Had my first truly close call just now...

[schleppy]

Riding home from work, on 1A in North Beverly right by Stop and Shop. I'm cruising along at or under the limit (it's a dicey area, don't speed there!), when I see a black Chrysler mini van coming towards the exit of stop and shop. Instinctively I moved my hand towards the front brake, but it looks like they're stopping, so I continue on (still watching van). NOPE. Van doesn't slow down at all and bombs right out the exit. Things are a bit blurry in my head, but I remember clamping my knees on the tank, and grabbing as much front and rear brake as I could. My tires start squealing/chirping, bike wobbles a bit, and I stop about 8-12" from the side of the van. As soon as the van driver realized I stopped in time, they drove off. Asshole. I threw my arms up and looked back with the "WTF!?" and sat in the road for a second to gather myself.

Needless to say the rest of the ride home was accompanied by a massive adrenaline high and some shaky limbs. Scary stuff.

Be safe out there everyone, and practice your emergency braking whenever you can!

[Sheppo]

Glad you are OK !!! Crashing Sucks.

[schleppy]

Glad you are OK !!! Crashing Sucks.

Thankfully I didn't crash or hit anything, but it was damn close.

[OreoGaborio]

Shoulda followed 'em home, waited for them to go to bed & punched em in the taint in their sleep.

Glad you're alright, bro. Good job predicting the unpredictable & nice save. Another rider may not have been as prepared.

[schleppy]

A couple miles down the road I started to wish I followed them to ream em out. It probably wouldn't have made a difference.

I'm really glad I reacted the way I did. I think getting my knees and core locked into the bike is what kept me upright...

[stoinkythepig]

As soon as the van driver realized I stopped in time, they drove off. Asshole. I threw my arms up and looked back with the "WTF!?" and sat in the road for a second to gather myself.

Needless to say the rest of the ride home was accompanied by a massive adrenaline high and some shaky limbs. Scary stuff.

Be safe out there everyone, and practice your emergency braking whenever you can!

Glad it ended well.

[RyanNicholson]

Damn... glad it worked out ok, the last thing we need is another thing slowing that project down

Had a somewhat close call the other day on the highway myself.

[schleppy]

Damn... glad it worked out ok, the last thing we need is another thing slowing that project down .

LOL seriously!

[Kenn157]

Thank goodness you're ok Sean!
I bet you had "gear" on knowing you buddy.

[eboos]

A couple miles down the road I started to wish I followed them to ream em out. It probably wouldn't have made a difference.

Likely the only difference it would have made is having the driver write you off as just an asshole biker and accept no responsibility at all for the near miss.

On the other hand, now they probably have something to reflect back on, although I am sure it isn't as satisfying for you.

[schleppy]

Thank goodness you're ok Sean!
I bet you had "gear" on knowing you buddy.

I was rocking jeans, but I had the rest of the gear on. Glad I did...

Likely the only difference it would have made is having the driver write you off as just an asshole biker and accept no responsibility at all for the near miss.

On the other hand, now they probably have something to reflect back on, although I am sure it isn't as satisfying for you.

I have a feeling you're dead on. And when I think about it that way it's satisfying enough. I'm just glad I didn't hit the car/ground.

[sveesix]

Glad you are okay!

[Woodsy]

are you talking about the shaws on 1a or the stop and shop on rt62? i dont remember a stop and shop on 1a in beverly

[Twheat18]

Glad you didn't go down. Isn't it a surreal feeling when your mind swears your going to plow into something. I know in both my crash and my seriously close call this year my memory was super fuzzy of the actual moment and the adrenaline is numbing.

[peterz85]

Nice save bro, makes you really appreciate the stopping power of todays bike brake systems and grippy tires!!! Keeping your brakes maintained properly is a must for street riding on these "special occasions"!!!

Its fairly easy to go fast, its stopping fast that takes some practice.


Pete

[ZX11D]

Close one. Glad to see you are ok.

[camhabib]

are you talking about the shaws on 1a or the stop and shop on rt62? i dont remember a stop and shop on 1a in beverly

I believe he may be talking about the one across the street from the Cummings Center? Could be mistaken though.

Glad you're ok though. Drive there every day and have had more than a few close calls myself.

[schleppy]

are you talking about the shaws on 1a or the stop and shop on rt62? i dont remember a stop and shop on 1a in beverly

Up near Nick's roast beef, heading towards Wenham. Across from McDonalds is a Stop and Shop. It's been there for 10+ years.

[nhbubba]

It probably wouldn't have made a difference.

Probably not. Amazing how easily and quickly people can justify their actions.. and then turn it around and blame you.

Glad to hear it was a "close call" and not worse.

I do hate that pumped up, half pissed, half scared crap-less feeling on the way home though.

[Garandman]

Every time I hear about a near-miss like this, I have to go . Hi-viz gear greatly reduces the likelihood of these events. If you don't wear hi-viz gear (white or yellow helmet, florescent jacket), and ride paranoid, then expect it to happen, often.

From the Hurt Report, which came out in 1981.

Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.

In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.

The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.

Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.

Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.

The view of the motorcycle or the other vehicle involved in the accident is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles in almost half of the multiple vehicle accidents.

Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.

The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph.

The typical motorcycle pre-crash lines-of-sight to the traffic hazard portray no contribution of the limits of peripheral vision; more than three-fourths of all accident hazards are within 45deg of either side of straight ahead.

Conspicuity of the motorcycle is most critical for the frontal surfaces of the motorcycle and rider.

From your description, it appears that almost every single one of those factors is present. I know the area well.

All that said, even on a tall bike with two headlights, a white helmet, and a hi-viz jacket, I still don't get noticed every time. But there is something you can do to help: the Anti-SMIDSY maneuver. I started doing this after trial and error in 1985 because it seemed to help, but this video explains why it helps.

CN: If the background behind the driver is not moving behind him, the background behind you is not moving, either: make it move, or prepare to absorb.

Crash Course - The SMIDSY - YouTube

[sveesix]

All that said, even on a tall bike with two headlights, a white helmet, and a hi-viz jacket, I still don't get noticed every time. But there is something you can do to help: the Anti-SMIDSY maneuver. I started doing this after trial and error in 1985 because it seemed to help, but this video explains why it helps.

Crash Course - The SMIDSY - YouTube

Nice video!

[nhbubba]

Yes, cool video. Taught me a thing or two. I usually move in the lane when I am not sure a turning car sees me, but not done that weave maneuver. Not a bad idea.

Also have to say I am warming up to high-vis.

[Sportygurl131]

Shoulda followed 'em home, waited for them to go to bed & punched em in the taint in their sleep.

Glad you're alright, bro. Good job predicting the unpredictable & nice save. Another rider may not have been as prepared.

love that response

[jcrawford]

Crash Course - The SMIDSY - YouTube

Nice Video, I will use this tactic next time I see the background behind a car motionless

[nitroduck]

I saw a motorcycle accident at the same place you had your close call last season.

It appeared a car pulled out of Starbucks and the front bumper hit a motorcycle coming from cycles 128 get together.

The front bumper of the car was torn off but thankfully the rider looked ok.