darryl@ISM780.UUCP (02/20/85)
[] Well, here's another scare story to add to your collection. I just had an accident yesterday that will keep me thinking about street safety for the next few weeks (at least). The situation: two bikes riding down a quiet, suburban side street. Speed is no more than 20 mph (maybe even 15). A car pulls part way out of a driveway, the car facing out, and stops for the lead bike. The bikes are no more than 20 or 30 feet apart. The lead bike passes and the car proceeds out and bashes the second bike (and rider). The crash is very low speed, so low in fact that the bike doesn't go down, I just get off and put it on the stand and hobble to the curb. I now have a chip off one of the bones in my ankle. I go today to get a cast. Lots of fun. Now I have about six weeks to think about the situation. It's difficult to decide what I could have done to avoid this. The driver had come to a complete stop for the lead bike. I was close enough behind and going slow enough that I don't think I could have gotten out of the way. I could have been watching the car more closely, but we were approaching an intersection and I was looking at it for traffic (the driver had already stopped and seen *US*, right?). Oh well, maybe you can't be smart enough to avoid them all. I have to admit that my bike saved my leg. My beemer's crash bar and cylinder took the impact on the head (well, I have to maintain my sense of humor here, sorry :-). I had a broken spark plug, and minor cosmetic damage. --Darryl Richman, INTERACTIVE Systems Inc. ...!cca!ima!ism780!darryl The views expressed above are my opinions only.
dewey@ttidcb.UUCP (William Dewey) (02/21/85)
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Ive had a similar crash..... Situation:
at about dusk..... yours truly and a friend on the back were
following a car (with its lights on...); car pulls off to the side, lights
go off...... whips a u-turn (middle of block, across double yellow, but
what's it matter); bike t-bones car.... both passengers take flying lessons....
:-) howd that landing chapter go again??? I, thank Crom, still managed to
remember how to roll.... (score card 9.9, didnt keep my ankles together)
my buddy still has a bum knee.
Bottom line is that to ride a bike..... 'specially in LA, you have to
be willing to put 100% of your concentration on riding and avoiding....
Remeber.... no one can see you..... and the ones who do, have been paid to
take you out..... Since that crash, this attitude has kept me out of bunches
of situations that I wouldnt have avoided before..... how many times
have *you* said to yourself, nah he wouldnt do something that stupid....
oh my God... he did!!!
Rich Silva, sometimes Wiz (aka ttidcb!dewey)darryl@ISM780.UUCP (02/24/85)
[]
That's the whole point... I NEVER say to my self "Nah, s/he wouldn't do
that". If there's even the slightest chance... I have built this
into kind of a sixth sense ("Gee, that guy up ahead in the next lane
just glanced over his shoulder... *Nervous panic feeling*"). All the
same, this one didn't raise a flag. Guess I'll have to build this one
into that sickth sense. After thinking about it a bit more (e.g., this
last week), I feel I'm not sensitive enough to the most obvious dangers --
"there's a car that's aiming directly at me, just waiting for me to get
in range!"
--Darryl Richman, INTERACTIVE Systems Inc.
...!cca!ima!ism780!darryl
The views expressed above are my opinions only.marauder@fluke.UUCP (Bill Landsborough) (02/26/85)
Darryell I sympathize with you on your crash. It's real nice you walked
away. Many don't. Through my experience I have drilled into my head
that, "Don't trust ANY car that can hit you at that moment!!" I picture
every person driving those cars as a motorcycle hater or absolutely blind
and 2.2% blood alcohol ratio drunk. When I approach an intersection I look
for the vehicle which can surprise me the most and hit me the worst. Usually
its the oncoming left turn vehicle who is "waiting?" for me to pass. I
run through my mind that the Hurt reports says 31% of all motorcycle fatalities
occur from that position. I put two fingers on the front brake automatically
as I approach and I think of my options. I watch the first thing that has
to move for him to get me, usually his hand on the steering wheel. If I
can't see his hand then I watch the front tire, the direction its facing
and the start of a roll.
I not saying to any motorcycle rider to be afraid; I'm saying to be a
realist. Don't assume that any one is going or not going to do anything.
I 'assumed' a truck pulling out from the right of me was going to turn right
in front of me. As I was passing him on his right he continued his U-TURN
back into the driveway that he came from.
I don't mean to sound 'smartalick' but this is the time of year when
most riders get it and hopefully things like this and the information that
experienced riders pass on will help.