Pete Bosheff
When I lived in PDX me and my boys used to ride like freaking banzai
maniacs, darting in and out of traffic, blasting anything and
everything - on the edge giggling all the way and worse. Until one
day in NE somewhere around Burnside near airport, coming from Marine
Drive, me and my boy Rich did some creative cuts through moving
traffic - some lady decided to chase us down in her car, like blocks
and blocks swerving in and out of traffic - using turn lane and
running at least one stop light. After we realized she was on us we
said "hell YA!" and stepped up the game for another several blocks.
We were unsure of what she was about but then when she caught us she
was sooooo completely pissed off, and still rolling, it was all she
could do to get her window down and yell at us "You're a fucking
hazard!!!" Man, she was hysterical!
So me and Rich "engaged" her briefly and she got more pissed and was
getting crazy w/ her car so we 180'd and got gone real quick.
I said "Rich, she was furious, what did we do?" He said - "I don't
know but she almost hit that kid, didn't you see that?" I said "No"
- but we realized we pushed that lady's Road Rage Button just trying
to have some fun screwing with traffic, bombing and hucking street
elements and intersections.
So we sort of retired - realizing we were way out there and
endangering things, others and ourselves.
Hey, I'm older, greasier (need to ride everyday), been there done
that but I have to admit whenever I get on my urban unit I still get
the urge to shred and cut in front of vehicles and slip through gaps
in traffic not yet there. I have to admit I still do it sometimes -
it is pure adrenaline and fun for some of us wired that way.
I say sometimes cats like us just do risky things. We push it, need
to - don't ask, it ain't right.
I am bummed for our brother for sure and have massive sympathy for
sisters and brothers who are just riding or commuting responsibly
following most of the rules and get wacked. Drivers DO NOT see you
man!!!!!!! You got to know that stuff. I used to drive a truck in
college, big trucks - you gotta be careful around any commercial
vehicle let alone a car.
Go a bit easier I guess or look a bit father out as you vector your
moves.
On Oct 24, 2007, at 5:01 PM, David Auker wrote:
> Thomas Hoffman wrote:
>> PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, Ride like you expect to be hit. The life
>> you will
>> save is your own.
> However, you should strive to BE as SIGNIFICANT on the road as
> possible, and the only tool you have is VISIBILITY. (Respect what
> motor traffic can do to you, but can't ride everywhere with your
> tail twixt your legs.) Sure, there are times when bright clothing
> isn't going to matter (driver inattention, maliciousness (shudder),
> etc), but we must do everything at our disposal to be seen...and
> not just seen, but actually significantly noticed!
>
> David
>
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