Something to keep in mind

[f6john]

Recently in the Georgetown Kentucky area a motorcyclist and a guy in a pickup truck had a road rage incident. The outcome was the 60 something driver of the pickup truck pushed the motorcyclist into a guardrail and the motorcyclist died on the scene. The truck driver has been arrested but is proclaiming self defense as the motorcyclist attacked his side mirror.

In another incident, a motorcyclist is riding alongside a small suv and giving the driver a piece of his mind along with a single finger salute. The suv driver swerves over hitting the motorcyclist with the biker and his ride sliding down the road and the suv driver doesn’t even slow down. He has subsequently been arrested as his actions were caught on camera by a motorist following behind the two vehicles involved.

Both these incidents have shown up on Facebook posts. Many comments about play stupid games, win stupid prizes and bringing a bike to a truck fight ect. In the Georgetown incident the truck driver made sure that there would only be one side of the story told. In the second the bike rider probably survived.

My reason for posting is not about the craziness of these road rage incidents but of the somewhat amazing comments by Facebook users to these two events. I can tell you that there are people out there who really see bikers as a nuisance and a bunch of trouble makers. The loss of life and the serious injuries involved were of no concern and a look at it like it was relative justice. The idea that when riding you have to take the stance that they’re out to get you, may not be as far from the truth as one might think.

[Hook#3287]

These are terrible lessons learned the hard way.

The statement of bringing a bike to a truck fight should stick in every bikers noggin.

Smashing a mirror is not a deadly action and self defense will probably not pass the first sniff test.

Smashing someone's mirror is pretty stupid, but I've wanted to do it several times over the years, just didn't follow through.

Thanks for bringing this to the board, maybe in a fit of road rage, this will pop up and quell some stupidity.

[Rams]

These are terrible lessons learned the hard way.

The statement of bringing a bike to a truck fight should stick in every bikers noggin.

Smashing a mirror is not a deadly action and self defense will probably not pass the first sniff test.

Smashing someone's mirror is pretty stupid, but I've wanted to do it several times over the years, just didn't follow through.

Thanks for bringing this to the board, maybe in a fit of road rage, this will pop up and quell some stupidity.

Quoted as truth.
There have been times I was tempted to react to some violation of my road-space.   Thankfully, I always remembered who was most likely to win that discussion should things go south.  It's not always that little old lady who will back down.

I know a couple of folks who have those things attached to their bikes they say are for self-defense should someone invade their road-space.   Don't remember what they are called but basically a weighted cord the rider can swing at an offending cage.   Not something I care to have on my bike.   There's riding defensively and then there's riding offensively.   

Rams

[old2soon]

     Folks git stupid around me cage or trike I do my Best to brush it off and roll on. Better alive wrong than dead right! Sides at 80 cycles around our Sun I'd rather NOT participte in fisticuffs! Well being 80 with breathing "issues"!  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

I ride politely.  Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but always polite.  And I usually let the other guy (cage) in (when he should have already been in).  When someone uses good manners and signals to get over, I slow and wave them over.  I'll get honked at for letting someone cross in the crosswalk.  No reason to get upset about it.

Image-wise, I don't wear all black or biker wear, but jeans and shirts and a jacket if I need it.  I have great leathers, but only wear them in cold. 

I smile and wave a lot.

I do my very best to not get enraged, or enrage anyone else. 

If I do get enraged (rarely), I'll pull off first chance and take a break to cool down.

It's fun to occasionally blow the doors off high dollar sports cars, but I'm nice about it.

It's a pretty good system.

[f6john]

Just so you guys know. I wasn’t suggesting any of you might do something stupid, just reminding you to hat there are fellow travelers out there that don’t give a rats ass about motorcyclists or sharing the road with us. Attitude is everything in this day and age.

[old2soon]

      My RIDE today except for 21 miles was on lightly traveled highways and 1 40 mile stretch I could count the opposing direction vehicles with the thumb and fingers on 1 hand. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Except for in and out of town, my ride today was also nearly no traffic or cars/ trucks at all.  I love it out there.  Sure as Hell though, I come around a sharp bend and there's a big combine (or some kind of giant farm equipment) motoring down 3/4 of the road (at 5 knots).