I was no where close to Walkley & Russel at that time on Saturday - however had there been an organized ride that I was aware of I certainly would have been… hopefully you will understand that, after riding both a pedal bike and my motor bike in the city for the last few years, personal sympathy levels for my equilibrium challenged 4-wheeled brethren who I attempt to share the road with is at a fairly low level if they are inconvenienced by a pedal bike or motorcycle.

It is, I believe, a condition shared by many of us who ride and have been shown… how shall I put this….

[rant] far less than even basic road courtesy by those wrapped in their 4-wheeled aluminum shells who seem to believe that the pavement belongs to them, the the DVD they are watching at the moment, the PDA they are checking, and cell phone they are yammering on. There are many occasions when I am absolutely convinced that most of them have no business behind the wheel of something with that much potential for havoc and mayhem - indeed, at times I question whether or not a system of awarding drivers licenses based on number of Fruit Loop boxtops collected and obvious bribery is worth maintaining at all.

Were I to send out the goons every time someone in a car, pickup, or SUV decided that “biker be damned, the road is mine” I’d have a full crew on for the whole summer [/rant]

Disclaimer: You may or may not fall into the category of unsafe and inconsiderate driver Andrew, if you are one of those individuals who does give the guy on two wheels the same space and respect on the road that s/he would give to another car or truck please ignore my minor rant.

I say we should force ‘em all onto 2 wheels for a few weeks — maybe give ‘em a little perspective.

My favorite was the idiot who pulled up beside me in an SUV at Glouchester and Bank where I was in the turning lane to go left and said, in a very snotty voice, “excuse me, but your bike is in the middle of the road and I am trying to turn left” — my reply was “damn straight it’s in the middle of the road, I’m turning left, I was here first, and if you try and cut me off I will hand your plate number to the first cop I see as I explain to him or her why I kicked the front quarter panel of your truck in”.