Good deeds while riding

Blackfin

Blackfin

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Yesterday afternoon I went to a friend's house (taking care of it and his pets while he's away for a few days). On the way there I noticed an old man in an electric mobility scooter on the other side of the road moving quite slowly. I continued on and spent about 20-25 minutes before leaving the house to return home. On my way back I saw that same old fellow had only made it about 30 yards further and was now stopped. I decided to pull over and see if he needed any help.

Turned out the battery in his scooter had died and he was stuck. His cellphone was also not working. Poor guy had been in the afternoon sun for a long while. He had another ~10kms to go and definitely wasn't going to make it on that machine. I wasn't able to offer much in the way of transport or towing (on the bike :) ) but I offered him some water and the use of my cellphone. I pushed him back into some shade and we made a few calls until he managed to reach someone who had a van. I stayed with him while we waited for his help to arrive. When this guy eventually showed up he wasn't a great deal of help -- just a guy driving a van. I helped the old timer into the passenger seat of the van and then helped lift the scooter into the back of the van.

Of course helping someone in need is a good thing under any circumstance but doing so while on a bike seems extra "good" because it can help change the public's opinion of riders. Another example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCR1Zu5hHgk

Given some of the comments, with "random acts of coolness" we can definitely help our image while helping others.
 
Here's one from don't do it like I did it. Posting for educational purposes only. I was waiting at the traffic light when I saw a blind guy c/w cane circling inside the intersection. Cars stopped all four ways, nobody making a move. So I hustled over to the feller, grabbed him by the arm and hauled him curb side. Well, it turns out blind people don't like that especially when drunk. You're supposed to announce your presence and enter into a dialogue.
 
I once helped a limo driver get his stretch limo around the Forks hair pin.

[video=youtube;QHghDu7Dc8M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHghDu7Dc8M[/video]
 
slowbird said:
Nice work OP!

I saved a Turtle once.
https://youtu.be/aqFeN7J1MYo
Click to expand...

Nice. I recently helped a a mother duck and her ducklings across a moderately busy road here in KW (funny how sympathetic people you signal to stop get when they see little itty bitty ducks...) though I wasn't riding at the time. That would have looked pretty funny :)
 
Blackfin said:
Nice. I recently helped a a mother duck and her ducklings across a moderately busy road here in KW (funny how sympathetic people you signal to stop get when they see little itty bitty ducks...) though I wasn't riding at the time. That would have looked pretty funny :)
Click to expand...

Yeah everyone likes little duckies
 
Just got back from a ride and came across a snapping turtle in the road. I try and do this when I see them because there are quite a few around here that get ran over.

[video=youtube;gmz4GZpSfes]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmz4GZpSfes&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 
theSHARK said:
Just got back from a ride and came across a snapping turtle in the road. I try and do this when I see them because there are quite a few around here that get ran over.
Click to expand...

Also nice. :)

15 or 20 years ago the wife and I vacationed a few days at an inn Westport, ON. There were quite a few snapping turtles there too and we helped them across the main road (so Hwy 10 I guess...) into town. They can be ill-tempered little buggers. I'd pick them up and they'd be swinging their heads left and right trying to bite me. I probably wouldn't do that today but would instead do what you did (and what I did with the duck & ducklings) which is encourage them to move without actually touching them...)
 
Blackfin said:
Yesterday afternoon I went to a friend's house (taking care of it and his pets while he's away for a few days). On the way there I noticed an old man in an electric mobility scooter on the other side of the road moving quite slowly. I continued on and spent about 20-25 minutes before leaving the house to return home. On my way back I saw that same old fellow had only made it about 30 yards further and was now stopped. I decided to pull over and see if he needed any help.

Turned out the battery in his scooter had died and he was stuck. His cellphone was also not working. Poor guy had been in the afternoon sun for a long while. He had another ~10kms to go and definitely wasn't going to make it on that machine. I wasn't able to offer much in the way of transport or towing (on the bike :) ) but I offered him some water and the use of my cellphone. I pushed him back into some shade and we made a few calls until he managed to reach someone who had a van. I stayed with him while we waited for his help to arrive. When this guy eventually showed up he wasn't a great deal of help -- just a guy driving a van. I helped the old timer into the passenger seat of the van and then helped lift the scooter into the back of the van.

Of course helping someone in need is a good thing under any circumstance but doing so while on a bike seems extra "good" because it can help change the public's opinion of riders. Another example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCR1Zu5hHgk

Given some of the comments, with "random acts of coolness" we can definitely help our image while helping others.
Click to expand...

I mean hypothetically like someone else in this thread he was lucky you did not steal his phone scooter and whatever else of value.
Those scooters are pricey.

Do they make hybrid scooters?
 
It occurred to me sometime later that something like this could also be a trap (hey, I'm paranoid...) This was near a wooded area. Could theoretically have been a ruse to draw in some sucker whereupon a few thugs emerge from the woods and demand my phone, wallet and keys.

Irrational fear shouldn't stop us from doing the right things :)
 
Blackfin said:
It occurred to me sometime later that something like this could also be a trap (hey, I'm paranoid...) This was near a wooded area. Could theoretically have been a ruse to draw in some sucker whereupon a few thugs emerge from the woods and demand my phone, wallet and keys.

Irrational fear shouldn't stop us from doing the right things :)
Click to expand...


next time fling him a nylon strap or rope and pull him down the road
 
theSHARK said:
I once helped a limo driver get his stretch limo around the Forks hair pin.

[video=youtube;QHghDu7Dc8M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHghDu7Dc8M[/video]
Click to expand...

That's awesome, that was a couple of years ago. I was on my DRZ and we stumbled upon the limo driver and some people helping him out. Small world.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
superseven said:
That's awesome, that was a couple of years ago. I was on my DRZ and we stumbled upon the limo driver and some people helping him out. Small world.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

That might have been a different limo, I filmed that video last fall.
 
Blackfin said:
Nice. I recently helped a a mother duck and her ducklings across a moderately busy road here in KW (funny how sympathetic people you signal to stop get when they see little itty bitty ducks...) though I wasn't riding at the time. That would have looked pretty funny :)
Click to expand...
yeah it is funny considering we kill some animals by the millions...but oh no not the cute ones

My good deed is I closed someone's gas cap and lid for them...once
:glasses4:
 
inreb said:
Here's one from don't do it like I did it. Posting for educational purposes only. I was waiting at the traffic light when I saw a blind guy c/w cane circling inside the intersection. Cars stopped all four ways, nobody making a move. So I hustled over to the feller, grabbed him by the arm and hauled him curb side. Well, it turns out blind people don't like that especially when drunk. You're supposed to announce your presence and enter into a dialogue.
Click to expand...
O.k. You were drunk at the traffic light. Waiting for it to turn blue?
 
inreb said:
Here's one from don't do it like I did it. Posting for educational purposes only. I was waiting at the traffic light when I saw a blind guy c/w cane circling inside the intersection. Cars stopped all four ways, nobody making a move. So I hustled over to the feller, grabbed him by the arm and hauled him curb side. Well, it turns out blind people don't like that especially when drunk. You're supposed to announce your presence and enter into a dialogue.
Click to expand...

Similarly, a blind guy was totally confused by the sounds around him. It was a garbage truck picking up a dumpster and parked across the sidewalk. I helped him around the truck. To negate my good deed I once entered too far into an intersection blocking the walkway for a different blind person.
 
Not so much a good deed but passing on the good vibes.

I was riding out of my neighbourhood the other day and in the distance I saw a kid walking ahead of his father on the sidewalk to the left. As I drew closer, I saw the kid turn around, jumping frantically at the corner of the street. Getting even closer I saw the kid was waving something red. Once I was in within close proximity, I realized the kid was holding a red toy motorcycle. Gave him a good ol thumbs up as I scooted by. Definitely a future rider :)
 
A couple of weeks ago, a car was stopped in the middle lane of Hwy 7 West, at Leslie. 5pm rush hour. Big traffic backlog, but as the cars split into the left and right lanes, I found an opportunity to zip up the middle - was riding my DR650...

Decided to stop next to the drivers side window and ask if they need help - thought I could push them off to the side and clear up the road somewhat. The young lady got out of the car and waved me in. Said she didn't speak much english - was trying to call her hubby on the phone...

Pulled the bike up ahead of the car, got in - it's a newer nissan or toyota - push button ignition and funky gear shift. Looked like it was in park and I stepped on the brake and pushed start. Car started running - looked normal. One red light on the dash for the parking brake.

Waved the young lady back in and told her the brake is on, but she didn't understand. Ended up talking to he hubby on the phone who translated. He said the parking brake is a pedal and you have to push to release. I told the lady to push the pedal and she said 'its too hard to push' - told her 'push harder', she tried again and it released.

Got back on my bike and rode off as she was driving away also.

i think she was driving with the parking brake on and it finally seized up or the car shut off or something.

If I had had my helmet cam that day...
 
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