Topic: I was invisible

[69modelj]

Just in responce to Retro's and the other Ozzies post.....

You guys have no idea who much better the drivers are in Oz.

Really they're insanely stupid in the USA.

Based completely on observations of the two countries. The license system in the USA would make you cringe.

Wow, that really surprises me, i have seen a change in driver behavior in recent years in the younger generation here and it has generally made riding a lot worse over here, if it really is a lot worse in the US, WTF is going on with people?  I see a general trend in governments to fine the #$%* out of people instead of educating them to be better drivers, until there is a change in this direction, don't expect drivers to get any better......

Mick

Over here Mick, arrogance is also a big part of the problem.
Too many live their lives with a sense of entitlement. And it carries over to their driving habits. Rush hour on the interstates around here is scary, especially when riding the bike in it. I think you're right about the fines. Seems like it's all about the money. And cops are seldom seen during the rush hour, but they're always hiding just around the next blind corner when traffic's light. I'd think Higher visibility of police on busy highways would at least make people think before acting stupid. And these new "Gestapo cams" they're so fond of nowadays may catch speeders, but they do nothing to keep some idiot from riding a half car length behind your rear fender at 60 mph. Again, all about the money.

[Retro Rocket]

Just in responce to Retro's and the other Ozzies post.....

You guys have no idea who much better the drivers are in Oz.

Really they're insanely stupid in the USA.

Based completely on observations of the two countries. The license system in the USA would make you cringe.

Wow, that really surprises me, i have seen a change in driver behavior in recent years in the younger generation here and it has generally made riding a lot worse over here, if it really is a lot worse in the US, WTF is going on with people?  I see a general trend in governments to fine the #$%* out of people instead of educating them to be better drivers, until there is a change in this direction, don't expect drivers to get any better......

Mick

Over here Mick, arrogance is also a big part of the problem.
Too many live their lives with a sense of entitlement. And it carries over to their driving habits. Rush hour on the interstates around here is scary, especially when riding the bike in it. I think you're right about the fines. Seems like it's all about the money. And cops are seldom seen during the rush hour, but they're always hiding just around the next blind corner when traffic's light. I'd think Higher visibility of police on busy highways would at least make people think before acting stupid. And these new "Gestapo cams" they're so fond of nowadays may catch speeders, but they do nothing to keep some idiot from riding a half car length behind your rear fender at 60 mph. Again, all about the money.

I couldn't agree with you more....

Mick

[bucky katt]

i was this || close today to buying it. a guy pulled out of a parking lot without looking, in a 55mph zone. if i didnt have a nice big master cylinder, braided lines and new pads/shoes i would have bought the side of this guys car. then he said he would kick MY ass for almost hitting him, wont say how i discouraged him.

[Frankenkit]

Americans? Arrogant? Never!!!

[Don R]

I talked to an old friend who used to ride, finally got it out, rode to the car wash 2 blocks and someone driving while on a phone ran him to the curb, so he put it away again.

[74cb750]

You know, this stuff also happens while we are driving cars.
But the results of light contact are different.

My daughter got hit last week in a rotary in Boston, Mass. , the guy was backing up
because he missed his exit!@ No real damage, but then again they
were both in cars. If she had been on a bike.......

[Jordan]

Backing up in a roundabout? Some people just don't get it do they. They make U turns on the freeways around here!

[CycleRanger]

Anyone hear about this?
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/north/story/Officials-name-3-killed-in-HUGE-wreck-on-Carefree/VwL7ONcC50ut3E2abcC4Qg.cspx

Dump truck wipes out eight bikers and four cars.    

[MickeyX]

People hit city buses around here regularly. How do you not see an entire bus?

[Don R]

Well, Apparently my brother has my invisibility super power too because him and I were invisible again today. An old fart (about my age I guess) dangit, turned right on red into our path, funny though I became visible again when his mirror filled with my headlight on hibeam. He looked nervous in the mirror and he slowed down making it easier for us to pass. We had the routine 60 mile round trip to our favorite bike shop, the owner was a little more wacky than ususal so we rolled on home before it got cold again.
 The next time I am invisible I wonder if I could make it into and back out of a bank vault?
 Sad story about the truck and the bike group. I can't even imagine. Something like that even deeply affects the witnesses.

[ksmith0034]

I can't even begin to count how many times I've been invisible in my 25 years of riding.  I learned long ago to ASSUME they will pull out in front of me (or turn/stop/open their door...)
However...
Last summer I was driving a Uhaul through my neighborhood on a 25mph street.  I approached a stop sign and stopped.  I looked both ways a couple times (35 mph cross traffic did not have a stop) then proceeded to enter the intersection.  Well wouldn't you know it there was a kid on a moped barreling down on my port side!  It was all he could do to get stopped, and he gave me that same look I've given out hundreds of times myself.  I mouthed "Sorry, I didn't see you," but I could also see what he was saying back to me!  He had every right to be mad.  Had he hit me it would have totally been my fault for pulling out in front of him. 
Most of us think cagers don't "want" to see us, or they figure we are small and they are big.  I used to think that too.  Now I'm telling you, this kid WAS invisible!  I did NOT see him!!!
If it can happen to a seasoned rider it can happen to anyone.  Let's be careful out there people.
What ever the reason, the outcome is the same.

[Old75_ratafe]

Did anybody else happen to notice the guys name was Jakscht driving a dump truck on "carefree" highway.  "Jakscht currently has two pending speeding tickets, both issued this month" #%$@ing idiot.  Thats the crap that makes my girl and parents not want me to ride.  Seriously how many times to you hear about the motorcyclist who's high on his bike ridding into a crowd and killing people.  Rule number one when I did my safety class, act like everyone else is out to hit you and give yourself time to avoid them.  Because if theirs even a small possibility it might happen chances it will.

[Freaky1]

People hit city buses around here regularly. How do you not see an entire bus?

We just had three accidents in a week caused by city busses, killed at least two people I believe.

My buddy wondered why I was so concerned with adjusting my mirrors just right, it's the ones from behind that never end good.

[Brown Bomber]

Then they would pay more attention to the fone wondering why it quit.   

+1

[Brown Bomber]

People hit city buses around here regularly. How do you not see an entire bus?

Could be the city buses drive like #$%*, had one swerve halfway into my lane yesterday.

[Frankenkit]

People hit city buses around here regularly. How do you not see an entire bus?

We just had three accidents in a week caused by city busses, killed at least two people I believe.

My buddy wondered why I was so concerned with adjusting my mirrors just right, it's the ones from behind that never end good.

why I always stay in 1st when stopped at a light or something, and try to watch my mirrors like a hawk.  You never know... the other rule I have is that if a particular car gives me a "bad vibe" I watch them and give 'em lots of space.  bad vibes are lifesavers.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Backing up in a roundabout? Some people just don't get it do they. They make U turns on the freeways around here!

Boston drivers, some of the worst I've ever seen. They'll drive around you on the sidewalk if they can pull it off. 

[Gordon]

People hit city buses around here regularly. How do you not see an entire bus?

Could be the city buses drive like #$%*, had one swerve halfway into my lane yesterday.

You should check out some videos of the Houston light rail accidents.  People there are constantly not seeing and running into TRAINS!!

[tortelvis]

I'd like to invent a cell phone jamming device that will knock out all cell phones in a 1/4 mile radius of where I'm riding, just to keep the distracted a$$holes off the phone and paying attention to their surroundings and the road for a change.

All we need is a device that kills the signal if the car's engine is running. Had a twat pull out of a parking lot and drive across five lanes to nearly get me, despite having his choice of three lanes. I was on a full dress Harley but of course he had one of those bloody idiotic earpieces jammed halfway up his thick head. unfortuantely for him he had his window rolled down. i got up beside him and asked if he thought that my removing his earpiece and turning it into a butt plug might improve his driving "skills".

[MickeyX]

People hit city buses around here regularly. How do you not see an entire bus?

Could be the city buses drive like #$%*, had one swerve halfway into my lane yesterday.

The thing is, I have to say, we have tons of tourists, bicycles, all kinds of stupid #$%* to drive around and these bus drivers are overall pretty darn good. I ride the bus here and there and they really have some good ones in PDX. The bus can be sitting still and someone will hit it from behind, the side, the front... Ambulances and firetrucks, with lights sirens all kinds of warnings and someone will invariably pull out in front of them and not know they are there because they don't bother to look. The drivers around here really don't pay attention and don't care. The pedestrians are even worse. They just walk right across in front of you, don't even give a sideways glance to see if everyone is stopping. We have tons of pedestrian/vehicle traumas come to my hospital. Mostly due to peds not looking or the cars blowing the red light at the last minute. Most times, 2 cars will still go through after it's red. Splat.  

I wouldn't mind have a heads up radar display in my helmet.  

[flybox1]

I want a non-nuclear EMP emitter, mounted to my headlight ears, with the discharge button instead of a horn.
Of course, the EMP emitted would have no effect on any SOHC4. 

[Freaky1]

In Boulder, right up the road from Denver, they spent all kinds of money installing ped crosswalks that have signs and flashing lights that the peds activate before they cross. It has done nothing to lower the amount of people getting smacked, either because they don't activate it or people don't stop. 

[bucky katt]

i came within 6" of being hit this afternoon. i was heading west (4 lane divided, 40mph speed limit) and the little dip#$%* teenage girl was heading east when she made a left right in front of me, midded my front tire by 6" ! i told her to pull her head down out of her ass when she's behind thew wheel and rode off. 1/2 mile down the road I get pulled over and yelled at by one of the wonderful folks of the Forest Acres police department telling me he could arrest me for using foul language like that in public that didnt i know there was a forest acres ordinance prohibiting that kind of language in public?. he ran my license and tag, came back and gave me a written warning. i asked him why the hell he wouldnt bust the little idiot girl that nearly7 took me out and he asked me if i wanted to go to jail? i told him go right ahead and the first call i make is to the wis news room telling them what happened. he walked back to his cruiser after telling me to watch my mouth. i told him yeah, whatever officer fife! my mouth is going to really get me in trouble one of these days. i was out for a ride to try and relax some after a day of driving the wife to doctors appointments and seeing just how bad things are looking and little dip#$%* teenager girl and officer barney fife have to #$%* with me making my mood worse than when i left for the ride. after the close call today i dont know if i want to ride around here anymore or not. 2 hours later and i'm still shaking.

[Brown Bomber]

I know how you feel Bucky, it's been almost 3 years since a 17 yr old hit me from behind and knocked my ZG1000 out from under me. After tailgating me for over a mile on a busy two lane road, I looked for ways to get out from in front of her, but stuffing it into a driveway at 30 mph wasn't a very attractive option. I should have been the last one through a busy intersection, but the texting teenybopper didn't notice the traffic signal, (or my Hyper Lights) and proceeded to shove me toward the stopped SUV in front of me. She then pulled off the road into a driveway leaving me exposed so the next car could run over me. Two off duty cops on the way home stopped to assist until the on duty cop arrived. The little brats mommy was there before before him, and glared at me for making her baby cry, I'm sorry, "cry" would be an understatement. She turned on a floodgate of tears, sobbed, boo hooed, the whole charade for mommy. I had more than one cop tell me to calm down, and have a seat on the bus stop bench (that prevented me from pulling off the road, and avoiding the whole collision) To add insult to injury, I had to sue her ins.,(Allstate) for damages. Allstate tried total my bike, and give me a lousy $1500. The Judge made them give $3000, and leave my title alone.

It took a good while before I was comfortable on the bike after that, and I'll always get disgusted when I see someone texting behind the wheel.

[Freaky1]

Texting and driving is illegal here, and they have issued tickets, to teenagers no less.