I nearly died at the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza

[Provenuts]

First, I was not acting rationally when I did this -- I was reacting to a threat on my life. Second, I stopped him maybe 100 feet away from where a CHP was stopped at the side of the road giving out a ticket, and I was honestly hoping to draw the attention of the officer to the situation. He didn't even glance up. Third, the evildoer was driving a Prius. It is therefore very unlikely he was packing.

The guy was packing a taser-gun but showed restraint given the POS CHP was in site. I would use more restraint with future incidents. With your experience, you should know that we must ride as if we're invisible and not take anything personally. Granted that the fool almost killed you but he never saw you.

About 18 years ago, I was driving through Idaho on my way to Yellowstone in my little Renault Encore. There was a dude on an Aspencade cruising 60mph in the fast lane locking up the left lane at the same speed as the car in the slow lane. After I was able to get by, I pulled in front (about 2-3 cars lengths) stuck my hand out the window pointing him to pull over to the slow lane. He spead around me a flipped me off. I played with him a little and swurved slightly towards him, then gesture with my finger pointed to my head for him to use his brain. You're on bike so you're going to lose if you try to get tuff with a car, even a Renault.

After 25+ years and 20+ motorcycles and 3 mishaps in the early 80s, I've learned to not take anything personal from blind motorists.

Good to see you made it, ride on.

 

[Poxy]

I've been checking out the scene of the crime the last few days. There seem to be three main "holes" in the barriers where people sometimes cross over.

If your guy used the first one, (maybe 20 feet after the booth) as it seems he did from your description, then I am well and truly impressed.

I ride through there every day at a similar speed and I wouldn't want to confront that situation ever. High speed delta, almost no reaction time with very little room to work with.

 

[Vikramaditya]

Wow, that's great! Glad to hear it worked out okay and you were safe, definitely an inspirational story in terms of knowing your limits and maneuvering.

 

[MikeyRocks]

Glad you caught yourself before going ape-shit on the guy and getting violent. Not sure if I could have held back like that, it angers me when stupid cagers out there aren't paying attention, and doing stupid shit like that. Usually when something like that happens to me or someone I'm riding with, I ride next to them and kick the shit out of their car, lol. I know, it's a little dangerous, but feels great.

 

[Provenuts]

If some fool on a bike tried to kick my car, I'm running his little pimple head over. And then put it in reverse and do it again

 

[oldapeman]

I've been checking out the scene of the crime the last few days. There seem to be three main "holes" in the barriers where people sometimes cross over.

If your guy used the first one, (maybe 20 feet after the booth) as it seems he did from your description, then I am well and truly impressed.

I ride through there every day at a similar speed and I wouldn't want to confront that situation ever. High speed delta, almost no reaction time with very little room to work with.

Yes, he crossed almost immediately beyond the tollbooth. He swung into my lane quickly, then only barely accelerated. I am amazed to this day that I didn't hit his bumper and fly over his car onto the pavement ahead.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I have been riding the bridge a few times since the near disaster, and am surprised at how nervious I have been in the freeway and bridge traffic. It may take me some time to digest this experience. I have cut down my speed a little, and am also more choosey about when and where I split lanes. If you come up behind me, give me a break. I will move over and let you go by as soon as I find a hole in the traffic.