Really really close call yesterday

[shalihe74]

Cycle World's International Motorcycle Show was in Phoenix over the weekend; I spent Saturday working at the show and, on Sunday, decided to head back over just to hang out.

Geography: This intersection is like most of the local over passes: 3-4 east/west lanes, with 2 left turn lanes in either direction. There is one right turn lane in each direction that feeds into 4 lanes - two of which take you on to the frontage road, two of which get you on the freeway. To get onto the freeway from the right turn lane, you have to cross the 2 frontage road lanes, and possibly merge into traffic that has turned left across the intersection. (The intersection.)

The sitch: I'm in the 2nd (right side) left turn lane, first in line. There is a pickup next to me. I get my green arrow and take off. Looking ahead, I see nothing more untoward than an eastbound Nissan slowing to turn south. Cool.

Road's clear, so I lean into the turn a little more than usual, having a little fun. I'm not flying, but probably doing 45. I'm about 3/4ths of the way through the curve, at the point when frontage road lanes and freeway lanes meet, when I look over to the right to make sure all is clear that way... and see the Nissan.

He has cut across both frontage road lanes and made a straight shot for the freeway lanes... and me. Anticipating the worst, I do a quick mirror check to ensure that the pickup isn't right next to me and my escape route is clear.

Thank god it is because, as I look back at the Nissan... it is now halfway into my lane, immediately next to me. My front tire and his front tire are even... and he is 8" away from me, and closing quickly.

I'm not being cut off here, I'm being frickin' run over.

Throttle, lean, pray... I have enough time to realize that lowsiding - and subsequently getting smushed - is a real possibility here... and I'm out of the way by the time he even notices I'm there.

Looking in my mirror, I see his passengers freaking out and him, now all the way in the lane space that I had been occupying a split second earlier, hitting the brakes and looking like he just soiled his pants.

The most amazing thing about it though, was how smoothly it all happened. No panic, no adrenaline, just a 'This may suck', a 'Jeeeeeeesus' and... all clear. I don't think it could have been more fluid had it been rehearsed.

Just had to share. Be careful out there.

[Thumper]

I hope the Nissan driver's passengers beat him soundly about the head and chest...and then not let him go home to change his shorts.

Mostly, just glad you ride through it and didn't panic. A fraction of a freak out second could have made you a splotch on the landscape.

[Wrider]

Yeah, not the best intersection there... Glad you made it ok!
Did you get to do any test rides? Oh, I saw your buddy, the one with the black 675 there test riding an R6. Also got to meet one of your fellow instructors on Friday night when I was there!
Wrider

[Shorts]

Too close.

Glad you got out of there.

[shalihe74]

Too close.

Nooooo kidding...

I hope the Nissan driver's passengers beat him soundly about the head and chest...and then not let him go home to change his shorts.

Hehe... I hope so too! Although, thinking back over what happened, I kind of doubt it. I distinctly recall staring up at the driver and saying "Jeeeesus" even as I steered away from him. He was happily yapping away to his passengers, oblivious to the world around him... I'll be they had the shorts-spoiling moment and then right back to lala land.

I've been very lucky in my years of riding to, really, have never been put in such a close call situation. It's a bit of a confidence boost to know that my instincts are, apparently, good.

But not too much of a confidence boost... I don't want to get cocky. If I had launched into that curve, riding at the limit, I wouldn't have had an out and would be tartar at the moment...

Wrider: I didn't do any test rides - the idea of getting there at 9am to sign up for short, supervised rides didn't appeal. I can get a ride on any bike I want, just by asking the right person.

I know a couple of guys on black 675s, but I'm guessing you mean either Peter (English dude) or Mark (younger guy)? And Dave mentioned he had met you... I was sorry to have missed ya, but I was teaching Friday night!

I still owe ya lunch at Pedro's one of these months.

[Wrider]

Wrider: I didn't do any test rides - the idea of getting there at 9am to sign up for short, supervised rides didn't appeal. I can get a ride on any bike I want, just by asking the right person.

I know a couple of guys on black 675s, but I'm guessing you mean either Peter (English dude) or Mark (younger guy)? And Dave mentioned he had met you... I was sorry to have missed ya, but I was teaching Friday night!

I still owe ya lunch at Pedro's one of these months.

Haha yes you do!

The guy I met was Peter I believe, shorter darker guy with a kind of english accent.

And you're lucky! I hadda get there at 8 to sign up for the rides, plus I can't just get rides on any bike! You lucky bum! There are definite advantages to being a riding woman!

Once again though, glad you're ok. I've had a few close calls coming off the 101 to get to work in Westgate there, not so much fun.
Wrider

[CYNWAGON]

I had something similar happen to me a couple weeks ago, but luckily for me I was in my truck and not on my bike. We have this highway that is 5 lanes and then splits 3 and 3 to get on to the freeway or go straight into the city. It's a fairly new interchange and I think people are still getting confused. I was driving in the far right lane and I noticed this car just ahead of me changing lanes in the lane next to me. I don't know what it was but I didn't feel very good with her being beside me. I had another truck behind me so when she came over into my front end, my only option was the shoulder. Horn blaring - Albertans do not use their horns enough - I went around her and she didn't even notice until she was fully in my lane and I had pulled in front of her of her . The main reason I was glad to be in the truck was all of the construction debris on the side of the road - I'm pretty sure I would have lost it on the bike.
Just goes to show you, you're invisible on a bike and apparently just as sneaky in an Expedition - go figure!

[Gunslinger]

Glad you made out OK on the deal Shalihe74. Props to you for even riding a bike in Phoenix. Been there a thousand times and every time I go back the traffic gets worse. It is as close to driving hell as you can get 'cept maybe LA at rush hour. I don't know if I could do it.