Why it pays to read from this forum

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:21 am

Can't remember who it happen to, but some one here had to stop short and didn't quite make it.

To day on the way home from work, I decided to take I-96 from Farmington Rd to Telegraph Rd about 4-5 miles. Generally I'll go up one of the other main north south roads to get home cause 5 to 7pm both 96 and telegraph suck.

Getting ready to exit to Telegraph the exit ramp starts where Beach Daly enters 96 and runs about a 3/4 of a mile. about a half mile from wher you actually leave the Highway to climb up out of the "canyon" the traffic is a dead stop.

So dodging the traffic entering from Beach Daly I have to start breaking hard. I know there is some joker right behind me so I aim for the shoulder to pass on the inside of the last car in the line of stopped cars.

Come to a stop my Front wheel just past the bumper of the stopped car and the guy behind me 2 ft from my rear wheel but also to my left.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:42 am

AMEN brother. I watch my 6 more than I watch in front of me sometimes. I can count at least twice in traffic after having moved into white line mode, the car behind me rear ended the car I just passed.

be damm careful out there guys. I love you all.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:10 am

Yeah, that was me who got rear ended 3 weeks ago. It's amazing how aware I am of the cars in back of me now. It's a good thing I don't have a gun, or there might be dead tailgaters scattered about the Boston highways and byways. I've had several where I actually was going to stop in the lane, and go choke the $hit of them. Haven't done much riding yet, but when I do, you can be sure I will be doing all the right evasive maneuvers when stopping.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:52 am

MikeG hope your alright and getting better.
But after reading your post before just made it stick in my mind to be ready for crap like that when it happens. So thanks for your post you at least made me think more out there.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:07 am

Glad your with us Tom, looking forward to meeting you, would have hated to miss out on that.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:14 am

Same shit all over................ Mad

grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

The cagers tried to kill me from behind. Saw the jerk wasn't going to stop (on a cell phone) if I pulled up tight due to a yellow light going to change to red so I run the red rather than get nailed from behind. The dumbass runs the red too completely oblivious and I have to dive into the next lane to keep from getting sandwiched anyway.

Dave

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:42 am

Glad it worked out. I traveled about 150 miles today (maybe more) to the high desert to palm springs and back to LA.
Went pretty good till i hit traffic comming back into LA.
In the carpool lane at 75 no one behind i was startled to see a mustang passing me on the right in the same lane at at least 85.
Scared the crap out of me for a second because i go to the left and right as i please.
I womped on it and gave the finger untill i knew she saw it in her rear view.
Then after driving a safe distance gave it to her again as i was leaving the carpool lane.
Acctually felt kind of stupid afterwards. I`m shure she will never learn.
But if i had drifted to the right just a little ...Who knows.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:05 am

I have said this before,and took flak because of it.

I view riding a motorcycle the same as flying a fighter in combat,but your guns are jambed. All you are trying to do is get back to the carrier to get them to fire again. Everybody out there is "the enemy" and they are trying their best to put another flag on their plane.

Left turns,stop street runners,ambush from the "6",whatever. Your head has to be on a swivel and automatic to avoid all the enemy. Screw defensive driving as in they "might" make a mistake,you need to be offensive driving. Risk a ticket and go faster than the traffic flow. Keep moving as I have had to avoid assholes that "backed up" to get me. Even where it is not legal lane splitting gives you a place to go. Never stop in traffic to make a left turn,adjust speed and turn on the fly,or pull off to the side till the traffic clears. I live in an area where the traffic is not like LA so I can do this but I avoid having a car anywhere near me,I speed up whatever to remove the threat.

Be careful out there.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:59 am

eatpasta wrote:

I love you all.

Ohh boy,, here we go... Laughing

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:17 am

LOL... it can't be an L.A. thing...

I have actually dropped the sidestand and gotten off to yell at a guy one time in the middle of La Cienega Boulevard... down in the Jungle. He followed at a safer distance thereafter... Laughing

I ride offensively too in the swarm if possible... I like to get ahead of everybody so all I have to look for are the left turners, right turners, and somebody coming up too fast in the mirrors. I lived on a bike full time in L.A. for quite a few years, but it was 25 years ago and more. I can't really take a bike to work nowadays, too many tools, probably just as well Wink

By all means everybody, be safe and alert!

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:49 am

sonicrete wrote:

I have said this before,and took flak because of it.

I view riding a motorcycle the same as flying a fighter in combat,but your guns are jambed. All you are trying to do is get back to the carrier to get them to fire again. Everybody out there is "the enemy" and they are trying their best to put another flag on their plane.

Left turns,stop street runners,ambush from the "6",whatever. Your head has to be on a swivel and automatic to avoid all the enemy. Screw defensive driving as in they "might" make a mistake,you need to be offensive driving. Risk a ticket and go faster than the traffic flow. Keep moving as I have had to avoid assholes that "backed up" to get me. Even where it is not legal lane splitting gives you a place to go. Never stop in traffic to make a left turn,adjust speed and turn on the fly,or pull off to the side till the traffic clears. I live in an area where the traffic is not like LA so I can do this but I avoid having a car anywhere near me,I speed up whatever to remove the threat.

Be careful out there.

Wow. You'll get no flak from me. Thats the best I've ever heard it described. I remember years ago hearing how the state troopers drive faster than the flow of traffic because it is SAFER. In my car I've found myself doing the opposite, I trying to train myself to hang in the slow lane more. Plenty of people going over the speed limit and I have a relaxing ride saving fuel and minding my own business. I keep an I out for 18 wheelers as I respect they are working and do not want to get in their way.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:35 pm

Glad your OK Tom, just got to know you.

I actually used to run a motorcycle training scheme in the UK. We used to brow beat into the students to assume that every other driver on the road is an idiot, think of the stupidest thing they could do and then have an escape plan if they do. Now with the arrival of Cell phones, NAV systems, DVD players it has only gotten worse. When in traffic I always try to hug one side of my lane so I am ready to slide up the side of the car ahead if need be.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:46 pm

I like the fighter pilot analogy. It is the kind of the way I feel when I ride anyhow.

I probably have been getting a little to comfortable with the traffic. I was always the one to tell others to remember every cage driver out there has one purpose and that is to kill a motorcyclist.

Had I not read MikeG's post I may not have even thought about if the dude behind me could stop in time.

Guess I got to get back into the fighter pilot mentality and away from the cessna (sp) pilot day cruiser.

Just wanted to point out that what you read here can help us all be safe

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:08 pm

I agree, what rider wouldn't. I know the area you are talking about Tom. I wouldn't ride there on a bet. Its bad enough in a car. Cars cannot stop like bikes so you really have to watch those mirrors. Out here in rural mid mich it is alot safer and more fun to ride but we can't always be in the "safe" places. Good luck to all and Be on alert.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:36 pm

Had to take defensive driving every year for around 11 years for my employment qaulifications and even though I do not ride stricly defensively on my bike one of the main platforms that is taught is if the brake is applied the eye needs to check the rearview mirror. In addition I find that I am looking at the cagers tires when they are lookig to turn left or pull out from the right. You can get a read on their intent by "seeing" the way the tires are being pointed and "seeing" them begin to roll or not.

I ride like the rest of the folks who have replied here:

Making steady headway in traffic (not getting complacent in following the flow)
Constantly checking mirrors
Checking ahead, side streets, oncoming traffic
Recognizing who is on a cell phone or just driving like crap so I can stay the hell away from them
One of the other things I do is to let the a-holes by (if possible) if they are driving agressively so they are not riding up my tail feathers
It is amazing how many times stopping for a pedestrian or bicycle can get your ass in a bind from the idoits who cannot see past their own fron fender.

Ride safe fellas but have fun too.....

Dave

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:44 pm

AlaskaGriz wrote:

You can get a read on their intent by "seeing" the way the tires are being pointed and "seeing" them begin to roll or not.

Great point you make there. I always watch the wheels on a stopped car cause thats the first indication when it starts moving. The first time I saw those damn spinner things it scared the crap out of me.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:09 pm

Now with cell phone distractions it may not work.

On a multilane road when approaching from behind watch the driver's head. If he looks to the the mirror up or right he is "probably" going to lane change right,and looks into the left mirror probably lane change left.

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:04 pm

As to the fighter pilot analogy, if I don't feel like someone in a car or a dog off the leash etc has not been a hazard, I think I'm not being observant enough.

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:21 pm

sonicrete wrote:

Now with cell phone distractions it may not work.

On a multilane road when approaching from behind watch the driver's head. If he looks to the the mirror up or right he is "probably" going to lane change right,and looks into the left mirror probably lane change left.

sonicrete~

You nailed that one for sure. Looking to see if the the driver is taking a look at their mirrors can indicate they are wanting to move into your path. I do that a lot as well. Thanks for pointing this important clue that allows one to react proactively rather than be caught off-gaurd.

Just got in from a 200 mile trip today and I would say that I had to remind myself several times to be MORE observant. Wink

Dave

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:54 am

To me, the single biggest thing you can do to protect yourself is ride faster than traffic. If you put most of the traffic behind you and they stay there, then most problems remain in front of you where you can see them.

There is nothing worse than being stuck behind the idiot cruising along in the left lane right along side the other idiot in the right lane and neither one doing anything about it other than thinking "gee, I'm going the speed limit." Duh!

I don't know if you call it offensive or defensive but keeping trouble behind you seems a good defense to me.

And Cessna is spelled correctly Smile

Hawk Joined: Jun 24, 2003 Posts: 270 Location: Tujunga, CA

genesound wrote:

... down in the Jungle.

Are you talking about the area of La Cieniga & MLK Blvd.?

I ran out of gas down there once at 2:30 A.M. !

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:53 pm

Yeah, it's actually La Cienega and Rodeo... Rodeo turns into MLK Wink

I used to be kind of a face in S. Central a few decades ago, did lots of free concerts and such for Willie Davis, school stuff in Watts, big change for a white boy from the stix in Northern California. I lived at La Brea and Colliseum for a short time, too Wink

Guest

sonicrete wrote:

I have said this before,and took flak because of it.

I view riding a motorcycle the same as flying a fighter in combat,but your guns are jambed. All you are trying to do is get back to the carrier to get them to fire again. Everybody out there is "the enemy" and they are trying their best to put another flag on their plane.

Left turns,stop street runners,ambush from the "6",whatever. Your head has to be on a swivel and automatic to avoid all the enemy. Screw defensive driving as in they "might" make a mistake,you need to be offensive driving. Risk a ticket and go faster than the traffic flow. Keep moving as I have had to avoid assholes that "backed up" to get me. Even where it is not legal lane splitting gives you a place to go. Never stop in traffic to make a left turn,adjust speed and turn on the fly,or pull off to the side till the traffic clears. I live in an area where the traffic is not like LA so I can do this but I avoid having a car anywhere near me,I speed up whatever to remove the threat.

Be careful out there.

i do exactly the same thing

but i do it in my car as well

stomp on it and gtfaway from other drivers

Hawk Joined: Aug 18, 2006 Posts: 272 Location: Alsip, Ill

A trick I learned was to pretend that I was invisable, anytime I ride I always think to myself that no one can see me, it always makes me think twice about certain situations and cover the brake during those times.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:15 am

One other thing: it doesn't matter what the legal rights and wrongs are: there's no point in being legally correct and legally dead.

You have to anticipate and make up for their wrongdoing.

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:58 am

I second the offensive driving comment. The most defensive thing I could do in LA was KEEP MOVING! Never give them a chance to sneak up and you won't get rear ended. Work your way to the front of the line at the stop light and get out there when safe. Then do the same at the next light. Let someone else get rear ended. Stay away from the back of the line.

Jose

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:03 am

PJay wrote:

One other thing: it doesn't matter what the legal rights and wrongs are: there's no point in being legally correct and legally dead.

Yes, you can recover from a ticket...usually in just one payperiod. Better to argue with a cop or a judge than a bumper.

Another story: I had an idiot in a big pick-up beside me change lanes, nearly running me off the road, luckily there was enough shoulder and I was able to gun it out of there. I didn't even give 'em the finger just the horn as I got out of the way. About a 1/2 mile later the speed zone changes from 80kph to 60 (50 to 36mph), like an idiot I obey the signs and slow down, the asshole comes up beside me again and his passenger throws a 1/2 full pop bottle at me. I was so pissed I wanted to follow them home and do some donuts on their lawn.

So later that night I'm at my friend's shop and I relate my tale. These guys tell me that "back in the day" when they were young badasses riding their suicidal Kawi triples; they all used to carry a handful of glass marbles in their jacket pockets for just such occasions. Apparently when the marbles hit a windshield at speed they explode leaving no evidence, and not much windshield either. Twisted Evil

Not that I'm condoning that kind of behavior, taking a hand off the grips to throw marbles over your shoulder is too risky, ...maybe an exhaust powered marble-gun...hmmm, now that sounds like a project, kinda 007ish Wink

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:18 am

Da_Hose wrote:

I second the offensive driving comment. The most defensive thing I could do in LA was KEEP MOVING! Never give them a chance to sneak up and you won't get rear ended. Work your way to the front of the line at the stop light and get out there when safe. Then do the same at the next light. Let someone else get rear ended. Stay away from the back of the line.

Jose

I should do it more often. I get the feeling people just get pissed off when i ride to the front. I really dont care about getting ahead of the pack but there are valid reasons to do so.
Some times there are allready a group of bikers that have crowded the front.
In stopped freeway traffic i allways split lanes though. Untill it starts moving and i just fall in with the traffic.
I need to re-asess my habits to be safe though.