Almost Killed Yesterday
 

So I was riding the motocycle to the gym yesterday, which is a whopping 3/4 of a mile from my house. I get into the left turn lane to turn onto the street my gym is on. I wait for the two cars ahead of me to go, then I wait for a clearing in traffic. I complete the turn without incident, but the car that was in front of me before the turn has stopped, pulled to the far left side of the lane, and has its left turn signal on. I come to a complete stop behind him, wait a few seconds, then decide to pass him on the right as there is at least a car's width on that side.

No sooner do I get in his blind spot on the right, that he decides to take a right instead. I slam on the brakes, both wheels lock. I manage not to hit him as he takes a right in front of me. I guess I put the clutch in, because once I realize that I am alive and fine, I notice that the bike is still running.

The people around me have a look of: "I can't believe that guy did that!"

I follow him into the gas station he's pulled into, screaming obscenities at the top of my lungs. I pull up next to him and say politely (not really): "You mother****ing moron, you almost killed me!"

Him (just noticing that I'm there): "Huh? Where were you?"

Me (ever so slightly less politely than before): "I was passing you on the right when you almost hit me. You better watch where you're going."

Him: "Oh, sorry."

Me: "Pay attention to the road, dip****." Then I sped off. I swear, if he hadn't apologized, I probably would have grabbed him through the window and yanked him out of the car. I have very little sympathy for people who try to kill me.

I'll probably beep my horn in this situation again. I already beep my horn when people are waiting on driveways to pull out and I don't think they see me. Better have them irritated then me dead, is my opinion.

glad you where able to avoid the accident but - is it not illegal to pass on the right in your state and also you where trying to occupy the same space as the driver. While I agree he should have been aware of his environment (and those in and around his car) but I can't help but feel you put yourself into a very bad position and almost had to pay a price for it because you where impatient

I'll never ride a motorcycle, not just because I might wrap myself around a tree on a twisty road. What would be more galling would be to get killed by some idiot who signals left but turns right. Talk about pointless.

Chris - glad to hear you came our all right. I hope you left the offender with some hershey squirts in his pants after your polite chat with him.

I read somewhere that most fatality accident happen within 5 miles of home...

glad your ok!

another reason my wife won't let me ride a m/c on the street: the other guy not paying attention!

my Mom was hear for 2 weeks last month from Nor-Cal, we were nearly in accidents everyday when we went out, some days more then once. Nearly every incident was another person lane changing with out looking over their shoulder into their blind spot.

The drivers were either elderly or young people mid-text-eating-yelling at kids in the back seat etc.

Whole new meaning to offensive driving!

I got back onto a bike about 2 years ago now. But the reason I gave it up many years ago was because of drivers making left turns in front of me, tail gating me, and changing into my lane while looking straight at me. I just felt my number was coming up. It's good you came out of that OK, and also good that you like many other bike riders, are more aware of what's going on than 90% of the cage drivers.

Glad to hear there was not contact or injury.

Even after your verbal attack the guy responds with "sorry". Sounds like he honestly didn't see you and made a bone head mistake. We have all made them at some point. I have had numb nut drivers go ballistic after they nearly ran me over on my bicycle/motorcycle. That's a strange scene - to say "Hey didn't you see me over here" and the driver goes nuts and wants to fight...BTDT.

Have a couple extra drinks tonight because you can.

I always put myself where they have no option other than to see me. Usually not in the mirror but even with their window.

Been there and done that and glad you are ok.

Frankly I don't ride that much, and its because of stuff like this. When I got back into bikes a couple years ago, I was raring to go. But it only took a couple incidents like this to temper my excitement.

Ride safe gents.

PHEW! i once commited a felony. some idiot changed lanes into me on purpose. his lane "disappeared" into mine. he had those big white arrows warning him. i looked back at him, and he looking directly into my eyes, quickly swerved into me. he contacted me. i didnt fall, but had to put my arm/elbow onto his hood to balance myself. i screamed!! he sped past me. right into San Francisco traffic. he was stopped! i raced, split lanes into him, and abandoned my bike..i dove into his window. my legs were still holding my bike, but my upper body was clearly "in his face", inside the car. i was slapping and shaking him. i came to my senses..he was blubbering apologies...crying. i lifted myself out, back onto my bike. my crappy bike scratched the side of his car. i rode away...asking myself, "why did the idiot have to have his windows down?"..

i was stupid. i lost my cool.

Glad you're ok, man.

Nonsense. He NEEDED the **** slapped out of him. You absolutely did the right thing. He won't pull that stunt again. You made the roads safer.

Sometimes you've got to ignore propriety and kick ass. This was one of those times.

Good to hear you didn't get hurt. My buddy was killed in 2007 less than a block away from his house when someone turned out on a side street right into him, killing him instantly.

rjp

While I agree 100% on principal I disagree.

Diving thru a car window around here has a high probability of you ending up shot.

Wow, that is exactly what happened to me last night. A guy came rocketing out from his driveway next to his mailbox on a country road I like to ride, and damn near hit me. It was only my cat-like reflexes that saved me from certain doom. I laid on the horn just to let him know I was right outside his door. Literally.

We got to one of two light controled intersections on the whole road about half a mile later. I pulled up next to his door and told him he damn near hit me. I was actually even polite about it. His response? "Fark you. I couldn't see you."

"I was watching; you never even looked."

"Kiss my ass, you were in the dark shadows."

(Now I'm starting to spool up) "My headlight is on, ass hole."

"Well, muthafarker, maybe if you weren't going so flippin' fast."

"You just said you couldn't see me, dipshyte."

"Fark you."

"Ya wanna pull over and say that again, or should I just drag you out the god damn window and pound you like a farkin' tent stake right here in the middle of the road?"

"Fark you, I'll kick yer ass."

"Bring it..."

And Mr. Tough guy leaves when the light turns green. He wouldn't even look at me anymore. I guess I'm glad he kept going; I'm getting too old for this crap.

Be careful, they're out there. And they will blame you...

i remember having him by his shirt or jacket..thinking "what the hell am i doing?"

legion. please be careful. i am packing the last of the sportbikes in my garage out. my next one is going to be big and tall, and i will be able to survey the vast land in front of me..looking for danger. riding in san francisco is getting insane.

Hmmm, all these great stories show a distinct lack of spoons. :confused:

He was in San Francisco, not Texas. Worst thing that driver was going to do was use harsh language. Maybe.

Here's what I think. The average car driver is only wired to think about other cars.

S/he only sees other cars, only thinks about other cars, only expects anyone to be where other cars can be.

If you're on a two-wheeler, s/he can look right at you and no see you, because s/he is only "looking" for a car. If you're on a two-wheeler doing something that a car can't do or typically wouldn't do, s/he will not expect you to be there, because, again, you're not a car so you don't exist.

A two-wheeler splitting lanes, sharing the lane, passing in the lane, hiding in a small blind spot - that was you - or even a two-wheeler riding in the middle of an empty road without a car nearby - that was Jeff Higgins - does not exist for Mr/Mrs average car driver.

Sounds terrible, but the driver I'm describing is not even a "really bad" driver. For a really bad driver, even other cars sometimes don't exist.

I'm not a super experienced rider - all I do is buzz around town on my Vespa - but I intend to survive anyway, which is why I assume invisibility. Same on my bicycle.

My biggest fear is someone turning left in front of me. OP would have gotten hit at 5 mph and very likely survived. Someone turns left in front of you, that's a 30-45mph hit and much less survivable.

Or spill his latte on you

Mr Higgins, you know where the gentleman lives, no? I have gone back to speak to people after stuff like that happening. Throw a little mud on the license plates first.

Moses, you are sorta redneck, in a good way