Road rage is a strange thing.

Recently I almost lost it, when driving down Middle Road out of town past the US consulate. I decided after watching 4 bikes riding towards me on my side of the road so that I had to really push into the pavement...to move more towards the middle of the road - a kind of 'push them back into their own lane' thing, driven solely out of anger.

I almost got caught out, when I think it was the 6th bike who could see what I was doing, decided to stay the course and stay on my side of the road as he came towards me.

Well - didn't quite get to the stage of changing underwear, but I suddenly realised what a prat I was.

This 3rd lane thing has to stop. With maniacs like me around, life could get short!

Interesting the experiences there. I ride a bike myself to work and do so to get through all the cars clogging up the roads. Must be approximately 50% of the cars which travel with only a single person on board. Because of all these cars traffic shows from what should be a 23 - 26 mph pace to a stop start 0 - 14 mph pace!!

So the best way to get through traffic is to use the leapfrogging method, by where you overtake once the cars which accelerate slower create gaps which to slip in. I do agree that it's not fair to cause other road users coming the other way to move, so I make sure I am slotted in well before so not to create annoyance.

There are however plenty bike riders which do stupid things like overtaking on blind corners or overtake without considering that there will be no gaps to move into should a car come quickly around the corner ahead.

When I use a pedal cycle I overtake with far move vigor and enthusiasm as I get past all those blocks of steel which overtook me only a few minutes earlier!! 

Especially when you leave town cars cut straight through to go up Trimingham hill, so if you are on the right side to head down Harbor road, getting your nose chopped off is a very real possiblity!! I even had a police car do this to me once!!!! 

No no...don't get me wrong.  I think what you did WAS the right thing, absolutely.

What scares me is your conclusion.

See, the problem is here that one prick appears to have now changed your attitude after your unfortunate experience.  The next guy who comes along may be a great person with three great kids who want to see their daddy and who made a simple mistake.  Yet, because of your last experience you will likely not give an inch and you may well put this poor fellow in hospital, or worse.

Will it be enough to justify not moving to try and avoid someone by saying to yourself "Well, he was on my side of the road....which belongs to me...and my car might have been scratched if I tried to get out of the way."?  If so, well carry on.

"By the book" interpretation is all fine and dandy IF it is enforced, which nothing seems to be these days.

But, what is really at issue here is the whole concept of social decency.  Aiming your car at someone, which is what this thread is REALLY all about, because you are fed up with the way most bike riders behave, is wrong in my opinion.

Would you, as a police officer (or former officer) , condone the vigilante attitude that people who do something wrong deserve to be scared or actually punnished by other civilian motorists?

 Ace, it's all about attitude. Regardless if your on the road, in a super market, a clothing store or just walking what streets there are that are safe.

It's the new age. Studies have shown that persons between 19-35 don't give a flying nun about others.  It's all about me and my progress forward. There is no more real integration that is relative, only about "me".

Can you really imagine or want to know what the above said group will be doing in twenty years?

Clinically, I don't want to know but if I am still here I guess I will be wearing a "Batman' uniform or eating 'chips' from a dumster next to microsoft...or will it be 'applebies/by's

No one gives a damn and it covers all threads and opinions. Remember "dog eat dog" ?

Well, humans are doing this nowadays............................it's all relative.

 Actually, after reading the RG and the statistics.....60 odd accidents reported/attended by police in the past week makes me want  to go back to my kocane habit. Really, think about it. Where I live and where others live elsewhere this would be breaking news.

In such a samll community and with such a vast amount of traffic one should/would consider this statistic to be lower in relative terms. As I have stated prior, most of it is due too inattention. Regardless if the other guy is on your side of the road. If they are, well dah!! I must get there and I will regardless. It is an accepted fact that Bermudians will give way and allow me to get too my destination regardless of road conditions, congestion et al.

Whether your a car length behind or bumper to bumper does not justify someone pulling in and making you take evasive action as you already have by not following close.

Know/no/one cares and it's all about me. What a bummer...........

Drive on the left? Good for you. Is'nt that what it's all about?

Gotta run...........Russian crude tanker off North Shore.....................or is it a Delta flight that's waiting to find the runway,..................................

Rummo...................