic flowing. But when somebody tailgates I do exactly what you said above. I use my other foot and just tap the brake, then maybe hold on it for a bit, just enough to turn on my brake lights. If you don't get the point, I'll actually hit the brakes a bit so that they really don't know whats going. They usually back off. Oh, and I don't usually do this on my bike because I WANT them to know what I'm doing.
In general, I hate people who turn left long after their light turned red. I've had a green light lots of times but I had to wait for 3 more cars to go through... crazy. And drifters scare the **** out of me... never know what they're thinking, if they're thinking at all.
It's funny that you mention that. First, I'll say that I hit my brakes as little as possible because I like to save gas and keep traffic flowing. But when somebody tailgates I do exactly what you said above. I use my other foot and just tap the brake, then maybe hold on it for a bit, just enough to turn on my brake lights. If you don't get the point, I'll actually hit the brakes a bit so that they really don't know whats going. They usually back off. Oh, and I don't usually do this on my bike because I WANT them to know what I'm doing.
I'm pretty sure I'm not tailgating -- I'm usually very anal about tailgaters.
I did notice that people tailgate me less on my bike than if I were driving a cage myself. I believe some people have the common sense to think: 'wow, if I hit him, I'll have to pay more in insurance (ignoring the killing him part)'. I'll have to do an experiment: find one of these brake tappers, then switch lanes and watch them from afar to see if they exhibit the same behavior if another cager is behind them (then I know that perhaps they were jittery because of the bike behind them)
I really do think everyone should have to retake their driving test to renew their licenses. Too many people have forgotten how to drive safely and they have no incentive to relearn. It's outrageous to think you can just go into the BMV, pay a small fee, and take an easy eye exam to renew your privilege to operate a vehicle on public roads.
I have to agree with gsx-f about the turning wide thing (personally I call it big-pickup-itus). I happen to have a cdl and it annoys me every time when some f150/1500/S10/ranger/whatever feels they need to drive like they are in a semi.
actually the other half of the above disease is since they bought a big pickup (because its sooo powerful right?) they think they need to do 5 or 10mph UNDER the speed limit because its such a "big" vehicle.
I have to agree with about all your posts. Whether I'm on my bike or in my truck, those behaviors really get under my skin. As far as on my bike has to be the I didn't see you. Just a couple of hours ago I was pulling into Walmart and had a Semi just about run me over. In the last week I've had about a dozen cars pull out in front or turn right in front of me. Luckily I've been following the advice of a friend and riding like I'm invisible.
What bothers me is that so many drivers think that after waiting several seconds at a stop sign for a break in traffic to pull out into, they can just go because they've waited long enough.
When riding or driving, I try to position myself in the gap between the groupings of vehicles, so one of my other pet peeves is the car that pulls out in front of me when there is no vehicle behind me, and they don't bother to speed up as they are going to turn at the next intersection.
Concerning those who don't have a clue about using the onramp to get to merge speed for the freeway. There is a column called Back Seat Driver in the local paper that someone actual wrote in to complain that she drives slow to save gas but the people on the freeway aren't slowing down to allow her to merge. and "Don't they understand I have the right-of-way?" Fortunately the column moderator corrected her on her misunderstanding of the rules of the road.
When riding or driving, I try to position myself in the gap between the groupings of vehicles, so one of my other pet peeves is the car that pulls out in front of me when there is no vehicle behind me, and they don't bother to speed up as they are going to turn at the next intersection.
You or anyone else that rides a bike would have no excuse for this but the cager that does not ride or know bikes does. The driver has a very difficult time determining how fast the bike is going on approach because it isn't getting bigger in their sight picture. As the bike approaches the driver it remains the same relative size until it gets very close and by that time it's too late, which is quite often what causes accidents. Granted, there may be an opening behind you but this is meaningless to the driver that thinks you are going slower than you actually are hence the reason they think they have time, which they don't.
I'll get slammed for this, but I'm gonna say it anyhow cause its nearing midnight, its been a long day, and I'm tired.
I ride and/or operate a motorcycle (pick your term). I also drive a car. I find it beyond humorous that someone driving a four wheeled motor vehicle is called a "cager" on this forum, and I just can't get into that mindset or even get used to hearing the term.
With that said, I do the same thing now I've done for the last 30 years off and on while on two wheels... keep as much distance as I can, know that I am *NOT* particularly visible, and ride accordingly. On four wheels you simply do NOT have to pay as much attention to the road as you do on two in order to get from point A to point B in one piece. Its ugly, but its just a fact that anybody who does own a two wheeled motor vehicle already knows.
To contribute to this conversation, I do hate cell phones, even though I own one myself. Just one more daily use item that takes the average driver's attention away from the road.
I thought of another one that bugs me, no matter if I am on the bike or in the van, the people that honk the very millisecond the light turns green, I watch the lights and go on green (as soon as I make sure there is not an idiot running the red) but some people are just in too much of a hurry. I say if your so late you have to drive 70 mph in a 45 mph zone, you should have left earlier.
Yea. Lots of people out there are "late" -- esp. those trying to get to work at 9am. I got tired of speeding up to accommodate the person behind me who seems stressed and late. These days, on 2 or 4 wheels, I take my time and drive safely. I'll go faster if it's safe and I'm comfortable -- but I ain't going fast for the guy behind me.
I try to avoid commuting where I'll be with folks trying to get to work by 9am. This crowd is mean and angry. I always try to back out of 9am meetings at work.
And you folks in the large SUV or minivan with a phone in your ear -- you are not any more important than anyone else, so get off your phone and pay attention . I have many harsh words for you and so help me -- if you every seriously hurt someone I care about and I see it was because of the phone in your ear, that phone will end up straight up your ... -- you'all get the picture.
what really bugs me is when the guys don't lift the seat when they go number 1 in the stalls at the gas station rest rooms, then i have to go number 2.
coming up to a green light, i sometimes slow down. we have a whole three lights in a 15 mile radius, so it's easy to remember the quirks of each one. if i know a light is about to change and i won't make it, i'll go ahead and brake or coast. no use wasting gas. sometimes, we actually accelerate towards a red light. lol yes, our lights are that predictable.
what really bugs me is when the guys don't lift the seat when they go number 1 in the stalls at the gas station rest rooms, then i have to go number 2.
gas stations have rest rooms? wow when did this happen?
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