Angry Biker = Dead Biker

If you type Motorcycle into the YouTube search bar you will generally see, somewhere in the mix, videos about angry people yelling at motorcyclists.   Some of these turn violent, but almost always you will see a biker getting yelled at and yelling in return with many expletives flying about.  
The problem with these videos is that they give the wrong impression of motorcyclists.   Not all of us are like that.   Most of us just want to ride our bikes and not die.  Unfortunately there is a subset of the biker bunch that seems to want to cause trouble.    This is generally limited to the 2 extremes.  Either an angry "Clubber" (The traditional bikers you see on TV and movies), or a young punk who thinks that it is cool if you wear down your chicken strips (The rubber on the extreme edge of a motorcycle tire that does not get used if you ride correctly).    The videos go like this:  The biker is usually doing something stupid.  Wheelies, illegal lane splitting, crazy revving of loud pipes or anything of that sort tends to infuriate people who think that they are the authority, and even sometimes the authorities.   Once the biker makes the other person mad, they usually have a few moments of speeding and swerving in order to flip off the offender or offended and eventually one of them wrecks or they stop and have a fistfight.   (Not smart for the anyone in a car or who isn't wearing a helmet designed to take a high speed impact.)
Now, the intelligent person will take pause at the whole situation.  The whole altercation could be avoided by just being smart and safe.   It's the Freeway, but it does not mean you are free to do what you want, especially when what you want can endanger others.
I do have a suspicion that these bikers are actually trying to get people angry.  After all, conflict makes for good entertainment...... (for unintelligent people who thrive on violence.)    But the fact that angry idiots can and do endanger everyone else around them should make us all be concerned.
However, if you are like me the sense of schadenfreude is overwhelming.   The sense of empowerment you get from seeing someone get their comeuppance is what drives these videos.  I feel guilty however.  It isn't right to get exited over someone else's misfortune, even when that misfortune is their own fault.  
Rather than make fun of them, or even cheering them, we should help to educate these angry people.  They need to understand that it isn't good for them to be that way.   The young but stupid bikers doing the tricks on the freeway at breakneck speeds, we can help them to see that they are putting lives in danger.  And we can hope they listen.  The clubbers, well we can just stay out of their way and ignore them, that's what they want anyway.    As for the cagers.. well, you are not the police, leave it to the boys (and girls) in blue to do the job of policing the streets.   If you are concerned,  slow down and let them pass.  Give the stupid space to do what they do and minimize the danger to yourself.   If we do that, then either these goofballs will see that it isn't so cool to act like an idiot or we will have a lot of new Darwin Award winners.    Either way the problem is solved.

I Can Drive 55

Motorcycles like mine are more than capable of doing 100 miles per hour plus.  That being said, why would I want to?   I hear guys all the time talking about how they did 100mph along the highway, or how they "really opened her up" while dodging traffic.   This solidifies my opinion that people have become stupid.  See this sign on the left?   It is what we call a Speed Sign.  It shows you what the Speed Limit is for the road you are on.  If your bike is doing any speed faster than the posted sign, then you are breaking the law.    The very law you signed a document saying you will obey.  (Yes, check with your licensing bureau, I'm sure they have a copy of the affidavit you signed.
Now, I like the Adrenalin rush just as much as the next guy, but a ticket, or worse, an accident is not worth the extra thrills I get for rolling on the throttle.   For instance,  there were 2 cases of motorcyclists riding in severe excess of the speed limit in Spokane this evening.   Both bikes were going faster than 100mph on I90 (posted speed limit 60).  One of these individuals plowed in to the back of another car.   I'm certain that at this very moment, if his brain is still working, he is feeling regret over the decision to push the limit of the law.   What possesses a person to do this?  Why do these idiots insist on being disobedient to the authorities that set the law?   The numbers on the signs are the maximum safe limit.  If you go faster, you are no longer being safe.   If you are no longer being safe, your risk increases exponentially.   If your risk increases and you don't take steps to conform to safety standards, you run the risk of a Ticket, Jail, an Accident or a Mortuary.   It's dangerous enough riding a bike, no need to make it worse.      I hope they catch the 2nd guy before he hurts himself, or others.   I really do.

Spokane River Flow...

Yes, I will let the cat out of the bag.  I am from Spokane.   Lately I have noticed that riding a motorcycle has become a blood sport.  Spokane drivers have forgotten how to flow.   The caged ones are so secure in their own big boxes that they have forgotten that they are not the only ones on the road.  They chatter on their Cellphones and barely hold the wheel while doing so.  Traffic should be like a river, flowing ever forward.   You don't see Salmon with cellphones, nor do you see Sunfish applying makeup.   You never hear of a Ten Trout Pileup on the Columbia.    Be like fish people!  Pay attention to the flow.  It will get you where you want to go.  You will be happier, less stressed an you won't kill a motorcyclist by your tunnel visioned stupidity. Take this car (or whats left of a car).  The driver of this vehicle turned in to traffic.  Because of the need to talk on a cell phone, the driver didn't pay attention to the Honda that was rapidly approaching them.   Now, I don't know if you have seen many wrecks, or have a basic understanding of the physical limitations of the human body, but I am certain that you understand that neither the driver or the motorcyclist survived this accident.  This is an actual thing.  This is a true accident, it really happened.  A cell phone was verified to be a factor in this accident.   In almost every Country, State, County, City, Suburb, It is illegal to operate a vehicle while distracted.  The fines for driving distracted vary, but the pain from murdering someone because you couldn't wait to tell your friend that you got invited to prom.... well, that is a higher price than any fine.