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Dodging the Roadkill: The Haters

Dodging the Roadkill - A Biker's JourneyClarksville, TN – I know it’s hard to believe, but not everybody loves motorcycles and or bikers. 

Most people feel intimidated by them, or in some cases, they just flat out HATE them.  For whatever reason, they go out of their way to show their displeasure, and in some cases, can be dangerous. 

These are the ones I want to address.

I can’t say I’ve had a lot of encounters like the one I had the other day, but I know it happens fairly regularly and it could be a life threatening situation.

The Haters

I had been riding most of the day when I turned to head for home.  I came off of the main highway and was on a stretch of road where the speed limit was 35 mph.  

I was following a vehicle and was about a car length behind it.  Immediately I could see the driver was spending more time watching his rear view mirror than he was keeping his eyes on the road.  

I could tell he was spouting something to his passenger as she turned to see who was behind them.  I didn’t think anything about it, and just continued to cruise in 4th gear.

All of a sudden, he started “slow walking” me.  First we were doing 40 mph, then 35 mph, then 30 mph and so on.  When I was in 2nd gear I knew that something was up.

Then he “tapped” his brakes, then swerved back and forth.  He CLEARLY didn’t like me and was going to make sure I knew it.  I was NOT tailgating this guy.  I was just a biker and he just don’t like us.

So I fell back a little bit and just waited him out. 

When we got to the end of the road, we pulled up to the intersection and as I pulled alongside of him, I looked over at him like, “what the hell dude?”

That’s when his passenger rolled down her window and the hate just SPEWED out!

“You mother f…..s just think you own the damn road don’t you?”  “How about you stay off of my ass you son of a b…h!”  “I’ll run you sonsofbitches over and I mean it!”

Dude! Seriously?

Light turned green and as they pulled away, his passenger flung her cigarette at me. 

Why are so many people so damn angry?  That’s a LOT of anger for one person.  And there’s others out there. 

I really don’t have a solution to these “haters” on the highway.  The best I can do is to try and stay out of their way and hope for the best.

I have to accept the fact that there are dangerous people behind the wheel of a car or truck who don’t like motorcycles and would actually intend to cause us harm.  It doesn’t happen often, but it only takes one time for death to come knocking at my door.

I could understand if I was running up on someone, or hanging on their rear bumper.  We ALL hate that, but when you spend more time watching what’s behind you than what’s in front of you, then we have a problem.

I really pains me to see people who have such hate in their life, regardless of who it’s directed at.  It also reminds me that my senses have to be on point and my skills have to be polished when I’m on the bike.

These are dangerous, hateful times we’re living in. 

Ride safe my friends and be careful!

Follow me on Twitter @dodgeroadkill, Instagram at dodgetheroadkill and of course on Facebook

Hank Bonecutter
Hank Bonecutterhttp://www.clarksvillesmotorcycle.com/
Hank Bonecutter is a retired broadcaster and media consultant based in Clarksville, Tennessee. His career includes stints at WKDA/WKDF and WKQB Rock 106FM, WLAC-AM in Nashville. He concluded his career as owner/talk show host at WJZM-AM in Clarksville. Currently the President of Bonehead Promotions, he's an advertising consultant and media strategist. An avid motorcyclist, Hank blogs about his travels exclusively at www.clarksvillemotorcycle.com and www.clarksvilleonline.com You can follow Hank on on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dodgintheroadkill/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/?lang=en, and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dodgetheroadkill/?hl=en  
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