Road rage - updated

By now, most bikers have likely seen the recent video of a purported road rage instigated accident on a California freeway.

video 

After I originally posted these comments, the San Diego Union-Tribune ran a piece containing an interview with the individual who made the video.  Following is part of that article, which described events leading up to the scenes shown in the video.


"In an interview with The Times on Friday, Chris Traber, 47, of Santa Clarita, said both men appeared to play a role in the harrowing incident.

It was about 5:45 a.m. Wednesday when Traber was in the passenger seat of his coworker’s car as they drove to work at a utility company in Burbank. They were headed southbound on the 14 Freeway, and driving in the No. 1 lane, when the man on a Harley Davidson-type motorcycle passed them on the left, riding close to the double-yellow lines that separate the general traffic lanes from the HOV lanes.

About 150 feet ahead was a Nissan sedan driving in the HOV lane, Traber said. Just as the motorcyclist was passing the sedan on the right-hand side, the sedan tried to exit the carpool lane and enter the No. 1 lane. That’s when the car bumped the bike.

“I’m sure he didn’t see the motorcyclist,” Traber said of the driver. “He scared the living daylights out of the motorcyclist. He almost went down. That guy can really handle his bike.”

Traber said that after the motorcyclist regained control, he pulled up to the car’s passenger door and began gesturing at the driver. Traber said he appeared to be saying something too, but Traber couldn’t hear him. He said he figured the biker was “saying something like, hey, you almost hit me! Watch out!”
Traber said it looked as though the driver was yelling something back at the biker, and that it didn’t help matters, because that’s when the motorcyclist started kicking the passenger door."

The ensuing accident speaks for itself.

Making no excuses for the biker, however, a case could be made that the sedan's driver intentionally and violently swerved into the bike after the door kick, setting off the crashes.  Unintended consequences.

Road rage taken physical, by a biker or cage driver, is plain wrong.  No excuses.  Just wrong.

When a bike and a cage tangle, the bike almost always loses.

Yep, been there when some cage driver pulled a boneheaded stunt that endangered me or a fellow rider.  Yep, it got the blood boiling.  Yep, cursing and hand signals followed.  But I didn't pull up and kick a door or otherwise take it to a level of physical confrontation.  In another well publicized case in San Diego, after kicking the door of a car, the biker was subsequently chased by the car's driver, deliberately run down, and killed.

Again, when a bike and a cage tangle, the bike and biker are bound to lose.  It's not worth our lives.  I'd rather be able to tell fellow bikers about the dummy, than have them roll for my funeral.

Fellow bikes, let's play it smart.

Ride safe and live to ride another day.

Rolling into summer

 

Summer is officially here, so every self-respecting biker is planning the annual road trip.  Solo.  With friends.  To a rally.  New roads.  Old destinations.  It really doesn't matter, as long as the biker rolls into summer.

Depending on the route and destination, weather will be a consideration.  For example, the current heat wave in the southwest or the rains near the Gulf.  But that is all part of the adventure.

After thousands and thousands of miles over the years, I have learned that less is more when it comes to packing.  Yes, take into account the weather (rain suit, leathers, cold weather fleece, etc.), but don't over pack.  For example, one pair of jeans to wear when riding and one pair for heading out to a meal after checking into the nightly accommodations.  (For those advocating camping, by all means, have at it.  For me, after 30 years in the Marine Corps, camping has lost its allure.)  Skivvies, socks, long sleeve Ts, and the like in small quantities.  If the road trip is going to be over an extended period, pack some laundry detergent packs and plan on washing clothes periodically.

Shave kit, charger(s) for the electronics, sun block, chapstick, meds, zip lock bags to keep the important stuff dry, extra boot laces, camera (unless the smartphone is all you need), spare pair of glasses, and ID tags or a RoadID wristband (just in case - also an emergency contact card in the wallet).  Of course, the biker necessities: tools, spare spark plugs, zip ties, spare fuses, maybe a quart of oil, and cleaning gear.  With proper planning, the load can be pretty small. 

Working from a check list developed in advance can prevent arriving at that first fuel stop and discovering you left the credit card on the dresser.  Use the checklist when packing the day prior to departing can make it a breeze.

With the route and destination planned, packing complete, bike clean and serviced, and proper hydration and eating, you're ready for the next adventure.

Keep rolling America. 

RIP Civility

If the recent presidential election campaigning did not convince us, then surely actions in 2017 must.

RIP civility.

Whether on college campuses or during televised programming.  Whether so-called activists or elected officials.  Whether purported leaders in political parties or rank and file members of organized labor.  It matters not, because the coarsening of language belies its content.  And it is not only in language.

In Congressional hearings, members rudely interrupt those attempting to answer questions.  On talk programming, self appointed commentators are equally rude in their behavior.  Alleged news panels make outlandish statements, stepping on the comments of others.  And it is not only rudeness.

Purported entertainers employ graphic images, then are shocked at the outrage they evoke.  A director of a stage play mangles Shakespeare by advocating killing a sitting president, then is shocked when sponsors pull their funding.  A television entertainer boldly uses the "N" word and is surprised when many object.  And it is not only in the so-called arts.

Throughout the nation, civility has been closed down by activists, college instructors, elected officials, entertainers, political hacks, and others, under the guise of First Amendment protected speech.  Perhaps it is protected, but that does not mean it is appropriate.   

If one can not civilly provide a message or entertainment, then its content is not of any value.

Though perhaps hard to prove, anecdotally it does seem certain that the greatest number of abusers are from the progressive sector of society, though there are those on the right who are equally offensive.

Above all, no one even had the decency to declare the death of civility and hold a fitting service.