Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Saturdays during Tax Season

We work all Saturdays from the beginning of January to April 15. I got on the scooter last Saturday morning at 7:30 and noticed that the odometer said 5,555. Is that a sign of something? I broke 5,000 miles on my trip to Topeka in October which means I have only ridden about 500 miles since then. Hmmmm. (Note to self; Gotta Ride More!) On my way downtown I encountered a bicyclist. I gave him a wave. A blank stare was all I got in response. Oh well. I was just maybe a little too excited to see someone else on 2 wheels. It rained again overnight last night, but stopped raining just before I needed to go. Two of the last 3 three mornings have been that way. Am I doing something right? With all the crappy weather we have had recently, it is nice to get a little cooperation from the weather. On the way home last night I got mad at a cage driver. On my normal route home I need to make a left turn at the fairly busy intersection of Central and Woodlawn. There are two lanes of traffic in each direction on both streets with additional left turn lanes at the intersection. There were 4 or 5 vehicles, including myself on the scooter, that had stopped at the light to make the left turn. Some cages were in front of me, some behind. Just to let you know, when making a left turn in a situation like this, I almost always make the turn into the first lane I approach, the left lane (Aren't you supposed to do that?). On occasion, I might not, particularly if I need to make a right turn soon after, but in that case I try to be very cautious and always signal my intentions. At this intersection there is an entrance to a shopping center soon after the turn and many people will not enter the first lane they approach, and then proceed to make the right turn into the shopping center. No problem for me, just gotta keep an eye on them. (The never ending effort to watch out for what is behind me as well as what is in front of me. We've all been there.) On this occasion, the cage following me proceeded into, you guessed it, the right lane and stayed just to the right of my ass as I proceeded along in the left lane. Not a problem, I knew where the cage was, but in about a half mile I need to make a right turn to get to my house. The cage was right behind me to my right. I sped up a bit thinking there would be plenty of time to get in front to safely change into the right lane and make my turn. (After All, wasn't I in front of the cage!) Damn cage sped up too. Right on my butt. Well, SHIT! Not being one to start a race on a busy street in the dark, I eventually decided to slow down and let the cage get in front of me before I changed lanes and made my turn. As I got behind the cage, I submitted a (not so friendly) wave of a certain finger just before my turn to the house. Probably shouldn't have done it, but........... It was just a little event. We have all been there and done it. Not turning into the first lane you get to is a little pet peeve of mine. Just felt the need to vent! Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

16 comments:

  1. jim3485cpa:

    My pet peeve this morning. I am behind another vehicle on a single lane (one lane each way). There is a bit of room between us as I do not always follow close behind. A car comes out from a side street and pulls in front of me, then travels down the road at half the speed with me behind him. The car I was following is now half a mile ahead and pulling away. We are still crawling down the street at half speed with NO ONE behind me. If only he had pulled behind instead . . .

    I really don't understand why she just didn't wait for me to pass first. It had to be a she cause they are the worst drivers, right ?

    bob
    bobskoot: wet coast scootin

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  2. These kinds of cagers are the reason we ride: they provide challenges on the road. I find self control to be the biggest challenge. I got a coca cola truck tailgating me at 60 in a 45 this morning. I pulled aside and followed him for a change. When he got stuck behind a slow poke I passed them both. Self control is over rated. Riding pleasure isn't.

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  3. I feel left out since i've got no pet peeves today -:)
    ... and I totally agree with Conchscooter about self control being over rated!

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  4. I too have self control issues, I often find my self riding faster than I wish, just so I can have some space. I will also use the imaginary 44 mag that is concealed in my left glove to lay waste to the offending cagers.

    I think the speeding up/slowing down may be a form a herding instinct, cars are lonely and need other vehicles nearby. I know my car has been guilty of it in the past, although I do keep it in check when around motorcycles.

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  5. I'm not surprised the cyclist didn't wave. In Seattle, cyclists' contempt for all other road users is astounding. On several occasions, I witnessed a bicycle rider cream a pedestrian in crosswalk (yes, the pedestrian absolutely had the right of way), then heap insults and invective on the poor pedestrian. Fortunately, none of these victims appeared to be seriously injured. Still, stuff like this often made me wish I was driving a Hummer equipped with a brush bar and skid plate whenever I encountered an asshole bicyclist.

    In Portland, bicyclists actually stop for stop signs and red lights, and yield right of way at crosswalks. They don't wave, however...

    __Orin
    Scootin' Old Skool

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  6. Dear CPA3485 (Jimbo):

    The trouble with flipping the bird to some cager is that more than one of them tends to be a real troglodyte, and will think nothing of chasing you with the car/truck they are driving, and running you over. Or they will get out and try to beat the shit out of you.

    My sister was married to a guy, who was a white collar engineer, who would tailgate and cut people off. Then when they shouted at him or gave him the finger, he'd follow them and start a fist fight at a traffic light. He'd been arrested several times, before she divorced him.

    More and more people are driving like assholes. I have noticed the aggression on Pennsylvania's highways increasing to the point where it is frightening.

    Fondest regards,
    Jack • reep • Toad
    Twisted Roads

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  7. Bobskoot,
    My wife frequently informs me that I leave too much space between me and the car in front of me. She says it is just an opportunity for someone else to take advantage of me. I try and tell her that being aggressive on the scooter is dangerous. To me, if it takes a little longer to get where I am going, then so be it if I feel a bit safer.
    But your scenario would have pissed me off too.
    Thanks for visiting and take care,

    Jim

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  8. Conch,
    You are absolutely right. It wasn't the first time I flipped somebody off, probably won't be the last. All in all it was still a great ride that day. Would be sad to remember being pissed off rather than enjoying the ride.
    Thanks for stopping by,

    Jim

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  9. Chuck,
    Don't feel bad, tomorrow someone will do something to peeve you. LOL
    Thanks for reading my vents,

    Jim

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  10. Art,
    Very funny about that herding instinct, but I don't think my scooter has it like my Australian Shepherd. That damn dog tries to herd everything and everybody. I agree with you about how riding a scooter has changed my habits when driving a car. I give motorcycles a much wider berth. I was riding with my son in his car the other day and he was following a motorcyclis fairly closely. I pointed out to him that the motorcyclist probably was thinking he was following a bit too close and that was probably driving the motorcyclist a bit crazy. My son backed off.
    Thanks for your comments,

    Jim

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  11. Orin,
    After years of being a bicyclist and what they encounter on the road, I wasn't surprised not to get a wave, wasn't disappointed either. They encounter very different dangers on the road mainly because of slower velocities.
    And there are bad drivers of all sorts of vehicles. Bad attitudes are dangerous for us all.
    Thanks for stopping by,

    Jim

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  12. Jack,
    I had a fear one day after I flipped somebody off, that they would follow me and try and do more harm. Flipping the bird is not a good idea, you never know what the cager might be packing. Sometimes it is just instinct when you get angry. The Zen response to let it go and forget aboout it is probably wiser in the long run.
    I am convinced that many drivers know not what they are doing in creating dangerous situations.
    BTW, "troglodyte" is a word that I used to like a lot and haven't seen or used in awhile, but does adequately describe many people. LOL
    Your insight is always welcome here at Premeditated Scootin, Take Care

    Jimbo(Bob)

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  13. I firmly believe in attacking. However, not in anger. A warrior knows that anger clouds judgement. Often the Anger Demon, once released, turns on he who let it go. There are other ways to make one's point.

    As for troglodytes, not only cagers are armed in my world.

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  14. Jim, I had to chuckle while reading your post -yes, I have been there too. I know your work schedule must be madness this time of year, so here's to being able to get out to ride as much as possible!

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  15. Irondad,
    You are very wise. On that day I was probably wise and unwise at virtually the same time.
    Tanks for stopping by,
    Jim

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  16. Lance,
    As long as weather permits, I still ride to work as much as I can. Less so this year because of weather, but riding is usually a priority.
    Thanks for the comments,
    Jim

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