Share The Road....Please?

Riding into work this morning and coming up to traffic lights, I decided to split traffic to get to the front. As I was about five cars back from the line, the lights turned green and the traffic started moving, so I pulled into a car-sized gap between two vehicles in the right lane, intentionally making sure that I allowed plenty of space for the trailing vehicle.....then this driver cracked a sad.

For some unknown reason, he chose to claim back "his piece of road" that I had so rudely stolen from him. I watched him in my mirrors accelerate up to and then to within an inch or two right alongside me in the same lane that I was riding in. Why? What was this guy thinking? What was he going to accomplish in doing this? For some unknown reason, there are a few drivers who simply refuse to give up a little of "their road" - that bit of tarmac extending up to 3 metres in front of their vehicles. I did not impede him or slow him up, and there was initially quite a bit of distance between the rear of my bike and the front of his vehicle when I did cut back into his lane. This guy was just one of those arseholes who outright refuse to share the road with or acknowledge the presence of a motorcycle. I seem to have noticed an increase in these types since returning from overseas.

Anyhow, I held my position in the lane as this guy firstly came right alongside me and then backed off. I also slowed significantly once he did back off and allow me back into the centre of the lane, just to piss him off - had he not done what he did, I would have been gone in no time and no one would have been inconvenienced. I know this was a risky move on my part, but I refuse to be intimidated by these selfish and inconsiderate people. Unlike cyclists, who frequently slow the flow of traffic by blocking a lane, I do pay registration to use the road and move along at or above the general speed of traffic and am usually gone within a few seconds of "cutting in" on you.

So how about sharing some of "your" road? Please?

Cyclists

I had an encounter this morning on my way to work which reminded me of why a lot of motorists & riders dislike cyclists.

I was riding along a major arterial road and as the traffic was moving very slowly decided to overtake the traffic in the kerbside lane before the road thinned from three lanes to two. As I was about to pass a bus I could see two cyclists riding two abreast in the lane that I was in, with the guy on the road side sitting bang smack in the middle of the lane. Whilst he didn't really inconvenience me in any great way, he did pose a threat to both himself and to other traffic.

Now as you probably already know from previous posts, I have little time for cyclists using major roads in this manner. I know - I can hear all the cyclists out there saying that he was only trying to be seen and provide himself and his co-rider with some room, however I believe that as they are much slower moving, they should not be allowed on main roads at peak times. Use the footpath or the back roads in my opinion - arterial roads are for cars, trucks, busses & motorcycles that can motor along at the speed limit and not have to worry about a slow moving obstacle such as a pushbike.

I am not angry at this guy, just amazed that he was stupid enough to sit right out in the line of fire. As I passed him I sat on my horn to alert him that I was there and make him realise how risky his actions were. Perceptions are built on the actions of a few standouts, and this guy did nothing to help his cause. Had he been riding behind or in front of the other cyclist, I probably wouldn't even have noticed him.