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desper wrote: at least no bikers are talking on cell phones!

I know a biker who talks on his cell while riding...

desper wrote:I went for my first REAL ride yesterday. around city streets and during rush hour. I found on the whole everyone seemed to see me/keep distance etc.

While that may be true today. Don't expect it everyday. The cagers can & will pull out if front of you. Stay on guard bro.

When I first starting riding all the cagers yielded to me too. But, now I see what everyone is talking about. These cagers are dangerous. I immediately get out of the way of anyone on a cell phone too. If kids are in the mix too I get very far outta the way.

Aren't the majority of car vs. motorcycle accidents caused by vehicles turning into the path of the oncoming bike? I know a guy that was killed on a brand new Harley that way. That's why I think that modulators are the way to go...short of wearing hunter orange and a set of pink rabbit ears on your helmet - they hafta be the best way to increase your visibility.

desper
PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2006 9:22 am Post subject:
I went for my first REAL ride yesterday. around city streets and during rush hour. I found on the whole everyone seemed to see me/keep distance etc. with the exception of one soccer mom in an suv on a cell phone. she did a halfa$$ rolling stop through a stop sign, and pulls out in front of me, sees me and stops right in my path. Luckily, I had predicted this and slowed to a safer speed.... Then as I'm passing around her she waves her cell at me(trying to say sorry) but couldn't even wave properly because of the cell.

I think that's the best defense, always expecting someone to come pulling out of a side steet or take a left hand turn or something, right in your path. I always slow down when going past side streets and such, especially on two lane roads, until I'm sure no cager is going to pull out in front of me.

Yesterday, I was riding up to an intersection, and had a green, but stopped, so that I wouldn't block the intersection. So, some impatient dick in the lane to my right, pulls in front of me, into the intersection, blocking it. I just kinda shrugged, and because I was expecting something like that to happen. I noticed some of the people around me in their cars were also not surprised by this "O Ring"'s move.

Safety in cynicism

BubbaGump wrote:Aren't the majority of car vs. motorcycle accidents caused by vehicles turning into the path of the oncoming bike? I know a guy that was killed on a brand new Harley that way. That's why I think that modulators are the way to go...short of wearing hunter orange and a set of pink rabbit ears on your helmet - they hafta be the best way to increase your visibility.

Got to agree, fitted mine and it has made a huge difference, especially now the Prozac taking cell phone soccer moms think they are hallucinating.

My bike comes stock with a "pass" button located above the turn signals. Its a toggle switch that when you press it it turns on the bright so, you can flick it when you are going through an intersection, but its not modulating all the time. And when you press it to turn on the bright, when you let go it automatically switches back, so you don't have to worry about leaving the bright on on accident (separate switch to turn the bright on all the way). Works pretty well, I think all bikes should come with them.

desper wrote: at least no bikers are talking on cell phones!

I wouldn't count on that be a true statement....last year...I saw to guys on two different occasions...dealing with cell phones.

1st guy coming to a stop...was trying to shove his phone into his full face helmet... (I hate to say this...but he was on a Harley)

2nd...rolling down the road. Looked as if he was trying to dial on his cell phone. (again...I hate to say this he also was on a Harley)

To quote a Honda motorcycle saying "Stupid Hurts"!

desper wrote:
at least no bikers are talking on cell phones!

Actually I've seen one do this. No hands on the handle bar, phone in left hand with the right hand couping his mouth and the phone so that he can be heard... nice eh?

camthepyro wrote: Yesterday, I was riding up to an intersection, and had a green, but stopped, so that I wouldn't block the intersection. So, some impatient dick in the lane to my right, pulls in front of me, into the intersection, blocking it. I just kinda shrugged, and because I was expecting something like that to happen. I noticed some of the people around me in their cars were also not surprised by this "O Ring"'s move.

Doesnt surprise me! When you're in heavy traffic and come to an intersection, you are supposed to completely block the intersection if possible, that way even if the light turns red you can still proceed.

Also when you do this, other drivers are supposed to gun into the intersection up to a few inches away from your side, blare their horn and throw a fit. If possible, any traffic in front of your nose is to then force themselves in front of you, locking you in the center of the intersection.

This way, both parties drive away from the incident hopping mad, and traffic that was slow now comes to a complete stop for a good 30-40 seconds.

After all, its not your fault everyone is on the road at the same time you are. Its incredible that anyone should question this. Especially if your car is nice, you should have first priority on the roads.