By Leland Sapp (1200 Harley Sportster)
There are many types of drivers on the
road and each has a different way of responding and reacting to the
motorcyclists they share the road with.
Some drivers are oblivious. They just
don’t see motorcyclists. They are so focused on the cars they are
used to, the majority, that they don't see motorcycles. More
dangerous, are drivers who talk on the phone, text, read, or eat a
five course meal with dessert while attempting to drive. These
drivers are downright dangerous! They stop abruptly and swerve
unannounced while reaching for the tomato slice that escaped their
Whopper and landed in their lap.
More frightening are drivers who get
aggressive with motorcyclists. Maybe their ex-husband road a Harley
or they got the s#*t kicked out of them when they, being an oblivious
driver, cut off a biker who decided his near death experience
warranted kicking someone’s ass.
I’ve only had one driver get
aggressive with me. I was riding on a country road. No one else in
sight but the two of us.
She followed me for miles, tailgating me the entire way even though I was going 10 mph over the speed limit. If a deer had run into the road or I had hit gravel around a tight turn, this gal would have made matters worse. Our duo ended with me giving her the big leather gloved bird, but looking back, I should have just pulled over and let her go by.
She followed me for miles, tailgating me the entire way even though I was going 10 mph over the speed limit. If a deer had run into the road or I had hit gravel around a tight turn, this gal would have made matters worse. Our duo ended with me giving her the big leather gloved bird, but looking back, I should have just pulled over and let her go by.
There are, of course, the courteous
drivers who are riders themselves or have someone close to them that
rides. These people treat you like a king on a flying carpet! They
give you plenty of room, stay out of your blind spot, signal well in
advance before turning and never cut you off. I am ever grateful for
these kind people.
Of these courteous people, I admire
most those who don’t ride motorcycles themselves, yet treat you as
if they understand what it is to be vulnerable, throwing yourself out
to the world at 70 mph on a 700 pound machine. These are the most
evolved people in the universe! They have the highly developed
ability to see the world from another person’s perspective even
though it is beyond their realm of experience. Imagine what the world
would be like if we could all truly see the world through the eyes of
another? I’m not sure what would really change, but I do know that
the world would be a better place.
