Two days until Christmas. Everywhere I see bright faces and smiles, people shopping, families with children looking at decorations. Consumed by the magic of the season. Maybe the commercial part but I’m sure there are some more spiritual experiences too. Either way people are rushing, working, laughing, planning, buying, wrapping, talking, singing, and driving. Yes driving. After riding into town today I have to believe the heightened Christmas spirit and driving don’t mix too well with riding safety. Or maybe I am merely experiencing what is normal everyday life for those of you in more urban settings.
I left the house around 9AM this morning. The temperature was about 40° F and it was raining. Not hard but enough to keep the roads wet, generate a small bit of fog and mist to paint the world from a grey template. A fine day for a ride and an excellent chance to test the waterproof characteristics of the rain cover for the MotoFIZZ bag I now have on the rear rack. Riding down the road from my house I see a car coming down a side street to my left that ends at a stop sign. I have the right-of-way, I see the driver looking at me but the car is not slowing down. I ease off the throttle and cover the brakes as he rolls through the stop sign at 15 MPH and onto the road in front of me. I follow him down to the traffic light where he pulls up behind a truck waiting to turn left. I glide by him on the right and make a right turn onto the highway going towards town. I see in my rear view mirrors that the car turns right instead of left. I’m riding on a four-lane road with many connecting roads, lanes, and driveways and I always pay careful attention to everything on this stretch. Two miles down the road the car catches up to me as traffic slows for a series of lights. He is in the left lane and I in the right. Another half mile up the road he decides he wants to be in the right lane so he can make a right turn. I am presented with my first spiritual decision of the day. I can continue on the course I am on and effectively block his attempt to turn right. None of the cars are inclined to let him in. Or I can slow almost to a stop to let him in. I can tell you that in the past, in the pre-scooter days, I would not have let him in. Especially after the stunt he pulled earlier. I slow and let him in, he turns right and I follow him along up the hill. We continue on for about two more miles until he signals that he is going to make a right turn into an office complex. I have to go to the same place. I’m thinking he is worried now that some big mean scooter rider is going to pummel him in the parking lot. I smile to myself and go about my business without any further interaction or notice of the offending car.
Later as I am riding in town I feel as if I am dodging people and vehicles constantly. Everyone is talking and laughing and not paying a whole lot of attention to the road. I see a young driver in a white Ford Explorer chattering away on a cell phone as they pull across my path from an alley. They really looked happy, eyes all aglow, full of the Christmas spirit. Near disaster later as I am leaving town and a Jeep Grand Cherokee runs a stop sign at 35 MPH on a really busy street and me only 20 yards from the intersection. It was a surprise seeing that Jeep rush past in front of me, driver’s left hand holding the phone to their ear talking I’m sure about whether to buy the heating pad for Uncle Owen or just get him a pound of fudge. I’d take the fudge.
The real news here is not that drivers, pedestrians, and dare I suggest riders don’t always pay attention to the road. The more important news is that I don’t get angry anymore about these things. And not so long ago I could really generate some grudge and rage fuel from these sorts of things. While riding I have become more accepting of the inconsistencies on the road, and that generally it’s not personal. I have some expectations of drivers and riders but if they aren’t met, well, that’s OK. And I accept what those shortcomings could mean to my own wellbeing. I don’t really know if all those people are full of the Christmas spirit or not. But I know that I’m feeling it and it makes it pretty easy to be generous on the road.
The waterproof rain cover kept everything dry. I had a bit of difficulty at first figuring out the best way to cinch it over the pack. I left it sloppy in the back but by the end of the day I figured out how to have it nice and snug. I did worry a bit about leaving the scooter parked in the parking garage wondering if some enterprising thief would grab it for a present for some rider thief. After a few moment of consideration I decided that it’s only a bag and if it is going to be useful I will have to leave it on the scooter. When I returned it was still there. It was a good day.
Whether they were full of the Holiday Spirt or something else, you at least made the inattentive and idiotic drivers sound nice.
This seems to be the time of rush, rush and hurry up to get the last Elmo or whatever. Too bad we can’t sell caution to the driving masses at low holiday prices.
Bill
Steve,
I’ve noticed the same thing about speed and aggression. My mantra of “I will rush no more” continues to pay dividends.
In the car I am seldom in a hurry any more. With that, the further dividend is that aggression goes down, I suspect because the “threat” of not getting somewhere fast is not being thwarted.
Last summer I took a trip to Quebec City. In Canada (province of Quebec), the speed limit was 60 mph. Everyone seemed to be obeying it. It was, like, quiet.
Coming back into New Hampshire, even though the speed limit was up from that, I didn’t notice the aggression around me. It may have been that there weren’t that many cars.
Once I got into Massachusetts, that whole picture changed. People were whizzing in and out of lanes, and blowing past me. I had to speed up to be safe, and it was like I could feel the aggression around me. Speed kills – in many ways.
That’s a great attitude. You are my new mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
bill: It’s odd that selling caution to riders is generally easier than selling to drivers. I think the auto selling culture has lulled everyone into thinking they are indestructable with big crash friendly machines, multiple air bags, ABS and the like. Add four-wheel or all-wheel drive and highways designed to go far faster than the posted limits and it’s no wonder that drivers feel they can use cell phones, PDAs, have sex and more while driving.
simplytim: Having plans to be somewhere thwarted can really raise temperatures. I’ve realized that being in a rush is either my fault because of poor planning, or the rush is something I have constructed in my head. No real need to be somewhere by a certain time, I just manufacture that expectation and hold on to it tightly. The Vespa really challenges things in this area and has slowed me down across the board.
I’ve driven many times in Massachusetts and I know how that traffic can be. It sucks out your soul.
biker betty: Obi-Wan… There are still times I wish I had a light saber just to offer a lesson. *grin* But that’s changing over time. The little Vespa opened the door to a quieter attitude. I wonder what would happen if I decided to ride something big. With all that power doesn’t it seem like you need to use it? Even on the Vespa I know how seductive the throttle is.
I hear you Steve. ‘Round these parts the rule is, “He who stops first at a 4-way stop relinquishes the right of way.” When I ride I always assume that they won’t stop until they actually do.
in today’s “do as much as you can at once” society, i find the bike to be a very centering aspect. when i’m riding, that’s the only thing i’m focused on and it allows me to be a much calmer person. i still get irked when someone cuts me off, but it doesn’t stay with me.
in the second part of your post i was chuckling as i imagined you pulling up beside him on the scooter and whipping out a chain to beat on his car…lol.
Steve, after reading this, I’ve just gotta ask:
What came first in your life, the Vespa or the Prozac?
Ride well,
=gc=
giest: The bike does have a centering effect. It has been an unexpected benefit of riding.
Gary: Lots of things came before the Vespa but no medications. I’ll hold the medication in reserve if I have more unmanageable problems. Just trying to pay attention as best I can.
Hey Steve,
Actually, that is a typical driving day in South Florida, where cotton heads and cell phone gabbers stike fear amongst cagers and 2 wheelers alike. But after 30+ years of it, I’ve also grown used to it and I don’t get upset too often anymore. I drive alot more defensively and why should I get upset and raise my blood pressure just cause these morons can’t drive!
But to simplytim i must send a nod of agreement your way, as bad as Fl drivers are, they got nuttin over Massachusetts drivers, or as we like to say…Massholes!
It’s always scooter huntin season in S.FL
Steve,
Re: “It’s odd that selling caution to riders is generally easier than selling to drivers.”
That’s interesting…I never thought of that distinction. You drive cars. You ride bikes / scooters.
Yes, it’s a different mind set and it’s captured in the words we choose.
Tim
I’ve noticed that a lot of drivers see me but have no intention of stopping unless absolutely necessary. The term “common sense” has become a contradiction. Good sense is no longer common!
Dan