Holy *C*rap - stupid cagers

[KarateChick]

Just another Stupid Cagers rant. Was waiting at a red light yesterday in left lane with a car stopped beside me in the right lane. Watching mirrors and c*rap - car coming sure didn't look like he was slowing down. I started moving to the left as much as possible and was getting ready to bail. The light must've JUST changed to green as the car got there cause he blew totally by and squeezed between the both of us. Waayy too close for my comfort and he totally surprised the guy beside me. Idiot just kept going. Don't know if he didn't see me or was just being a total jackass.

What do you guys do when waiting at a light - I mean do you keep alternating watching your mirrors and the light and if there is a jerk coming up fast, at what point do you take your eyes off the guy coming from the back and chance a peek at the light? And where do you move if it's at a busy intersection cause forward doesn't sound like a great idea with a lot of cars zipping by.

[Sev]

Glad to see you're out riding again, you weren't perchance the girl on the GSX-R who pulled up next to me on 34th street? No, didn't think so, that'd be WAY to much of a coincidence.

For me, I check my mirrors once in a while, I'm pretty big, yellow and reflective when viewed from the rear, so I've never had someone not stop behind me. So I glance, then glance and glance again, when the person behind me stops, I ignore what's going on back there until the light turns green.

I figure that if that ever happens to me, I'm going to hang the HARDEST right that I can, get parallel to the road in front of the car that is next to me. Then my lane is clear (hopefully in time) and I'm not in traffic, but likely in a crosswalk.

Post more.

[KarateChick]

Thanks Sev. I'll keep that in mind about moving right - good point. At the time, I was just too freaked to think anything but move away and left seemed logical cause there was a bit of a median there. Yeah, I usually keep watch until I at least get a car stopped behind me. I will for sure remember to always watch now - jeepers.

Yep - back out on the road. Got in lots of skiing and boarding and hit the last big snowfall at Sunshine over Easter. Had just got the 01 out & about when I got an offer on it so was bike-less for a week then out of town.

I picked up an 06 ninja 250 at the end of April as I sold the 01 a week before that. Still not sure if the driver didn't see me or was just being an a**. However, I am small & blue compared to you although I wish they sent those yellow 06 250's here that I saw on the Kawi site. Yea yellow! Also quite liked those new 650R models and will wait and see how my friend likes the one he just got. (He got his wife the black 250 ninja)

Happy trails and watch that gravel that's still hanging around out there.

[BigChickenStrips]

[hijack] i just bought a yellow 06' ninja 250R. it is tight. yay for me. [/hijack]

[dieziege]

LOL... Ryan... we know you love your Ninja... though if you REALLY loved her you'd have a matching jacket and helmet...

[moto_hanki]

Just this past weekend, up in Portland, a Rider was rear ended at a stop light and crushed between 2 cars. The driver that hit him didn't even try to slow down, as there were no skid marks. The rider did not make it.

I always keep an eye on my mirror until someone stops behind me.

[dieziege]

Keep your eye open period. I've seen two full size pickup trucks and a car munched by one guy not stopping at a light. Idiot hits the stopped car, who gets pushed into the truck ahead, who gets pushed into the truck ahead of him... if a motorcycle was between any of them it would've been busted legs at least.

In a car I'm constantly looking behind any time I'm stopping or stopped. I'm trying to learn that skill on bikes.

When I'm stopped behind a car (something I try to avoid) with nobody visible behind me I've found myself turning the bike (which has fairing-mounted mirrors) so I have a clear view behind and a straight-line "escape route" ahead. Maybe not the best way to do it... but it should also make the bike a little more visible.

[Gadjet]

glad to hear that you made it out ok.

Anytime I'm stopped at a light, I keep one eye on whichever mirror gives me the clearest view behind me, and I always make sure that I have an escape route to either side.

These kind of situations is also why I *never* put the bike in neutral while sitting at a light.

[The Grinch]

This is a good reason to keep your bike in 1st gear at lights and watch your mirrors:

http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/1bikestop.gif

[Bachstrad37]

Wow, if you note of the truck's rear brake lights, he doesn't step on the brake until 20-25 feet of the motorcyclist. Makes me really check my 6 whenever stopped from now on. What a tragedy...

Glad you're OK Karate!