Respect from cage drivers

[CNF2002]

Why is it a good idea to carry a gun while on a bike?

[jmillheiser]

If I were faced with a guy next to me trying to force me off the shoulder I would have either dropped a gear and left him in the dust (and stopped at the nearest and VERY public gas stop and call the cops), or grabbed a handful of brake to get him off my side (lets see a pickup outbrake a sportbike) then gotten away from him as quickly as possible.

In a road rage situation like that though my first priority would be to get as far away from the angry cager as quickly as possible and find a safe place to stop and call the cops (giving plate #s of cousre).

[Runswalking]

Interesting thoughts. Most of the time riding to & from work I'm armed, concealed carry is legal in our state with a license. Round trip for me is right about 150 miles. Never felt like I needed it tho.

I don't lane slit anymore, old age and slower reactions cured that need to keep moving at all costs. But in the early 80's while splitting lanes in Altanta GA a van driver throw a cup of coffee on me! We were almost stopped when it occurred. I got this hard jerk sideways and almost stalled. I was doing maybe 10 -12 mhp with the traffic being near stopped. I thought at first that I had broke a chain and it was snagged! I then realized I had caught a full sized van by the right mirror. And I started laughing so hard at how it had happened. I think the driver thought my catching it was on purpose an I was laughing at him. He throw the coffee at me from his driver's seat and for some reason that was even funnier to me. I had a rain suit & full faced helmet on,but that coffee was everywhere! As I was laughing and trying to apologize the driver then tried to spit tabacco juice on me. After the spitting I couldn't help myself and left with his mirror still attached to my tail pack. Jerked it right off! Still have it in the garage. And you know I was armed that day too!

[JustJames]

This is also a reason for cagers to hate bikers. I've heard a cager on a truck trying to block the group of motocycles on inter-state. The reason one of the motorcycles group broke his sideview mirror when passed him.

Please be sure to leave plenty of room when you spliting/sharing lane. To apologize after you broke his/her side mirrow might not be enough to justified. just my 2 cents

[Runswalking]

To apologize after you broke his/her side mirrow might not be enough to justified. just my 2 cents

You know I completely agree with you! When I was stopped the mirror was still attached to his van and caught in my strap. If he hadn't thrown the coffee and /or spit I think I could have gotten it loose. Leaving was the better thing to do. Especially since the situation was going down fast. I did report the contact to the police with my insurance info. Never heard anything else about it. Where it's legal to split lanes vehicles have no right to crowd the line to keep traffic bikes from moving.

[JustJames]

I have never heard of any place where it is legal to split lanes. Might be in UK or Asian where too much traffic and their bikes are smaller than our in US.

In CA, the law doesn't say it is legal nor illegal but it is can be tolerated by other drivers (Wizzard please come in to correct me if I'm wrong). When I do split lane and I see a car block my way I will check out License plate and believe it or not more than a few time those who blocked me had license plates from out of state.

[CNF2002]

I wouldnt mind lane splitting in traffic jams...but its illegal here. And I was thinking about it while in a traffic jam this morning, and it just looks impossible. Maybe the lanes are smaller here...but with the cars staggered around in their lanes, I dont see how I could possibly make it past any of them.

[sapaul]

It is legal in SA and we went through a stage of drivers deliberatly blocking off bikers. A few mirrors got knocked off and the word went around and now it hardly happens.

[windrider]

What worries me is a cager suddenly changing lanes right in front of me. Some dont even look before they change lanes.

In Florida I saw a young guy without a helmet riding a lot faster than cars and trucks between lanes during the rush hour when everyone was switching lanes and driving aggressively.
I was half expecting to see something happen.

If traffic's moving why risk it?