What would you do ?

[bikeymikey748]

So there I was in the outside lane on the T-can goin' 120km.
There were 4 or five cars in front of me and the inside (slow) lane was an unbroken line of cars. Next thing I know is I see a red shape beside me ( I swear he came out of nowhere ) and this 'person' in a Camry with two wheels in my lane and two on the shoulder PASSES me ....WTF !!!!!!
How would you deal with this scenario? I know I should have seen him coming, can't figure out how I didn't. I should probably have pulled the hell out of his way and counted myself lucky, BUT.....I just wanted to let this guy know how incredibly stupid his move was. I wanted to somehow assure that he wouldn't pull the same stunt on another biker...
In the end, I just flipped him the 'bird' from the safety on the inside lane and let him go. But I gotta tell ya it seems a hollow response !!!!
P.S. did I forget to mention that I just got my registration renewals from the Que. government.......$1,100.00 to plate my '78 SR500 & '98 748 (this will increase in the next two years to $1,400.00 for the Duc, and $650.00 for the SR). They say that as a motorcyclist in this province I am a danger (I've got no demerits/claims and 40yrs. experience). And yet....I have to deal with 'chuckle-heads' like Mr. Camry.....
Sorry, just venting....

[Dirtybill]

I can't say what I'd do. Depends on the mood I guess but mostly, I just shake my head these days and try to forget about it. The car is bigger than you and these days the car driver could be some maniac with a gun.

Can you get "Collector" Insurance on your SR500? In BC if it's in original condition (as in stock) collector insurance is a lot cheaper but it also restricts when you can ride.

The Duc insurance if it's full coverage is close or a bit under to what I'd have to pay out here and we have Government insurance for liability.

[Uwe W.]

Unfortunately I have that happen to me at least two or three times every summer. However, the last time it happened I lost it. After screaming at the guy (a completely useless thing to do), I ended up following him until he finally stoped his car, a good 30km out of my way. I verbally went to town on him while his daughter (who had flipped me the bird on the highway) called the police.

Of course the police didn't show because they had better things to do, and the guy ended up appologizing. I doubt very much that he will ever do that again.

The smart thing would be to either write down the vehicle's plate and report the incident, or see if you can get the person to stop and explain in a very calm manner how their actions put your life at risk. At the very least they're going to think twice about making such a pass again.

The worst thing is to do nothing; they'll just think we riders are tolerant of that kind of behavoir. Becoming extremely angry will likely put you in greater danger; rage will just put them on the defensive and your message will be lost.

A tactic that I've been experimenting with is moving around the lane a lot when there's a vehicle behind me. Someone driving behind you will notice the erratic behavoir and realise that making a safe pass would be impossible.

[RickO]

So there I was in the outside lane on the T-can goin' 120km.
There were 4 or five cars in front of me and the inside (slow) lane was an unbroken line of cars. Next thing I know is I see a red shape beside me ( I swear he came out of nowhere ) and this 'person' in a Camry with two wheels in my lane and two on the shoulder PASSES me ....WTF !!!!!!
How would you deal with this scenario? I know I should have seen him coming, can't figure out how I didn't.....

I'm guessing the idiot came from the far right lane and cut across the centre lane to the fast lane (no doubt without signaling) thinking they were going to occupy the spot you were in (they didn't see you there, of course) and continue their chicane practice from there.

I almost got nailed this way on the 400 northbound a few years ago. I was in the centre lane, did my shoulder check and pulled into the fast lane to pass some cars. My instinct when I glanced in my mirrors and saw only grill was what saved me: I pinned it and believe I accelerated out of the way just in time. There was no one behind me or in the fast lane when I did my shoulder check. The only place he could have come from was the slow lane.

These people are my worst nightmare and one of the reasons I avoid multi-lane highways on my bike.

[John]

Multi-lane highways are inherently unsafe for us with such moron drivers in abundance. I make it my practice to ride at a different pace than the rest of the traffic - either above their speed or under it. It doesn't really seem to matter just as long as you're around fifteen or so Km/Hr different. I [B]never[B] ride with cars or groups of cars. Trucks never seem to be much of a problem as their operators are usually more aware of their surroundings.

This reminds me of a buddy of mine back in Newfoundland. He used to ride a street-modified XR 500 or 600 as his primary transportation during the summers. One would think that he would be hard to miss... One day he got crowded in his lane by a Jaguar or something expensive like that. The guy pulled over from the fast lane obviously without seeing Craig. Craig always used a set of motorcross boots & he told me that one of this twit's right side doors was sportin' a brand new size eleven boot-print as Criag hit the brakes & peeled off the parkway...! It wouldn't surprise me in the least to know that the Jaguar never knew that Craig was ever there OR that Craig had booted him. Some months later he probably thinks that his Jag was the victim of some random act of vandalism...

The idiot damned near killed Craig & I don't have any problem whatsoever with what he did. However, in this day & age, you better be prepared for some lunatic's response to an action like that. We all ride & we all lose if we try to 'take somebody on' out on the road. Survival first - retribution could very well get you killed. I have said it many times to friends - I don't want "Had the right-of-way" on my headstone...

John.

[bikeymikey748]

Thanks boys...Billie...the charges I mentioned are for plates ONLY. I still have to go and get private insurance coverage !!!! I thought 'bout plating the SR as a 'vintage' vehicle, but it seems I then couldn't access any road where the speed limit is over 70km. I'de take my chances but it seems a road-side towing and 1 month impound + fine +++++ would be part of the fun if I get stopped by the police.

[mrspock]

What ? YOU are a danger ? Hmmm , I can only assume then that these dorks have not had the recent misfortune to visit the people republic of ontario and in particular , the worlds largest consentration of officialy reconized , officially certified brain dear drivers then . Here in Toronto , where said brain dead population seems to flock to , our sidewalks are not actually for pedestrians but rather , they serve as passing lanes for car thieves and taxi drivers ( who drive like they stole them ) I tell people all the time that if thye have a familiy member who is about to get thier drivers license andhas to take a test , they should take the exam on a FRIDAy afternoon , an d, if they do so , do it on YONGE St. or BATHURST St. If they can survive driving oneither stret on a FRIDAY afternoon without either gettin ghit or hitting anyone , and do so ONLY between the hours of 2:00 pm an d6:00 pm , then , and ONLY then can they get thier license . ( insert evil grin here because , it aint gonna happen :-))))))))))))))))))) ) Compared to Toronto drivers , drivers in Quebec an din particular , Montreal are deste , civil , courtious and polite .


spock

[TimP]

Something similar happened to me several years ago on Mt. Pleasant in Toronto (right about where those two street racers killed the taxi driver a couple of years back). Uncle Jackass in his brand new 911 was trying to impress 7 year old Nephew Billy by killing me. I calmly pulled up at the next light and, when he rolled down the window (!) I pointed out that when he "drives like that I'm the one who dies". To his credit, he apologized.

As for boots in car doors, did I ever tell you about my late wife kicking the Mustang's door as the ice cream cone eating driver traversed the 401 at Hwy. 15 in Kingston? On-ramp to passing lane with nary a blinker or glance, then "thud", "WTF???", and a chagrined retreat to the right lane.

[Malks]

When confronted with an idiot on the highway I have finally come to the realization that you should just let them go. Even though you want to go after them and run them off the road, this would not serve any real purpose. Eventually, they will get theirs.

I came to this understanding about 15 years ago when on my FJ600 on the 427 some tool in a Toyota decided my lane was where he needed to be. Despite the horn and the fact I was in his direct view, he pushed his way into my lane. Well this pissed me off a little and I rearranged the right-side mirror on his Toyota; did not break it off, just turned it around since he was not using it anyway. Well, apparently he took offense to that and tried to catch me all the way over to Dufferin Street.

Spock is right, Toronto drivers have got to be the worst in Canada. However, with all the gun play lately in TO, it might be best to just let them be on their way.

[Dirtybill]

Ya know what scares all car drivers?

Full off road gear on a TE610 Husky:D

Another thing I've tried while riding with a BMW touring rider is ball bearings in your jacket pocket. On the freeway they work great!! Actually, that time I used Canuck quarters while in Washington state and the idiot was never seen again. He took the first exit off after he almost took my buddy out.

If you miss with ball bearings they're kind of visible and bounce around a lot:D

In Britain, there's hardly any thought to punching out a side mirror if the car driver does something stupid.
Motarders are really popular at doing this!!