Yesterday I was driving to my girlfriend’s nephew’s birthday party. On Lebanon Road heading east at a curvy, double lined, two lane portion I heard the sound of a motorcycle engine. This couldn’t be as I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a car. Out of my peripheral vision I saw a motorcyclist passing me on the right in the bicycle lane. This bicycle lane is on a very narrow shoudler with a steep drop off in places. Basically I laid on my horn, but I doubt that he heard me or cared since I saw he was doing the same thing…that is passing cars in the bicycle lane. Plus he probably couldn’t hear my horn over the sound of the wind and motorcycle engine while wearing his helmet.

As I watched him weave in and out of traffic, passing cars in the bicycle lane, I wondered if it would do any good to call the police on the non emergency number. I didn’t have the non emergency number and would probably have to give up my personal information in order to file a report. Plus he would probably be long gone before the police could mobilize and catch up with him.

As I pulled up the light to turn onto state route 109 north to Gallatin, I saw him waiting at the light. This surprised me a bit because I figured since he was disregarding the rules about passing in bicycle lanes, he would run the red light. He turned left toward Gallatin which is where I was going. I figured I’d probably see him in an accident in a few minutes if he continued to drive like he was driving on Lebanon Road, as 109 is narrow in places and has no bicycle lane.

Yet I saw him pulled off to the side of the road facing the road. With adrenaline pumping I approached him. I rolled down my window and yelled “YOU’RE GONNA KILL SOMEONE!” “What?” was his response as he fiddled with his helmet. I repeated myself “YOU’RE GONNA KILL SOMEONE!” After I had made my point, there was nothing else to say so I continued on my journey. I noticed in my rearview mirror that he turned around and went the other direction. Maybe he figured he had caused a stir with motorists and needed to go a different direction so as not to get apprehended by the police.

I realized there is a mentality among teenagers and 20 somethings to try to go fast in order to impress themselves or those around them. I was there and had a tendency to drive fast during my younger years. Now I find myself pretty much going the speed limit. But I draw an exception to this guy. He was driving very recklessly in the bicycle lane. Bicycle lanes were not meant for overtaking motorists. Rather it is vice versa…for cars overtaking bicyclists.

There seems to be a disregard among motorcyclists in general for those around them. I am reminded of this every time someone rides a motorbike with engine whirling through my residential neighborhood. I saw this on a trip out west to Colorado when we would have a huge group of motorcyclists overtake us.

I realize there are more mature motorcyclist who are courteous toward other drivers. But seemingly I remember these negative experiences with other motorcyclists which causes my disdain for motorcyclists in general.

Let’s hope this particular motorcyclists toned it down so that he doesn’t injury himself or others around him.