I had my first road rage incident today!

CAPE COD PSYCHO · Post by **CAPE COD PSYCHO** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:12 am

I was driving down route 28 in Harwich today, behind a bunch of cagers who were going nice and slow (typical Cape Cod drivers ) the guy in front of me all of sudden indicates, and slams on his brakes. Of course I was 3 seconds behind him so I just went around and continued on my merry way, no worries. I get up to the light and stop. Here comes this guy right next to me, he rolls down the window and screams HEY!!! I said "yes?" He said that I was tailgating him and that I crossed the double yellow lines and that he got my plate and he was going to call the police! There was a plethora of expletives in his rant that I on't repeat here. but it's like WTF?!

Any body else have any crazy stories of motorists being belligerent??

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:24 am

He indicated what? I dont quite understand. But most here have encountered bad cagers. One thing to remember is that a scooter will lose a fight with a car. Its not a good idea to get into it. Be safe.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:25 am

Welcome to riding a scootah in New England.

Swordsman · Post by **Swordsman** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:32 am

He intentionally tried to wreck you, for the simple fact he thought you were close. Not cool. Not cool at all.

I'd welcome a call to the police, since he's obviously crazy.

~SM

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Fri May 18, 2012 1:39 am

Haven't had an incident yet. Still looking forward to it.

No one has so much as honked at me, and they usually move over for me. So nice

Mutt the Hoople · Post by **Mutt the Hoople** » Fri May 18, 2012 2:01 am

Yikes. They are out there. Glad you are okay. That's what matters. The guy was a jerk. They are out ther, but even though I'm smaller and more vulnerable riding a scooter... It is SO much more fun than a car

stASH · Post by **stASH** » Fri May 18, 2012 2:58 pm

If he was right next to me, yelling, I may have been tempted to give my stebel horn a good testing. Gotta check it every once in a while to make sure it still works.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Fri May 18, 2012 4:16 pm

stASH wrote:If he was right next to me, yelling, I may have been tempted to give my stebel horn a good testing. Gotta check it every once in a while to make sure it still works.

This.
I would have just held the horn and mouthed "I'm so sorry, I can't hear you!" while pointing toward my ear.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Fri May 18, 2012 4:21 pm

Raiderfn311 wrote:He indicated what?

Obviously, he indicated that he was an ass.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Fri May 18, 2012 4:22 pm

Raiderfn311 wrote:...One thing to remember is that a scooter will lose a fight with a car. Its not a good idea to get into it. Be safe.

+1 The scooter always loses vs a car. And from what I've learned crazy has no bounds, so its always best to avoid these drivers and situations in any way you can. Ride away. I wear a full face helmet so I have also utilized the "I can't hear you" technique—pointing to my ears and shaking my head. That usually ends things pretty quickly (watching the crazy person trying to figure out what to do also provides some good comic relief).

AlleyOops · Post by **AlleyOops** » Fri May 18, 2012 4:57 pm

Syd wrote:
Raiderfn311 wrote:He indicated what?
Obviously, he indicated that he was an ass.

:rofl

I think he meant stopped and put his blinker on like he was going to turn?

CAPE COD PSYCHO · Post by **CAPE COD PSYCHO** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:50 pm

He completely brake tested me! I think he looked in his mirror and thought I was up his backside... his eyes deceived him though I wasn't any where near him hence me being able to get around him. I just think he is a nut job with a grudge angainst everyone who gets near him. May he rot in peace.

Scooters are everywhere!

50CC Cape Cod · Post by **50CC Cape Cod** » Sat May 19, 2012 12:35 am

You are better off to just let it go. Flesh and bone do not stand up well against cars or being run over. Usually it is the other way around with the cars tailgaiting so close if you have to brake etc they on top of you. I have a small car and it is the same as when on the scooter but at least there are doors and 7 air bags as a buffer. Some drivers are just do not have a clue and the ones who are looking for a problem better off to just let them move on.

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Sat May 19, 2012 12:51 am

CAPE COD PSYCHO wrote: Scooters are everywhere!

Unfortunately, alot of scooterist are complete assholes too. These are usually the kind with "limited" if not non-existent licences. Now I will confess this. Many years(10)

I lost my license and bought a scoot for transport. I was not one of those a-holes, and the crime I perpetrated I regret. I am still ashamed to be honest. I guess I just didnt want to lump all "licensely impaired" as a-holes. Two good things came of my ordeal. I will NEVER drink drive/ride.(self-imposed 0% tolerance), I didnt hurt anyone, and I found I love scooting.(thats 3 good things) Sorry to veer of topic folks. Had to get that off my chest. Thanks for letting me share. Ill keep coming back. It works if you work it......One day at a time....

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sat May 19, 2012 1:24 pm

Swordsman wrote:He intentionally tried to wreck you, for the simple fact he thought you were close. Not cool. Not cool at all. I'd welcome a call to the police, since he's obviously crazy.

~SM

^^^ thats how I'd look at it. I'd tell him GREAT lets wait together!... since I'm interested to see what the cops think of you trying to make me crash...LOOK ALL HAPPY...trust me, he will drive away....Idiots are everywhere.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sat May 19, 2012 1:31 pm

Do the Psychos have Stebal like horns? I would have blasted his sorry ass

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Sat May 19, 2012 2:06 pm

I had a bit of a run-in this past week with a lady but I wouldn't have called her belligerent; just an idiot.

I was approaching an intersection near a popular farmer's market; facing me was some lady in a BMW wanting to turn left who would cross over my path. As I'm just about to enter the intersection, the light turns yellow and this lady just cuts right in front of me even though it's obvious I'm not slowing down and am not turning. No-one behind me either so it's not like she's missing a turn by waiting five seconds for me to go through.

I lay on my horn and apply both brakes when it's obvious she's not going to stop. She eventually brakes rather than smash into me but she decides she's going to blow her horn at me. She takes my right-of-way and *I'm* the asshat? Sure she told all her friends a lame-o scooter almost ran in to her that morning...

Mutt the Hoople · Post by **Mutt the Hoople** » Sat May 19, 2012 4:06 pm

Don't want to get slammed for generalizing but what is it with BMWs??? At least where I live, they are by far the worst offenders. THREE of them yesterday. One did a rolling stop at a four way intersection and then cut off the guy who had the right of way, with a left had turn. One in the Central West End blew the stop sign on McPhereson... Then honked at the people trying to cross the street without even slowing down, and then coming up McCausland. I was actually doing at least the speed limit, likely a bit more, and all of a sudden I see him coming u on my cry quickly... He looked like he was doing 50, he was still a block back and I signaled to change to the right hand lane and he sped up and passed me close on the right hand side, swerved in front of me, the. Did the same to a car that had been in front of me. Then I was right beside him at the same light. He sped off doing the same and we waited at the same next light, then third time was a charm, he did it again, almost cutting a car off.... Except the car was an unmarked cop car karma bit him in the ass ..... YAY

Capt_Don · Post by **Capt_Don** » Sat May 19, 2012 4:39 pm

I have been riding a Tomos Arrow in the St. Louis region for about five years and I have dealt with a deal-able level of rage from car drivers. What pissed me off the most is when I would be going about 30 in a 25 and get honked at for not getting out of their way. So after riding a 50cc bike for about five years I thought long and hard about a 250cc motorcycle or a Buddy 125/170i, and I went with the 170i (for many reasons, but I will not lie, the 170i looks a lot like "1701"). Now what surprised me the most? Just as many people seem annoyed I can go the speed limit, or slightly higher, than people I used to piss of going about 30 mph! I used to get looks, but now they seem more scornful! Just yesterday I think I pissed two teens off, that were laughing at me, when they kept turning to look to see if they had left me in the dust and I was right there next to them at the next light.

Mutt the Hoople · Post by **Mutt the Hoople** » Sat May 19, 2012 5:02 pm

Did I see you yesterday? I saw a Buddy 170 on Manchester Road... I have a red and creme Pamplona... ??? Yesterday was great, I counted over 20 scooters on the road within a three hour time frame. I had a black leather jacket nd a 3/4 helmet (my white vented jacket was in the laundry... It was yellow with pollen).

I notice the same thing.... Especially on the south side.im on roads with speed limits of 35mph or less... Lots of them less. I do the speed limit... Sometimes a bit over and your right... It pisses people off. I had one guy pull to my left side at a stop last week and he yelled at me to move over and stop taking up the lane, (and their were TWO lanes!!!). You know how most of the time you think of something to say later, after the fact? For once I was ready... That never happens to me, but that day I was coming back from the DMV after getting my motorcycle permit (I'm looking at bigger scoots) and from getting the tags for my car. I had both the riding and driving manuals right there in that little glove box or whatever you call it... Right there. So I chucked the drivers manual into his window and yelled "Read up buddy boy" and buzzed off when the light changed. Yes, I know I probably shouldn't have done that.... But how many times would any of you have loved the opportu ith to chuck a driving manual into the car of a bad driver??? It makes me want to keep a few on hand... Just in case. Not that I would actually do such a thing. (my evil twin might

)

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sat May 19, 2012 5:25 pm

Mutt the Hoople wrote:that day I was coming back from the DMV after getting my motorcycle permit (I'm looking at bigger scoots) and from getting the tags for my car. I had both the riding and driving manuals right there in that little glove box or whatever you call it... Right there. So I chucked the drivers manual into his window and yelled "Read up buddy boy" and buzzed off when the light changed. Yes, I know I probably shouldn't have done that.... But how many times would any of you have loved the opportu ith to chuck a driving manual into the car of a bad driver??? It makes me want to keep a few on hand... Just in case. Not that I would actually do such a thing. (my evil twin might )

^^^ Sweet!... I couldn't have stopped myself either

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Sat May 19, 2012 5:40 pm

Mutt the Hoople wrote:So I chucked the drivers manual into his window and yelled "Read up buddy boy" and buzzed off when the light changed.

And to show not all BMW drivers are bouchedags, during the Genuine ride in Atlanta we were lined up at a red light in Buckhead and a preppie in a Beamer was next to us. I was sure he was going to make some smartass comment when he waved at me and asked what we were doing. When I told him we were doing a rally he actually looked impressed and said it sounded like fun.

</csb>

DanteG · Post by **DanteG** » Sat May 19, 2012 10:04 pm

On the bike, I try not to argue with vehichles weighing several tons more than my Buddy. If it comes down to pulling off to the side of the road, I've been known to point out that I'm wearing a padded jacket, armoured gloves, and a frickin' helmet ... perhaps not the best target for a fistfight.

mukaiboston · Post by **mukaiboston** » Sun May 20, 2012 5:53 am

Raiderfn311 wrote: Unfortunately, alot of scooterist are complete assholes too. These are usually the kind with "limited" if not non-existent licences.

Woah now! The only reason I have limited use plates is because the state won't issue regular motorcycle plates for my scooter.

Even with those plates, I am far ahead of other people. Most people in Mass. either don't have any registration or they have the square "moped" sticker.

Besides, assholes could be anyone. You don't know how many times I've seen motorcycles with expired stickers or lane-splitting or riding in the bike lane on city streets.

The police don't enforce this stuff and it doesn't surprise me considering how corrupt and indebted the state government is.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sun May 20, 2012 9:06 am

What I hate about brake-checking is that kids are actually taught to do it while learning to drive.

Sure, if another car is behind you and the driver needs a wake up call, TAP on the brakes.

But it's WAY different for two-wheelers who have completely different speed/braking dynamics to their vehicle. When the driver takes what they've learned one step further and instead of tapping does a quick lurching brake or stops altogether, it's legit dangerous.

That's why if I ever get pissed off at a tailgater, instead I slowly reduce my speed to about 10mph until I get passed, and grin at the pissed off person behind me. If you're gonna insist in driving like a twat, then I'm going to make you do it at a speed so slow, it's painful.

My point is: I wish nobody taught kids to brake check, and I wish they'd make it illegal to do to MC's. There are safer methods.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sun May 20, 2012 9:19 am

I am not sure if anyone has brake checked me yet? I don't think so. Sometimes I see them looking in their rear view mirror when I am splitting / filtering, but I guess I should be glad about that. At least they see me there.

I think someone braked on me last night as I was beginning to over take them, but I had already slid beside them so I just kept zipping along

A bus passed me and two other cars by riding the shoulder, though. A bus. I made sure to zip beside it and park my little ass scooter right in front of it at the next light

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sun May 20, 2012 9:28 am

JHScoot wrote:I am not sure if anyone has brake checked me yet? I don't think so. Sometimes I see them looking in their rear view mirror when I am splitting / filtering, but I guess I should be glad about that. At least they see me there.

I think someone braked on me last night as I was beginning to over take them, but I had already slid beside them so I just kept zipping along

A bus passed me and two other cars by riding the shoulder, though. A bus. I made sure to zip beside it and park my little ass scooter right in front of it at the next light

Sometimes, for a split second, I think it'd be wonderful if we could lanesplit here.

Then, I remember how Richmond drives. Not worth it.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sun May 20, 2012 9:43 am

LunaP wrote:
JHScoot wrote:I am not sure if anyone has brake checked me yet? I don't think so. Sometimes I see them looking in their rear view mirror when I am splitting / filtering, but I guess I should be glad about that. At least they see me there.

I think someone braked on me last night as I was beginning to over take them, but I had already slid beside them so I just kept zipping along

A bus passed me and two other cars by riding the shoulder, though. A bus. I made sure to zip beside it and park my little ass scooter right in front of it at the next light
Sometimes, for a split second, I think it'd be wonderful if we could lanesplit here.

Then, I remember how Richmond drives. Not worth it.

Yeah. Pretty sure its different all over the country. I think native Californians are used to it, and used to seeing it. Other times when I see those eyes in rear view mirrors they look somewhat startled.

Someone else who rides in L.A posted he thinks its a scooter / mc friendly town. And it does seem to be. Its not just car culture that is big here, but driving. So I think many drivers see riders doing their thing and think "hey, thats a pretty cool way of beating the traffic" and leave us little guys alone

But that bus (a huge city bus) passing me on the shoulder? A-hole. But I see that all the time in the city. They have to make the schedule but some are downright dirty and dangerous operators.

Oh, and the other day while riding through a local suburb a long line had developed at a stop. It's one tight lane. I look to my right and realize a woman has driven her car right beside me and is trying to push me outward, it would seem. I just keep creeping along slowly, and I guess she thinks being three inches from me is ok. IT"S ONE NARROW LANE!

But no. Being behind a scooter at a stop sign intersection will not do!

Capt_Don · Post by **Capt_Don** » Sun May 20, 2012 3:00 pm

[quote="Mutt the Hoople"]Did I see you yesterday? I saw a Buddy 170 on Manchester Road... I have a red and creme Pamplona... ??? Yesterday was great, I counted over 20 scooters on the road within a three hour time frame. I had a black leather jacket nd a 3/4 helmet (my white vented jacket was in the laundry... It was yellow with pollen).

It might have been me, I was on Manchester for a bit I think. My issue is that even though I have been riding for years, my first bike was a Tomos Targa back in NC (a side, let me tell you how a motorbike that barley goes 30 will teach someone who lost their license for excessive speeding, and often, will humble a man and snap him in line), this is my first bike that can keep up with traffic, or go a bit faster if needed; I'm taking it easy and focusing as I learn, so I might not notice the color and models of others around me too much. Though as the days pass I hope to notice and wave till my arm falls off!

50CC Cape Cod · Post by **50CC Cape Cod** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:47 pm

The idiot drivers are out there. The problem is that when you are out in the open only on a scoot it is dangerous to you. Last weekend I was on the yearly spring dust off for vintage VWs. We had 30 cars traveling together and most times other drivers let the group alone. After the tour driving solo I was cut off numerous times passed on the right, people turning into your path even when no one behind you. I was even almost
rear ended at the gas station filling up when someone in a car with handicap plates was in a rush and wanted me to move so they could get gas even though the gas cap was on the other side of their car to the pump. And yes it is frequent that a BMV is cutting you off. So does not matter what you drive the idiots are idiots and don't care if you are in danger of being injured yourself or damaging your vintage vehicle.