Letter to San Antonio Drivers (Austin, Early: insurance, live in, malls)

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

From what I understand, lane splitting isn't legal in Kalifornia; it's just tolerated...

But I don't understand how it impacts other cars; they are only using the room between the lanes and don't slow or interfere with anyone else's progress. In Europe, it is also OK for motorcycles to move up to the front of the line at a stoplight, as they can be on their way quicker than cars and that simply means less vehicles building up on the road. Unfortunately, if anyone tried that around here, I am sure someone would try to run them over!

And I don't doubt that motorcycle riders are just as aggressive as everyone else; but when you are lacking a tub of steel protecting you, you tend to get a bit defensive!

Cheers! M2

Wrong...lane splitting is legal and permitted in California.

CHP-Frequently Asked Questions of the Highway Patrol

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

From what I understand, lane splitting isn't legal in Kalifornia; it's just tolerated...

But I don't understand how it impacts other cars; they are only using the room between the lanes and don't slow or interfere with anyone else's progress. In Europe, it is also OK for motorcycles to move up to the front of the line at a stoplight, as they can be on their way quicker than cars and that simply means less vehicles building up on the road. Unfortunately, if anyone tried that around here, I am sure someone would try to run them over!

And I don't doubt that motorcycle riders are just as aggressive as everyone else; but when you are lacking a tub of steel protecting you, you tend to get a bit defensive!

Cheers! M2

WRONG! It is legal in California. It impacts cars because they lane-split, then cut in front of you without signaling. It's bad enough when cars cut in front of you without signaling, but motorcycles are smaller and less visible. They come zooming up out of nowhere and jump in front of you. Just a bit unnerving!

[TXtrkgrl]

I almost ran over a guy on 151 doing that. I went to change lanes and never saw him. He almost laid his bike over, I can guarantee you that he had to change his pants when he got to work that morning.

After I changed lanes he flipped me off!! whateva .

[rd2007]

could've been the same retard that did almost the same thing to me coming off 151 onto the access road before 410. I was in the center lane because I was already on the access road and he came off and basically aimed right for me. I had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting him. He was an Air Force guy that worked on Medina, which is where I worked at the time. I was going to say something to him, but I was active duty at the time and it probably would've got ugly because I was still mad at him for his stupidity.
I've also seen motorcyclists on rice rockets doing wheelies down 410 in the Marbach area. They were going 60-70 and just being totally retarded. I think there was four of them and not a one had their helmets on. Somehow they didn't wreck and there wasn't a cop in the area. They needed to be pulled over for their own safety.

[P and C]

The bottom line is you are supposed to be aware of your surroundings bike, car or truck.
Here in San Antonio there is no such thing as "another driver" or a rear view mirror, a yield sign means be prepared to stop - merge would work if drivers would alternate - lane ending ahead doesnt mean to drive to the very end and cause a bottle neck (the time you just wasted pushing toward the front caused everything to slow down worse) - the fast/passing lane isnt for sunday drives and make up - a directional is to let others know your intention not to speed up and block them in - at a 4 way stop more than one car can go at a time in the same direction -
The drivers here SUCK!!!

[sinsativ]

Originally Posted by frootloop6

NewEra, by "mad" do you mean crazy? or angry? I'm neither. I was just frustrated being new in town and having so many people be aggressive towards me on the road. I'm really quite nice Hopefully when I move back there for good in a few weeks, I'll get used to it.

Im sorry, we didnt see the :newbie: sticker on your car> I have driven in several cities, SA, just like many others. Time of day, place you are. Sometimes good, sometimes not. Real judge of how the traffic is, is how late you left for the meeting/appointment you're going to.

[jettblack]

Common driving rules and courtesy, does not exist here. People speed up when someone puts their blinker on, don't yield to people coming off exit ramps. Don't forget people driving slow in the fast lane.

[rd2007]

Rude is a great word to describe them and almost as the word P and C used They definitely SUCK!
I had yet another person park in the left lane this morning. He sped up to catch the driver to his right and then hung out there for no reason at all other than to block the people behind him. For my route, most of them get off 90 at 410 and seem to head towards Medina. Hopefully they aren't all military because that is not a good image to project

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Deep Forest

You haven't lived until you've driven 80 mph, bumper to bumper, and have someone pull a gun on you to force you to let them into your lane (Houston).

Someone did that to you? Been here all my life and don't know anyone who has dealt with that one. Nor has traffic ever been 80 mph bumper to bumper, but maybe tight 'checkboarding' at 60-65. The freeway-gun incidents on the news are always provoked, too.

I've noticed that drivers in SA generally 'don't get it', and many bring up Houston and Dallas as being so terrible to make themselves feel better. (The per capita accident rates between the 3 cities speak for themselves though.) Houston and Dallas is more aggressive, but there is still a technique involved that is much easier to deal with, versus completely random stupidity found in SA. And if you think we're aggressive, try Chicago and all 3 cities on the CA west coast. They make us look slow.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by Deep Forest

You haven't lived until you've driven 80 mph, bumper to bumper, and have someone pull a gun on you to force you to let them into your lane (Houston).

Did this happen to you?
Seems strange.