swerving saves lives

[breakdirt916]

Just put on the lowers and cleaned up my bike (that's usually when I drop my bikes)...went out to get gas...heading down 4th st in long beach when homeboy from my right, in a grand marquis from a side street, did one of those "fast rolling stops through the stop sign" (so he never stopped to check), and turns left out in front of me...too late to brake to a stop, I swerved left hoping he'd see me last second than brake to a stop in the middle of street...but he didn't, and my mind panicked as his big ass grand marquis grill kept coming right at me...so I pushed the left bar harder and swerved even farther, narrowly missing the front of his car by about a foot...and went into the other lane (luckily no oncoming traffic), then guiness book of world dumbass gets on the gas more and pulls out faster....luckily by then I had already swerved into the other lane and went past him.

if this was a car, it would've been an accident no question...but being so light, small, and nimble on a bike helped me...that foot of buffer I had, would've been a car's engine bay

I went after him and banged on his window...homeboy says "oh yo bro...I didn't see you...my bad"

after yelling several obscenities and giving a father-esque lecture with more obscenities about looking before you pull out, I calmed down and asked him what he DID see. Turns out, nothing. Reflective/hi-vis vest didn't do anything in the dark from the front (although vests work well from the back)...he never even saw my headlights...and all that he got was heard the exhaust momentarily after I passed him, but that's all.

swerving saves lives...know your bikes people!

okay, so maybe my life wasn't in danger...but it sure as hell saved my detail

[dontpanic]

Whoa! Glad to hear you're still in one piece. (I think I know what I'll be practicing this spring.)

[Garandman]

Why SMIDSY's happen, and what to do about it.

[DucDave]

Just put on the lowers and cleaned up my bike (that's usually when I drop my bikes)...went out to get gas...heading down 4th st in long beach when homeboy from my right, in a grand marquis from a side street, did one of those "fast rolling stops through the stop sign" (so he never stopped to check), and turns left out in front of me...too late to brake to a stop, I swerved left hoping he'd see me last second than brake to a stop in the middle of street...but he didn't, and my mind panicked as his big ass grand marquis grill kept coming right at me...so I pushed the left bar harder and swerved even farther, narrowly missing the front of his car by about a foot...and went into the other lane (luckily no oncoming traffic), then guiness book of world dumbass gets on the gas more and pulls out faster....luckily by then I had already swerved into the other lane and went past him.

if this was a car, it would've been an accident no question...but being so light, small, and nimble on a bike helped me...that foot of buffer I had, would've been a car's engine bay

I went after him and banged on his window...homeboy says "oh yo bro...I didn't see you...my bad"

after yelling several obscenities and giving a father-esque lecture with more obscenities about looking before you pull out, I calmed down and asked him what he DID see. Turns out, nothing. Reflective/hi-vis vest didn't do anything in the dark from the front (although vests work well from the back)...he never even saw my headlights...and all that he got was heard the exhaust momentarily after I passed him, but that's all.

swerving saves lives...know your bikes people!

okay, so maybe my life wasn't in danger...but it sure as hell saved my detail

EXCELLENT POST...

I had a similar thing happen wearing a high-viz Olympus suit. Woman started to pull out...stopped in the interesection. Luckily, I was able to stop too...wasn't even close. Her window was open and she was chagrined and said, "So sorry, I didn' see....", the paused, looked at me again, and we both started laughing.

Point is, as you said, we ARE invisible.

Second really important point. You're training and experience saved your ass. What happened to you would have resulted in target fixation with a less experienced rider. And target fixation is a bitch to overcome...it's a very well honed evolutionary response to danger.

On a related note, this classic...

[Chippertheripper]

Why SMIDSY's happen, and what to do about it.

I could smell this post coming from about 292384882881.3 miles away.
Ride smart.

[Garandman]

I could smell this post coming from about 292384882881.3 miles away.
Ride smart.

Yeah, the Hurt Report came out in 1981 so you'd think everyone would know about this by now.

But every noob rider in Boston these days has a flat black helmet, leather jacket, and cruises around like cars don't want to kill them....

[axelccmabe]

Definitely going to practice this when I get my new bike. SAME EXACT situation cost me my '08 Yamaha FZR, except I was riding like one of the hotheads mentioned above, and I also had only been riding for 3 months. I certainly learned my lesson and will be taking the advanced rider courses in Westfield as soon as I get some spare cash. Glad you were able to avoid it!

[breakdirt916]

I know about SMIDSY...but I couldn't see him...and he couldn't see me...

[timmyho414]

In the situation above I would hug the yellow line to help me see around the parked cars. I often go from one side of the lane to the other just to increase my distance from a danger/blind spot. The fact the guy blow the stop sign did not help.
Its sort of like the opposite of how they fly choppers in combat. They fly really low so by the time you see, and could shoot at them, they're gone behind the next building or tree or whatever.

[SRTie4k]

I would have ridden on the sidewalk in the opposite lane if I had been in that situation.

[Tunertype]

Glad you're ok. Even a relatively slow speed crash can kill you. Going from 30MPH-0 immediately will kill you, but there are other factors that could cause you to slow down or not fully slow down in a crash meaning you could survive a higher speed(initial) crash if you got lucky, but it's a crap shoot. It's much better to avoid it.

Only difference in a car is that in your big car the guy that pulls out in front of you is more likely to be seriously injured than you. I haven't really noticed that people notice me more in the car than the bike though, people are just oblivious.

[luukasama]

Wow, glad to hear that you were able to maneuver yourself in that situation and that nothing bad happened. I bet your heart was pumping like a machine gun. I know mine would. Probably would damn near pee my pants.

In any case, I've never heard of SMIDSY before, so I'm glad I watched that video. I will try to remember that when I approach intersections perpendicularly like that, and do a little weaving. It's fun to do anyhow.

[OreoGaborio]

You're training and experience saved your ass.

Your

Glad your ok.

You're

[Tunertype]

Your

You're

Thanks... I usually catch those when I read my posts twice before posting, but this time I guess I missed it. (edited)

[GixerJockey]

Your

You're

Wow! Two-fer... Nice job pal!

[breakdirt916]

yoooo Garandular man....

any word on SMIDSY @ night??

I had a left-turner almost come directly into my path tonight...good front brakes save lives too

so I tried SMIDSY to another guy pulling out, but he just proceeded to cut in front of me...that I could easily brake for, but what's worse, is that the dude in the pickup truck right after him pulled out too!!

so I pulled next to the truck, and he gave me the "I'm so sorry bro! I didn't see you!" and when I asked him about what I could've done he said "you're lights are really low..."

so I'm thinking - mickey mouse ears: on the TOPS of my mirrors - put 2 LED lights

[breakdirt916]

as crazy as this sounds, I might actually head to HF and buy two of these for $3.99/pop



this guy says it's bright:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZzy_fLHhko

4 star reviews

I tried a bicycle LED light before, but just going as short a distance, as across the street...and the light was viewed as TINY. literally...looked like a dot

I want something that has a large surface area of emitting light...that's why I think a work or floodlight would be more useful...find a way to drill through it and attach it to the top of my mirrors, and they'll be wide, and bright from a distance

[RandyO]

I know about SMIDSY...but I couldn't see him...and he couldn't see me...

that's when its time for YOU to slow down

speed limit does not mean yo have the right to go that fast, some times you have to slow down for conditions

[breakdirt916]

you'd hate to drive behind me!

I yo-yo with my speeds...slow down for blind intersections, speed up when it's safe, slow down for the next one...etc.

[RandyO]

you'd hate to drive behind me!

I yo-yo with my speeds...slow down for blind intersections, speed up when it's safe, slow down for the next one...etc.

you'd hate to drive behind me even more, If you see a 3/4 ton van with an old straight 6 that can't get out of its own way, thats me