Man down

[baldo]

I don't think I know this man. Is he a member?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2232984346/permalink/10155843567779347/

[signart]

Very sad Another left turner, don't ever trust 'em. Expect them.

[Moonshot_1]

I don't think I know this man. Is he a member?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2232984346/permalink/10155843567779347/

Thoughts and prayers for the man and his family. Tough times ahead for sure.

Took a look at the intersection and area of the accident. (Google Maps) Wow. What a busy part of town. Lots of businesses and lots of traffic. Got to be on your game when going through here. Motorcycle would be tough to see in that environment.

[DirtyDan]

Very sad Another left turner, don't ever trust 'em. Expect them.

In motorcycle school they told me left turning vehicles were the number one cause of collisions

Dan

[northernvalk]

I will never forget coming up on an accident a few years back.  little old lady in a buick turning left onto a major highway drove right in front of a guy doing 100km. tarp covering the body was at least 50 yards up the road. ambulance wasnt even there yet, just one cop with the old lady in the back seat.  That really drove home the reality that everyone is trying to kill you on a bike....rip gentlemen.

[old2soon]

Man we stood for today-P G R-was one of us-A Rider and P G R Member. He was on his motor minding his own business on a rural 2 lane. He was in a curve and when he met the female driver she was texting and in the wrong lane-His lane. Suffice to say it did NOT end well for him and his Family. And as an aside-he just missed his 52nd Birthday. R I P BRO.  RIDE SAFE PLEASE.

[cookiedough]

damn cell phones almost wish they were never invented, the world would be better off in some ways and  at least alive.  Not a day goes by I do not see someone on their cell phones talking or texting while driving.  SAD!  I have yelled at a few in summer to get their head out of their _sses and put that darn cell phone away - they do not listen even flipping me off.  Feel like parking the vehicle whether truck or car or cycle and going over ripping the cell phone out of their hands and smashing it on the ground not joking on that either, really should do it.

friday night coming home in the dark a car was crossing over into my lane 55 mph corner rural road 3 feet into my lane was in my truck dry pavement and got the anti-lock brakes to do its thing getting over near into the gravel shoulder to avoid a near head on collision his left front side to my left front side before he was on top of me coming at me and swerved back on over to his own darn lane.

[MarkT]

Not a lot you can do about the brain-dead texters 'cuz they aren't watching the road anyways.  Maybe a helluva horn like my fire-truck horn might wake them up.  But if you don't already, for the left turners make your bike VERY visible from the front with some super-bright spots and run them all the time especially daytime and in town so you don't disappear in the background clutter.  I run the headlight on low then flip it to high when I have a cager about to cross my path. I've done the headlight mod, so my bulbs are 130/90 - headlight VERY bright. http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Headlight_Upgrade/headlight_upgrade.html 

I've been down hard from a left turner, was doing 70 on my Ducati back in '70, almost killed me.  Was in the hosp for a week.  That was before I was aware of the problem, assumed my high beam was enough.  Not so.  The narrow profile of a bike isn't seen by a lot of cagers who are operating on auto-pilot anyways - they aren't programmed for a bike, just 4-wheelers and trucks.  You need to increase your profile so it registers in their heads.  Also - on a 4-lane, good idea to cross intersections close to a cager in the next lane - borrow their visibility.

[BobB]

Way back in the late '60's, I slid my Harley upright but sideways into the right side of a left turner.  I walked away with only bruises, but that accident really influenced my riding habits and the lighting on my motorcycles...

[Moonshot_1]

I know when we get into these threads, about accidents and deaths, we do tend to bash the cagers. Sometimes justifiably.

But there are some videos and sites out on the web that give a great insight to a typical person's abilities.

One is a PSA from Britain. In it there are 2 basketball teams. One dressed in white, the other in black.
You are asked to watch the video and see how many passes the team in white makes. The teams then run around and the white team passes the ball around. If you are observant you will count 13 times the white team passes the ball. You will be correct of course. But then you are asked if you saw the moon-walking bear. Of course you didn't see anything like that at all. But when you watch the video again, a big guy dressed as a bear moonwalks through the teams passing the ball around. Big as day too. Even stands there in mid screen dancing for a second. It's not a trick. I've shown the video to people and they don't see the bear the first time either. No one does the first time. Unless you read this and then you know it is coming. It is a scary realization of the dangers we really face out there.

There are other optical illusion videos out there that show the limitations of our vision. In certain conditions our vision just tunes out stuff. It is there, we just don't process it and don't see it.

We do need to be aware of these limitations. Not just ours, but the other drivers in particular and ride and drive accordingly.

[Oldfishguy]

Here ya go, I saw this in a psych class a few years back.

https://youtu.be/vJG698U2Mvo

[art]

I haven't ridden a bike in 4 years due to an accident. I do look for bike riders due to over twenty years of riding but do find myself not seeing them as much anymore. I just reminded my self to be aware of bikers since I've noticed how easy it is to not see an oncoming motorcycle. I told my wife to not rely on the mirrors when changing lanes an just two weeks ago on a road trip in a rented car I slipped up and just looked in the mirror on the freeway while starting to change lanes. I seen something just barely and waited a second and there it was a harley rider in my blind spot WE were lucky. I was thanking God that I didn't move over. I DON'T want to cut off another biker.

[baird4444]

I've been weaving for a while now...     SMIDSY

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

[Fazer]

All good points made above with lights and weaving, etc.  But what about clothing?  I rider dressed in a black jacket on a black bike is going to be harder to see than the day glo yellow jackets.  Not saying it can't still happen, but in the the five years I have been riding and wearing bright yellow jacket I have not had anyone pull out unexpectedly or turn left in front of me.  Keeping fingers crossed, and trying to stay alert.  But no matter how much you anticipate, there is that instant where nothing can be done if someone turns in front of you.

[old2soon]

All good points made above with lights and weaving, etc.  But what about clothing?  I rider dressed in a black jacket on a black bike is going to be harder to see than the day glo yellow jackets.  Not saying it can't still happen, but in the the five years I have been riding and wearing bright yellow jacket I have not had anyone pull out unexpectedly or turn left in front of me.  Keeping fingers crossed, and trying to stay alert.  But no matter how much you anticipate, there is that instant where nothing can be done if someone turns in front of you.

                  NOT dissin ya one bit. Have worn my dayglow green jacket and a white helmet and have 3 small flags mounted on my trunk and have my road lights on-mounted to crash bars on my I/S-and some-well decorum keeps me from writin what I wanna say here-dufus/idjit/blind/fool of somewhat less than a person has said-And I quote-sorry dude didn't see ya.  Head on a swivel always alert situational awareness and likea dat. Oh-wait-That's what I always try to do. RIDE SAFE.

[3fan4life]

When I taught my son to ride, I told him to ride like he was "Invisible" not "Invincible".

This practice has served me well over the years.

BTW: I learned that I was invisible when at 22yrs old I slid to a stop 4" from the drivers door of a car that had puled out in front of me.

My rear tire was screaming, black smoke was rolling, the RPMs on my CB750 were 12k from going to first gear at 80mph and the driver with her window down,

Never Knew that I was there. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

All good points made above with lights and weaving, etc.  But what about clothing?  I rider dressed in a black jacket on a black bike is going to be harder to see than the day glo yellow jackets.  Not saying it can't still happen, but in the the five years I have been riding and wearing bright yellow jacket I have not had anyone pull out unexpectedly or turn left in front of me.  Keeping fingers crossed, and trying to stay alert.  But no matter how much you anticipate, there is that instant where nothing can be done if someone turns in front of you.

Everything helps  being as situationally aware as you can be is probably the best help in avoiding collisions .

[northernvalk]

Wouldn't it be great if everyone had to take motorcycle safety as a part of their driver training! Driving a bike makes MOST of us the best defensive drivers on the road in ANY vehicle.  Driving in the cage with my wife and kids I'll often point out a "clueless" driver as they are about to and complete a dangerous move.  My wife wonders how I can "foresee" these events.  I tell her "i've been watching that car since they where in my field of vision, they have't been checking their mirrors and didn't signal a lane change 5 miles back when they came up on slower traffic..." Head on a swivel, I see more wildlife and scenic views then her because I am always looking...

[Raider]

I've been weaving for a while now...     SMIDSY

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

We teach this in the course I teach.  Great technique.  Drivers often look at me like I'm crazy when I pass.  They're clearly trying to figure out why I'm "waving".  I don't care that they're looking at me strangely; they're SEEING me!

[Moonshot_1]

I've been weaving for a while now...     SMIDSY

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

We teach this in the course I teach.  Great technique.  Drivers often look at me like I'm crazy when I pass.  They're clearly trying to figure out why I'm "waving".  I don't care that they're looking at me strangely; they're SEEING me!

Not particularly sure about this weaving maneuver. I understand the concept that you want a driver to see you. And in a one on one situation I can see the value in it. But using this technique in traffic on a 4 lane road, what signals are you sending to those behind and around you? Are you going to turn, are you going to get into my lane, does this cause unintended reactions by other drivers? It is an unusual maneuver from the perspective of the other drivers in traffic.

[Jess from VA]

 I've not weaved, but I routinely will point my bike (and lights) right at cagers starting to roll as if to pull out in front of me off side streets.  This causes me to start to go across my lane, and I will recover and stay in my lane, but for several seconds, I aim right at them, and if they don't stop rolling, I flip on my brights and leave them on.  This often stops them from rolling or puling out, but not always.

If I rode around weaving all the time in my populous county, I'm sure I would get the opportunity to perform field sobriety tests on the side of the road. 

PS, never sing the ABCs, that's a dead give away. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I've been weaving for a while now...     SMIDSY

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

We teach this in the course I teach.  Great technique.  Drivers often look at me like I'm crazy when I pass.  They're clearly trying to figure out why I'm "waving".  I don't care that they're looking at me strangely; they're SEEING me!

Not particularly sure about this weaving maneuver. I understand the concept that you want a driver to see you. And in a one on one situation I can see the value in it. But using this technique in traffic on a 4 lane road, what signals are you sending to those behind and around you? Are you going to turn, are you going to get into my lane, does this cause unintended reactions by other drivers? It is an unusual maneuver from the perspective of the other drivers in traffic.

It is an unusual maneuver. But they do have your attention. I find myself doing a “happy weave” on occasion. Usually when I get off work, I’ll crank it on up to 80 or so and weave as I leave. 

[Oldfishguy]

Weaving???

If one is cognizant of a possible threat why not just SLOW DOWN.  Give yourself a chance to react if needed.

My thoughts  are weaving is a poor choice compared to brushing off a bunch of speed when one sees a threat.

And I run with bright lights on all day long in MN; although it is grey in legality according to our State Patrol (yes, I have asked our authorities).

[The emperor has no clothes]

Weaving???

If one is cognizant of a possible threat why not just SLOW DOWN.  Give yourself a chance to react if needed.

My thoughts  are weaving is a poor choice compared to brushing off a bunch of speed when one sees a threat.

And I run with bright lights on all day long in MN; although it is grey in legality according to our State Patrol (yes, I have asked our authorities).

In traffic or city riding we are surrounded with possible threats. I don’t use the maneuver that much. Usually only when approaching intersections where cars are attempting to turn left.

[scooperhsd]

I've weaved, but yes - Situation awareness is king. I'm sure I'm a better driving for riding a motorcycle - the habits carry over. I'm ALWAYS scanning in any vehicle, whether I'm the operator or just a passenger .

[3fan4life]

Not sure about the weaving thing either.

For starters I'm too old to be performing a field sobriety test.



One thing that I try to do is to establish eye contact with other drivers.

I always glance over at the driver of any vehicle that I pass on the 4 lane.

I also try to make eye contact with drivers that are entering or in an intersection.

I have learned to watch their heads, hands and the front wheels of their car for both movement and direction.


Once while riding two up with the wife on the BRP I was watching a SUV that was comming out of an overlook.

I was hoping that it would stop but had concluded that it probably wasn't.

When it didn't stop and pulled right out in front of us, I was prepared.

I had slowed, covered both the front and rear brakes and had an escape route planned.

It turned out to e a good thing because I needed both the brakes and the escape route.

The wife hadn't seen it coming and was very surprised when the SUV pulled out in front of us.

I wasn't happy but I wasn't surprised.

[RP#62]

Sandy told me he once bought a shotgun from someone and he rode over on his bike to pick it up.  It had a sling on it, so he slung it over his shoulder and rode home with it that way.  He said it was amazing how respectful that cars on the freeway were of his space during the ride home.  Just saying.

-RP

[Alberta Patriot]

Weaving???

If one is cognizant of a possible threat why not just SLOW DOWN.  Give yourself a chance to react if needed.

My thoughts  are weaving is a poor choice compared to brushing off a bunch of speed when one sees a threat.

And I run with bright lights on all day long in MN; although it is grey in legality according to our State Patrol (yes, I have asked our authorities).

I do the weave when I am approaching slower highway traffic ahead...with my brakes lightly applied slowing down gradually and to show my "Backoff" flashing brake lights well ahead of a possible stop.
Cagers really are distracted MOST of the time...if not from boredom, it will be a device that does it. My brake is applied at red light stops at all times as well. Re: Headlights...I adjusted the lights on my I/S so that at night my low beam is at hood height just below a car's windshield. This puts my high beams at a VERY BRIGHT height for daytime riding. I get the odd oncoming cager who flashes the brights at me but all that tells me is I am visible!!
I am not sure what goes on in the heads of wildlife but being seen by them might just help as well??
Do NOT ride with low beams during the day!!!!!!!!!!
Low Beam Filaments are shielded and not visible enough for daytime riding.

[Willow]

I think the demonstrator in the video exaggerated a bit much and that accent was just too annoying to endure.  I don't call it weaving but approaching an intersection in which crossing traffic is waiting I do waggle the headlight a bit.  One doesn't have to weave across the lane for that but it is movement and does make the motorcycle more noticeable.

As to decreasing speed or "weaving", they're not mutually exclusive.  If you think slowing down is enough to keep you safe keep in mind that an impact at thirty miles per hour can kill you.  As for me, I cross too many intersections to slow to twenty mph for each one.