Beware the Calgary Bikers

The weather here in Calgary has been absolutely perfect for the month of Sept.  So perfect in fact, that the pedal pushers and hog hoppers have been weaving their way through city streets with the reckless abandon of a new spring day.  I admire those who have the will and the time to bike into downtown every day, and I certainly appreciate the eco benefits of the motorcyclists who are able to stay on the road as long as possible during the short riding season in Calgary, BUT what is with the crazy riding this month???  It is as if "for the month of Sept, the rules of the road do not apply to the Green People" and they have full reign of all the lanes of traffic and completely control the shoulder.  Traffic lights and signs simply do not apply to someone who is oobviously is top physical form and should not be required to stop - or even yield.  Motorcyclists suddenly are allowed to jump red lights, weave through the centre lane and run full throttle up any patch of clear traffic.  Did I miss that memo???  I might be extra sensitive to this subject as the Mom of two kids who have to be driven to two different schools every morning.  During our 45 min morning commute, we encounter countless traffic violations by both pedal and motor bikers, as the bright morning sun is blinding us and we are trying our best to avoid offending any pedestrians we encounter on the roads.  WHY ARE YOU BIKERS TAKING YOUR LIVES FOR GRANTED AND MAKING US COMMUTERS MISERABLE!!???

I am an employee of a local power sports dealership, and do my best to preach the "safety first" philosophy to all types of riders.  What kind of message are we giving our children by riding recklessly and not wearing the proper safety equipment while doing so??  The other day, after talking to parents about safe riding and feeling like I might have made a difference - even if it is small - I was about to turn left at a set of traffic lights.  As I start my turn, a motor biker suddenly whips by me on the left side, completely freaking me out and almost causing an accident.  He works for me!!! I couldn't believe it!  After a day of working together, selling bikes and safety equipment, our own employee is one of the bike demons on the road - giving all of us undue stress!  Well - as Karma has it - less than a week later, my friend is in the hospital with a messed up leg from a bike accident.  I'm not saying this particular incident was his fault, in fact, I don't think it was, but I'm wondering about the poor motorist who was involved.  Did this person even see my friend?  Was my friend taking unnecessary risks on the road at the time?  You know the motorist is going to be charged at fault with this, but how much fault was really his???  Now my friend is off work.  Everyone at work is very sad about what has happened - we are all sympathetic - we all care.  At the same time, we are all overworked because we are picking up his shifts and trying to make due while holding his job for him until he returns.  Yesterday, another motorcyclist did the same thing to my elderly Dad.  I was in the car, so I know first hand how this moron affected our day!  My Dad had his signal light on to merge into the left turn lane - he checks his mirror and (with some difficulty) shoulder checks - then, as he starts his merge, a rude Harley Hog screams by him on the left and has the nerve to give my poor father the finger!!! Of all the nerve!  What good did that do to anyone?  We caught up with this idiot at the next red light and I gave him a piece of my mind (to the mortification of my daughter!).  My Dad could have hit him and tarnished his 79 year old perfect driving record, because naturally, he would have been at fault.... WHY??  Since when did "Share the Road" become give complete right of way to the sanctimonious idiots who think they own it?
As an employee of a bike shop I would like to plead to the Calgary Bikers to help us all stay safe on the congested, nerve fraying roads, and for heaven's sake - please start setting a better example for the next generation of bikers out there!  Some of you are really ruining the sport for everyone and clearly have a superiority complex when it comes to owning the road.  I could go on for a lot longer - maybe I will in future blogs, but before I end this, I want to Thank those riders out there who ARE riding with care and respecting the rules that we all have to live by.  I'll bet you decent riders are just as frustrated as I am with these road hogs, and are tired of the daily hastles of dealing with them too.

Please push for more rider accountability and a sharper focus on regulating and enforcing traffic laws as they pertain to bikers.  I don't care how many carbon credits you are adding up by riding to work everyday, when you could have added your own carbon footprint smeared along the pavement because you really are just an idiot - of course the car driver would be a fault - right..