There. I've said it.
I finally said it.
I finally said it in a medium that would last longer than my average twit.
I finally said it.
And it FEELS GOOD!
This coming from a person who was wronged by one of these idiots but, begrudgingly, made to pay because the law is blind to see such predicament.
Some may agree while some may disagree. Some may even bully me 'til they're blue to the face. I don't care!
I have my reasons for saying such and it is in no way a mindless rant.
Think about this for a moment...
All modes of transportation has that potential to harm or even kill a person, animal, or plant. But through the years people dying from such modes of transportation are decreasing. And it is not entirely due to the technological advancements that made transportation safer. People made it safer. They made it safer by crafting and adhering to rules, protocols, regulations, and norms that make transportation safe. It helps a lot when they dashed it with liberal showers of 'sentido kumon'.
True, people still die from horrific accidents brought about by supposed technologically advanced vehicles. But, mind you, nearly all of it happened when the safety protocol/traffic rules and regulations where bent, broken, ignored, or bypassed.
True, public utility drivers also exhibit the same idiocy when driving their rolling coffins but their actions are motivated by dire economic circumstances. Hence it effectively made their livelihood a "survival of the fittest" with a "last man standing" attitude when it comes to catching that prized commuter.
Big bike riders are civilized and certainly more decent and hence it isn't fair to lump them up with these imbeciles of the road.
At this point let me make one thing clear, I am not saying ALL XRM riders are idiots. There are a few good men who adhere to civility and decency whenever they ride. But a sizable chunk are really, really, rotten to the core. Ika nga, a bunch of rotten apples mixed with a few good apples will make them good apples yucky.
Having said that, let me draw your attention to the topic and the argument I've proposed:
In a nutshell, Vroom-Vroom XRM riders are idiots. Let me count the ways:
1. They are noisy: Too noisy to a point that psychologists would accuse them of overcompensation.
2. They do not know how to use side-mirrors: They swerve from one lane to another without so much as a "How-do-you-do".
3. They do not know how to use their brakes: Whenever some hapless chap crosses their path they'll gun their little engines and race pass them even to the point of hitting anyone who blocks their way.
4. They are color blind: They can't see the lane markings on the road. All they see are asphalt black or concrete gray. Given they don't see such markings, it isn't too far a stretch to assume they do not know what it means or what it is for whenever they encounter one.
5. They have no sense of direction: Sane civilized drivers know innately that left-hand drive cars roll on the right side of the road. Ergo, it is implied that you drive ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. Vroom-Vroom XRM riders can't seem to grasp this concept. I think it is alien to them for whenever they ride their glorified BMX bikes they always ride on the left-side of the road. And to make it more thrilling, they ride abreast with cars on the right side while playing chicken on cars driving on the opposite side. What is life without adventure, ika nga.
6. They do not understand what the "sidewalk" is for: For Vroom-Vroom XRM riders, the "sidewalk" or "PEDESTRIAN sidewalk" is an extension of the road and hence fair game to them. This is somehow akin to a Bond-like obstacle course while they race through the city in search for the next clue (ala Amazing Race).
7. They like cramped spaces: Vroom-Vroom XRM riders will squeeze their way thru almost anything just to get ahead. They'll pass on the right between you and the curb (while we secretly wish they'd hit the ditch and crash). They'll pass in-between cars (or trucks) on a double-lane road. They'll pass on the left between you and an oncoming car, after which they'll cut-you off at speed just to switch lanes. They'll make a wide hook (cutting you off in the process) just to turn on the same side they originated. Worse, they'll cut-off an elderly woman with a cane holding a child on one hand and a bag of groceries on the other just for the shrill thrill of it.
8. They have poor vision: That is THE primary reason why they keep their headlights on and keep it at bright. They turn it on even at high-noon, like some signal for a Western-type Duel.
9. They are rude: When they fail to push you out of your rightful lane or cut them off when they try to recklessly swerve into your lane, they'll give you this dirty look and curse you to the heavens saying you've wronged them or violated their God-given right to bully you to submission. Never mind if you weren't violating any law or regulation. Basta you've messed their juju and inadvertently smashed their trip. Never would they apologize for their actions because in their head they think they're right, they're beyond reproach. Heck, even the traffic officers and policemen seem to think they're right too.
10. They do not understand the concept of traffic flow or traffic direction: To these Vroom-Vroom XRM riders, the only traffic direction is THEIR DIRECTION no matter if it is contrary to the traffic flow of the said road. They'll clog the opposite lane just to get ahead of the pack and they'll deliberately ride against traffic flow just because it is too much of a bother to 'go with the traffic flow'.
11. They are perpetual quitters: Vroom-Vroom XRM riders have this habit of cutting you off at speed but failing to maintain that momentum to allow the other motorists behind to move along at the pre-specified pace. Kinda like their taunting you to a dangerous game of tag-you're-it. They also have a nasty tendency of overtaking you but quitting midway 'coz their little engine faltered (or so we think).
12. They are dare-devils at OUR own expense: these Vroom-Vroom Riders protect their elbows with helmets while they zip thru the highway like a bat out of hell. They'll even provoke and heckle you by their near-misses and reckless disregard to the safety of others. The sad part is that when they do figure in an accident and sustained injury, the effin' police will charge you for reckless imprudence. The absurdity of this S.O.P is beyond logic that it came to a point that I sincerely believed that when a Vroom-Vroom XRM rider hit a tree the police will file charges against the tree!
13. They do not know the concept of lane segregation: All motorists know this simple rule: in a highway, the inner lane is the FAST lane while the outer lane is the SLOW lane. Effin Vroom-Vroom XRM riders chose to ride their bicycles on the inner lane at a blazing speed of 40KPH! To top this off, they think it is fun if they do this in groups riding abreast while the rest of us are forced to follow along.
It is with fervent desire that I am able to communicate my point across and hopefully made my argument clearer to you. If not, then I suggest you go out of the house more. You need the sunlight and a bit of exercise.
I'm running low on beer and it is getting late. I'm gonna follow up this post as soon as I can sit still on this spot again, beer in hand.
almost 15 years with an iron fist and a bloodied pool lying in its wake?