Topic: Very Near Miss

[racing33]

Hello Everyone,
I consider myself to be very lucky to be writing this tonight. I went to work tonight to cover for someone else who was on vacation. On the way home I was traveling on a city street, 2 lanes on each side. I was doing about 55 mph in a 50mph zone. As I was riding I was thinking about a post on this site(sobering site) and how on that site it made reference to the fact that the average motorcycle rider has about two seconds to take evasive action in an emergency situation. At this time I see a car sitting at the exit of a restaurant parking lot. The next thing I see is this car pulling out almost right in front of me. No time to think anything besides OH #$%*. I grab a handfull of front brake and down shift like a crazy man, never touched the rear brake. At the last second the driver of the car sees me and slams his brakes on. It was so close that I swear that I felt my pant leg brush the front of his car. I literally saw my life flash before me. I thought I was going to die right there on that street. Some how by the grace of God I made it through with no more than some soiled pants and a bad case of the shakes. I caught up to the driver of the car when he pulled over and told him that he almost cost a family their father. When the driver rolled down his window it was obvious that he had had a few drinks at the restaurant. What A MORON. With out a doubt this is the closest call I have ever had on a motorcycle. I am very thankfull to be at home now and not in a hospital or worse.
Thanks for letting me get this out my system, and for letting me rant a little bit. I just want to say watch out for the cars because they are not watching out for us. I made sure to hug my wife and kids extra hard when I got home. The wife could tell right away that something had happened. Maybe because I was still shaking very badly.
Glad to be alive
Bruce

[ElCheapo]

Glad to hear you were able to sneak by..


The morale of the story... Have spare clean underwear with you 

[78 k550]

Bruce,
Glad you could sit down and type this. I hope to never have that close of a call. I try to ride in the center lane if possable. Most people dont pay attention because of being in too much of a hurry all the time. And the drinker's.

Paul

[Pinhead]

I would've called the cops and turned the drunk in. Sure, he didn't hit you, but the next time he may not be so lucky.

[Bob Wessner]

I would've called the cops and turned the drunk in. Sure, he didn't hit you, but the next time he may not be so lucky.

I agree. You never know, he might have done it again just a few miles further on. I have NO use for anyone who drinks and then gets in/on a vehicle.

[racing33]

 Yeah I really should have called the cops, but I actually was not even thinking of that at the moment. To tell you the truth what I was thinking about was pulling him out through his window and beating his ass right there.
If you ride in the center lane then you have to worry about the left turn people. If you ride in the curb side lane then you have to worry about people pulling out into traffic. This particular road had 2 lanes on each side with a turn lane in the middle.
Cheers
Bruce

[einsteingarage]

Glad you only ended up with muddy shorts.  Same thing happen to a guy a few towns over this past Tueday.  He wasn't so lucky.  Glad your still here to give us another thought towards watching out for ourselves cuz no one else is.

[mlinder]

I've been in 3 accidents, 1 not bad, 1 pretty bad, and 1 that totalled both my bike and me.

I haven't really ridden in quite a few years, but with my (fairly) recent purchase of my 750, I plan to be back out riding every day very soon (once it's in ridable condition). I think, being older, and still having pain from my last wreck, I'll be a bit more cautious than I was. Then again, I may get splattered regardless. I can't think about it too much, because I'll make myself twitch with nervousness if I do. But, I want that serenety back I had when I rode hundreds of miles every weekend just to clear my head. It's something I must do, splatter or no splatter.

[Rocking-M]

Glad your ok Bruce and Mlinder. I was hit once years ago without being hurt, landed on my feet
in the highway and I reckon it could have been my time had another car got me but as Bruce said,
"there but by the grace of God". I'm not a fatalist but do believe that in God's time when my time
is up it doesn't matter where I'm at, I'm a goner. Stonewall Jackson is my favorite example.
He'd stand there in thick of battle and never flinch. One other officer who witnessed it often
ask him about it. He said his faith taugh him to be as confident in God's providence when in
the Battle or in the Bed. This same officer thought that God also put that log over there to
provide cover from shot

I still to this day don't like to get in traffic, just yesterday had to dodge a left turner who was in the right lane.

[Ernie]

glad your still with us brotha and also i think its cool that you posted this too,it helps keep us all a little more alert to this kinda thing,complacency can kill

[Ratfink]

If god existed, "contemporary christian"   "music"   would actually be good.....


Glad your OK.

[winston]

If I had to drive on 50mph four lane urban mini-expressways to ride, I don't think I'd ride at all...too urban, too dangerous.

If I can't get to roads like this, I'm not interesting in riding....

[clarkjh]

Winston, is that the Cabot Trail?

James

[winston]

Yep, it sure is James.

I had a Dunlop Cruisemax installed on my front end yesterday then scuffed it up a bit around town...I'm off for a ride now (sunny cool morning here) and am taking my camera, so I'll post a few pics over the coming days from my regular riding routes in my gallery. The Halifax area has oodles of really nice rides within a half hour from my house.

As you know, eastern Canada has excellent riding roads...too bad our warm season wasn't a month or two longer...

[Ebrandon]

I made a quick trip the the convenience store last night to grab a six pack. As I was walking out of the store I overheard this guy getting out of his pickup truck apologizing to a biker that had pulled up at the same time. The pickup man was saying "sorry man, didn't see you. I guess that wouldn't mean anything if I had hit you. Ha Ha" the guy on the bike just stood there with that look on his face (the one we have all probably had at one time or another) and quietly said, "Maybe you should slow down some." That was it, I got in my truck heading home and not two minutes later there is someone on my a** almost bumper kissing me, flashing his lights. It was the same dumb*ss from the store. Mind you I was going 5 miles over the sped limit already, so he really had no business being on me like that. It would be different if his ignorance would only hurt himself, but that guy probably won't wise up  until he takes someone out. arghggggg!

BTW, I never really understood why it is called a near miss. Seems to me if you nearly miss something that means you hit it? 

[Klark Kent]

yeah that's a near hit. 

and we drive on parkways and park in blah blah blah.

stupid words
-KK

[Chris Schneiter]

Holy Crap Bruce! I just read this...so I guess you didn't ride much this weekend eh?
I've been waaaayyy too lucky...this keeps me humble...don't crack up, we were going to go riding!

[racing33]

 Hey Ces,
Yeah I still rode all over the place this weekend. I went out around the Red Pine and 22 mile area, rode about 60 moles that day. I figured that I had better get right back on or I just might talk myself out of riding. If anything this has raised my awareness of the fact that we as motorcycle riders are at risk at all times when we are riding. We really are invisable to the general car driving public.
Bruce

[Tim.]

What kind of restaurant parking lot exits right onto a 50MPH highway without any control (lights etc.)?

[clarkjh]

tintin

You need to get out of the city more often.  We still have them here on parts of "None control access" highway.  The new four lane will help though.

James

[Rocking-M]

Tintin, i thought they all did usually in a curve too!

[clarkjh]

right next door to a major trucking termanal.

[crp_iii]

I had a jerk come right into my lane like I was't even there last week.  I was happy I was in my Jeep.  I swerved into the breakdown lane to adoid being hit, it was raining so the ass end let go and started to come around.  I was far enough around I saw the tractor trailer on my ass - or side.  I steered into it and after three trips back and forth straightened things out to get off at the exit. The idiot did not even get off at the exit he just kept going. The adrenalin was flowing.  I did not calm down for about 2 hours.

Glad you are OK.

[BobbyR]

I had a jerk come right into my lane like I was't even there last week.  I was happy I was in my Jeep.  I swerved into the breakdown lane to adoid being hit, it was raining so the ass end let go and started to come around.  I was far enough around I saw the tractor trailer on my ass - or side.  I steered into it and after three trips back and forth straightened things out to get off at the exit. The idiot did not even get off at the exit he just kept going. The adrenalin was flowing.  I did not calm down for about 2 hours.

Glad you are OK.

The importrant thing is that you swerved with the Jeep. If you read the original post, it talked about brakes and downshifting. The MSF course teaches you to go around things rather than depend only on the brakes. Most riders are afraid to lean it over. If you try leaning and swerving to avoid things in a controlled environment, you will do that automatically during those two seconds.

[racing33]

 Yes that maybe true. I was so sure that we were going to collide that I just wanted to get slowed down as much as I could before the impact. Also, though traffic was light at the time I was not sure if another car was any where in the next lane. Either way I go I take a chance. I am just happy that the collision never happened.
Bruce

[cben750f0]

glad you are still with us racing33 ,  there is nothin like hearin, ..'mate i just didnt see you..' when you are layin on the side of the road with a busted spine..... yeah that was me, and the guy didnt use an indecator when doin a U turn.... you know how bloody frustrating it is to be there and wanting to beat the pi$$ out of someone, but bein unable to move...... ... NEway, i am really glad you are ok.... cant have the old girls(the bikes ), gettin all beat to hell, !!!! theres not enough of them left....

peace mate