I had a great ride down Beach Road today. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing me home until, ... St Kilda, just about outside the Stokehouse. I've had problems here before. I'm leaving as much room as possible between me and the parked cars. I'm probably closer to the wing mirrors of the cars passing me in the next lane. But that's OK and they're cool. Until a door starts opening just in front of me. I can avoid it (just) but I call out "Mind the door" just in case the driver opens it wider. I said the words with a rising inflexion of the last word. In other words, it was friendly, not aggressive. The driver (bottle blond, late 40s trying to look younger) leapt out and screamed some sort of obscenity at me. I slowed and called out "Madam, *you* broke the law. Please don't swear at me" and carried on with my ride.
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding". -- Regards. Richard.
"Richard Sherratt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I had a great ride down Beach Road today. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing me home until, ... St Kilda, just about outside the Stokehouse. I've had problems here before. I'm leaving as much room as possible between me and the parked cars. I'm probably closer to the wing mirrors of the cars passing me in the next lane. But that's OK and they're cool. Until a door starts opening just in front of me. I can avoid it (just) but I call out "Mind the door" just in case the driver opens it wider. I said the words with a rising inflexion of the last word. In other words, it was friendly, not aggressive. The driver (bottle blond, late 40s trying to look younger) leapt out and screamed some sort of obscenity at me. I slowed and called out "Madam, *you* broke the law. Please don't swear at me" and carried on with my ride.
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding". -- Regards. Richard.
Calling her "Grandma" might help pacify her some 😄
"Richard Sherratt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I had a great ride down Beach Road today. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing me home until, ... St Kilda, just about outside the Stokehouse. I've had problems here before. I'm leaving as much room as possible between me and the parked cars. I'm probably closer to the wing mirrors of the cars passing me in the next lane. But that's OK and they're cool. Until a door starts opening just in front of me. I can avoid it (just) but I call out "Mind the door" just in case the driver opens it wider. I said the words with a rising inflexion of the last word. In other words, it was friendly, not aggressive. The driver (bottle blond, late 40s trying to look younger) leapt out and screamed some sort of obscenity at me. I slowed and called out "Madam, *you* broke the law. Please don't swear at me" and carried on with my ride.
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding".
The key is to kick it back on them just as they get their leg out.
"Richard Sherratt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I had a great ride down Beach Road today. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing me home until, ... St Kilda, just about outside the Stokehouse. I've had problems here before. I'm leaving as much room as possible between me and the parked cars. I'm probably closer to the wing mirrors of the cars passing me in the next lane. But that's OK and they're cool. Until a door starts opening just in front of me. I can avoid it (just) but I call out "Mind the door" just in case the driver opens it wider. I said the words with a rising inflexion of the last word. In other words, it was friendly, not aggressive. The driver (bottle blond, late 40s trying to look younger) leapt out and screamed some sort of obscenity at me. I slowed and called out "Madam, *you* broke the law. Please don't swear at me" and carried on with my ride.
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding".
The key is to kick it back on them just as they get their leg out.
Fraser
In the distant past I was sliding past the traffic down sydney rd Brunswick on my then new 750 Kat. A woman of the blonde variety opened a door about 15 feet in front of me. The back wheel crashed to the ground about 2 feet short of her. I said "You stupid bimbo" She said "Oh get F#***#* you @#$A% "
"Charming" I thought. I rolled kat forward and past her until the front wheel was against the still open door. I rolled the throttle open. 80 odd horsepower. 215 kg of motorcycle and 80 kg of rider leaning gently on door. It made a lovely creaking noise and opened a lot further than the door on a corolla is supposed too. "Sorry" I said "Couldnt stop" Rode off. Last seen she still had her mouth open. Never heard anything more about it.
Its not the screwing up I hate. Its the abuse after they screw up .. Like its your fault they act stupidly or something
"Richard Sherratt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I had a great ride down Beach Road today. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing me home until, ... St Kilda, just about outside the Stokehouse. I've had problems here before. I'm leaving as much room as possible between me and the parked cars. I'm probably closer to the wing mirrors of the cars passing me in the next lane. But that's OK and they're cool. Until a door starts opening just in front of me. I can avoid it (just) but I call out "Mind the door" just in case the driver opens it wider. I said the words with a rising inflexion of the last word. In other words, it was friendly, not aggressive. The driver (bottle blond, late 40s trying to look younger) leapt out and screamed some sort of obscenity at me. I slowed and called out "Madam, *you* broke the law. Please don't swear at me" and carried on with my ride.
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding".
The key is to kick it back on them just as they get their leg out.
Fraser
In the distant past I was sliding past the traffic down sydney rd Brunswick on my then new 750 Kat. A woman of the blonde variety opened a door about 15 feet in front of me. The back wheel crashed to the ground about 2 feet short of her. I said "You stupid bimbo" She said "Oh get F#***#* you @#$A% "
"Charming" I thought. I rolled kat forward and past her until the front wheel was against the still open door. I rolled the throttle open. 80 odd horsepower. 215 kg of motorcycle and 80 kg of rider leaning gently on door. It made a lovely creaking noise and opened a lot further than the door on a corolla is supposed too. "Sorry" I said "Couldnt stop" Rode off. Last seen she still had her mouth open. Never heard anything more about it.
Its not the screwing up I hate. Its the abuse after they screw up .. Like its your fault they act stupidly or something
Dave[/QUOTE]
I must stop reading this stuff - you are all very bad influences. On Friday at lunchtime, I was on foot going across a ped crossing when a [censored] in a courier van came around the corner and straight through the crossing. I stopped or I would have been run over. But the tip of my umbrella was still poking out a little too far and the metal tip made a really long and deep scratch all the way down the side of his van. And it made a lovely noise too as it took the paint off, right back to the bare metal. Hehehe. "Oops sorry mate, you went a bit close to me on that crossing".
On 2005-10-02, SteveA (aka Bruce) was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
Quoted message said:
I must stop reading this stuff - you are all very bad influences. On Friday at lunchtime, I was on foot going across a ped crossing when a [censored] in a courier van came around the corner and straight through the crossing. I stopped or I would have been run over. But the tip of my umbrella was still poking out a little too far and the metal tip made a really long and deep scratch all the way down the side of his van. And it made a lovely noise too as it took the paint off, right back to the bare metal. Hehehe. "Oops sorry mate, you went a bit close to me on that crossing".
In Canberra by any chance?
Same situation. There's a courier with a hand imprint in it's side door somewhere... Didn't have anything metallic at the time.
In the distant past I was sliding past the traffic down sydney rd Brunswick on my then new 750 Kat. A woman of the blonde variety opened a door about 15 feet in front of me. The back wheel crashed to the ground about 2 feet short of her. I said "You stupid bimbo" She said "Oh get F#***#* you @#$A% "
"Charming" I thought. I rolled kat forward and past her until the front wheel was against the still open door. I rolled the throttle open. 80 odd horsepower. 215 kg of motorcycle and 80 kg of rider leaning gently on door. It made a lovely creaking noise and opened a lot further than the door on a corolla is supposed too. "Sorry" I said "Couldnt stop" Rode off. Last seen she still had her mouth open. Never heard anything more about it.
That sure beats emptying a biddon onto the dashboard and inside of the windscreen .. sticky sugary mess, very hard to clean once dry.
Quoted message said:
Its not the screwing up I hate. Its the abuse after they screw up .. Like its your fault they act stupidly or something
yeah, friend and I were riding out along Heidelberg Rd last week, idiot on foot decides to cross road towards us, at just the right pace to force me to have to swerve to miss him. After suggesting that he maybe pay a little attention to what he's doing in the interests of his personal safety (100kg of cyclist & bike at 35km/h is going to *hurt*) his reaction was similar to what you describe. One day he'll get cleaned up by a train or something and justice will be done. Just as long as he doesn't breed first, or Darwin will be subverted.
We really do have to take the good with the bad don't we? This morning had a semi trailer come past me with barely inches to spare on a straight stretch of semi suburban road and no traffic coming the other way. As I swore loudly and gresticulated madly I thanked my lucky stars that I was still upright and in one piece.
Not more than 5 minutes later, same stretch of road but with first truck out of sight, was passed by another semi who went virtually all the way over into the oncoming lane to pass me. He recieved a smile, a cheerful wave and a heartily yelled thank you.
The second 'incident' made me feel so much better!
On 2005-10-02, SteveA (aka Bruce) was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
Quoted message said:
I must stop reading this stuff - you are all very bad influences. On Friday at lunchtime, I was on foot going across a ped crossing when a [censored] in a courier van came around the corner and straight through the crossing. I stopped or I would have been run over. But the tip of my umbrella was still poking out a little too far and the metal tip made a really long and deep scratch all the way down the side of his van. And it made a lovely noise too as it took the paint off, right back to the bare metal. Hehehe. "Oops sorry mate, you went a bit close to me on that crossing".
In Canberra by any chance?
Same situation. There's a courier with a hand imprint in it's side door somewhere... Didn't have anything metallic at the time.
-- TimC
Quoted message said:
cat ~/.signature
Passing cosmic ray (core dumped)
Perth. East Perth to be exact.
I don't think he expected a bespectacled, conservative looking chap in a suit to scratch his shiny paintwork from one end to 'tother.
He shouted a couple of rude words but didn't stop. But if he had stopped, I had my umbrella ready for him as well!!😄
Not more than 5 minutes later, same stretch of road but with first truck out of sight, was passed by another semi who went virtually all the way over into the oncoming lane to pass me. He recieved a smile, a cheerful wave and a heartily yelled thank you.
I always acknowledge obvious courtesy with a raied thumb or a wave or something like that.
I've given up gesticulating at people coming too close; mainly because it's rarely an issue for me these days. My experience is that the distance a vehicle will give you is directly proportional to the distance you are from the kerb; meaning the wider you ride the more room you're given. On a narrow four lane (two lanes each way) I rarely have people overtake me in the same lane.
That sure beats emptying a biddon onto the dashboard and inside of the windscreen .. sticky sugary mess, very hard to clean once dry
On my ride home on Thurs a bus had stopped ahead and there was a queue forming behind. I checked the middle lane and started to move over as the last car went past and a teenager in the passenger seat had a good yell at me. "Stupid fool" thinks I, knowing there's a series of lights further up and the chances of a red were very high. I jumped up and started sprinting, getting ready to grab my bidon, but the b@stard driving went through as the light changed from orange to red 😠 That teenager missed out on a free drink (all over his pants, face, clothes, front seat, dash etc...)
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding". -- Regards. Richard.
Many years ago (88) an incident happened to a mate (with me just behiond him) riding down the notorious Chapel St. It probably made more of a 'cyclist' and advocate than anything else (apart from the damn fun of it all!)
Woman passes us, hurriedly pulls into carspot. As Andrew passes, she opens door very quickly. Top corner of door thru helmet. Andrew died on the way to the hospital. 6 months later, she tried to deny her statement given immediately after the event that she had "opened the door 'at' him to teach him a lesson". 3 witnesses (2 of which were stopping me from killing her 😠 ) heard her blurt this out. She did 2 of a possible 5 years.
On 2005-10-03, flyingdutch (aka Bruce) was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
Quoted message said:
Many years ago (88) an incident happened to a mate (with me just behiond him) riding down the notorious Chapel St. It probably made more of a 'cyclist' and advocate than anything else (apart from the damn fun of it all!)
Woman passes us, hurriedly pulls into carspot. As Andrew passes, she opens door very quickly. Top corner of door thru helmet. Andrew died on the way to the hospital. 6 months later, she tried to deny her statement given immediately after the event that she had "opened the door 'at' him to teach him a lesson". 3 witnesses (2 of which were stopping me from killing her 😠 ) heard her blurt this out. She did 2 of a possible 5 years.
I hadn't heard this before.
Seeing it would probably make me more of a maniacal "must kill cars" person than I already am.
-- TimC Five is a sufficiently close approximation to infinity. -- Robert Firth
Many years ago (88) an incident happened to a mate (with me just behiond him) riding down the notorious Chapel St. It probably made more of a 'cyclist' and advocate than anything else (apart from the damn fun of it all!)
Woman passes us, hurriedly pulls into carspot. As Andrew passes, she opens door very quickly. Top corner of door thru helmet. Andrew died on the way to the hospital. 6 months later, she tried to deny her statement given immediately after the event that she had "opened the door 'at' him to teach him a lesson". 3 witnesses (2 of which were stopping me from killing her 😠 ) heard her blurt this out. She did 2 of a possible 5 years.
5 years seems barely adequate under the circumstances.🙁
"Richard Sherratt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I had a great ride down Beach Road today. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing me home until, ... St Kilda, just about outside the Stokehouse. I've had problems here before. I'm leaving as much room as possible between me and the parked cars. I'm probably closer to the wing mirrors of the cars passing me in the next lane. But that's OK and they're cool. Until a door starts opening just in front of me. I can avoid it (just) but I call out "Mind the door" just in case the driver opens it wider. I said the words with a rising inflexion of the last word. In other words, it was friendly, not aggressive. The driver (bottle blond, late 40s trying to look younger) leapt out and screamed some sort of obscenity at me. I slowed and called out "Madam, *you* broke the law. Please don't swear at me" and carried on with my ride.
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding".
The key is to kick it back on them just as they get their leg out.
Fraser
In the distant past I was sliding past the traffic down sydney rd Brunswick on my then new 750 Kat. A woman of the blonde variety opened a door about 15 feet in front of me. The back wheel crashed to the ground about 2 feet short of her. I said "You stupid bimbo" She said "Oh get F#***#* you @#$A% "
"Charming" I thought. I rolled kat forward and past her until the front wheel was against the still open door. I rolled the throttle open. 80 odd horsepower. 215 kg of motorcycle and 80 kg of rider leaning gently on door. It made a lovely creaking noise and opened a lot further than the door on a corolla is supposed too. "Sorry" I said "Couldnt stop" Rode off. Last seen she still had her mouth open. Never heard anything more about it.
Its not the screwing up I hate. Its the abuse after they screw up .. Like its your fault they act stupidly or something
In the distant past I was sliding past the traffic down sydney rd Brunswick on my then new 750 Kat. A woman of the blonde variety opened a door about 15 feet in front of me. The back wheel crashed to the ground about 2 feet short of her. I said "You stupid bimbo" She said "Oh get F#***#* you @#$A% "
"Charming" I thought. I rolled kat forward and past her until the front wheel was against the still open door. I rolled the throttle open. 80 odd horsepower. 215 kg of motorcycle and 80 kg of rider leaning gently on door. It made a lovely creaking noise and opened a lot further than the door on a corolla is supposed too. "Sorry" I said "Couldnt stop" Rode off. Last seen she still had her mouth open. Never heard anything more about it.
That sure beats emptying a biddon onto the dashboard and inside of the windscreen .. sticky sugary mess, very hard to clean once dry.
Yeah I do wonder what she did about it 🙂 Drive home with door open wide? What? Report me to the cops? Cant see that somehow she would have to say she opened the door in front of me or how could I have hit is?...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Its not the screwing up I hate. Its the abuse after they screw up .. Like its your fault they act stupidly or something
yeah, friend and I were riding out along Heidelberg Rd last week, idiot on foot decides to cross road towards us, at just the right pace to force me to have to swerve to miss him. After suggesting that he maybe pay a little attention to what he's doing in the interests of his personal safety (100kg of cyclist & bike at 35km/h is going to *hurt*) his reaction was similar to what you describe. One day he'll get cleaned up by a train or something and justice will be done. Just as long as he doesn't breed first, or Darwin will be subverted.
Darwins had it. Humanity is the only species where the really stupid are the best at breeding or so it seems to me. They are just going to outbreed the rest of us. 🙂
"flyingdutch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Richard Sherratt said:
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding". -- Regards. Richard.
Many years ago (88) an incident happened to a mate (with me just behiond him) riding down the notorious Chapel St. It probably made more of a 'cyclist' and advocate than anything else (apart from the damn fun of it all!)
Woman passes us, hurriedly pulls into carspot. As Andrew passes, she opens door very quickly. Top corner of door thru helmet. Andrew died on the way to the hospital. 6 months later, she tried to deny her statement given immediately after the event that she had "opened the door 'at' him to teach him a lesson". 3 witnesses (2 of which were stopping me from killing her 😠 ) heard her blurt this out. She did 2 of a possible 5 years.
"TimC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In Canberra by any chance?
Same situation. There's a courier with a hand imprint in it's side door somewhere... Didn't have anything metallic at the time.
That exact same thing happened to me. In Perth on King Street a courier nearly collected me as I crossed the road. I punched a big dent in the side of his van by reflex. The guy hit the brakes and got out and started having a go. Then he looked at the side of his van, saw the size of the dent, went very quiet and got back in and drove off. Meanwhile my business partner was standing next to me with eyes the size of saucers.
"TimC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In Canberra by any chance?
Same situation. There's a courier with a hand imprint in it's side door somewhere... Didn't have anything metallic at the time.
That exact same thing happened to me. In Perth on King Street a courier nearly collected me as I crossed the road. I punched a big dent in the side of his van by reflex. The guy hit the brakes and got out and started having a go. Then he looked at the side of his van, saw the size of the dent, went very quiet and got back in and drove off. Meanwhile my business partner was standing next to me with eyes the size of saucers.
Fraser
A courier van DID get me on King Street about 7 or 8 years ago. Just outside the King Street Cafe. The [censored] was travelling at speed in reverse the wrong way down a one way street. He hit me and I flew up into the air. Years of Judo paid off handsomely. I still remember being up in the air and thinking that I had to roll when I hit the road and then get up and off the road as soon as possible. Result - I was OK but he wrecked my suit and an expensive pair of shoes, smashed my watch and a ring I was wearing. Must have been quite a spectacle. A lot of people offered their names to me to be witnesses. I reported him to the police and followed it up. The [censored] got done for dangerous driving. And he had to get the dent I left in his back door with my hip fixed up. My office paid for the damage to my suit etc as I was on the way to a meeting at the time.
"Richard Sherratt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I had a great ride down Beach Road today. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing me home until, ... St Kilda, just about outside the Stokehouse. I've had problems here before. I'm leaving as much room as possible between me and the parked cars. I'm probably closer to the wing mirrors of the cars passing me in the next lane. But that's OK and they're cool. Until a door starts opening just in front of me. I can avoid it (just) but I call out "Mind the door" just in case the driver opens it wider. I said the words with a rising inflexion of the last word. In other words, it was friendly, not aggressive. The driver (bottle blond, late 40s trying to look younger) leapt out and screamed some sort of obscenity at me. I slowed and called out "Madam, *you* broke the law. Please don't swear at me" and carried on with my ride.
But, in the dark, evil part of me, I had visions of her getting "a damn good hiding". -- Regards. Richard.
Commuting on New Street Brighton towards Nepean Highway I approached a driveway where a woman in a 4WD was stopped. As I was almost crossing her path she moved her car towards me (I hate that). I yelled at her "can you watch it!" (that's all - no obscenities), upon which she erupted into a volley of madly sounding the horn of her car. A perfect fit of demented road rage. I half expected her to try and run me down after she turned into New Street.
