BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Equipment violation, eh? Sounds like there was a nut loose behind the wheel...

Karma indeed. I wonder how bad his temper tantrum got then.

"Equipment violation, eh? Sounds like there was a nut loose behind the wheel..."

haha...

Yay! I hope the cop really dragged out the conversation. The best punishment for people in a hurry is wasting their time. (Not that I believe in punitive punishments)

it's the belief I hold that I have the hardest time accepting when it matters - getting angry or frustrated only makes everything worse.

When these frustrated people DONT do any damage, I just feel really sorry for them. It must be awful to feel so bad that you act out like that, worse if it's chronic. When they do damage, I get mad at the rest of the population (including myself) for not doing anything to correct the behavior/root problem.

Glad you arrived at your destination safe and sound.

this isn't terribly germane, but i'm curious: how did you find out what their ticket was for? did you just like hide behind the bushes for a few minutes or something?

I think its widely accepted that the biggest pricks behind the wheel are those in BMW's...then Mercedes.

I was thinking the same thing, HV

eta: wait, Lou M I thought it was the trucks and SUVs that were accepted as "the worst". Personally I feel like it's the people with bike racks on their cars, but it's probably that I notice them more when they cut me off and expect them to be better about passing a cyclist.

The motor officers are the traffic unit for the city. They focus on the speed traps and rush hour traffic. Though I don't know how they schedule their sweeps in problem areas. I remember seeing one sit at the BP on Carson and bust a few cars running red lights.

Maybe an opportunity for BikePGH to share data?

"I think its widely accepted that the biggest pricks behind the wheel are those in BMW's...then Mercedes."

@Lou M.

And cyclists are the worst drivers...

Nick D drives a BMW. Pricks have no vehicle of choice, they're found in all makes and models

If there's any correlation between being a prick and the type or make of car someone drives, I haven't seen it - they're pretty much all the same. Nick drives a BMW. I used to drive a BMW. But then again we're both pricks so maybe that's not the best example

On a more serious note, I had been debating whether and where to post this all week, since it's not bike-related, but what the hell, a thread about ragers seems like a fine place.

A co-worker of mine (I didn't know him personally but it's still pretty shocking) was killed on Sunday in his car by a drunk road rager. He wasn't involved in the road rage, the other guy was pissed at someone else, lost control of his SUV, crossed the centerline, and killed him. The accident itself was disturbing enough but I just read about the other driver's behavior after the accident - it is absolutely unbelievable.

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=521343

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015747765_dui28m.html

Hey, I saw a motorcycle cop giving a ticket to a driver at the intersection of 2nd ave. & Greenfield this morning; then saw another motorcycle cop pull a guy over near Pitt about fifteen minutes later.

I HOPE THIS IS A TREND!

the only vehicle i've at least thought that i've seen a correlation for prick drivers are for BMWs.

also, i think cyclists make great drivers.

Okay okay...95% of BMW's are driven by pricks.

When the commercials for the car you own show people driving like race cars how else are you supposed to drive?

salty, that's really terrible. It sounds like he still doesn't grasp the seriousness of what he did.

Cyclists: We don't like to be associated with all of the people who ride bikes like jackasses but we have no problem lumping car owners together.

From the experts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw7D9cDQqHo

confirmation bias.

my aunt and uncle drive bmws, and they're both avid cyclists (he gets positively giddy over the tour, it's really fun to talk to him about). They just like the cars.

I think it's fair to say that all car commercials (commercials in general?) are ridiculous plays on psychology attempting to get money from the people watching, and honesty doesn't sell.

As often as I do it (a shameful amount), I do think it's not fair to lump all drivers together. I'm not sure there's even a line between accurate generalizations and stereotyping - we're definitely not all unique snowflakes but no generalization can be accurate 100% of the time.

salty - that DUI guy is the perfect example of the accident waiting to happen that makes me want to scream and cry and hide. Totally preventable. Even sadder, when he gets out, he'll celebrate by getting drunk and doing it again. I tried like hell to learn in college for 3.5 years and failed to acquire meaningful understanding, I'm doubtful he'll do better in prison.

We put people on the moon, silently travel the deepest oceans, grow tissues of our choosing, communicate with people on the other side of the planet as though they were sitting beside us... Smart as we are, how can we be so stupid? Why can't we figure out how to avoid the obvious?

We don't like to be associated with all of the people who ride bikes like jackasses but we have no problem lumping car owners together.

oh i have a problem with it. i know it's wrong, but too many people in bmws have been mean to me, so when i see one i try to avoid it. I guess they won because i'm altering my behavior around them. it also means that i have less problematic interactions and happier rides, so i can deal with that contridiction

The PA Sate Police are promoting it's annual aggressive driving task force during the last 2 weeks of July. The majority of the local police departments also participate in some way every year. This is probably one of the organized Pgh Police efforts and it has nothing to do with the type of car the person was driving.

He was pulled over for an equipment violation so it had nothing to do with aggressive driving or the make of car. When the cop saw him he was stopped at the red light.

Sarcasm people...sarcasm. I was only kidding around. No need to start an argument over stereotyping.

I drive a BMW, have had a few of them, I know tons of people with BMWs, and a healthy chunk of my customers drive BMWs--I think it is safe to say that there are a lot of jerks who drive BMWs.

I think Nissan drivers are the worst of the Japanese makes (I've had plenty of those as well).

(I am half-joking)

It's the Brand Loyalists that get my knickers in a twist. So Stubborn! Like Things Their Way! Argh! (kidding)

subquestion: does Nick's advocacy offset all bemmer pricks?

But even with all the advocacy, Nick still drives a BMW.

subquestion: does Nick's advocacy offset all bemmer pricks?

I don't think I will be able to do that much advocacy in my entire life.

Ha ha.

I think Nissan drivers are the worst of the Japanese makes

I have a Nissan Versa and let me tell you something. I turn into a raging asshole when I am behind the wheel.

heh, I had a pleasant experience with a white bmw this morning. we both came to a 4-way at the same time and the driver motioned me through. I had already put my foot down so I insisted he go first.

i think a major part of my bmw stereotype is due to millvale ave in bloomfield. that f'n BMW dealer has people all day screaming down that neighborhood street testing out the cars.

one time i was standing outside of a bar that used to be where the chipotle is, and some drunk ass driver in a bmw made the left from baum onto millvale, took the turn too fast, ran onto the sidewalk and hit a lightpost that was in the bmw parking lot. the lightpost fell and took out 2 bmws in the parking lot. dude tries to drive away, but his car wont go.

pseudachris - while I totally agree with you, I'm also One Of Those. I can't stand American cars because they somehow are All Wrong (GM especially, nothing fits or is where it ought to be). I prefer Toyotas and Hondas, though my VW is ok (I forgive a lot for heated seats).

Non-vehicular, but Shop n Save puts all the food in all the wrong places (seriously, don't play hide n seek with my applesauce, put it with the rest of the canned fruit and baked goods where it belongs - and frozen goes at the END!).

But of course MY reasons for whatever version of my behavior is brand loyalty are totally acceptable, it's the people who disagree with me who are nuts

On a bike, the negative experiences that I remember vividly have all taken places with pick-ups, american SUVs (caddys et al), and old american sports cars (not classics, just not new). But I think that's because where I live, people all drive pick-ups, american SUVs, and old american sports cars. Because all the memorable awesome encounters with people near me have also taken place with all those cars.

Last driver who yielded their turn at a 4-way and waved me through was in an old-school Hummer. Before that, some dude on a Harley.

Last driver who nearly clipped my elbow whilst passing was in a Prius. Before that, I think it was a Yukon or some other behemoth.

It's really not the vehicle.

My favorite vehicles to get almost hit by are those with "watch for motorcycles" stickers and those with bike racks.

Subaru drivers are probably the most patient drivers I have dealt with.

I have a Subaru and a roof rack — king of the road! Or just some dude in a mom-car.

I have to admit my first car was an Audi then I have owned 4 Subaru s in my life

sometimes the car you're driving can modifiy how you drive a bit, lending to the stereotypes.

My Mom's mercedes was like driving a waterbed and sometimes I'd just be drifting down the street and look down and realize I was only going like 20mph.

When I had an Audi A4, going 60 felt calm and slow like 40.

My Dodge truck is big and tougher to drive and does always sound a bit agressive regardless of how curtiously I'm behaving.

It's really not the vehicle.

QFT

sometimes the car you're driving can modifiy how you drive a bit, lending to the stereotypes.

I had to rent a VW Jetta for work and it was really tempting to drive fast in it. I barely felt potholes or bricks and it accelerated ridiculously fast.

"sometimes the car you're driving can modifiy how you drive a bit, lending to the stereotypes."...

I have a VW Jetta - diesel - and drive it like a grandmother. Accelerating is easy but diesel slow, and bumps make the whole thing creak (I think I need new struts).

When I drove a subaru, I drove like a maniac. It was actually difficult to go slower than 45 in it if I applied the accelerator at all. AND it had fantastic clearance, so curbs, divides, they meant nothing to me. I've grown up a lot, thank god. Every OTHER subaru driver I've encountered has been really patient, though.

+1 for jettas

-2 for having to work on them

I got to drive a rented VW Golf on the Autobahn once. It was fun!

hated my Jetta and my Golf before it will never get one again (diesel is different though). Dumb stuff breaks and they are hard to work on. Weirdly I don't recall acceleration to be very good. Just 4 cyl and a 2.0L engine. It would groan up the steep hills. Pure hate for it...in case I haven't been clear

eta: oh, I found one positive thing to say. The seat was comfortable and the trunk roomy.

I thank god for Bob, my mechanic. His favorite car to work on is VW jetta diesels (he actually only takes German cars). I tried taking it somewhere else once - bad experience (for the mechanic too). If not for Bob, I may not like my car so much.

@ejwme let me know if you got my PM or not regarding bob...

dmtroyer - didn't yet, might have to click the "PM" link in the thread.

I once almost got nailed by a women in a Prius with a bike rack and a "Watch for motorcycles" sticker on Murry Ave.

Here's a good one. I guess if you want the cops to write a ticket for a traffic violation you just have to goad the driver into punching you.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11210/1163838-100.stm

Oh wait, that still probably only works if you're in a car. If you're on a bike you probably deserved it.

damn, beat me to it. i was so about to post that.

i heard he was driving a white beemer.

"I'm sick of people doing this,"

wtf?

people are nuts.

After spending the winter in Miami, the sound of honking horns sends chills down my spine. Never punched anyone over it though.