Archive for the 'Road Rage' Category

Bicycling Disrespect

Published
by
JM Palacios
on November 26, 2008
in Bicycles, Chicago, Road Rage, bike lanes and biking
. 3 Comments

In Chicago, Thomas Lynch slammed on the brakes of his truck in front of some bicyclists in order to make them crash into them. Why am I posting this? Because he’s from Florida. Fort Lauderdale, to be specific. Read the article here. More importantly, read the 75+ comments from many people who thought the bicyclists deserved to crash. And we thought Miami Herald or Sun-Sentinel commenters were bad!

I’m surprised we don’t have more of this intentional harm around here, although I am pretty certain I experienced some last week. I was riding in an undesignated bicycle lane coming up to a red light, slowing down, when the passenger in a truck I was passing opened his door right in front of me. Needless to say I went down, luckily with little more than a scraped knee due to my low speed. Since the truck had just passed me and I was wearing a neon yellow jacket, I found it hard to believe that he didn’t know I was there. I was ready to punch the guy in the face but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Next time I will probably call the police just to see if they’ll give the guy a ticket. They may try to give me a ticket instead, but it’s worth a try. So check your mirrors if you ever open a car door on the road. This is the second time I’ve been doored that way and I won’t let the next person get away with it, intentional or not.

#1

Published
by
Gabriel Lopez-Bernal
on May 15, 2007
in Congestion, Miami, Road Rage and Rude Drivers
. 8 Comments
We’re Number 1! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, take a drive along the Palmetto, idle on the dolphin while people use exit lanes as strategic advancement lanes, or try to cross any intersection when your light turns green…
“Miami motorists said they saw other drivers slam on their brakes, run red lights and talk on cell phones, according to AutoVantage, a Connecticut-based automobile membership club offering travel services and roadside assistance.”

Let’s not forget: One finger salutes, driving on the shoulders in heavy traffic, illegal u-turns, cutting off, total disregard for traffic laws, pedestrians, traffic signals, or anything else which attempts to hamper “progress,” nanny-nanny Boo-Boo Faces, drag racing…am I missing anything?

Run-in with Road Rage

Published
by
Gabriel Lopez-Bernal
on June 19, 2006
in Gridlock, Hialeah, Miami-Dade Transit and Road Rage
. 0 Comments

Well, I’d like to apologize for not writing sooner, like I promised earlier, but, I was engaged in an episode of psychotic road rage with an irate pregnant woman. Needless to say, she was hauled off to jail for her actions tonight on her commute home (actions which I will surely comment on after her court appearance (needless to say, I wasn’t involved, just a witness to the incredible stupidity.)) I’ll cover the FIU Metrorail stupidity later..


What is up with Miami drivers? The driving situation in this county has gotten to such a despicable level; it has to be controlled soon. I get flicked off nearly everyday by people violating driving laws. How have we come to accept this kind of behavior as the norm? Drivers are unqualified. Laws are not enforced. Lives are put in danger. Instead, our law enforcement officers turn a blind eye to the real traffic problems and choose to enforce the minor oddities which have no impact (See: Move-Over Law, Click it or Ticket,etc.) Look at the load they dropping on us now:


“Starting July 1, nearly two dozen local police agencies will be stationed at busy intersections to help identify which cars can clear an intersection before a light changes and stop those that would otherwise get stuck.”


Identify? That’s going to do a whole lot of nothing, really quick. Let’s be a little progressive for once and get some “Block the Box” Cameras to really penalize the idiots. I honk at these drivers daily, they give me nothing but dumbfounded looks, one finger salutes, and occasional “Nany-Nany-Boo-Boos (Tongue included.)


With a deplorable Transit network and an even worse traffic grid, tempers are sure to flare on a daily basis. Traffic gets worse everyday and the solutions are few and far between. Our local economy will suffer as a result and the quality of life in our urban paradise is sure to be degraded. Glad I witnessed the severity of our latest #1 National Ranking today, now lets do something about it…