Hi everyone,
I've been lurking for awhile and this is my first post. I'm 61 years old and got my Vespa last summer. I love riding and also hearing about everyone's experiences! Just wanted to share this one with you.
So I'm riding home from work one day last week, doing the speed limit (35), when someone decided to pass me on the double yellow line. I just let them go...but then, the car behind that one must have decided that he should pass me too. By this time we had turned onto a residential street, 25 mph. I saw him in my mirror and decided, THAT'S ENOUGH! I DESERVE SOME RESPECT! and sped up. We were neck-and-neck for a few seconds at about 50 mph when he realized he couldn't get by, and dropped back (yes I know - dangerous - but very satisfying!). That was the end of it, I thought. Then today on the way to work I saw the same car coming toward me and he blasted his horn at me.
Now I'm afraid I'll be running into him everywhere, that he'll damage my scoot in a parking lot, or something. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Oh yeah!
Especially when I lived back in Jersey.

You'll want to be very, very careful not to enrage drivers when you're riding.
They're driving lethal weapons, y'know.
(Some of them are already driving around in a state of rage, so it doesn't take much.)

If you keep seeing this person around, you should probably try to apologize.
That's what I would do, anyway.

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~~~~~ Linda ~~~~~

Most likely, the 1 time of blowing his horn at you has ended the saga,
but you have learned a valuable lesson..... don't play with the other drivers... they can do serious damage to you and your scooter.

If you do see that driver, let him know that you are sorry about the incident.

In the meantime, scoot safely and enjoy the ride.

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New Rider in 2010
Grand Vista 250

Mess with the Bull, you get the horns.

Lesson learned, don't pi$$ off cars. You will not win...EVER!

You don't demand respect on a scooter. You drive safely and defensively.

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A Dragon can be unseen or visible, minute or huge, long or short. However,
always it is great. ~ Shuo Wen (ca. 100)
Visit my new scooter blog at -
http://saltyscooterstories.blogspot.com/

I have to say I completely understand your frustration at the car driver. Now, I'm also very glad that when the car got your goat and you raced, that nobody stepped out from the curb, pulled out onto the street, or any other number of things that could have left you the big loser. I say this having lost to cars twice in the last 5 years...I'm a slight bit younger than you, but it hurts-a lot- when you hit the ground, and at our general age, we don't get up as fast. Even the biggest idiot car driver in the world isn't worth something happening to you.

I imagine he's over it...but if you see him again, and fear for your safety, make a note of what model the car is, what color, maybe a general description of the driver. If you see it where you can safely stop, maybe take a picture of the car or note the plate number. And I think I agree with Mary and TurtleVespa. It would probably not have occurred to me to go apologize, but if the opportunity presented itself, it may diffuse the situation and allow both of you to relax. Much better than having to look over your shoulder.

That Vespa LX is a peppy little devil, isn't it?

I think I would leave well enough alone, don't try to talk to the driver, this could end up giving you more grief because it may unleash some craziness. Don't ever try to take on a cager, it oes nothing in the end. I understand the feeling of satisfaction, but it's not worth the risk.

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Dar ~ I was born to ride!

my blog: Princess Scooterpie http://scootermayhem.blogspot.com/

I'm not sure I was clear there--i didn't mean to seek them out to apologize.

More like if you see them and they're still acting mad,
I would try to pantomime that I was sorry and see if that led to a conversation.

Even if they just cursed out the window at you while you held a repentant stance, that might resolve the situation.
(And you'd remember to never ever do that again )

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~~~~~ Linda ~~~~~

PLEASE LISTEN TO EVERYONE ELSE. A scooter NEVER wins in a confrontation with a cager. Never mind about respect, it is about STAYING ALIVE on a scoot or cycle. I ALWAYS move out of the way as soon as it is safe and let the cager go by. I have never had a problem with a cager and hope I never do.

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The JOY is in the journey.

So.....You sped up so you didn't get side swiped again. If you move to the right they will pass you without changing lanes. That is why scooters and motorcycles ride the car track closest to the yellow line. We were taught that in our MSF.

While riding my bicycle, I have had cars almost run me off the road because they refuse to change lanes to pass me or slow down until oncoming traffic has cleared enough for them to safely pass me. If you had moved over, they would have passed you in your lane just as the first vehicle had and that is dangerous no matter how you look at it. I have even had cars pass me on the RIGHT why bicycling and trying to execute a left turn. If they do that to a bicycle, they will sure as the sun comes up in the morning do it to a scooter or motorcycle. My husband has resorted to wearing a helmet cam to record the various near misses he has experienced. Once he encountered a police officer who had witnessed a cager cutting him off and almost hitting him. When he asked the officer if he had seen the incident, he replied, "yeah." and let it go at that.

I sympathize with your frustration, but time to grow a thick skin. Stuff like this will happen to you (getting a horn blared at you) when you ride and having the occasional confrontation with 4 wheeled traffic is a given. Under no circumstances would I try to apologize to the driver. You did nothing really wrong, just a momentary lack of good judgment going 50 in a 25mph zone. Road rage is a real threat and you might wind up with a fist in your nose for all your good intentions. Learn from the experience and if necessary find another route to use for a week or so. If the driver confronts you I agree with HappyCamper. Try to snap off a pic or two with your cellphone and get the heck out of Dodge.

Lots of good advice here about what happens when scooter rider vs cager. Good luck and ride safe.

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There are two types of people in this world, people who ride scooters and
people who wish they could ride scooters.

Wow, sounds like you were the one with the road rage. Why do you care if they pass you? I say let them pass so they are not riding your tail. I haven't had any problems with cars but then I live in an area with a lot of motorcycles and scooters on the road.

If you have never been treated rudely by a person in a 4 wheeled vehicle, please consider yourself one of the blessed few. Most of us have had encounters of the worst kinds with autos, trucks, you name it. For most of us, cars do not see riders on two wheeled vehicles, or simply feel that we have no right to be on the same roads as 4 wheeled transportation. We are subordinate to them therefore we have to 'give' way to them. What do they have going in their favor? Size. Multi-ton car trumps 300 pound scooter on any given day and there are people out there who know it and like to push their misconceptions of authority down riders throats.

Having been sideswiped while riding two up with my husband, I can speak from experience when I say that sometimes you just feel that enough is enough. Am I condoning taking offensive measures? No. Once again, scooter or motorcycle riders never win in such situations. But I do understand Karen Leigh's frustration at the situation she was put in and why she reacted the way she did. Road rage? Naw, more like Scooter Attitude. And most of us have been there at one time or another.

Unfortunately sooner or later you will probably be put in a situation where your scooter attitude will surface. Just take a word of advice and keep it in the back of your mind that it could happen to you. Letting down your guard while riding is the real risk.

Be safe out there Divas.

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There are two types of people in this world, people who ride scooters and
people who wish they could ride scooters.

Yesterday my hubby and I were out on our motorcycles and some dude coming out of a parking lot tried to roll forward when he thought I had gone past, he almost clipped me because he gunned the car. Uggh, luckily I was watching because I thought he was going to do something stupid. It is the beginning of tourist season in Victoria - dangerous time to be a rider particularly down town. Then the same guy gunned up behind us and made a crappy lane change and almost clipped me again when he just barely made the lane change. Again I was watching and expected he would do something like this because the traffic was heavy down town. I don't freak anymore, I just do whatever evasive action or lane positioning correction I need to do and have eyes in the back of my head.

I can understand that feeling of anger, because in the end it is your safety. This wasn't road rage at all, it is a combination of feeling scared and angry that someone else would take a chance with your life with their crazy inattentive bad driving. I have commuted a year and a half all seasons now and it is amazing the crazy things you see when you are out on the road more.

My only other advice I would give would be to drive like they can't see you, wear hi-viz gear and read about lane positioning, scan your mirrors & surrounding every 3-5 seconds. Hang in there, there are more pleasant people out there than there are goofs.

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Dar ~ I was born to ride!

my blog: Princess Scooterpie http://scootermayhem.blogspot.com/

I ride the middle of the lane, slightly to the left to avoid oil trail and to put myself in the line of vision of the diver behind me. I've had several incidents of being passed on my left as well as had several morons ride my bike's tail in heavy traffic . Some are just careless. Some are stupid some are preoccupied with whatever crap life threw at them that day. We have to stay on our toes always. I ride with traffic. And at 150cc's I can and do keep up with traffic so there is no reason for anyone to go around me. Still they do go around me....

I have the same luck as Stormswift (I've noticed we have similar luck anyway from the other boards...)

I'll usually be at the speed limit, maybe 1-2mph over (guessing anyway by the speedo...). People pass me all the time just to pass me. I'd like to think I am powerfully built, but being a short dude on a scooter just enrages other males, and for some reason soccer mom's in SUV's.

I used to have the 'you'll never pass me!" attitude too, but I realized that it was a fool's game. sometimes when people sit in my blind spot to 'pace' me, I will give it a little extra to move, but I won't drastically speed up. People routinely make bad decisions, and a rotten day they might just decide to hit you. Sure, they'll probably get jail time, but you will be injured or worse. Be assertive in your lane, but if they decide to go around, just wave politely .

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