I have ridden my bike to work about a dozen times so far this year.

In those dozen trips, particularly on the way home between 4-5pm, I have had two incidents with vehicles coming up behind me and an alarming rate of speed or have been tailgating, then go around me with inches to spare as I turn left or wait to turn left. Both of these events have occurred on similar roads...two lane, 50+ mph, narrow shouldered roads with heavy traffic.

The first event was a couple of weeks ago. I am waiting to turn left from a two-lane road with no traffic controls (just a stop sign for the traffic turning on to the road I am already on) and oncoming traffic. I have to signal, stop, and wait for an opening to make the left turn.

A Honda Pilot comes flying up behind me while I am waiting. I flash the brake light a couple of times to make sure they see me. That driver slows down and goes around me with enough room to spare. Still, it is unsettling watching a vehicle come up behind you at a high rate of speed while sitting there on a motorcycle, waiting to turn.

Today's event was worse. I am already speeding...going 55 mph in a 45 on the road I live on. A guy in an old, beat-up Mitsubishi Lancer comes flying up behind me and rides my ass for about a mile. I already do not feel comfortable. As I approach my house, I flash the brake light a couple of times to make sure this crackhead sees me, and then hope he cares. He veers right and looks to go around me even before I turn on my left signal. He re-centers in the lane. I have a ton of oncoming traffic as I get within 500 feet of my driveway, on the left side of the road. I signal and hug the centerline, as usual. The bastard hammers and goes flying around me, within inches of my right saddlebag.

Normally, I am a sedate guy. I am not confrontational in any way, shape or form, despite having the presence associated with being 6'1", 235 lbs. (6'3" with boots). Something boils my blood on a bike when cagers get careless around me.

After this nut does this maneuver, I turn off my signal, and fully open the throttle bodies of the flat-six, which roars to life as the big black F6B leans back on her haunches and hurls forward. I hurried my way through the first two gears at wide-open throttle. The crackhead saw I was coming fast but he made it through a yellow light at the next intersection before I could get his plate number.

I was enraged.

I am not putting myself at risk anymore with people like this. 99.9998% of drivers are NOT like this around here...they wait for riders, give us space, and are generally respectful of our vulnerability on two wheels. That being said, this type of thing seems to occur about once or twice per riding season...these events that, regardless of my training, protection, caution or bike's visibility, still present great danger.

I have therefore made the decision to eliminate left turns from my commute. Both of the spots above are "hot spots" and are the only truly vulnerable locations on my drive home (none in the morning). Avoid the left turn into my driveway requires "going around the block", and adds a couple of minutes to my ride home. Small price to pay for safety.