fearful of riding

[doubleminded]

I dont know what is my problem.I am getting to where i am afraid to pull out of my street into an area with traffic,fear of getting hit and therefore dead.I love it when i get out of town and am on a road with little to no cars,but am anxious until i get to that point.So many fatalities around here lately.I totaled 2 bikes 1 in 2000 and 1 in 2001 and never got worried but now I am.I guess I am too old to ride.Not physically,but mentally.Have any of you felt this way?I started with a 350 yamaha in 1972.I never thought the day would come where i am afraid to pull out on the highway.

[Gear Jammer]

I'm in the Houston area,, you should try to mentally prepare yourself for traffic riding here    I know what you mean though......  I guess that's called "Common sense",,,

[us385south]

I have to tell you that I can relate to that.  I'm 51, have been riding since the summer of 69 and I can assure you that the traffic landscape has changed.... and NOT for the better.  The most significant element of the new highway disregard is the cell device.  (I promise this will not become a rant as all my friends tell me I am prone to do.)

I cannot image what I would do if I lived in a dense metro area. ('prolly ride a lot less!)  I live along the I-35 corridor... so it's pretty bad right here close to my home.  I am the very closest single family dwelling to exit 205 in San Marcos.  It has become so bad... that when I leave here headed for anywhere, i do not go through Austin or San Antonio... I don't even go close... I just dive off through the hill country towards Blanco... takes longer but is so much safer... even with the deer issue.

Headed east... I drive miles and miles out of my way to avoid Houston.  Last summer when i rode to North Carolina the route is here to Brenham... Navasota... wiggle through the San Houston forest... cross 45 at New Waverly and hightail towards Jasper them Leesville, LA.

[doubleminded]

Yep.The other day a young kid was coming right over into my lane and i had nowhere to escape to.He hadhis cellphone over his left ear so he couldnt see anything on that side of him.I honked like crazy and when he got close enough i yelled at him.He jerked his wheel back into his lane.I stopped at a stopsign,a guyin a big 4 door dualie looked right at me.I thought well we looked each other in the eye so its safe to pull out.He missed pulling into me by inches.I stopped,got off the bike,and yelled at him,cant you see me here?

One place where 35 merges with north texas boulevard the guys coming into the freeway merging dont even look to see if they can pull into your lane.I know some day one of them is going to get flattened by an 18 wheeler.In the meantime,they will flatten me.I hate driving in town.

[Daniel Meyer]

doubleminded:

Have you done any rider training lately? Like the advanced MSF course?

If you have not, go take one. That can help you with confidence...they'll make you do stuff that you normally don't have to.

[Disco]

Have any of you felt this way?

Yes, strongest right after I got my Valkyrie (after 21 years of not having a bike).  Leaving the neighborhood and entering 4 or 6-lane boulevards made me tense up.  Interstate Highways?  Out of the question (even though everyone is going the same direction...)  With time, that has waned, but not disappeared.  Being as far north of the metromess as I am, I can miss it altogether going east, west, or north.  Like us385south, I almost always take the long way around the metromess to go south.

And big dittos to what Daniel says!   

 

[Dodis]

I can understand as well. I bought my Valk in 2007, after over 20 years of not riding. Within 15 minutes of driving away from the seller in central Houston, the entire lane of traffic merging onto I-45 south came to a quick stop in unison. I came to a near-sliding stop right beside the drivers door of the car in front of me, luckily I had a left shoulder to go to. Not a good way to start riding again... But like getting thrown from a horse, best to get back on.

As for wrecking bikes, I haven't done that since my XL-75 in the 70's, so I can't say I know how you feel about traffic, but I do occasionally have the same thought running through my head. In fact some mornings, I will choose not to ride to work just because I do not feel 95%+ alert, because I know to be a good defensive driver, you have to "be there".

As for your traffic fears, those are entirely valid, as cagers are getting more and more inattentive, especially with cell phones. For areas that you are familiar with, it is best to try to pick your safer avenues, even if it makes for a longer trip, better if it is a safer trip.

I too will go way out of my way to avoid Houston traffic as much as possible in my pickup, and I do NOT drive Houston on the bike. If I have to take my bike into Houston for anything, it will be on the trailer! I have had enough close calls in my truck in Houston to know that being less visible on the bike, or on something smaller than the person bullying their way through traffic just ain't happening with me.  I ride to enjoy, it is not a mainstay for my transportation.

Mike "Dodis"

[Willie]

I too began riding again after an extended break and I too get anxious.  I hope I am always anxious and never get too comfortable in traffic.  I have only ridden in Houston traffic about 3 times since I got my girl, but I do everything I can to give myself an out.
Recently had to take defensive driving at my workplace, and the instructor aske the question "What is driving defensively?"  I replied, "Like I'm riding my motorcycle".
I haven't had to lay her down yet, and I hope I don't.  But every time I am riding my Lady I expect them to pull into my lane, I expect them not to see me at intersections, and I do not get in a hurry.
Don't like it, but it is what it is.

+1 on Daniel's suggestion - not only good for Motorcycle riders, but cagers could learn a thing or 2 as well

Willie

[Sergeant D]

Man I know how you feel.  I went down on my Virago 1100 back in March after a 18 wheeler clipped me with his trailer.  Fortunately, I went off into the grassy median.  Broke my left tibia and fibula.  That is why I bought my 97 Valk Tourer.  Hopefully, I'll never go down again but now I only ride recreationally and early Saturday or Sunday morning before traffic ever gets to busy.  I will not commute with my bike because everyone is still just talking on their cell phones and too worried about drinking their coffee!

[Red Diamond]

Like you, I am more comfortable when I'm out of the highspeed traffic. I have always skipped the larger cities when traveling, be it in a cage or on the bike. Going to Big Bend, I'll go thru Houston at a fairly early hour, around SA, thru Cuero, to Uvalde. I haven't had an accident with my bike yet, but I still give my route a lot of thought before I leave home. If there is a chance that I will meet commuter traffic, 100 miles out of the way. Don' t push yourself to ride in heavy traffic, ride where you are comfortable riding, when you are comfortable ridiing. I've been know to break off from a group ride because I was not comfortable with their riding style.

[RainMaker]

Yes, I am fearful of riding, a little bit every time I ride. I think it's healthy to have a little bit of fear so that you keep your defenses up as you ride. The joy of riding has so far been far greater than the fear.  I always ride like everyone is trying to kill me.  

Just this Saturday, I was driving on a 2-lane in Arlington, heading home from a buddy's house, when a woman pulled up next to me and proceeded to pass me on the right side. I saw her coming in the mirror and rode the yellow line while she went past, in total ignorance of the rather large motorcycle in the single lane she was passing. The street was just wide enough.  I laid on the horn but she never looked!  As I said, you gotta' ride like they are all trying to kill you.  (I'm sure that if she had killed me, she would have said, quite correctly, she never saw me and would have gotten a warning or a stern lecture).

I used to fly single engine planes.  It was fun and I truly enjoyed it..  But the fear of the rather crowded sky and adventures with crosswinds during landings became greater than the joy.  So I stopped flying and have never looked back.  

No one can tell you what to do. That is your decision to make.  For me, when the fear of riding exceeds the joy, I'll hang it up.  

[Baldwin]

I guess that I have already made my decision as I have not ridden since last October.  My decision was not based on my ability to ride, but others' ability to see me and medical.  I've had some close calls on the road and been very lucky.  I have a wife and three kids (ages 8-11) and I want to be there for them.  The other contributing factor is that I have diabetes and riding seems to drive my blood sugar down causing an unsafe condition.  As others have said, the fear and worry have overtaken the enjoyment.  I miss riding and wish things were different for me, but for right now, she is in the stable.

[SANDMAN5]

A friend of mine once said "If I ever get on my Wing and I'm NOT a
little scared, I'm gettin' right back off."  I kinda agree with his statement,
but I would change " a little scared" to "fully aware" or something. I'm not
afraid of anything, but most times it pays to be "cautious". Like somebody
here once said, always EXPECT something to happen and you'll be ready
when it does.....or  words to that effect. YMMV

[doubleminded]

Much wisdom in advice given here,and also I am glad I am not alone in my feelings.One of the bikes
I totaled was my fault.I was passing an 18 wheeler on the left and he turned left in front of me.Over 80% of MC accidents are caused by someone turning left in front of you.I didnt know that till after the fact.

The second bike had 432 miles on it.I was sitting stopped at a red light and a kid in a chevy suburban rearended me,knocking me into a car in front of me.

Those incidents didnt scare me,just made more aware.Keen awareness is the problem and solution.I am aware now car drivers seem more careless than ever before in my lifetime,therefore making it more dangerous to be on a bike  and a car for that matter.The solution is what someone here stated,if it gets more fearful to ride than the enjoyment of riding,then its time to quit riding or think about quitting at least.I am there now.Thanks guys for your input.

[Mofla]

Feel like my "fears" are justified after reading all your posts. But the love so far overcomes. Be safe everyone ! thnks for sharing !
58 yr old, haven't rode in 30 yrs !

[Wabbit]

A big +1 on everything here I've read thus far.  I'm in San Antonio, and would be happy to nominate my city as home to some of the worst #$%@! drivers on the planet.  Unfortunately, San Antonio has proven not to be all that unusual.  Even worse, overall driver skill level seems to rise and fall with the economy: makes some sense if you think about it.

I'm sure most of us have various survival strategies tailored to our respective environments, so to start the ball rolling, here are mine:

1. MSF Advance Riders Course: mentioned elsewhere, so just *do* it already .

2. Consistent off-peak commute times: not an option for everyone, but you get to avoid the worst traffic around here if you can avoid being on I-410 between 0700-0800, and can leave work NLT 1630 or after 1730.  "Consistency" recommended because commuters are creatures of habit, and folks who expect to see you on the road at a given time are used to sharing the road with you.  Even in a city of over a million people, I see many of the same ones on the road on a day-to-day basis M-F.  Revelation: commuter traffic is generally more clueful than the #$%@! tourists.  Reasons?  They know where they're going (most of the time), and drive with a bit more purpose than the average tourist.  San Antonio has *lots* of tourists, pretty much year 'round.

3. With apologies to those who feel strongly otherwise, "loud pipes save lives" is nothing more than a slogan that looks good on a helmet sticker or vest patch.  Being heard is NOT the same as being SEEN, and the latter is more properly your goal.  No sense killing what's left of your hearing (you NEED it to increase your situational awareness) by running a full-time noise generator.  That being said, get the LOUDEST #$%@! air horn your electrical system can support, and don't be bashful about using it to wake up inattentive/distracted drivers.  At traffic lights, if I'm second or third in line when the light turns green and the lead driver isn't moving within two seconds (and it's apparently safe for him/her to be doing so), I'm on my horn.  As far as people trying to pull over on top of me, it's a rare week I don't have to get on the air horn at least twice.  Remember that your horn has to compete successfully with virtually soundproof cabins having loud stereos and drivers potentially with something stuck in at least one ear, and sometimes both ears (#$%@! ear buds and/or headphones are prima facie evidence of distracted driving IMNSHO).

4. Try to ride with the flow of traffic, i.e., no weaving in and out or otherwise calling unfortunate attention to yourself with inexperienced and/or just-plain-risky sport bike riding behavior.  Sorry if anyone's offended by that remark, but that would be *your* problem, and my insurance company agrees.  Try getting an insurance quote for a sport bike with engine displacement above a liter and see if you don't find yourself wishing for Vasoline: insurance underwriters aren't bound by political correctness and/or anyone's feelings.

5. Related to 4. -- stay out of the left lane on multi-lane highways.  All the non-deputized speed-limit enforcement types (self-righteous arrogant asshats) love to hang there (inappropriately, but as they say, mass wins).  Many unskilled cagers love the left lane because they don't have traffic whizzing by close to the driver's door.  Arguably, they need to find another way to get where they're going if they don't feel safe on the highways, but reality is what it is.  Another benefit to avoiding the left lane is not immediately causing the blood pressure of the guy behind you to spike because you don't want to travel 30 mph above the limit and he *does*.

6. White helmet.  Combined with a dark riding jacket and Jerry Palladino riding posture, you might be surprised how much respect you command on the road.  You're not illegally impersonating an officer of the law, but like job resumes, you can't help how people interpret what they see .

7. Don't be on the roads when the bars close.  'Nuff said .

8. Rural night riding: ill-advised unless you've got a light bar with enough lumens to peel paint.  Collisions with wildlife generally don't have pleasant outcomes.

Awright...  Keep 'em coming.  Man, that was cathartic !

[bigguy]

3. With apologies to those who feel strongly otherwise, "loud pipes save lives" is nothing more than a slogan that looks good on a helmet sticker or vest patch.

+1

[Sergeant D]

Well said Wabbit, well said.  I too wear a white helmet (Scorpian) with drop down sun visor which really makes me look like a cop.  The big ole Tourer saddle bags help too.  I'll take any advantage I can get.

[HayHauler]

Well said Wabbit, well said.  I too wear a white helmet (Scorpian) with drop down sun visor which really makes me look like a cop.  The big ole Tourer saddle bags help too.  I'll take any advantage I can get.

Same helmet I wear.  I am amazed at how many people I see "slipping" on their seat belt like they are sneaking it on witout my knowledge.  Might have saved some of their lives, one never knows.
When I am in the "hammer" lane going 10 mph over the limit, many cars move over and let me by then move back into the lane after I pass. 

Hay 
Jimmyt

[RainMaker]

If you get one of those pulsators for the headlight, people will pull over to the side of the road because they think it's a police bike.  Saw it happen multiple times with Speedo's Interstate.

[HayHauler]

If you get one of those pulsators for the headlight, people will pull over to the side of the road because they think it's a police bike.  Saw it happen multiple times with Speedo's Interstate.

That's the reason I don't use mine (modulator) very often.  Don't want to be accused of impersonating a PO.

Hay  
Jimmyt

[Wabbit]

That's the reason I don't use mine (modulator) very often.  Don't want to be accused of impersonating a PO.

Forgot about headlight modulators.  +1 on 'em because they really help with the whole "being seen" thing.  They're legal during daylight hours (possibly at night, but why would you do that to yourself?).  Problem is, every once in a while you'll encounter a law enforcement type who's not sure .  Wouldn't hurt in those situations to have "chapter and verse" (specific to wherever you're riding) ready to show the officer when you get pulled over.  I say that realizing that in certain locales, being right doesn't count for much.

[YoungPUP]

Ride like they're all trying to kill you. I drive a 40,000# garbage truck all day, covered in flashing lights, and loud as hell. Most people would be terrified by the amount of time that  i hear in a DAY my favorite saying " I NEVER saw you!!!!" If I can sneak up on cagers with something that big, then we are all SCREWED!!!! +1 on the MSF course. I retake Basic every few yrs as well.  My biggest fear is slow speed, ( parking lots, side roads etc.) the lady just doesn't seem to do that well at low speeds.

[rocketray]

the high low beam modulator combined with an "off road bulb" -some 10 watts or so over stock [they have a sensor to stop pulsing when it gets dark]  with my cobra light bar with  the landing lights out of the piper cub airplane[sold at napa] replacing the stock light aimed in a slight crossing pattern wired in on a separate switch has pretty much fixed the frontal blind spot-no one has pulled a boner in front of me for 6 months----the rear runs a "Priority plus" turning the turn signals into running lights and everything flashes for 3-5 seconds when either brake is used    the baffles are out of the viking header mated to a 4" truck exhaust    the GIVI v46 trunk with the optional dark blue panel matches my paint perfectly and is set off nicely with the stock white stripe giving me with the touring windshield and appropriate attire a stylish premium motorcycle that catches everybody's  attention--it is a sea of brake lights ahead on the freeway and not too many pass me without a good check over---the only time I got pulled over by a DPS officer  was to ask if my flashing light meant i was having trouble-i told her no  it is a federally approved safety item and she went on her way--all that said I too am getting to where i can't spit or swallow in traffic anymore--it is just so crowded out there and people aren't giving us too many breaks ...and the road debris as in 12 foot ladders in the HOV lane and entire whole front fascia from wrecked cars too....people jamming up at high speeds in construction  zones with lane closures....kids running stop signs multi tasking unable to keep it in their lane... funny how when I get in the wifes Avalanche it all seems a lot better