nklr- cops who ride

[JSherlockHolmes@aol.com]

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

[Tumu Rock]

> >>> Also, every single one of them always says at the end..."I ride a

motor too, you know".... Yeah...Sure! Go eat another dognut, sucka!

> But really... I do! =^) > > Arne

I thought all Canadian cops rode horses and had huge chins!? dat brooklyn bum _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp