Idiot Things The Yaris Does

[MadMax]

No DRLs, but I just have gotten into the habit of always driving with my lights on.

Unfortunately, since I've removed the door chimes in the Jeep (so I can run without doors! ), it is up to me to remember that my lights are on. A few times I've forgotten! Now I've gotten into the habit of always walking in front of the Jeep after parking it to make sure I've turned off the headlights!

I am becoming a creature of habit!

Oh, and yes, I ride as well. I've got two Hondas parked in the garage, been riding for about as long as you have; but in this country and throughout Europe.

Cheers! M2

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Oh, and yes, I ride as well. I've got two Hondas parked in the garage, been riding for about as long as you have; but in this country and throughout Europe.

Cheers! M2

Awesome to ride in Europe.

Are there deserted places there to ride in like here?

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Awesome to ride in Europe.

Are there deserted places there to ride in like here?

You don't have to find places away from traffic, Europeans know how to drive and respect motorcycles. I never feared for my life like I do in traffic in this country. I have lanesplit at triple-digit speeds during rush-hour traffic out of Brussels, or rode across Germany on the autobahns at 120+ MPH for hours on end and felt safer than I do riding here.

It is one of the reasons I don't commute to work on the bikes anymore, it's just to damn dangerous the way people drive. They're too busy texting, eating, putting on make-up or simply not paying attention.

These days if I get the bikes out at all, it is to the Texas Hill Country where the only things you have to worry about is deer or armadillos strolling out into the road!

Cheers! M2

[bronsin]

Huh interesting.

My defense mechanisms are so honed that I could never trust ANYONE anytime anywhere while riding a motorcycle.

Just the other day I was going to work and was on a divided six lane unlimited access strech of road. I was in the left lane passing a line of cars when one of them changed lanes into my path. He was looking at his lap (texting?) I have a rule. When you see someone do something stupid they will do ANOTHER thing stupid. Rather than speed up and edge around him I slowed down and changed lanes stage right. About another 200 yards down the road stupid drifted right into the dividing wall between the spilt highway. I was 100 yards behind him and to the right when he came to a stop sideways in the middle of traffic. About half a dozen cars either hit him or one another as they tried to avoid numbnuts.

If I did anything other than what I did I would have been in that mess.

People respecting motorcycles...

That would take all the fun out of it!

Originally Posted by MadMax

You don't have to find places away from traffic, Europeans know how to drive and respect motorcycles. I never feared for my life like I do in traffic in this country. I have lanesplit at triple-digit speeds during rush-hour traffic out of Brussels, or rode across Germany on the autobahns at 120+ MPH for hours on end and felt safer than I do riding here.

It is one of the reasons I don't commute to work on the bikes anymore, it's just to damn dangerous the way people drive. They're too busy texting, eating, putting on make-up or simply not paying attention.

These days if I get the bikes out at all, it is to the Texas Hill Country where the only things you have to worry about is deer or armadillos strolling out into the road!

Cheers! M2

[eTiMaGo]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Huh interesting.

My defense mechanisms are so honed that I could never trust ANYONE anytime anywhere while riding a motorcycle.

Just the other day I was going to work and was on a divided six lane unlimited access strech of road. I was in the left lane passing a line of cars when one of them changed lanes into my path. He was looking at his lap (texting?) I have a rule. When you see someone do something stupid they will do ANOTHER thing stupid. Rather than speed up and edge around him I slowed down and changed lanes stage right. About another 200 yards down the road stupid drifted right into the dividing wall between the spilt highway. I was 100 yards behind him and to the right when he came to a stop sideways in the middle of traffic. About half a dozen cars either hit him or one another as they tried to avoid numbnuts.

Yeah it's the only way to survive here too, especially on two wheels, gotta keep asking yourself, what is the most insane thing each other driver could do, and expect it to actually happen... Just last week I had a motorcyclist come out of a side road without even looking and cutting right across into the inner lane, into my path... Luckily he reacted to the horn and stuck to the outer lane!

[A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby]

Originally Posted by eTiMaGo

Yeah it's the only way to survive here too, especially on two wheels, gotta keep asking yourself, what is the most insane thing each other driver could do, and expect it to actually happen... Just last week I had a motorcyclist come out of a side road without even looking and cutting right across into the inner lane, into my path... Luckily he reacted to the horn and stuck to the outer lane!

each and every time getting out on the bike, remember... everyone else's
sole purpose, is to get you and squash you. that's how you must ride a bike

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Huh interesting.

My defense mechanisms are so honed that I could never trust ANYONE anytime anywhere while riding a motorcycle.

Just the other day I was going to work and was on a divided six lane unlimited access strech of road. I was in the left lane passing a line of cars when one of them changed lanes into my path. He was looking at his lap (texting?) I have a rule. When you see someone do something stupid they will do ANOTHER thing stupid. Rather than speed up and edge around him I slowed down and changed lanes stage right. About another 200 yards down the road stupid drifted right into the dividing wall between the spilt highway. I was 100 yards behind him and to the right when he came to a stop sideways in the middle of traffic. About half a dozen cars either hit him or one another as they tried to avoid numbnuts.

If I did anything other than what I did I would have been in that mess.

People respecting motorcycles...

That would take all the fun out of it!

You wold be surprised at how different (and enjoyable) it is! In Europe, when you come up behind a car, they will move over to give you room to pass. Traffic coming in the opposite direction will also move to their right to give you room to pass down the middle on two-way roads. It's nice because it lets you know they are aware you are there. It did take some getting used to at first, especially since I had previously been riding in the States; but it doesn't take long to adapt and honestly, it is considerably more pleasant to ride when drivers recognize and respect your presence on the road.

The horror comes when you return to the States and have to resort to the necessary self-preservation tactics required with the brain-dead drivers in this country (those on this board being the exception, of course! )

Needless to say, I miss riding in Europe considerably!

Cheers! M2