The somewhat rainy weather today was made gloomier with the memory of the glorious sunny day that I had last Sunday.
I had gotten my motorcycle from it's 20,000 mile checkup and intended to start working on the next millage milestone.
I had decided on an easier trip for my first trip of the year and took hwy 99 to Eugene.
On the way, I was saddened to see a horse laying down in apparent injury. I slowed, but since the owners were not home, and not knowing anything about horses, there was nothing I could do.
I found out later that the horse was fine. Someone who knows horses said that on that same day he saw several horses taking in the sun in exactly the same fashion that the one that I saw.
Since no trip to Eugene was complete without lunch and a cinnamon roll. I took in lunch and stopped off at the mall to get a cinnamon roll.
It was on the way back that I had an interaction with someone who just doesn't get it.
I was in the left turn lane turning left, and he was in the opposing lane turning right.
So essentially we were both turning onto the same 4-lane road from opposing directions.
Except that I took offense at sharing the road and he didn't seem to mind if he almost got hit by a vehicle much larger than him.
I bet a semi-truck driver that had tried the same thing with him would have received a much ruder gesture than just pointing to the two lanes, and some choice words to reinforce the point.
But somehow it's always my fault, even if I did have the right-a-way.
But as a motorcyclist, I cannot afford to assume that he was going to merge into the right lane. You know what happens when you assume.
You make an ass out of U and that other guy.
Ta!
Balisada
I didn't realize that left turns ever had the right of way, unless there is a dedicated green arrow to turn on. Yes I understand what you are saying about the two lanes to turn into but I believe that if an accident had occurred you would have been at fault. Anyway I always assume that I never have the right of way when I am on the bike...
ReplyDeleteI thought that if I had a light that told me to go, I had the right of way over someone who's light was red (but a turn is allowed), but you raise a good point. I am going to look it up in the statutes.
ReplyDeleteBalisada
you may have left out some key information in the original post, like you having a left turn arrow against his redlight??
ReplyDeleteRide Safe :)
Yes, I did have a green to his red, and I might not have said that. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI should not have assumed about right of way. It was poor decision making on my part.
Balisada