Winter is almost here, will the yahoos return?
With the start of the winter season almost around the corner, I have been wondering will all the yahoo drivers out there have finally learned their lessons? Or will they still be in such a hurry that they still be complete idiots when it comes to such things as driving in whiteout conditions?
Traditionally, that usually is not the case. We will always have people driving like complete idiots when the snow falls every year. These are the people who think that because they are driving a SUV or 4x4 means they have the right to intimidate everyone else into getting out of their way. I know that they think that they are safer in their vehicles, but what about the rest of the people that they have to share the road with? Not to mention the ones with their cell phone glues to their ears!
Even worse are the idiots who are text messaging while they are driving. That is way more dangerous than even chatting on the phone while they are driving.
Labels: SUV, Text message, winter driving, yahoos
Dealing with the yahoos
I would like to share some thoughts on bicycling on the road versus using the bike path. Traditionally, in the past, I have advocated riding on the local bike paths. Recently, however, I have switched to riding my bike in the road. The main reason I have made this change is dealing with too many yahoos who can't be bothered to pay attention to where they are going.
Yes, I understand that there will always be people who say that bikes don't belong in the road. These are the same people who can't be bothered to stop before whipping across the bike path like it does not exist. They will always be angry with you no matter what you do. Never mind that the person riding a bicycle has the same right to the road as a person driving a car. Keep in mind that the biker also has to follw the same rules of the road as the driver. That means stopping for redlights and stop signs.
Anyway, on to the reason for this post. I have recently switched from using the bike path to riding in the road. There are many reasons for this switch. There are too many people using the bike path that do not bother to watch where they are going. They are too busy minding other people's business. Or playing the drums on their handlebars. Or chatting away on their cellphones. One of my ercent favorites was some one cruising on the bike path who so considerately took both of his hands off the handlebars to point at me and then gesture to the bike path that he was riding on like it was his business where I should be riding. For riding at night, I have two taillights and one headlight so that I can be seen by traffic.
And for those of you who so considerately yell at us who ride in the road, we have just as much right to use the road as you do. You might disagree, but that is the truth. We are in the road to stay.
Labels: bike path, road rage, yahoos
Winter driving with yahoos in the mix
Even in the blizzard weather that West Michigan is experiencing these last few days, there are still quite a few of us who have to go to work. That said, driving in this weather is difficult enough with all the unintelligent, idiotic yahoos that we have to contend with.
You see them everywhere. They think that driving a big 4X4 SUV will keep them safer on the road. That may be true for them, but what about everyone else that they have to share the road with? Having that big suv does not mean you can stop any faster, it only means that you can get going faster.
Having a four wheel drive vehicle does not give the person driving it the right to intimidate other drivers in smaller vehicles jnto getting out of their way. But, as always, there are people out there who think that if you are not driving an SUV, you should not be out in this weather. So what if they have somewhere to go, so do the drivers of smaller vehicles. Ohterwise, they would not be out on the road. The road is meant to be shared by every one.
Labels: 4x4, ice, safety, SUV, winter driving, yahoos
