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General => Roadcraft => Topic started by: Stig / Major Tom on March 23, 2021, 11:20:53 AM

Title: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on March 23, 2021, 11:20:53 AM
Folks out driving an hour before sunrise are safer, more courteous drivers around this old scooter rider, IMHO.
Not sure why.
Sure, there are significantly fewer drivers out .....but maybe these are folks with an adult purpose, or something.  Heading to work....or a donut, or something?
The difference I see just 2 hours later, on the ride home, is noticeable. I'll get challenged, then, a few times each week.

Yeah, but "Deer!", you worry? Not too big an issue if you ride with a brain in your head.
Stig
(https://i.postimg.cc/TYxHP54N/P1150386.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d3VkWB0S/P1150389-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: Iahawk on March 23, 2021, 12:47:22 PM
Stig, are you dealing with the regular morning commuters in your '2 hour later' group? It would make sense that they are rushed, stressed and not paying very good attention. Same thing happens late afternoon and why I try to end rides before 4 PM. The rush hour drivers are dangerous to those of us on 2 wheels.
Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on March 23, 2021, 03:06:16 PM
Stig, are you dealing with the regular morning commuters in your '2 hour later' group? It would make sense that they are rushed, stressed and not paying very good attention. Same thing happens late afternoon and why I try to end rides before 4 PM. The rush hour drivers are dangerous to those of us on 2 wheels.
I don't know ......might be commuters. Heck, I get challenged out there mid-day, in my 19 foot long Chevy F-150 with Lear cap.....They do seem to back off when they see that United States Marines sticker on the back (my son was a Marine)....and the Vietnam veteran sticker... Thanks to Rambo folks think we're all crazy - which works in my favor lots of times.

After dealing with tail-gaiters on my scooter - I DO so love to drive the speed limit in my truck on those same streets - or even a little below. Just to P them O !

Stig

Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: Kansas kymco on March 23, 2021, 03:31:02 PM
I guess I look at it differently.  I try to get those folks to work ASAP to pay my Social Security.  A lady cut in front of me in the McD's one morning dressed for the office. Didn’t bother me a bit when I thought about her paying my SS.
Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: Neil955i on March 23, 2021, 04:21:32 PM
I guess I look at it differently.  I try to get those folks to work ASAP to pay my Social Security.  A lady cut in front of me in the McD's one morning dressed for the office. Didn’t bother me a bit when I thought about her paying my SS.

Perfect!  It's Karma.
Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: Ruffus on March 24, 2021, 10:56:09 AM
Well said all of you,
here in Scooter-Heaven Italy are in the minds of most car drivers, and I have to say motoristis, speed limits just a well meant recommandation. Though fines for speeding within city-limits start at €76,- for appr. 15km/h over limit.
Keeping a speed limit of 50 km/h in a village earns you obscene gestures and violent cutting in in front of you.
The only remedy for this is to stay nearly in the middle of your lane, to have space to yield after an passing attack.
On the other hand it satisfies me to pass a long queue of cars, which are stopped by a traffic light, and put myself in front of the first one, to have a head start.
Particularely during hot summers, when Fiat Panda drivers sweat like hell in their can.
Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: klaviator on March 27, 2021, 07:18:36 PM
Avoiding riding or driving during rush hour just makes sense.  Even though Huntsville isn't the gigantic mess that Atlanta or many other giant cities are, there is still too much traffic on the road.

Are the drivers different during rush hour?  I can't say I have really noticed but then I try to avoid riding then.  Are drivers different before sunrise?  Around here many people are heading for work well before sunrise.  I used to work nights and sometimes got off work around 6 AM.  There were plenty of people rushing to get to work at that time but I never had any issues with that.  I have much more of an issue with the drivers who drive like they are asleep.  The light turns green and only 3 out of the 10 people waiting get through because people can't be bothered to actually step on the gas pedal.  Sometimes it's because they are busy playing with their phones but I think most are just clueless.  Over all people who drive like they are 95 year old ladies are more of an issue than "aggressive" drivers around here.
Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: Kansas kymco on March 27, 2021, 09:46:15 PM
Avoiding riding or driving during rush hour just makes sense.  Even though Huntsville isn't the gigantic mess that Atlanta or many other giant cities are, there is still too much traffic on the road.

Are the drivers different during rush hour?  I can't say I have really noticed but then I try to avoid riding then.  Are drivers different before sunrise?  Around here many people are heading for work well before sunrise.  I used to work nights and sometimes got off work around 6 AM.  There were plenty of people rushing to get to work at that time but I never had any issues with that.  I have much more of an issue with the drivers who drive like they are asleep.  The light turns green and only 3 out of the 10 people waiting get through because people can't be bothered to actually step on the gas pedal.  Sometimes it's because they are busy playing with their phones but I think most are just clueless.  Over all people who drive like they are 95 year old ladies are more of an issue than "aggressive" drivers around here.
Klav my family  (even in old age) had a lead foot.  A month before Dad passed he received a speeding ticket for 10 over (cop reduced it from 15).  Just for the record Dad never speed in town but on the highway was a little different.  I can remember riding with Granddad he would drive 95 as well, he passed in 1971.
Title: Re: Sunrise ridin' observation
Post by: klaviator on March 28, 2021, 03:41:22 AM
Klav my family  (even in old age) had a lead foot.  A month before Dad passed he received a speeding ticket for 10 over (cop reduced it from 15).  Just for the record Dad never speed in town but on the highway was a little different.  I can remember riding with Granddad he would drive 95 as well, he passed in 1971.

My dad used to have a lead foot as well.  One time a friend asked if he had gotten a ticket the night before.  My dad didn't know what he was talking about.  Apparently he was driving so fast on the interstate one night that he got chased by a cop but never even knew it.  The cop never caught up.

That was a loooong time ago. 

I have been known to go a few over but that's why my daily transportation is a 150cc scooter.  I'm much less tempted to speed on it. 

Back in the day I saw 147 in a 55 ::)

This is what I was riding back then.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/TROML/i-3trRW3N/0/8a8dcc81/XL/Picture202-XL.jpg)