Left Turning Vehicles....

broke'n'nuts

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
513
Reaction score
1,331
Location
North Okanagan
Scary for sure. I'm sure all who ride have had similar incidents and close calls. I've had my fair share. Always gotta keep head up and aware. It's amazing how people just dont see bikes, and by see I mean don't register them in their brain. Have had multiple people stare right at me and then pull out in front. Scary price to pay to enjoy some 2 wheel freedom:(
 

Ballzdeep

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
1,967
Reaction score
6,858
Location
St Albert
I have been so close to the end so many times now it's sick. When i get a mini van or a blind asian women in a SUV that can't hear the loudest bike ever! cut me off...i don't even get mad anymore. No point. I used to flip out and smack a mirror or two but that was years ago in the rocket days. Nothing changes, we will always somehow or some way be in someones blind spot. More stupid drivers and more young squids on bikes...sad to say but the deaths will keep coming...
 

imdoo'n

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
57,031
Reaction score
50,072
Location
alberta
got out of street bikes 30 yrs ago, numerous times had people pullout in front, lots of close calls even had a city bus pull out at the foort of a bridge, had about tree feet to spare at mach chicken. seen lots of buds on hoods of cars, gave it up for dirt bikes, gave them up for quads,


could never understand why people pulled out in front of a bike, realized people just don't register the distance of a single head light and bikes tend to be moving, similar to car with one headlight approaching, it just doesn't register. my opinion and experience, yours may be different.
 

arff

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2009
Messages
139,155
Reaction score
55,015
Location
Leduc
Sure have to be careful.
People don’t pay attention at all.
 

imdoo'n

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
57,031
Reaction score
50,072
Location
alberta
bikers should be wearing safety gear, skin graffs are expensive and the cost to tax payers is way to much.:eek:
 
Last edited:

Lund

Active VIP Member
Joined
May 4, 2013
Messages
4,243
Reaction score
11,242
Location
Vernon/Kelowna
The problem with this thread is it's a blaming thread.
The onus is on YOU the rider to make your self visible and to be safe and not on anyone else. So ask your self, how do i ride, safely? How do i position my self on the road when i ride, visibly? In the intersection can i be seen?
Or i'm i BLENDING.
Do i wear high vise gear or typical blend in the environment BLACK...also know as for motorcycle rider's urban camo?
My brother inlaw is a motorcycle safety instructor at the college and with 50yrs of motorcycle experience. I have been riding motorcycles on the road since the 80's, he talked me into taking the course a few years back.
OMG
I was my own worst habit, it's hard to blame someone else when your the bigger problem. Taking the course on motorcycle defensive safety riding open my eyes on all the mistakes rider's do out there. Today when i see a rider, its easy to pin point those that have no safety training. They do what i did before i took the training. Staying alive on a motorcycle is not someone else responsibility its your's.

Riding a motorcycle is not driving a car, unfortunately people bring their bad car habit's on to the motorcycle and ride them like they are driving a car.
 
Last edited:

imdoo'n

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
57,031
Reaction score
50,072
Location
alberta
The problem with this thread is it's a blaming thread.
The onus is on YOU the rider to make your self visible and to be safe and not on anyone else. So ask your self, how do i ride, safely? How do i position my self on the road when i ride, visibly? In the intersection can i be seen?
Or i'm i BLENDING.
Do i wear high vise gear or typical blend in the environment BLACK...also know as for motorcycle rider's urban camo?
My brother inlaw is a motorcycle safety instructor at the college and with 50yrs of motorcycle experience. I have been riding motorcycles on the road since the 80's, he talked me into taking the course a few years back.
OMG
I was my own worst habit, it's hard to blame someone else when your the bigger problem. Taking the course on motorcycle defensive safety riding open my eyes on all the mistakes rider's do out there. Today when i see a rider, its easy to pin point those that have no safety training. They do what i did before i took the training. Staying alive on a motorcycle is not someone else responsibility its your's.

Riding a motorcycle is not driving a car, unfortunately people bring their bad car habit's on to the motorcycle and ride them like they are driving a car.


^^^^ agree^^ yes not everyone, but the majority for sure.
 

mxcollector

Active member
Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
90
Reaction score
128
Location
onoway, ab
that is like a plague that cager just don't pay attention to the road ... if only they be paying as much attention to the motorcycles as they do to their phone , imo nobody would die

when i leave home on two wheels , I put in my mind that every single cager are there to kill me !
 

Ballzdeep

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
1,967
Reaction score
6,858
Location
St Albert
The problem with this thread is it's a blaming thread.
The onus is on YOU the rider to make your self visible and to be safe and not on anyone else. So ask your self, how do i ride, safely? How do i position my self on the road when i ride, visibly? In the intersection can i be seen?
Or i'm i BLENDING.
Do i wear high vise gear or typical blend in the environment BLACK...also know as for motorcycle rider's urban camo?
My brother inlaw is a motorcycle safety instructor at the college and with 50yrs of motorcycle experience. I have been riding motorcycles on the road since the 80's, he talked me into taking the course a few years back.
OMG
I was my own worst habit, it's hard to blame someone else when your the bigger problem. Taking the course on motorcycle defensive safety riding open my eyes on all the mistakes rider's do out there. Today when i see a rider, its easy to pin point those that have no safety training. They do what i did before i took the training. Staying alive on a motorcycle is not someone else responsibility its your's.

Riding a motorcycle is not driving a car, unfortunately people bring their bad car habit's on to the motorcycle and ride them like they are driving a car.

I agree with some points here Lund... But even if every rider was wearing hi vis gear in neon pink and yellow people will still be blind to them. Me wearing a reflective vest does nothing to someone staring at their lap texting and driving. shoulda woulda coulda.... sorry, but i'm not gonna change my riding gear because some people can't keep their eyes on the road. I'll keep riden like everybody can't see me and be aware of everything around me. Only reason why i haven't been smoked yet. Your bang on with the saftey training, been on bike since i was 3 and i learned a lot when i took my course. I figured WTF am i gonna learn that i haven't picked up already...it's worth every penny to get it done, even if your a seasoned rider.
 

vrscr43

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
Messages
175
Reaction score
316
Location
Sherwood Park
Been riding most of my adult life, 30 years at least.
I have taken the rider safety course, read books by very skilled/experienced motorcycle instructors.
Today the on the road dynamics of keeping yourself in a safe spot and aware of what the other vehicles on the road are doing have changed due to cell phones.
Its crazy how many more people I notice texting when I am on my bike. Its really changed or increased the collsion potential.
 

arff

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2009
Messages
139,155
Reaction score
55,015
Location
Leduc
I drive in the left lane with loud pipes.
 

lgallant

Active member
Joined
Nov 19, 2011
Messages
89
Reaction score
213
Location
whitecourt alberta
I agree with some points here Lund... But even if every rider was wearing hi vis gear in neon pink and yellow people will still be blind to them. Me wearing a reflective vest does nothing to someone staring at their lap texting and driving. shoulda woulda coulda.... sorry, but i'm not gonna change my riding gear because some people can't keep their eyes on the road. I'll keep riden like everybody can't see me and be aware of everything around me. Only reason why i haven't been smoked yet. Your bang on with the saftey training, been on bike since i was 3 and i learned a lot when i took my course. I figured WTF am i gonna learn that i haven't picked up already...it's worth every penny to get it done, even if your a seasoned rider.

Couldn’t agree more. You can be the safest rider in the world and if someone pulls in front of you and you don’t have enough time to react well I would have to say some of the onus is on them. 32 years ago a car pulled in front of me and I had no time to react. I went over the car and ended up about 50ft down the road. I was a kid at the time and maybe if I did have more experience I could have been a little more vigilant. The only thing I know for sure is after twisting my ankle 180 degrees and getting it pieced back together with pins and plates and spending my summer in a cast it has Made me a lot more aware. The ONUS is suppose to be on everyone to make the road safe but we all know that is not going to happen. I still ride every year and have close calls and I have also banged a few mirrors but getting to old for that now. The best advise I could give anyone imho would be to expect everyone to cut you off whether they see you or not. It has served me well since that day. I have lost some friends over the years on bikes so be safe.
 

Summitric

SUPER COOL MOD & Supporting Vendor
Moderator
Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
47,999
Reaction score
32,144
Location
Edmonton/Sherwood Park
Website
www.bumpertobumper.ca
Just saw an suv try to turn left in front of a motorbike(that may have been going too fast) at the corner of sherwood drive and wye road, where our shop is. We thought the bike was gonna bite it, but good recovery.... He stopped just down the road, and i'm sure he was cleaning out his drawers after that. The suv drove off like nothing happened(we couldn't see the license plate).......
 

imdoo'n

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
57,031
Reaction score
50,072
Location
alberta
i really don't think people are looking for or expecting bike riders. single headlight, may not give depth perception on a quick look for oncoming traffic. also speed plays a part, when was he last time you seen a bike riding the speed limit? not very often, usually cutting lanes and corners, dodging between cars etc.
 

Lund

Active VIP Member
Joined
May 4, 2013
Messages
4,243
Reaction score
11,242
Location
Vernon/Kelowna
Obviously intersection's are the most dangerous places and making a left turn even in a left turning lane on a light is more dangerous for bikes then a vehicle.
Being we are talking left turn's, i'm curious to know where you guys figure is the best lane position when your waiting to make that left turn? Is it just pull up to the light?

Car and trucks have one lane position but that is not the case if your a motorcycle rider and all motorcycle rider's should know this. Only one of these position is dominate and considered safe for others to visually see you. If your not seen, expect to be cut off sooner or later.
So what is that position? If you don't know look it up.

I agree that situation do arise but i also know as a rider taking control of an intersection is imperative to being seen and staying alive. But how do you do that?
I never knew till i took a riders defensive safety course.
 

52weekbreak

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2013
Messages
1,929
Reaction score
4,058
Location
SPAB
People can zone out while driving. Have dealt with the fall out from people turning left in front of a transport truck. Have also dealt with a transport turning left in front of oncoming traffic easily visible if one was alert and actively driving. Most everyone has had the experience of suddenly thinking "Holy **** I am here and I don't remember driving the last (insert number of blocks or miles here).

Intersections are dangerous and everybody needs to expect the other guy to screw up regardless of what you drive. Even worse if you are on a bike. Even the ultra cautious can get caught in a bad situation as there is only so much you can do unless you just want to stay in the house. Horrible situation repeated multiple times daily in Canada and the US. Sad.
 

Lund

Active VIP Member
Joined
May 4, 2013
Messages
4,243
Reaction score
11,242
Location
Vernon/Kelowna
It's true that unforeseen things can happen and people make mistakes but do you want to be on that bike when someone makes that mistake at your expense.
Mitigating the risk is what all motorcyclist need to do.
Like i said previously i have been riding the tarmac since the early 80's, in fact at one time it was the only wheel's i had when i was in the forces. For a few year's i was on 2 wheel's only.
I also thought i was an exceptionally good rider and thought i could handle most situation's on the road and thought i rode safely but as time went on what i found was more and more close call's. To the point that it became a regular thing when i went riding, WTF, some one cut me off, another moves into my lane, get cut off at an intersection...the list goes on. Then about 5 years ago i figured i had enough and was discouraged with riding and honestly scared. So i put the bike up for sale while the going was good and before i got creamed by a unattended driver.
Then my bro inlaw who is now 65yrs old and an avid rider and instructor said to me try this and if that doesn't work sell the bike.
So i did and wow honestly everything i thought about street riding was so wrong and years of accumulated BAD habits i had to work hard to change them. Honestly, like i said, I, was my worst problem and not the other guy, yes there are lots of unattended driver's out there but as a rider its my job to make sure they are aware of me being there, i'm responsible for me.
I took the course 4 years ago and took an advance course 3 years ago and have NOT had a close call since...NO JOKE and i'm loving riding again.
I have completely changed my riding habits and how i view the road, intersection's and general traffic on how i scan and plan as i ride. It becomes natural and you can foresee things before it happen's, if it happen's and be ready to do the correction's needed in avoidance. It has also made me a much more aware as a car driver of what is going on.
 

Ballzdeep

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
1,967
Reaction score
6,858
Location
St Albert
Obviously intersection's are the most dangerous places and making a left turn even in a left turning lane on a light is more dangerous for bikes then a vehicle.
Being we are talking left turn's, i'm curious to know where you guys figure is the best lane position when your waiting to make that left turn? Is it just pull up to the light?

Car and trucks have one lane position but that is not the case if your a motorcycle rider and all motorcycle rider's should know this. Only one of these position is dominate and considered safe for others to visually see you. If your not seen, expect to be cut off sooner or later.
So what is that position? If you don't know look it up.

I agree that situation do arise but i also know as a rider taking control of an intersection is imperative to being seen and staying alive. But how do you do that?
I never knew till i took a riders defensive safety course.

When i'm at a light, look behind ya, look side to side...no cops? Then lite her up Big ol smokey burnout. Everybody will see ya. JK

Left lane, left lane, left lane...get the fawk over rookies. Drive me bonkers when you pull up to lights with other bikes and they are stacked 4 deep haha that's when you can spot the newbies. Only left lane when solo. Multiple bikes, use the full lane. Common sense, and some will disagree but that's how i ride. good ol zig zag ride
group-staggered.jpg
 
Top Bottom