shrader Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Yup, I was riding with traffic. The lady, in ever-so-hip toyota prius, was making a left, and I was heading straight on. For some reason or another she didn't see me, probably because she was on her phone, until it was too late. She hit me with the front passenger side of her car. Lucky nothing was broken on my body but I made the mistake of just letting her go without getting any info. My back was messed up for a week or so. She's turning left and hit you with the front passenger side of the car. Does that mean she turned in front of you last second, you had no time to stop and ran into her?
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 She's turning left and hit you with the front passenger side of the car. Does that mean she turned in front of you last second, you had no time to stop and ran into her? What he explained is the number one cause of motorcyles getting hit by a car too! That is, they are in the opposite lane of traffic going the other way when the car turns right in front of them. The driver will claim "they just didn't see the bike." Not siding with the car, but motorcycles and bikes seem to come out of nowhere... I find it plausible that the car doesn't see them. I never got the whole "start seeing motorcycles" campaign. How can you start seeing something that you can't see or process fast?
Chef Jim Posted February 29, 2012 Author Posted February 29, 2012 What he explained is the number one cause of motorcyles getting hit by a car too! That is, they are in the opposite lane of traffic going the other way when the car turns right in front of them. The driver will claim "they just didn't see the bike." Not siding with the car, but motorcycles and bikes seem to come out of nowhere... I find it plausible that the car doesn't see them. I never got the whole "start seeing motorcycles" campaign. How can you start seeing something that you can't see or process fast? Try driving in the morning before sunrise or after sunset when the person on the bike is wearing the color of choice here in the Bay Area......black.
GaryPinC Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Woman struck and killed last night on rural country road while cycling. http://m.the-dispatch.com/article/20120229/news/302299991/1005/cyclist_dies_after_accident_on_ridge_road Doesn't sound like an automobile was involved. Article says she was riding with a group of cyclists when she fell and law enforcement is not involved either.
boyst Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Doesn't sound like an automobile was involved. Article says she was riding with a group of cyclists when she fell and law enforcement is not involved either. I had seen headline up last night. Figured nada changed. Either way, bike on bike is a serious crime.
GaryPinC Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 I had seen headline up last night. Figured nada changed. Either way, bike on bike is a serious crime. Now that I think about it, if this woman's crash involved another biker why aren't there legal issues here? She's dead, seems like potential for reckless op, manslaughter, and more. Same rights/responsibilities as a motorist?
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Try driving in the morning before sunrise or after sunset when the person on the bike is wearing the color of choice here in the Bay Area......black. Sure "death on the highway!" Doesn't sound like an automobile was involved. Article says she was riding with a group of cyclists when she fell and law enforcement is not involved either. The dynamics of the peloton can get ugly!
Just Jack Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 Either way, bike on bike is a serious crime. Only police and military should have bikes.
DC Tom Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 Only police and military should have bikes. I think it's enough just to have a federal registry of bicycles and a five day waiting period before you can pick one up.
RkFast Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 When bicycles are outlawed only outlaws will have bicycles. Then I can really piss Jim off.
Chef Jim Posted March 1, 2012 Author Posted March 1, 2012 When bicycles are outlawed only outlaws will have bicycles. Then I can really piss Jim off. The way they all fly around the city flaunting the laws of the road already make them outlaws.
MarkyMannn Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 What he explained is the number one cause of motorcyles getting hit by a car too! That is, they are in the opposite lane of traffic going the other way when the car turns right in front of them. The driver will claim "they just didn't see the bike." Not siding with the car, but motorcycles and bikes seem to come out of nowhere... I find it plausible that the car doesn't see them. I never got the whole "start seeing motorcycles" campaign. How can you start seeing something that you can't see or process fast? Too many drivers out there distracted with their Ipod, coffee, cell phone, kids, etc instead of paying attention to driving and traffic which is what they should be. They're careless and wreckless in their driving habits. That's why it is "start seeing mc's". One of the things I've found in my years of riding and going thru an intersection is to keep somewhat close to the car in front of you. Too big a gap and the car making a left across your lane may decide to cut in front of you. Yeah you have to pay attention to everything
Jon in Pasadena Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 What he explained is the number one cause of motorcyles getting hit by a car too! That is, they are in the opposite lane of traffic going the other way when the car turns right in front of them. The driver will claim "they just didn't see the bike." Not siding with the car, but motorcycles and bikes seem to come out of nowhere... I find it plausible that the car doesn't see them. I never got the whole "start seeing motorcycles" campaign. How can you start seeing something that you can't see or process fast? As a long-time motorcyclist I can attest to the truth of this. The speed/size ratio of motorcycles is something that most car drivers' brains simply cannot process fast enough to react appropriately. My MC philosophy, which has enabled me to survive 25+ years of motorcycling in California, mostly in L.A., goes well beyond this however. I don't merely assume car drivers don't see me. I drive as if they do see me... and are actively trying to kill me. The second some cager asswipe starts doing anything goofy, I don't stick around to see what kind of festive cluster-!@#$ is going to ensue. I just go immediately to warp drive and put at least a couple of miles between us. (But I also do try my best to minimize lane-splitting, lane-sharing, and other behaviors that enhance the likelihood of a bad situation.)
ExiledInIllinois Posted March 1, 2012 Posted March 1, 2012 (edited) Too many drivers out there distracted with their Ipod, coffee, cell phone, kids, etc instead of paying attention to driving and traffic which is what they should be. They're careless and wreckless in their driving habits. That's why it is "start seeing mc's". One of the things I've found in my years of riding and going thru an intersection is to keep somewhat close to the car in front of you. Too big a gap and the car making a left across your lane may decide to cut in front of you. Yeah you have to pay attention to everything I don't think it is distractions as much... True, that is part of the problem from time to time. Bikes and cars just don't mix. More car drivers just misjudge, not knowing the severity of their action/choice. Poor judgement. Then on top of it, you got bikes doing things you least expect. It is a clash. The person in the protective "cocoon" is going to be better off in the end. On another note... Sometimes loud pipes don't even help the way they are building the better cars now. One is so desensitized to what is even happening out there. It is like car builders want to put you to sleep! As a long-time motorcyclist I can attest to the truth of this. The speed/size ratio of motorcycles is something that most car drivers' brains simply cannot process fast enough to react appropriately. My MC philosophy, which has enabled me to survive 25+ years of motorcycling in California, mostly in L.A., goes well beyond this however. I don't merely assume car drivers don't see me. I drive as if they do see me... and are actively trying to kill me. The second some cager asswipe starts doing anything goofy, I don't stick around to see what kind of festive cluster-!@#$ is going to ensue. I just go immediately to warp drive and put at least a couple of miles between us. (But I also do try my best to minimize lane-splitting, lane-sharing, and other behaviors that enhance the likelihood of a bad situation.) BINGO! Edited March 1, 2012 by ExiledInIllinois
BuffaloBillsSD Posted March 2, 2012 Posted March 2, 2012 As a long-time motorcyclist I can attest to the truth of this. The speed/size ratio of motorcycles is something that most car drivers' brains simply cannot process fast enough to react appropriately. My MC philosophy, which has enabled me to survive 25+ years of motorcycling in California, mostly in L.A., goes well beyond this however. I don't merely assume car drivers don't see me. I drive as if they do see me... and are actively trying to kill me. The second some cager asswipe starts doing anything goofy, I don't stick around to see what kind of festive cluster-!@#$ is going to ensue. I just go immediately to warp drive and put at least a couple of miles between us. (But I also do try my best to minimize lane-splitting, lane-sharing, and other behaviors that enhance the likelihood of a bad situation.) I'm amazed that you are still alive. In a car I am terrified of SoCal drivers let alone on a bike.
Chef Jim Posted March 2, 2012 Author Posted March 2, 2012 As a long-time motorcyclist I can attest to the truth of this. The speed/size ratio of motorcycles is something that most car drivers' brains simply cannot process fast enough to react appropriately. My MC philosophy, which has enabled me to survive 25+ years of motorcycling in California, mostly in L.A., goes well beyond this however. I don't merely assume car drivers don't see me. I drive as if they do see me... and are actively trying to kill me. The second some cager asswipe starts doing anything goofy, I don't stick around to see what kind of festive cluster-!@#$ is going to ensue. I just go immediately to warp drive and put at least a couple of miles between us. (But I also do try my best to minimize lane-splitting, lane-sharing, and other behaviors that enhance the likelihood of a bad situation.) Which is the way to do it but most motorcyclist don't. The way they weave in and out of traffic on the freeway is insane. Those mother!@#$ers are whacked. I'm amazed that you are still alive. In a car I am terrified of SoCal drivers let alone on a bike. Wussy.
DC Tom Posted March 2, 2012 Posted March 2, 2012 As a long-time motorcyclist I can attest to the truth of this. The speed/size ratio of motorcycles is something that most car drivers' brains simply cannot process fast enough to react appropriately. My MC philosophy, which has enabled me to survive 25+ years of motorcycling in California, mostly in L.A., goes well beyond this however. I don't merely assume car drivers don't see me. I drive as if they do see me... and are actively trying to kill me. The second some cager asswipe starts doing anything goofy, I don't stick around to see what kind of festive cluster-!@#$ is going to ensue. I just go immediately to warp drive and put at least a couple of miles between us. (But I also do try my best to minimize lane-splitting, lane-sharing, and other behaviors that enhance the likelihood of a bad situation.) I do everything by that philosophy. I don't even think I brush my teeth without assuming someone's trying to kill me. Motorcycles (other people on them, that is) scare me for that reason - speed/distance judgement is usually off - as well as around these parts there's just too many idiots on Japanese crotch rockets actively trying to kill themselves without anyone's help. And every person I've ever known who's regularly rode a motorcycle has ended up with an extended hospital stay (and in one case, a segment on "Rescue 911".) And I still want a vintage '40s BMW with a sidecar.
Jon in Pasadena Posted March 2, 2012 Posted March 2, 2012 I do everything by that philosophy. I don't even think I brush my teeth without assuming someone's trying to kill me. Motorcycles (other people on them, that is) scare me for that reason - speed/distance judgement is usually off - as well as around these parts there's just too many idiots on Japanese crotch rockets actively trying to kill themselves without anyone's help. And every person I've ever known who's regularly rode a motorcycle has ended up with an extended hospital stay (and in one case, a segment on "Rescue 911".) And I still want a vintage '40s BMW with a sidecar. Why do you think I had kids? They're my official toothpaste tasters! Don't know too much about current D.C. traffic conditions, but riding in a sidecar in L.A. would definitely be suicide. I am a strict Neo-Darwinist, so the squids on ricers issue really doesn't bother me too much. It's a self-correcting problem. (Although the paperwork would be a drag, if I squished one with my car.) The best thing to do when driving a car, and approached by a MC traveling at a high speed (or any speed, really) is to do nothing. Like I always tell my (nerdy) passengers riding pillion: "When I'm driving a motorcycle I'm desperately solving a dynamical system of partial differential equations in my head. Every time you lean, wiggle or even breathe hard, you change a bunch of the coefficients in an unpredictable way. And for the record, I'm not that great at PDE's to begin with -- so KNOCK IT OFF!!" I'm amazed that you are still alive. In a car I am terrified of SoCal drivers let alone on a bike. I'm amazed that I'm still alive too, but motorcycling is only about #10 on the list of reasons. Which is the way to do it but most motorcyclist don't. The way they weave in and out of traffic on the freeway is insane. Those mother!@#$ers are whacked. Some of it is age + having a family. My riding style has calmed down a lot compared to my 20's. And, umm, 30's.
Chef Jim Posted April 11, 2012 Author Posted April 11, 2012 !@#$ers are really out of control in this town.
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 !@#$ers are really out of control in this town. Yeah, man, but like...carbon footprints, ya know?
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