Good deed or stupid deed?

[missyburd]

Yesterday, while out on the bike (on a road that's mostly double whites :rolleyes:) I got stuck behind a car that was stuck behind a scooter with L plates which was acting very strangely. The scooter's brakes were on constantly with hardly any let up around all the bends and as a result the back end was sliding all over the shop. He was doing about 40/45mph. Now this road is a fairly fluid and quick one so none of the bends are particularly sharp (in the section we were on anyway) so as soon as the scooter's back end fishtailed it could straighten up again...but it wasn't right at all. Once I eventually got past the car in front I decided I was going to try and chat to this bloke 8-[ We'd just gone into a 40 limit, so I stayed behind knowing there was a long straight coming up in the national speed limit before I would have to turn off myself.

The scooter rider was hugging the kerb to let me pass but I drew up level with him instead and after a good 10 secs he finally noticed I was next to him waving like an idiot to pull over which he did straight away. I then had a chat with him and it turned out he'd had the scooter a week and not been riding long. I basically told him about braking and if he happened to hit a patch of manure or gravel it might end badly. Used the example of me doing it on my SV and how it would end very badly and that there was basically no need to use the brake all the time. Admittedly I've never ridden a scooter but I was pretty sure the principles were the same. He didn't seem to realise he was using it but his lights were on and something was causing the back end to wobble around like that. After I'd apologised for my eyes watering and him concernedly inquiring about how I was treating myself for it I said goodbye and beggared off.

Once I got home and had told YC he was rather worried that it could have been some chavvy imbecile who would have punched me for said actions but I would have expected the scooter rider to have wanted a race when a big bike draws up next to him, or have waved stupidly back at me, in which case I'd have pished off and left him. This bloke must have been able to tell something was up and acted accordingly. I could tell by the look of shock in his eyes when he saw me that he wasn't going to do owt lol. Besides which, he was about my build and foreign, I could have 'ad 'im :lol:


So. Good deed or bloody stupid thing to do? I can't say I really thought about the consequences of how the bloke might have reacted (in retrospect I really should have!), I was just compelled to let him know as he was a danger to other road users and of course himself 8-[

[darylB]

Good deed, you might just have saved an accident, but how the hell did he pass his cbt, or hadn't he even taken it ?

Daryl.

[andrewsmith]

Good Deed TBH

[Jayneflakes]

I could have 'ad 'im :lol:




And you a married woman! \\:D/

Good deed, you got him off the road briefly so that the traffic could move again. You are obviously nicer than me, I would got away as fast as possible to avoid being caught up in any accidents he caused! :notworthy:

[carelesschucca]

Defo a good deed, it could save him, well done for being a better human being and caring

[missyburd]

And you a married woman! \\:D/

Good deed, you got him off the road briefly so that the traffic could move again. You are obviously nicer than me, I would got away as fast as possible to avoid being caught up in any accidents he caused! :notworthy:

Well, so one car could keep moving lol. He must have wondered what on earth I was doing!

And definitely not a married woman cheeky!

[Aidan]

My wife did her CBT a couple of years ago on a scooter and was told to always hold the brake on a little! So the brake light was always on and the engine was struggling against the brake! Sensibly, she ignored that advice.

Maybe he went to the same CBT place!

[Balky001]

good deed dude(ette?) :thumbsup:

[femaleacid]

That was a good thing to do! Im a new rider and if i was in that position and somebody helped me out like that, id be grateful. :)

[Fallout]

I think if it's a kid on a scooter in broad daylight, you'll be fine. You made the right call. Had it been late at night, or the guy was riding like a *****, I would've said leave him to it!

[missyburd]

I think if it's a kid on a scooter in broad daylight, you'll be fine. You made the right call. Had it been late at night, or the guy was riding like a *****, I would've said leave him to it!
I'd say he was around mid twenties. My instinct told me he'd be ok and I acted on it.

Cheers for the positive comments folks, feel much better now!

[Spank86]

Good deed, but always be ready to cease the advice giving and depart, some people dont take any criticism well.

BUt better to offer than to see fatal accident signs or read about it in the paper when you might have prevented it.

[missyburd]

Good deed, but always be ready to cease the advice giving and depart, some people dont take any criticism well.

I didn't take my helmet off for this reason, apart from having somewhere to be anyway.

[maviczap]

Yep good deed MYC

Sounds like one of my nightmare CBT students and needs a lot more tuition from the school that did pass him

[missyburd]

I guess some CBT instructors are more lax than others, could have been a mate (albeit a crap one!) who handed him the certificate with next to no work, who knows! Or maybe he did the CBT a few months ago and has only just got himself a run around, having forgot everything he was taught in the process!

[Owenski]

Wouldn't have done it myself.
Pulled along side and got his attention. Yes, but from then on our actions take differing courses.
Your too kind, my waving would have been followed by "get off the road you muppet, your scooter is a bag of **** get it sorted before you kill yourself".
But then again I would have assumed there would be no good reason for someone riding their brake constantly.

If someone's broken down or appears troubled I do always stop, have done many times but if the vehicle is in motion then gesturing for them to pull over could open a massive can of worms that I'd rather not get caught up in.

Chris isn't just been a miserable git he's got a fair point, this bloke could have had all sorts of intentions/reactions - it worked out great this time but be weary that some people out there are not as rosey as you Maria. After all its not that long ago we had that group who were waiting at junctions for bikes to be stationary, dump the rider off and nick the bike, I know that was in the Huddersfield area but still, that's ****ing distance from where you're based.

[missyburd]

Aye I know exactly what you're saying Matt. It's not like it's something I do often, tis the first time and it wasn't like it was the middle of a town, it was in the countryside on an open road up Ripon way. I'm usually cautious of other road users, particularly when I'm stationary at traffic lights. I probably wouldn't do it again but I felt I needed to this time. Ya live and learn by experience :)

[Owenski]

or you dont live, you get chucked in the back of a vito, butchered, only for your body to be dumped until found by hungry badgers. Fortunately a lowly dog walker spots the chaos and holds them off long enough for the services to arrive. But alas only your dental records are able to be used to identify you... Just saying ;)

FYI, some proper dodgy Vito drivers round your way.

[Bluefish]

Good job maria, scooter rider obviousley a muppet , well done for keeping him alive for another day.

[Nobbylad]

I'd say he was around mid twenties. My instinct told me he'd be ok and I acted on it.

Cheers for the positive comments folks, feel much better now!

You did the right thing.

Chris is just a permagrump :cool:

[missyburd]

Chris is just a permagrump :cool:
Have you seen how much hair he has? I think he might find that somewhat difficult?

[keith_d]

Good deed, and being a girlie much less likely to end up with a punch in the nose than if a bloke did it :)

[missyburd]

Good deed, and being a girlie much less likely to end up with a punch in the nose than if a bloke did it :)
That kinda was my argument :p Judging by the location I was in I was far less likely to get punched, tis nice oop there. Had I been closer to home I mightn't have been so lucky...but then the thought mightn't have even crossed my mind :mrgreen:

[littleoldman2]

Well done.