You know those bumper stickers that are out there? The ones that say: “Same Road, Same Rights, Same Rules?” Maybe you should start abiding by those bumper stickers. At least it would be a start.
Here are some helpful hints from your Aunt Shannon to help keep you alive:
1) If I see that you are stopping at red lights and stop signs, signaling, not taking advantage of the thin margin of road to the right of parked vehicles (i.e. you are following the same laws by which I’m bound as a motorist), I’m about 1,000 times more likely to calmly pass you when there’s an opening (as opposed to making rude hand gestures and screaming at you out my sunroof while gunning it to get around you).
2) Passing in my lane on the right while traffic is moving (at speeds that are usually faster than those you could reach) is extremely dangerous. When your handlebar is mere centimeters from my sideview mirror, you’re too close. When, as you’re passing, you can read my lips as I call you naughty names, you’re too close. When I am able to shift the gears for you, you’re too close. This type of behavior puts you in danger, but it also puts me in danger as I try my best not to hit you or the car to my left. When my child is in the car with me, you’re putting him in danger too (helpful note: nothing has the potential to make me angrier than someone putting my child in danger).
3) Traveling in a pack doesn’t justify mob rule. Unless I have somehow inadvertently crossed over into your bike race (and if so, I apologize profusely), the fact that there are 10 of you does not give you license to swerve in front of me, ignore all other vehicles on the road (sometimes including those in your pack), break 18 laws at one time, and then get upset with me for not “sharing the road.” If this is what you think sharing means, you can come hang out with Liam for an afternoon because he clearly knows more about this subject than you do (and that’s not saying much at all).
Let’s think of it this way: If you were driving a car, would you expect for another driver to hop the curb, drive an inch away from your mirror, then proceed to run a stoplight, followed by a stop sign, and then take a lefthand turn with no signal and no warning? No. No, you wouldn’t. In fact, if someone were to do this, it would probably completely stop traffic and leave everyone wondering if the person driving was drunk, high, or simply nuts. We shouldn’t expect this type of behavior from you, either.
If you respect my right to keep me and my passengers safe I will respect the right for you to do the same. It is possible for us all to coexist peacefully, I promise.
Love,
Shannon
