[dsn_klr650] digest number 88
Posted: Wed May 03, 2000 3:06 pm
In a message dated 5/2/00 7:10:17 PM Canada Central Standard Time,
DSN_klr650@egroups.com writes:
>
Dust,
Just moved from Tulsa, OK to Milwaukee, WI. Came from Southern Cal where lane
splitting is a normal practice for many motorcyclists, including me. My
advice in OK is don't do it!!!! Never in my life have I experienced crazier
drivers than when I was in Tulsa. Only in OK do they SPEED UP when it rains
or ices up. Were you aware that highway accidents in OK are so common that
the highway light poles are modular so that they can be replaced by pieces
and immediately. They are also designed to break off at the base at the
slightest vehicular contact. I have seen drivers stop in the middle of the
expressway rather than miss their intended exit. Not only do a majority of OK
drivers have a problem with turn signals, they also have a problem with
allowing others onto the expressway in front of them. Another apparent pet
peeve is being passed by anyone, especially a motorcyclist. You know the
driving population is bad when the governor of the state has to make a public
address TV commercial reminding OK drivers that the yellow signal means
caution or slow down, and a red signal means stop. I kid you not, that
commercial came out in 1997/98. Believe it or not, I had been in Tulsa for a
few months when I used my bikes superior agility and acceleration to avoid a
potentially dangerous traffic situation that was developing in front of me
(several interchanges joining together). Basically, I split the lanes, got
out of the area, and avoided the situation. Mind you, I was doing no more
than 30 mph when I lane split. Yet, a couple miles down the road, a van
driver coming up from behind tries to run me off the road. The driver
repeatedly came from different directions in an effort to actually strike me
or cause me to crash into the median wall. After about a 1 1/2 miles of this
frightening treatment I finally was able to exit the expressway just as the
driver was making another attempt to hit me. To make a long story short, when
the police arrested the driver for assault with a deadly weapon (I got the
license number) his excuse was that I passed him when he was stuck in traffic
and I had angered him by passing and that if he had to wait so should I have.
Having spent two years in Tulsa, my recommendation is to NOT lane split on
the expressways. In fact, be very very careful on the expressways, especially
169. To get to the head of the line at a traffic stop, do it if you feel safe
and the law hasn't changed to outlaw it. Keep the shiny side up and by all
means be careful in OK. I would like to say, that I apologize if I have
offended any "safe" Oklahoma drivers. However, after having driven or ridden
in every state west of the Ol' Miss, I have to say that in my experience,
Oklahoma is the worst for individual responsibility concerning traffic
safety, especially towards motorcycle riders.
Jim Sherlock