General Cycling Discussion - I didn't just take the lane this morning.

I clawed it from the greedy hands of a SUV driver, owned it, polished it up and stuck it in my trophy cabinet.

I was taking the lane coming off a set of lights on a four lane road with a central turning lane, intending to make the next left (100m). I indicate to move into the inside lane and the driver behind me graciously slows and lets me in and in return I move swiftly into the turning lane. The opposing two lanes are gridlocked and as I'm coming up on my turn this Lincoln Navigator pulls out intending to drive all the way up to turn left on the lights that I have just come across.

Unsurprisingly he is now blocking my turn and still moving forwards, depite my clear indicating. I keep rolling towards him and pull up right on his front bumper. The driver rolls down his window and waves me out of his way and the follwing exchange ensues.

Him: Get out of my way.
Me: Are you kidding me.
Him: Move it, I'm trying to get to work.
Me: No, I'm turning there so back it up.
Him: But...
Me: I said back it up.
Him: ...
Me: NOW

To my amazement he actually put it in reverse and backed it up. I grin from ear to ear and all the drivers around are looking incredulous. Sweetest moment of this year.

Dude, you rock. Crazy, but you rock. I prolly would crapped my pants with a 5000lb SUV coming at me. :)

To friggin funny...

Dude, you rock. Crazy, but you rock. I prolly would crapped my pants with a 5000lb SUV coming at me. :)

He wasn't moving fast, I was prepared to bail out if he kept moving but as soon as he stopped, that was it, he was mine.

The SUV knave. When confronting one, look out for the very small stones.

Dude, you've lived the dream. Everything else from here on is gravy. :D

That's wonderful.

You win the 'big ballz of the week' trophy :D

Congratulations!


http://www.bergintoys.com/sp_related/2005-Feb/details/detail-Space%20Captain%20Trophy%202.jpg

You can stencil an SUV silhouette on your top tube now

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

Good job. That kind of confidence can only come from knowing that your right to travel on the roadway, including making left turns, is NO DIFFERENT from that of any other vehicle driver.

:beer:

While this is an extreme example, I'm sure that same confidence serves you well in many much less confrontational situations.

Kudos.

You remind me of a mate I used to ride with. He would take no nonsense from any car driver. At 180 lbs and all muscle- no- one argued with him. He came across a car blocking our Cycle path once and after politely inquiring if the driver was lost as cars are not allowed on the cycle path- He got a load of abuse from the driver. No problem He got off his bike Put it over his shoulder and walked over the car and dragged his SPD's down the Trunk. He then told the driver to move- before he lost his temper. The car driver moved.

Just remember next time that anything like this happens to you- Any car has shiny paintwork and the owners do not want to lose the car for a week while it is in the body shop.Oh and be ready to get witnesses that they hit you and not the other way round.

You remind me of a mate I used to ride with. He would take no nonsense from any car driver. At 180 lbs and all muscle- no- one argued with him. He came across a car blocking our Cycle path once and after politely inquiring if the driver was lost as cars are not allowed on the cycle path- He got a load of abuse from the driver. No problem He got off his bike Put it over his shoulder and walked over the car and dragged his SPD's down the Trunk. He then told the driver to move- before he lost his temper. The car driver moved.

Just remember next time that anything like this happens to you- Any car has shiny paintwork and the owners do not want to lose the car for a week while it is in the body shop.Oh and be ready to get witnesses that they hit you and not the other way round.


:roflmao:

Not nice really, but funny!

:roflmao:

To my amazement he actually put it in reverse and backed it up. I grin from ear to ear and all the drivers around are looking incredulous. Sweetest moment of this year.

Very nice!

RFM

Why does this never happen to me?

Why does this never happen to me?

I hereby solemnly swear that if you block my right of way with and SUV I will go toe to toe with you.

Although seriously, just be ready for it when it happens. Be ready to not take any self-righteous c**p from a bully who thinks reverse is for wieners. I'll be the first to admit that this could have gone badly. The driver could have decided to kick off and then I would have had to bail. It was just there and then that I decided to be ready to get to that point.

Most bullies don't handle resistance well.

I am quite sure you had the right of way as you were there first. Where I live a shared center lane is the norm, but with mulitple intersections it can sometimes become unclear as to who has the right of way, that is who was in the lane first? It does sound like you were closer and first, however with the sometimes unclear ROW accidents are quite common in them.

In AZ one can drive in the center lane well in advance of a left turn or to pass other vehicles as long as traffic is blocking the other lanes and the lane is clear or one plans on making a left turn. The law:

"2. On a roadway that is divided into three lanes, a person shall not drive a vehicle in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle where the roadway is clearly visible and the center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for a left turn or where the center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of the allocation."

Al

YOU are my new hero...:D