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  #1  
Old April 15th 19, 05:06 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
James[_8_]
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Posts: 6,153
Default Scofflaws

This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a little
late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a highway on
to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and quite busy
too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I noticed a car
behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver wasn't going much
faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the crossing the lights
started flashing and bells were ringing. A train was approaching and
there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the car
following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease of
stopping.

--
JS
Ads
  #2  
Old April 15th 19, 10:01 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Sepp Ruf
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Posts: 454
Default Scofflaws

John B. wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:06:55 +1000, James wrote:

This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a little
late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a highway on
to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and quite busy
too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I noticed a car
behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver wasn't going much
faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the crossing the lights
started flashing and bells were ringing. A train was approaching and
there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the car
following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease of
stopping.


About how many seconds between him leaving the tracks and the train
crossing? As a hat-protected roadie, and familiar with the crossing, you
really should have taken on the challenge! ;-)

There are a lot of people like that, "gotta pass, gotta pass", for no
good reason that I can think of except that it might be the driver's
way to assert himself, to prove that he's "the biggest dick on the
block".


Depending on how long the crossing was blocked, he might have been obliged
to turn his motor off, ruining the oil temperature and leaving him
defenseless either next to a "semi-human" cyclist or behind a powerful
bicycle safety flasher ... or even worse, some eco-europhile standlight_!!

As for getting there quicker... maybe. I've ridden with folks that
constantly drive above the speed limit and their times on a , say 200
km trip, is only minutes quicker than mine, driving at the specified
speed limit.


Drivers at the speed limit? They might be inexperienced, inattentive,
frail, foreigners, or even criminals trying not to get pulled over !!
  #3  
Old April 15th 19, 06:59 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
[email protected]
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Posts: 824
Default Scofflaws

On Monday, April 15, 2019 at 6:07:04 AM UTC+2, James wrote:
This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a little
late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a highway on
to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and quite busy
too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I noticed a car
behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver wasn't going much
faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the crossing the lights
started flashing and bells were ringing. A train was approaching and
there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the car
following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease of
stopping.

--
JS


One of my riding buddies is a train operator. After hearing some of his stories I never ever illegally cross a train crossing. Not by car, not by bike.

Lou
  #4  
Old April 15th 19, 09:50 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Frank Krygowski[_4_]
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Posts: 10,538
Default Scofflaws

On 4/15/2019 5:26 PM, John B. wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:06:55 +1000, James
wrote:

This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a little
late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a highway on
to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and quite busy
too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I noticed a car
behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver wasn't going much
faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the crossing the lights
started flashing and bells were ringing. A train was approaching and
there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the car
following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease of
stopping.


There are a lot of people like that, "gotta pass, gotta pass", for no
good reason that I can think of except that it might be the driver's
way to assert himself, to prove that he's "the biggest dick on the
block".


In some other bike forum, a guy has come up with the concept of a
"traffic eternity." I think it may be something like ten seconds.

For example, upon coming upon a bicyclist avoiding the door zone: "That
damned bicyclist was riding in the middle of the lane! I had to wait for
two traffic eternities before I could pass him!"

As for getting there quicker... maybe. I've ridden with folks that
constantly drive above the speed limit and their times on a , say 200
km trip, is only minutes quicker than mine, driving at the specified
speed limit.


One very busy four+ lane road near me runs for miles through a major
shopping district, with many intersections, driveways, traffic lights,
turn lanes, etc. It's not uncommon to see people tailgating, cutting
left and right, accelerating fiercely and speeding to get home to Oprah
TV a bit sooner.

But most of them never seem to look more than 100 yards ahead. When
driving, I enjoy using my knowledge of the traffic patterns to out-run
them, as it were, while driving sensibly.

It's most fun when I get to toot my horn and wave goodbye when passing
them. I did that last week with a woman who had blared her horn then cut
me off so she could zoom past. She picked the wrong lane at a couple red
lights, while I made better choices.

--
- Frank Krygowski
  #5  
Old April 15th 19, 10:26 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
jOHN b.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,421
Default Scofflaws

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:06:55 +1000, James
wrote:

This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a little
late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a highway on
to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and quite busy
too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I noticed a car
behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver wasn't going much
faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the crossing the lights
started flashing and bells were ringing. A train was approaching and
there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the car
following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease of
stopping.


There are a lot of people like that, "gotta pass, gotta pass", for no
good reason that I can think of except that it might be the driver's
way to assert himself, to prove that he's "the biggest dick on the
block".

As for getting there quicker... maybe. I've ridden with folks that
constantly drive above the speed limit and their times on a , say 200
km trip, is only minutes quicker than mine, driving at the specified
speed limit.
--
cheers,

John B.

  #6  
Old April 16th 19, 01:51 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Andre Jute[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,422
Default Scofflaws

On Monday, April 15, 2019 at 6:59:52 PM UTC+1, wrote:
On Monday, April 15, 2019 at 6:07:04 AM UTC+2, James wrote:
This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a little
late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a highway on
to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and quite busy
too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I noticed a car
behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver wasn't going much
faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the crossing the lights
started flashing and bells were ringing. A train was approaching and
there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the car
following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease of
stopping.

--
JS


One of my riding buddies is a train operator. After hearing some of his stories I never ever illegally cross a train crossing. Not by car, not by bike.

Lou


Never tangle with anyone bigger than you. A train is definitely bigger than a cyclist.

AJ
  #7  
Old April 16th 19, 04:01 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Tim McNamara
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,945
Default Scofflaws

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:06:55 +1000, James
wrote:
This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a
little late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a
highway on to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and
quite busy too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I
noticed a car behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver
wasn't going much faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the
crossing the lights started flashing and bells were ringing. A train
was approaching and there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the
car following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the
crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease
of stopping.


The psychology of driving. I can go fast (with virtually no actual
effort on my part), therefore I am entitled to go fast and anything that
prevents me from going fast is an annoyance. This is paired with the
average driver's belief that they are an excellent, even exceptional,
driver (even though they are at best average). Thus we drive fast and
take chances.
  #8  
Old April 16th 19, 04:17 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,261
Default Scofflaws

On Monday, April 15, 2019 at 8:01:45 PM UTC-7, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:06:55 +1000, James
wrote:
This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a
little late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a
highway on to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and
quite busy too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I
noticed a car behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver
wasn't going much faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the
crossing the lights started flashing and bells were ringing. A train
was approaching and there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the
car following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the
crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease
of stopping.


The psychology of driving. I can go fast (with virtually no actual
effort on my part), therefore I am entitled to go fast and anything that
prevents me from going fast is an annoyance. This is paired with the
average driver's belief that they are an excellent, even exceptional,
driver (even though they are at best average). Thus we drive fast and
take chances.


Having actually raced professionally (or semi-professionally as you like - I wasn't being paid - just given equipment) I know exactly how to corner and so am MUCH faster than most people. But I don't drive dangerously as most people do because I know the results of being stupid on anything that moves.

I drove up to Clear Lake to see if I could develop an overnighter. This meant taking a backroad on a long climb. All of the motels in Clear Lake were gone. Though I understand that now that Trump's in office they are back in business.

In any case I was returning on the highway and just as I entered the downhill stretch a Mercedes sports coupe passed me going 30 mph faster than me I knew what was ahead and gritted my teeth. Sure enough that SOB spun out at the first curve and almost went over the cliff.

And then the stupid ass jumped on the gas in order to stay in front of me. But he had frightened himself and his passenger so much that he was slowing to 10 mph in the turns. With me on his rear bumper he finally pulled over and I drove by at a reasonable speed and he couldn't even begin to keep up. My tires weren't making a sound so I know I wasn't pushing the pace to show him up.

So my 1999 Ford Taurus outran a Mercedes without even trying. Most Corvette owners know better than to push the pace because the car is far faster than 99% of the drivers.

I parked the car out in front of my house and an SUV came around the corner so fast it hit the left rear quarter so hard that it actually bent the frame so badly that the tire was 5" above the ground. I think that the driver was going to run but the impact had set off the air bags and she only made it a half block before the engine shut off automatically. Nice quiet residential street. To do that she had to have come around that corner at least at 40 mph and been accelerating. It literally threw my car out into the middle of the street.

As of this posting, good drivers are so rare that they are a protected species. Women in particular drive so badly that if there was any actual traffic law enforcement most of them wouldn't have a license very shortly.

Around the Fruitvale district in Oakland the punks put on a "sideshow" last night that ended with stores being broken into and fires set and guns being fired at one another. Sure is nice to have sanctuary cities isn't it?
  #9  
Old April 16th 19, 06:02 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
JBeattie
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Posts: 5,870
Default Scofflaws

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 8:17:54 AM UTC-7, wrote:
On Monday, April 15, 2019 at 8:01:45 PM UTC-7, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:06:55 +1000, James
wrote:
This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a
little late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a
highway on to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and
quite busy too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I
noticed a car behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver
wasn't going much faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the
crossing the lights started flashing and bells were ringing. A train
was approaching and there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the
car following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the
crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease
of stopping.


The psychology of driving. I can go fast (with virtually no actual
effort on my part), therefore I am entitled to go fast and anything that
prevents me from going fast is an annoyance. This is paired with the
average driver's belief that they are an excellent, even exceptional,
driver (even though they are at best average). Thus we drive fast and
take chances.


Having actually raced professionally (or semi-professionally as you like - I wasn't being paid - just given equipment) I know exactly how to corner and so am MUCH faster than most people. But I don't drive dangerously as most people do because I know the results of being stupid on anything that moves.

I drove up to Clear Lake to see if I could develop an overnighter. This meant taking a backroad on a long climb. All of the motels in Clear Lake were gone. Though I understand that now that Trump's in office they are back in business.

In any case I was returning on the highway and just as I entered the downhill stretch a Mercedes sports coupe passed me going 30 mph faster than me I knew what was ahead and gritted my teeth. Sure enough that SOB spun out at the first curve and almost went over the cliff.

And then the stupid ass jumped on the gas in order to stay in front of me.. But he had frightened himself and his passenger so much that he was slowing to 10 mph in the turns. With me on his rear bumper he finally pulled over and I drove by at a reasonable speed and he couldn't even begin to keep up. My tires weren't making a sound so I know I wasn't pushing the pace to show him up.

So my 1999 Ford Taurus outran a Mercedes without even trying. Most Corvette owners know better than to push the pace because the car is far faster than 99% of the drivers.

I parked the car out in front of my house and an SUV came around the corner so fast it hit the left rear quarter so hard that it actually bent the frame so badly that the tire was 5" above the ground. I think that the driver was going to run but the impact had set off the air bags and she only made it a half block before the engine shut off automatically. Nice quiet residential street. To do that she had to have come around that corner at least at 40 mph and been accelerating. It literally threw my car out into the middle of the street.

As of this posting, good drivers are so rare that they are a protected species. Women in particular drive so badly that if there was any actual traffic law enforcement most of them wouldn't have a license very shortly.

Around the Fruitvale district in Oakland the punks put on a "sideshow" last night that ended with stores being broken into and fires set and guns being fired at one another. Sure is nice to have sanctuary cities isn't it?


I remember when Oakland was peaceful and nobody shot at each other. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_...nd,_California

Now that Trump is president, these hip-hop sideshows are out of control! Burning buses, looting trucks -- does the President condone this sort of lawlessness? Is he FOR violence?

-- Jay Beattie.

  #10  
Old April 17th 19, 12:59 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
AMuzi
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Posts: 13,447
Default Scofflaws

On 4/16/2019 12:02 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 8:17:54 AM UTC-7, wrote:
On Monday, April 15, 2019 at 8:01:45 PM UTC-7, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:06:55 +1000, James
wrote:
This morning I was riding to meet a friend. I was going to be a
little late, which isn't unusual for me. I made a left turn from a
highway on to another rural road that is also 100 km/h speed limit and
quite busy too. Maybe 100m from the turn is a rail crossing. I
noticed a car behind me as I approached the crossing. The driver
wasn't going much faster than me at that stage. About 30m from the
crossing the lights started flashing and bells were ringing. A train
was approaching and there are no boom gates at this crossing.

I applied the brakes and gently rolled to a stop. The driver in the
car following me accelerated, past me, and drove illegally through the
crossing.

I wasn't bothered, but I did wonder why the rush considering the ease
of stopping.

The psychology of driving. I can go fast (with virtually no actual
effort on my part), therefore I am entitled to go fast and anything that
prevents me from going fast is an annoyance. This is paired with the
average driver's belief that they are an excellent, even exceptional,
driver (even though they are at best average). Thus we drive fast and
take chances.


Having actually raced professionally (or semi-professionally as you like - I wasn't being paid - just given equipment) I know exactly how to corner and so am MUCH faster than most people. But I don't drive dangerously as most people do because I know the results of being stupid on anything that moves.

I drove up to Clear Lake to see if I could develop an overnighter. This meant taking a backroad on a long climb. All of the motels in Clear Lake were gone. Though I understand that now that Trump's in office they are back in business.

In any case I was returning on the highway and just as I entered the downhill stretch a Mercedes sports coupe passed me going 30 mph faster than me I knew what was ahead and gritted my teeth. Sure enough that SOB spun out at the first curve and almost went over the cliff.

And then the stupid ass jumped on the gas in order to stay in front of me. But he had frightened himself and his passenger so much that he was slowing to 10 mph in the turns. With me on his rear bumper he finally pulled over and I drove by at a reasonable speed and he couldn't even begin to keep up. My tires weren't making a sound so I know I wasn't pushing the pace to show him up.

So my 1999 Ford Taurus outran a Mercedes without even trying. Most Corvette owners know better than to push the pace because the car is far faster than 99% of the drivers.

I parked the car out in front of my house and an SUV came around the corner so fast it hit the left rear quarter so hard that it actually bent the frame so badly that the tire was 5" above the ground. I think that the driver was going to run but the impact had set off the air bags and she only made it a half block before the engine shut off automatically. Nice quiet residential street. To do that she had to have come around that corner at least at 40 mph and been accelerating. It literally threw my car out into the middle of the street.

As of this posting, good drivers are so rare that they are a protected species. Women in particular drive so badly that if there was any actual traffic law enforcement most of them wouldn't have a license very shortly.

Around the Fruitvale district in Oakland the punks put on a "sideshow" last night that ended with stores being broken into and fires set and guns being fired at one another. Sure is nice to have sanctuary cities isn't it?


I remember when Oakland was peaceful and nobody shot at each other. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_...nd,_California

Now that Trump is president, these hip-hop sideshows are out of control! Burning buses, looting trucks -- does the President condone this sort of lawlessness? Is he FOR violence?

-- Jay Beattie.


Oakland? Sonny Barger's Oakland??

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971


 




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