Went riding on Long Island, NY yesterday

I took my first bit of a decent ride yesterday, Sunday, on Long Island where I live. This bike, 03' SW is my third SW and I have logged about 50k over the years, including trips from NY to Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. But on my rather short, 80 mile ride yesterday I experienced more threatening situations than I had in numerous previous outings.

First, upon entering the LI expressway, I went to enter into an empty lane and someone moved into my space from the middle lane, cutting me off. Then while traveling at 75 mph, the same speed everyone was going, in the HOV lane, in an otherwise very uncrowded expressway, a driver in an SUV cranked passed me ON THE LEFT! Between me and the center divider! I didn't even know that was possible. Then on the way home, there is a place where I exit the HOV and have to fairly quickly move to the right hand lane to exit. Usually people are courteous and allow me to change lanes. Yesterday several pickup trucks purposely sped up to not allow me to move, making me go to the next exit to get off.

It is so very disconcerting to have to experience such bad driving behavior. I feel like motorcyclists and all drivers should rebel against this disintegration of a caring for others that to me is exemplified by what has become the driving style of some, and many, Americans, at least in my area. I have heard from more than just a few riders that they have given up riding or think about giving it up, due to such dangerous, entitled, self centered drivers.

What can be done? Honestly I find it depressing. Dan

Sorry to hear about your negative experiences. That's one of the benefits of living in a flyover state. I very seldom ride on multilane highways for just that reason.

That's funny, I didn't realize there were any islands in Tennessee.

Is it possible people are on edge because it's taking so long for things to get done after the storms? I have heard a lot of grumbling coming from that particular region about long power outages, gas shortages, etc. People get tense, ya know?

I FEEL YOU RIDR44. I LIVE IN NEW HAVEN CT AND SOUNDS LIKE WE LIVE IN THE WORLD. I DEAL WITH THOSE SITUATIONS ONE WAY AND ONE WAY ONLY, I STAY OUT IN FRONT OF ONE PACK AND BEHIND ANOTHER WHENEVER POSSIBLE. NOBODY WANTS TO RIDE AT 90 MPH FOR LONG STRETCHES, BUT IT'S EITHER DO THAT TO STAY OUT FRONT OR DEAL WITH SOME WEIRD AND CRAZY CONSEQUENCES. I HATE IT BUT I HAVE ADAPTED TO IT.

BELIEVE ME RIDER, I FEEL YOU

scooterboyz
No need to yell. Try turning off your caps lock key it's a lot easier on the eyes.

DuggleBogey wrote:

T

Is it possible people are on edge because it's taking so long for things to get done after the storms? I have heard a lot of grumbling coming from that particular region about long power outages, gas shortages, etc. People get tense, ya know?

Unfortunately bad driving is universal and standards are dropping all the time - makes you glad that oil supplies are dwindling.

Cheers,

Yeah this sounds like an average day of riding around Metro Atlanta. People have total disregard for each others safety (or even there own).

I'd like to figure out a way to mount a paint ball gun so that I can take a shot at the windshield of the car who is following me at 3 feet!

I've always wanted to do that with my car, also.

I hate tailgaters!

HBWJr

It is sad for certain. Not only have driving standards dropped, but the number of "distracted" drivers is on the rise. Cell phones and texting, lighting cigs, switching CD's or fiddling with a GPS; it is scary what people think they can do while driving a motor vehicle...

I had a guy a week or so ago come around a corner and he had the cell phone to his ear and his other hand out the window with a smoke in it...? Not sure how he was steering! Be afraid, be VERY afraid. LOL

[quote="model28a"]scooterboyz
No need to yell. Try turning off your caps lock key it's a lot easier on the eyes. [SORRY ! 44 Soon with still a good set of peepers and would never have guessed CAPITAL LETTERS would be hard on the eyes. The only thing hard on my eyes is mourning sunlite on the horizon and poor handwriting ]