Jack ass

It was such a beautiful evening that when I got home I changed duds and hopped on the bike for a spin.
Less than a half hour into the ride I encounter jack ass #1. I was entering an intersection where I had no stop sign. To my left and my right were cars approching their stop signs. The driver on my right side, the blind side mind you, didn't stop. I have had close calls before but this was the closest as I have come to being on the hood of a car with out actually ending up there. I jerked the bars to the left and got the bike sideways as the car passed... the dirver didn't even touch his brakes. I was running two lights on the front, on Cat Eye bright flasher and my Nite Rider MiNewt on high. How could he not see me in the well lite intersction? If I would have been any closer I would have been on the drivers lap. I didn't get a chance to think... all I could do was get out of the way. I turned with the car, which put the car on my right, so I couldn't even see if the driver reacted to me being there. The driver didn't stop until their stop sign at the next intersection... by that point I had collected my thoughts and decide that something needed to be said... either with words or my u-lock. I turned back on to the street behind the car and stood up with the intention to sprint and catch up. The driver much had seen me comming because as soon as the intersection cleared he stompped on the gas, whipped the corner and took off. Oh well... I didn't get hit and that is the important part.
Jack ass encounter #2 - happened on two blocks from home on the bike path. A guy was jogging down the path going the same direction as me. He was jogging down the left side of the path so I figured it would be eaiser to pass on the right. I called out "Hey man! Passing on the right!" As I approched closer he drifted towards the center of the trail, a split second later I was less than a wheel length behind him and he again drifted to the right. As I pass with him inches off my left shoulder first I hear the head phones blasting then the started "Jesus Fucking Christ!!". Which I followed directly over my shoulder with "Loose the fucking headphones or pick a fucking side!" Don't get me wrong I am all for shareing the trail but I do have lots of issues with other trail users. The weavers (like this guy), the dog walkers with the "extendo" leashes. You know them, they are the ones that are walking down one side of the trail while their dog is on the other...with the leash streched across the trail like a clothes line. These people alwasy see me comming but alwasy almost too late decide that the dog needs to cross the trail to them instead of simply crossing the trail to the dog... as I am jamming on the brakes the are pulling at the leash with both hands trying to get the dog inentrested in what every smell it found and comming back to them. Just cross the fucking trail to your dog damnit!! Then there are the people that are excersieing together... typically a group of 3 to 4 fat middle aged women power walking 3 abrest taking up the entire trail... and waiting to move until the last possible second when they realize that I am comming fast and I am not yeilding. These people usually get a "Share the fucking trail!" or "Trail hogs!!" yelled at them after I pass. And lastly the head phone wearers... again like the guy tonight (damn he was a double wammy)... although you ring the bell or verbably attempt to warn them of your approch, they can't hear you. Then they are so suprised and angry that you didn't give a warning. Oh yeah its my fault... I am the dude on the bike.
Jack ass encouter #3 isn't a specific person just more namless people like the ones on the bike path. Moneday was President's Day which meant a day off for many. This also push trash day back a day of the week. Jack ass #3 are those people in my neigherboor hood that put their trash out last night or this morning and during the day today something go into it and dragged the ripped open bag around the street at the end of their driveway. I noticed this at several houses on my street when I got home from work at 6... when I got back from my ride at 8-ish this trash was still there... while the lights in the house burned showing that obviously some one was home... they had to know. I can picture them saying "Hell no I aint picking up that trash. Once its on the curb its the citys damn problem, not mine." Jack ass... rebag that shit cause when the trash man comes tomorrow he isn't picking it up... he will grab the ripped open bag and what ever falls out falls out.
In the words of the Mayor of Drunkingham -"I wasn't born with enough middle fingers"
Over all a good ride. If nothing else it was nice to be outside on the bike, dark or not... it was nice I was actually over dressed...