>Therefore, 100% of the responsibility for avoiding accidents while on a motorcycle lies with the rider.
BS. Over a dozen times I’ve had people try to merge into me while riding a bike and I always ride at the speed limit. Cars drivers ignore than you’re there which makes riding a lot more dangerous than it should be. I’m not responsible for someone failing to look over his shoulder before merging.
Yeah, I didn't phrase it just right. What I was trying to say is that car drivers just don't see or understand motorcycles. Of course they are fully responsible when their bad driving causes accidents, but as a rider I practice "hyper-defensive" driving, and basically assume that if they can find a way to kill me, they will, and therefore ride accordingly. I'm 100% dedicated to keeping myself safe, and I don't expect even normal behavior from cars, much less courtesy.
This whole incident started with the jerk driving the car doing exactly what you are talking about: merging into the rider (in a limited access lane, on top of it). My response would have been: figures, another idiot car driver. And get away from him, either by slowing way down, or getting out of his lane.