Still very new to riding and like to practice everyday. So today I went out on a friday evening (Probably not the best time for new riders). Almost got hit in my own neighborhood by some guy in a nice bmw who I could see was texting on his phone, drifted right into my lane. Then I'm waiting to turn left at a stop and some mom with a van comes up and cuts me off while I'm stopped (has a nice soccer ball with her kids name, and those little people stickers on the back window). Went to get fuel, pulling out someone gets right on me. I called it a day after that. I am now starting to understand the "Cager" term! I will wait until slower times of the day to go out until I feel confortable.

I had a woman drift into my lane today, too. Some clown in her back seat in a gimmee hat lighting a cigarette pointed it out to her and she just kept coming. Fortunately, I'm a defensive driver.

It has been suggested that Vegas was a lot 'friendlier' to visitors when the Mafia ran things. I have often mused that Angels should be deputized as 'meter maids' with "wide discretionary powers."

I think this newer breed of cagers is so openly obtuse, unskilled and unschooled about the rules of the road that this is our only hope for survival.

I think we should all have scabbards on our bikes that hold clubs that shoot 12 gauge shells out the ends like shark sticks. These fools get to close and you "whack" em.... just my day dream...

Take those 2 you guys met today and multiply it by lets say a MILLION and you know what its like out here in LA-LA land...

Be safe - take no prisoners

It will get easier the more you ride. Keep your eye's open and don't daydream while your ride. It's a good day when you make it home to ride another day.

Over the years of riding I've developed a "fish eye" mode. If you've ever seen what a "fish eye" lens in photography you know what I mean. As I enter traffic I see the world as everything in front of me for 180 degrees, both sides. Terrain is focus. City focus close 100 yards or less anything that can get ya and I mean "get ya". Country close PLUS far, anything can come out of no where out there plus speed means longer stopping and drastic change maneuvers so farther focus helps give you the added time you need to react.
City focus, careful when you check out anything for more than .5 seconds, keep your eyes constantly moving looking for any possibility of a problem headed your way. I live by the beach, checking out girls gets more bikers in dodge 'em bumper bangs out here than anything. But the cars that bump are worse so always keep an eye on your ass/mirror, and always have a way to get out of trouble when in traffic. Never pull up so close to the car in front that you can't go around them in a hurry if need be. I usually stop, left side of lane, with my foot about a foot from the painted lane line. My eye on my mirror the whole time in case I have to make a hasty.
Lane position is key before you stop. Make sure you own your road, when the cagers get too close behind you make sure you have extra room in front of you. I've found it to be much safer to always be moving forward in traffic. Not speeding but passing cars and not getting complacent in traffic. Most cars offer little respect to a motorcycle no matter what brand. So by always moving forward through traffic you give them little time to even get close.