Posted by EZ on June 21, 2006, 9:28 am
Beverages all around, Shirley - I dodged a bullet today.
So, I'm riding in to work as I do every sunny day. Pulled up to the
first stoplight in the left lane next to a Cadillac, didn't notice the
driver. We both turn left, she's a bit behind me but not far enough
for my comfort zone, so I speed up, look in my rearview, and she's a
good block behind me when I move over into the right lane. It's a good
5 or 6 blocks from that first left turn 'til the highway, so I turn
right on the ramp and start looking left to see when I can merge.
I'm about ready to merge onto the highway (I-270 South at Olive, if
your interested) when I see the nose of that Cadillac just inches away
from and next to my rear wheel. I look up to see the face of this
obviously rich West County woman glaring at me. When I glare back, her
expression immediately turns to one of surprise, like, "Oh, shit.
You're looking right at me now." She had apparently floored it and
wedged her cage between me and the highway. I don't know if she was
just trying to beat me onto the interstate, or if she really meant to
do me harm. I had my left turn signal on, but of course that didn't
phase her.
I'm doing close to 60 mph by now, because morning rush in St. Louis
demands it. I recover from the shock of nearly getting sideswiped just
enough to stop shaking, nudge the bike onto the shoulder, slow down
enough to let this maniac pass, get in behind her and onto the
interstate before the ramp runs out, and high-tail it as far away from
her as I can get.
I thank my lucky stars that I had decided to put on full riding gear
with armor this morning, in spite of the heat. I nearly had to make
good use of it.
When I ride in tomorrow, I'll be sure to look in my mirrors for Mad
Maxies from West CountyDome so I don't get nailed trying to get on the
freeway.
'Nother round for my buddies, Shirley. I wish it were beer-thirty, but
I'm here at work, where every minute there's another computer crisis.
--
_____ _____
| ____| |__ / Larry from St. Louis, MO
| _| / / SENS, MAMBM, MISFIT, TOMKAT
| |___ / /_ BS# Pending, DOF# (I forget)
|_____| /____| 05FXDL 02VStar1100 (retired)
Posted by jojo on June 21, 2006, 11:29 am
> EZ wrote:
>> Beverages all around, Shirley - I dodged a bullet today.
> It's early so I'll have my margarita to go in one of those insulated
> aluminum coffe cups. ;-)
wait, let me get you a better insulator...aluminum is not all that great for
keeping cold things cold.
jojo
Posted by WazIt on June 21, 2006, 12:05 pm
"EZ" says:
<snip some>
> ... so I speed up, look in my rearview, and she's a
> good block behind me when I move over into the right lane. ....
Beleive it or not some people get offended if you pass them. I think it is
some sort of power trip.
<snip some more>
> ... She had apparently floored it and wedged her cage between me and the
> highway.
If you didn't slow way down after getting in front then she had to of
stepped on it to catch up. She probably intended to push you around a bit
for getting in front of her.
<snip the rest>
Bright side - you know your defensive driving skills are working ;)
WazIt
Posted by EZ on June 21, 2006, 12:39 pm
wrote:
>"EZ" says:
><snip some>
>> ... so I speed up, look in my rearview, and she's a
>> good block behind me when I move over into the right lane. ....
>Beleive it or not some people get offended if you pass them. I think it is
>some sort of power trip.
Yup. I see it all the time. 'Cept, I figured I didn't really *pass*
her - we started out neck and neck, side by side. Guess I figured
wrong.
><snip some more>
>> ... She had apparently floored it and wedged her cage between me and the
>> highway.
>If you didn't slow way down after getting in front then she had to of
>stepped on it to catch up. She probably intended to push you around a bit
>for getting in front of her.
That's what I'm thinking, too. She had to have been nearly on two
wheels to swing that big caddie onto the on-ramp for the freeway.
><snip the rest>
>Bright side - you know your defensive driving skills are working ;)
Yeah. That, and my intuition about putting on the full riding suit.
Hell, that's what I bought those mesh pants and mesh jacket for,
summer riding in rush hour traffic. I need to just do the right thing
every day, and just put 'em on. The armour in them could very well
save a coupla broken bones, not to mention road rash, if I get nailed.
Thanks for the reply. Have another on me. I'm still drinking coffee,
but that'll change in about 5 hours.
--
_____ _____
| ____| |__ / Larry from St. Louis, MO
| _| / / SENS, MAMBM, MISFIT, TOMKAT
| |___ / /_ BS# Pending, DOF# (I forget)
|_____| /____| 05FXDL 02VStar1100 (retired)
Posted by Frank on June 21, 2006, 10:29 pm
EZ wrote:
> Beverages all around, Shirley - I dodged a bullet today.
>
> So, I'm riding in to work as I do every sunny day. Pulled up to the
> first stoplight in the left lane next to a Cadillac, didn't notice the
> driver. We both turn left, she's a bit behind me but not far enough
> for my comfort zone, so I speed up, look in my rearview, and she's a
> good block behind me when I move over into the right lane. It's a good
> 5 or 6 blocks from that first left turn 'til the highway, so I turn
> right on the ramp and start looking left to see when I can merge.
>
> I'm about ready to merge onto the highway (I-270 South at Olive, if
> your interested) when I see the nose of that Cadillac just inches away
> from and next to my rear wheel. I look up to see the face of this
> obviously rich West County woman glaring at me. When I glare back, her
> expression immediately turns to one of surprise, like, "Oh, shit.
> You're looking right at me now." She had apparently floored it and
> wedged her cage between me and the highway. I don't know if she was
> just trying to beat me onto the interstate, or if she really meant to
> do me harm. I had my left turn signal on, but of course that didn't
> phase her.
>
> I'm doing close to 60 mph by now, because morning rush in St. Louis
> demands it. I recover from the shock of nearly getting sideswiped just
> enough to stop shaking, nudge the bike onto the shoulder, slow down
> enough to let this maniac pass, get in behind her and onto the
> interstate before the ramp runs out, and high-tail it as far away from
> her as I can get.
>
> I thank my lucky stars that I had decided to put on full riding gear
> with armor this morning, in spite of the heat. I nearly had to make
> good use of it.
>
> When I ride in tomorrow, I'll be sure to look in my mirrors for Mad
> Maxies from West CountyDome so I don't get nailed trying to get on the
> freeway.
>
> 'Nother round for my buddies, Shirley. I wish it were beer-thirty, but
> I'm here at work, where every minute there's another computer crisis.
>
>
This is an all to common story any more. Everybody in a freekin hurry and not
giving bikers a second thought. Was she on her cell phone also?
I was in St. Louis about two weeks ago for a funeral (South County) and had to
do 75 - 80 on 270 just to keep alive heading back over to the Illinois side of
the river.
--
Franko.........
'75 FX is up and running
http://tinyurl.com/6pb2c
-----
Springfield Illinois Vintage Motorcycle Club
http://www.springvinmoto.com/VIR.htm
http://springvinmoto.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album01
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>> Beverages all around, Shirley - I dodged a bullet today.
> It's early so I'll have my margarita to go in one of those insulated
> aluminum coffe cups. ;-)