Stupid people

[Rocketman]

So, this past Saturday evening, I took my baby girl out for a ride on the Valkyrie.  She is 6 years old, and has loved riding with me ever since I first started taking her along (and begged incessantly for a ride before I would take her).  We got a lot of looks, mostly people smiling and waving at the cuteness behind me.  However, on our way back home (almost home), I was stopped at a red light, in the straight ahead lane, and a woman pulled up in the right turn only lane.  She rolled down her window, looked at us, scowled, and said sneeringly:  "Is that even LEGAL?"
I was having such a good time with my girl, that I wasn't prepared for hostility, so all I could spit out was "yesss......."  She then sighed quite loudly, shook her head, and spent the rest of the time that the light was red sighing and looking at me disapprovingly.
Of course, when the light turned green, this woman went straight out of the right turn only lane, and would have run me off the road (or into oncoming traffic, to be more precise) if I hadn't been ready for it, and laid off the throttle to let her go ahead.
I was already going straight, so I followed her through the intersection.  When she pulled into a driveway, I stopped.  Not wanting to panic her, or set a bad example for my little girl, I stayed on the Valkyrie, but informed her that it was a right only lane that she had blown through, and asked her not to run me off the road next time.  Her reply was that it was better than putting a child on the back of a motorcycle.  REALLY?  Reckless driving and  endangerment of other vehicles on the road through disobedience of obvious lane markings (there are painted signs on the road tarmac, and signs hanging above the roadway in addition to the traditional ones mounted on a post by the curb).  She thinks that's better than me putting a child in full gear and taking her out for a beautiful evening ride?
Halfway through the conversation, she changed tacks and declared that she was in a straight ahead lane.  This despite the fact that she obviously lives right there (I've seen her car there several times since), and thus has passed through that intersection multiple times.  People blow through that lane regularly (maybe 1 out of every 50 does it wrong), thus I was ready and waiting for her to do it.  However, I've never been told that it was my fault because of the vehicle I was on or the age of my passenger.

OK, thanks for reading.  I feel better now.
Actually, I don't.  I just wanted to write it up anyway.

Mark

[michaelyoung254]

If it were me, I would get a good description of the vehicle (Make, Model, Color, and License #), and then I would file an official complaint with the local police department. I would also file another complaint that there are a large number of people who disregard the fact that it's a turning lane which is clearly marked as such, and proceed straight through the intersection which puts others, especially motorcycles at risk.

I doubt that they can actually do anything other than talk to her, but at least she will know who reported her, and with any luck, they will actually begin watching the intersection, and with even a little more luck, maybe they can catch her doing it again, and give her the proper rewards.

[Serk]

When I have one of the kiddos on the back I instruct them that they are ambassadors for motorcyclists everywhere, and their job is to wave and SMILE BIG to everyone.

When I see someone giving me stink eye (Have't had anyone actually SAY anything about it, just non-verbal sneering) I'll instruct the kid on the back to smile and wave at THAT person extra hard, they look like they need some smiles and waves.

[Jess from VA]

My perception of reality, right and wrong is better (and more important) than yours!

Man there's a lot of that going around.

(I'm glad you told us she was in full gear) 

[Rocketman]

I know exactly where she lives, because the conversation we had was with her standing in her own driveway.  It's very difficult to see that little red car as I drive by on my way to work, and NOT do something stupid to her.
That intersection has been a problem for longer than we've lived here (>10 years now).  I think it's time I have a serious talk with someone at city hall about how to fix the problem.  The turn/straight designations are painted on the roadway twice, and there are two signs (one hanging over the intersection itself, along with the stoplights), so I'm not sure what else they can do, but it's not getting the job done.  I've started turning on my right signal when I want to go straight, just to see if it will sober some people up and make them worry about me a little.

Mark

[Houdini]

The local TV stations in Dallas love to hear about issues like this and take them on like a crusade.  The station I watch has one of these stories getting reported as resolved almost everyday.   

May be a good place to start, y'all have TV stations down there, right?   

[Rocketman]

We used to.  I think they're called "websites" now.

Interesting idea.  I'm not usually one to sqauwk this sort of thing, but I'd rather not get hit, especially with the little one on the back.

Mark