Pride Ride problems

[dthurk]

http://www.the-leader.com/homepage/x379974049
 
  This article describes the local Pride Ride that occurs here annually.  I don't know how extensive this type of event may be nationally.  It involved over 1000 motorcyclists donating toys for disadvantaged.  The intent is laudable, but the reality of the ride seems to annoy many that I know of who have encountered this "Ride" on the road.
 
  It takes well over 10 minutes for this group of motorcyclists to pass by.  When they do pass, the do not permit any interruption of their line whatsoever.  No vehicle of any kind may become part of the line nor cross it at an intersection.  If on an interstate or limited access highway, they will occupy the right lane for a considerable distance.  They will not permit you to get into the right lane with them to be able to exit the highway, thus it is impossible for you to exit the highway without stopping to let them pass or speeding up to get ahead of the group.  They do have police escort at the beginning and end of the line, and police that will close off intersections along the way.  
 
  We have also experienced groups of 30 or so cyclists who will travel in a pack outside of the time and scope of the Pride Ride who will also close off intersections themselves as they travel, prohibiting cross traffic and allowing them to proceed through red lights and stop signs at intersections.  This is done without police escort of any kind.  This just seems to be a random group of cyclists.  
 
  Has anyone else encountered this type of activity?  If so, are you also disturbed by this?  Maybe we should organize a Pride Ride of RV'rs.  I could really block off an intersection with my travel trailer!

[austinado16]

We have one here typically around the first weekend of December.  It's mostly attended by the assless chaps crowd, but I've gone with other friends on our sport bikes.  We don't get a police escort though and all rules of the road apply.

I think it's probably a good cause, but I'm not sure about the whole take over traffic thing.

[aw738]

With that many motorcycles together you don't want any "cages" getting in between any of them for saftey reasons. If you want to know how I know check my sig line.

[Dray]

http://www.the-leader.com/homepage/x379974049
If so, are you also disturbed by this?  Maybe we should organize a Pride Ride of RV'rs.  I could really block off an intersection with my travel trailer!

You have got to be kidding.  Like you've never blocked traffic or slowed someone down while towing that big travel trailer.  Watch the hypocracy.

[austinado16]

With that many motorcycles together you don't want any "cages" getting in between any of them for saftey reasons. If you want to know how I know check my sig line.

Not sure I see how it's unsafe to ride amongst cages.  If a rider is that worried about their safety, they probably shouldn't be out on 2 wheels.

[dthurk]

You have got to be kidding.  Like you've never blocked traffic or slowed someone down while towing that big travel trailer.  Watch the hypocracy.

To be hypocritical, it would have to be I and about 250 other RV'rs all in line at the same time, making the rest of the world sit at intersections or exits for 10 to 15 minutes while the line passes by.  

I have no problems with individuals on the road treating each other with respect to insure traffic flows in a safe manner.  But when your prevented from exiting an interstate highway, what are you to do?  You're traveling the highway in the left lane because the line is occupying the right lane.  Should you stop on the highway at your exit while the line passes by?  Increase speed to get ahead of the line, which would put you at one or more exits beyond where you wanted to exit?  This is only one example of the difficulties this line creates.  It still doesn't address the illegalities of the smaller groups of 30 or so acting on their own.

[He Ruide]

Dave, Twenty years ago like you I would get irritated at anything that stopped me from getting from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time.  This included drivers who drove in the high speed lane oblivious to the traffic that was behind them.  

Today I not only stop to smell the roses but the manure.

My point is - we are talking about 10 minutes of having to wait in line for what is clearly a worthy cause.  I've had to wait much longer for during  highway construction, cleaning up accidents, Presidential motorcades, trains etc.

As you are sitting there waiting, think of the joy on the faces of the 2000 kids that will receive a toy. Or get out of your TV, stretch, and make friends with the other folks that are waiting with you.

Life is short but you don't want to make it shorter because of unnecessary stress.

Ruide

PS while we are talking about life and traffic stoppage, I recently attended a funeral of my SIL in northern Florida.  During the funeral procession, I was reminded of a local custom for drivers coming in the opposite direction to pull over and stop as a sign of respect.  This occurred even on a four lane road on a busy Saturday morning.  That was in stark contrast to my MIL funeral procession in New York city where I had to fight to stay in the line.

[aw738]

PS while we are talking about life and traffic stoppage, I recently attended a funeral of my SIL in northern Florida. During the funeral procession, I was reminded of a local custom for drivers coming in the opposite direction to pull over and stop as a sign of respect. This occurred even on a four lane road on a busy Saturday morning. That was in stark contrast to my MIL funeral procession in New York city where I had to fight to stay in the line.

That was made the law in West Virginia after a person in the funeral procession was killed by an other driver.

[McCampers]

What are we talking about here 10 minutes in your life?  Give me a break.  Not that big of deal.  Don't sweat the small stuff.  I'm sure you have bigger fish to fry in your life.  I don't like it either, but it just isn't that big of a deal.

[sacrawf]

As a bicyclist, past farmer, and past motorcyclist I have experienced a lot of impatience from drivers.  Bicycles, motorcycles, and farm machinery all have the same rights and responsibilities to the road that autos and trucks have.

The worst experiences that I have had with vehicles while bicycling were with RV's.  A little old man driving a Class A forced me and my bicycle into the ditch on a state highway.  And inside an Illinois State park, a hardside TT/diesel pickup going 40 in a 15 mph speed limit caused my wife to crash her bicycle by forcing her off the road.  His buddys, pulling other units behind him, drove around her lying in the edge of the road, without stopping to see if she was OK.
Locally, a truck plowed into a group of retired policemen bicyclists on an Indiana state highway, instantly killing one cyclist.

The Nite Ride, an annual bicycle ride in downtown Indy at night, escorted by police, always elicits some choice language from impatient drivers, as do Marathons, running 10K's, bicycle centuries and tours, and bicycle road races/time trials.

And...how about the impatience that locals show when driving behind slower RV's over mountain passes despite the fact that tourism feeds their economy?

Just remember that we all need to share the road, and if you needed to get somewhere earlier, you should have left earlier.

[austinado16]

I've hit 2 cars on my road bicycle that pulled in front of me.  One stopped in the street at the bottom of a long down hill, and eventhough I saw him waaaaay ahead of time and was anticipating him doing just that, he didn't.  Not until I was right about at the trunk.  I hit the passenger door went up onto the roof and down the windshield and hood....still strapped to the pedals.  He paid for the damage to my seat and I rode away.  The second time a guy popped out of a gas station right in front of me.  Got a shoulder into the front fender of his F-150 for a nice dent, but still wound up partly under the truck.  He paid for some wheel straightening and I walked home.  

Had driver who'd been drinking blow a stop sign in front of me when I was on my motorcycle with a buddy on the back.  Saw him coming, went around into the oncoming lane, nearly to the row of parallel parked cars on the left side of the 2 lane street, and he still hit us.....right in the very back.  Knocked the bike out of balance enough that I was going head on with the row of parked cars.  So I dropped the bike, slid into the side of a Honda, looked back, and the guy just kept on driving.  I got out from under the bike and ran down the street after him.  Actually ran up, opened his door, and grabbed him by the arm to jerk him out of the car before he finally stopped.

Be safe, have fun, and ride like you're invisible.....because you are!

[McCampers]

I've hit 2 cars on my road bicycle that pulled in front of me.  One stopped in the street at the bottom of a long down hill, and eventhough I saw him waaaaay ahead of time and was anticipating him doing just that, he didn't.  Not until I was right about at the trunk.  I hit the passenger door went up onto the roof and down the windshield and hood....still strapped to the pedals.  He paid for the damage to my seat and I rode away.  The second time a guy popped out of a gas station right in front of me.  Got a shoulder into the front fender of his F-150 for a nice dent, but still wound up partly under the truck.  He paid for some wheel straightening and I walked home.  

Had driver who'd been drinking blow a stop sign in front of me when I was on my motorcycle with a buddy on the back.  Saw him coming, went around into the oncoming lane, nearly to the row of parallel parked cars on the left side of the 2 lane street, and he still hit us.....right in the very back.  Knocked the bike out of balance enough that I was going head on with the row of parked cars.  So I dropped the bike, slid into the side of a Honda, looked back, and the guy just kept on driving.  I got out from under the bike and ran down the street after him.  Actually ran up, opened his door, and grabbed him by the arm to jerk him out of the car before he finally stopped.

Be safe, have fun, and ride like you're invisible.....because you are!

Snatchin people out of their cars isn't cool .... homes.  You try that with an MS and you'll get shot in the culo homes...... You're in Cali now homes.......You don't mess with MS13 homes..........