[snadamo]

So I am riding along my usual route, but this time on the bike...I needed to make my right turn, So i put the turn signal on, with plenty of time. I see an SUV coming the other direction wanting to turn left on the same street I want to turn at. Naturally I have the ROW because I was so close, I was already breaking (about 30 feet or so?) So this lady in her SUV just starts turning like I dont even exist!!!! I slam on my brakes and let her go, because we all know I would have lost that battle. Then I give her the hands in the air routine and I notice that she is driving with one hand and the other in holding a CELL PHONE!!! There was a HOG at connecting stop sign just laughing at the lady for her retardedness...Are we not that obvoius? ITs a small 30mph street!!!! I had my brights on too. Well I saw that happening in my mind so I was prepared, but for God sakes I was already starting my turn!!!! How did she not see me? Oh well ITs funny now because one day she will find out that her ignorance will get her into trouble.

OK I got my first riding experience RANT over with...

Attached is a google earth image of the intersection I was talking about: I was heading WB and wanting to go North (right) at that intersection. She was heading EB and wanting to turn North (left)

 

[bumblebee]

buy quality, well fitting protective gear...you will, sorry to say, be needing it... :nonod:

 

[Earlzach]

All I can say is the good thing was you had your eye on her. It is a rule of thumb when riding, as a rider youu have to be way more alert to the actions of others when making dicisions. Trust me they are not watching you. you have to expect this every time you get on your bike. It is called defencive driving, you should always worry about what the other guy will do. :2cents:

 

[pobrediablo]

:scratch: you always got to be alert and scan everything way ahead of you and be ready to react, lot of people just have no respect for bikes, this kind of stuff happens to me very often, just be on the lookout they will be plenty more, like cars trying to change in your lane with you in it

 

[itgirl25]

:iagree: i always just assume the other person is gonna cut me off, etc. that way i am always prepared for the worst. and i always slow down when approaching intersections as well. sometimes i think the only way to get cages to notice me would be if i rode topless. :wink:

 

[bumblebee]

I'd notice!! :wink:

 

[itgirl25]

oh bee, you're making me blush...

 

[ShanMan14]

I recall riding with warpedrotor one time where a full size van tried to change lanes on top of him going 75 MPH down the Superstition Freeway. he got so pizzed he got up close and smacked the van's rear view mirror. :yikes:

 

[3BoyzNaBike]

i think the only way to get cages to notice me would be if i rode topless. :wink:

LOL oh my... you surely wouldn't have to worry about anyone not noticing you then.... you would have a string of men following behind probably stepping on their tongues. :lol:

 

[olbapablo]

It's always frustrating when other drivers seem to be so careless with your life, but the sad truth is poeple often don't see other CARS, let alone bikers. I feel your pain being a semi-new rider msyelf and getting pushed out of 2 lanes on the freeway yesterday... just learn to keep a BIG buffer area around you so that when people are stupid it doesn't have to hurt you.

Great advice on the leathers too, i never ride without them becuase you just never know. I had a friend of mine going to the super-market 2 blocks down with a t-shirt and helmet get hit and died of infection 2 weeks later (lost more than 50% of his skin). Horrible, and not worth it. It gets hot as hell here in California, but we gotta be extra prepared. :leaving:

 

[ScottHimself2]

:iagree: i always just assume the other person is gonna cut me off, etc. that way i am always prepared for the worst. and i always slow down when approaching intersections as well. sometimes i think the only way to get cages to notice me would be if i rode topless. :wink:

thats prob a good idea anyways but thats just me :iagree: :dthumb:

 

[R1up0n1]

[email protected] cagers!!!
oh and :welcome: olbapablo :twfrox:

 

[Earlzach]

:welcome: olbapablo
Sorry to here about your friend, But sure glad you came into join us here at TWF :cheers:

 

[DetroitRaceChic]

i hear ya on the ranting........and the thumbnail pic of the intersection cracked me up, i love it

Rach

 

[ne1469]

:scratch: you always got to be alert and scan everything way ahead of you and be ready to react, lot of people just have no respect for bikes, this kind of stuff happens to me very often, just be on the lookout they will be plenty more, like cars trying to change in your lane with you in it

:iagree: I almost got plowed 20 ft from my drive way..this car just decided not to stop at a stop sign..ran it making a left turn and almost plows me down...she just looked at me like she didnt do anything wrong :scratch:

 

[Gas Man]

They are all trying to hit you!! The best way to view cagers!!

Also, :welcome: olbapablo

 

[WarpedRotor]

Three words : Welcome to Arizona!
Most SUV drivers here are terrible. Never a turn signal, cell phone on the ear, flicking cigarette butts out the window. It is amazing they dont wreck more often. FYI - my wife drives an Explorer and my daughter a Cherokee. They are bad enough. :angelhap:
From October until March, all of the snowbirds will come flocking to thier winter homes. Driving a bike around here will only get worse. Thank the gods you were able to predict her stupidity before it cost you anything.
Try driving on the US60 in November. I swear that retirement vehicles only do 45 MPH by default and that all of the welding shop goggle wearing silver hairs (not that far off m'self) look at everything but the road, signs and traffic.

 

[Gas Man]

Guess what...they are the same way up here in Michigan and we have the snow birds all year around... not all of them leave.... beware of the blue hairs!

 

[pobrediablo]

I swear that retirement vehicles only do 45 MPH by default and that all of the welding shop goggle wearing silver hairs (not that far off m'self) look at everything but the road, signs and traffic. ( :rofl3: :rofl3: :rofl3: :rofl3: :rofl3:

 

[snadamo]

Three words : Welcome to Arizona!
Most SUV drivers here are terrible. Never a turn signal, cell phone on the ear, flicking cigarette butts out the window. It is amazing they dont wreck more often. FYI - my wife drives an Explorer and my daughter a Cherokee. They are bad enough. :angelhap:
From October until March, all of the snowbirds will come flocking to thier winter homes. Driving a bike around here will only get worse. Thank the gods you were able to predict her stupidity before it cost you anything.
Try driving on the US60 in November. I swear that retirement vehicles only do 45 MPH by default and that all of the welding shop goggle wearing silver hairs (not that far off m'self) look at everything but the road, signs and traffic.

I have already seen the Snowbirds flock in early this season!!!! And yes, I never ride without my helmet jacket and gloves. Nooooooo way Id ride without em :dthumb: . Luckily that street was a 25MPH road, but yea I always try to leave a buffer zone so I can escape if needed and always predict the worst case scenario with cars. IT happened to me twice after that day too!!! The worst was I was going straight and somebody just made a left in front of me!!! I am learning very quickly about the behavior of other drivers on my bike. in AZ we have the SIPDE acronym (Scan Identify Predict Decide Execute) That has really come in handy for me. anyway, I can alreay say my confidence in my riding and probably my skills as well have improved a lot in the past week.


BTW MY bike had its Level 3 inspection today and PASSED!!!! I have my permanenet plate on and everything now. My summer project is now complete, now I can enjoy it! :cheers: