Topic: How Hard is it to Look before you change lanes?!?!

[ZanVooden]

Friday after getting off work was on a two lane on ramp coming off Madison's Beltline going on to I-39 and right as I was leaning in to the last turn before the merge a white minivan decided it was a GREAT time to change lanes not seeing me on my 04 Yamaha FZ-6 right next to his back window.
He (or she) cut over, I tried slowing to avoid getting hit but ended up working my way over the white line and hitting the gravel on the shoulder. Held on through the gravel but then hit the weeds and grass and kicked the bike out on to its side landing on my leg.
Looked up and no van to be seen and cars just driving by, Some slowing down to see what happened but then getting honked at by the following cars who didnt care.
Luckly I am ok. Badly bruised knee, a few cuts and scraps on the legs. sore back, sure chest front where my chin hit, and just sure body.
Never appreciated all my riding gear (full face helmet, armored leather jacket, gloves, heavy boots) so much until I got home and looked it all over.

But really now, how hard is it to glance over your shoulder BEFORE you change lanes?!?
Time for some more advil....

On a much happier note, Huge progress on my 750 K8. New tapered steering bearings installs, rear end completed, Engine running and shifting through gears. 

[Duke McDukiedook]

Very hard.

[Pinhead]

Good to hear you're OK. Too much of this lately.

But apparently it's pretty hard for cagers to pay attention. 99% of them don't know how to set their mirrors properly in the first place. I make it a habit to not ride in that particular blind spot at any time; I'm either in front of or at least next to their front window so they see me in their peripheral vision, or behind their back bumper so they can swerve around all they want. The less time spent in places where they can't see you, the less chances they have of running you off the road.

[BobbyR]

Great advice Pinhead. Expect complete lack of competence from them and you will rarely be disappointed. Van I am glad you are OK.

[tortelvis]

Very hard.

No, impossible! Probably on a cell phone, the biggest danger on the roads these days IMHO.

[bucky katt]

Glad you're okay man!

[ZanVooden]

Yeah, It was a very funny feeling calling 911 to report it, and starting off by saying "I was just in a motorcycle accident..."

[Industrial Rat400f Killer]

Good to hear you're OK. Too much of this lately.

But apparently it's pretty hard for cagers to pay attention. 99% of them don't know how to set their mirrors properly in the first place. I make it a habit to not ride in that particular blind spot at any time; I'm either in front of or at least next to their front window so they see me in their peripheral vision, or behind their back bumper so they can swerve around all they want. The less time spent in places where they can't see you, the less chances they have of running you off the road.

I know it's impossible to do all the time but I speed up or slow down every time I can when a car gets next to me so I'm in front or behind them. That way the #$%*s that can't "mirror, signal, head check" can do what ever they want without running me over.
Glad you're OK. It sounds like this was one of those times you didn't have a choice but to be in their blind spot because of their inconsiderate driving habits.
Did the Police care? Around here they'll just blow you off and never show up unless you say you need an ambulance. They're to busy focusing on speed traps and "click it or ticket" to show up when somebody actually needs them.

[HavocTurbo]

Great advice Pinhead. Expect complete lack of competence from them and you will rarely be disappointed. Van I am glad you are OK.

My uncle teaches the MSF classes and trains instructors here in IL. He always says..

Approach riding a motorcycle in traffic like everyone else on the road is there to try to kill you.

Worked for me as my only accident was being smothered into the tarmac while sitting at a stoplight. Had some close calls while at speed though. Be alert!

Glad to hear you are somewhat ok. Hows the bike?

[ZanVooden]

State trooper showed up in about 15mins. He was a great guy, actually did care even though he couldn't really do anything for me.
Yeah, not much I think I could have done (other than being able to tell the future... Still working on that)
I took the MSF awhile ago. Great course, loved it.

The bike is in pretty good shape considering (I was going about 40-50mph preparing to merge). the front fairing in beat to hell though. So new front cowling, new mirror, the master cylinder and brake lever might need to be replaced. Tank has just a few scratches, and a small dent which i may be able to work out.
Luckily I (and the bike) hit more dirt than gravel and no pavement, so that helped.

[kirkn]

Yep, when riding, you NEVER ride in a blind spot.  And always assume the cager is going to just do the dumbest thing you can think of, and ride accordingly.  Sigh.

+1 on the mirror thing, too.  I've borrowed my father-in-law's pickup truck a time or two, and every time I get in it, the mirrors are not anywhere NEAR aiming where they should.  I mean, not just aiming set for a guy who's 3 inches taller than me, but aiming at the sky, or the ground, or the door panel, or the headliner, or    Makes me sigh and shake my head - how do you manage to drive the damn truck when 3 of 3 mirrors are pointing off into never never land....

[Rampage1967]

 I'll never forget the accident I was in in about 1985. I had just started riding. Anyway, I'm sitting at a stoplight, right behind a jacked up Detroit dinosaur with a bumper headlamp height to my bike. The bike was a CL70 honda. All of the sudden I hear tires screeching & a loud thud. The bike jumps forward, under said "Detroit dinosaur" and I end up sitting on the hood of a Nissan.
 The girl driving the Nissan had just been in another accident across town. Needless to say she  was still nervous and distracted. She didn't see me till it was to late .. . thank god she didn't wait another second to nail the pedal.
  Thanks to a cop with a big pain of channel Locks i was able to ride my slightly bent bike home.

  A few years after that I had an 80 year old lady make a left turn across in front of me without looking. The cops saw it happen & were right there. They would not do anything or let me shut off the bike. ( A DT175 Yamaha idles quite well on it's side) The old lady was blind in one eye and nearly blind in the other (I found this out later). Anyway, I hit her old four door nova right between the doors on the right side & rode the car into the lot. The bike was a total loss.

[tramp]

i look in thier mirror
if i can see thier face they can see me
however they have to look to see you
what is it with white vans?
got hit from behind on one and run off the road on purpose by one

[cb650]

Some dont care if the do see you.  Ive looked people in the eye got a smile and then a turn into me. 

[TwoTired]

i look in thier mirror
if i can see thier face they can see me

Be aware, they can look right at you and still not "see".

I read a "Human Factors" study some years ago. In summary, people tend to find only what they are looking for, if they search the mirror for a car or truck, and don't find one, the mind registers a clear path, as a motorcycle/rider was not on their mental list for pattern matching.

Then there is the "I'm bigger than you mentality", where they believe it is your job to stay out of their way if they decide to get in your way.  I actually had a guy who had a big truck tell me that directly.  The biggest vehicle has the right of way, the way they rationalize it.

Lot's of people drive as though the rules of the road are subject to interpretation.

[754]

Zan Voo

 ..Airhorns can be a big help..

 ..Ride like you are invisible, cuz they DONT see you..

 ..Be alert.. we need more lerts...................



 Glad you are OK & hope it does not happen again.

[honda750k]

Least you're ok and the bike is fixable.   

Myself, I've had a few close calls with stupid drivers.   


HOW they can drive with 3 mirrors aimed to see BEHIND them is beyond me.  rearview=whats behind you,  sideviews=whats on the SIDES to eliminate blind spots, not aid in seeing behind your giant monstrosity POS.

[Hope]

It's not hard at all.

I lost a pair of glasses doing it, but I still do it (even with the thought in the back of my head that it may happen again.)  I was doing about 80 and had an open face helmet on.  When I turned my head, my visor flipped up and wind gushed under my visor and my glasses flew off on the interstate.

I still turn my head to look, and factor in all that it took to lose my glasses.  I try to avoid doing 80 with an open face helmet.  Closed helmets are better for that.

I still turn my head and look, though.

[manjisann]

I've been very fortunate, what little riding I've had a chance to do I've not had any really close calls. When I first started riding I was told two very contradictory things, but they are 100% correct.

1. Ride like you are invisible to everyone else, because you are.

2. Ride like the cagers are out to kill you, because they are.

One of my local shops has cards for lawyers that ride motorcycles and will take the cases of motorcyclers hurt in an accident. I think I'll just pop on in and pic one of those up. Since apparently injuring or killing another person isn't enough incentive for people to drive as they should, having their premiums go up after I sue the pants off them might.

To the OP and any others that have been injured on your bike, glad to see you are still around! I always think about the old saying. There are 2 types of bikers, those that have wrecked, and those that will.

Brandon

[shacolaid]

Glad to hear you are okay Zan.

As most of us probably have a car or truck as additional transportation to our motorcycles, I think that most of us have a heightened sense of awareness when driving our 4 wheel vehicles. Hopefully we do look when changing lanes and allow motorcycles the space they need. (I hate it when I have someone right on my backside in traffic).

That being said, there are plenty of motorcyclists that when on highways are going 30, 40 mph faster than the posted limit. If you are driving your vehicle and look to make a lane change, and the path is clear, and then make the change, I have witnessed a motorcycle in the lane that was not there 2 seconds ago when I looked going much faster than the posted speed, requiring me to go back into the previous lane.
We all need to look out for each other.

[sangyo soichiro]

 
I think the subject line question was rhetorically aimed at the cagers.

It's not hard at all.

I lost a pair of glasses doing it, but I still do it (even with the thought in the back of my head that it may happen again.)  I was doing about 80 and had an open face helmet on.  When I turned my head, my visor flipped up and wind gushed under my visor and my glasses flew off on the interstate.

I still turn my head to look, and factor in all that it took to lose my glasses.  I try to avoid doing 80 with an open face helmet.  Closed helmets are better for that.

I still turn my head and look, though.

[ZanVooden]

I think the subject line question was rhetorically aimed at the cagers.

It's not hard at all.

I lost a pair of glasses doing it, but I still do it (even with the thought in the back of my head that it may happen again.)  I was doing about 80 and had an open face helmet on.  When I turned my head, my visor flipped up and wind gushed under my visor and my glasses flew off on the interstate.

I still turn my head to look, and factor in all that it took to lose my glasses.  I try to avoid doing 80 with an open face helmet.  Closed helmets are better for that.

I still turn my head and look, though.

It was in fact.

I cant say I've ever experienced my face shield coming open on me. I have an HJC FS-15 (best helmet I've ever worn) and it has a little lock on the face shield to prevent such a thing from happening.

[razor02097]

[Pinhead]

:/

[razor02097]

posted that to say how cagers are f'in crazy...