[fiestagato]

So the other day Im riding on a mid sized road (two lanes both ways) speed limit ~40mph, I usually make the left turn across the oncoming lane to get to my place. Im waiting for traffic to clear so I can make the left and im sitting towards the left side of my lane when a truck (not quite semi sized but large) decides its a good idea not to wait for me to turn or change lanes but just keeps going through and comes within inches (probably more like milimeters) of swiping my shoulder. How commonly is this kind of RETARDED driving encountered for you guys?

PS I only started riding in the spring

[ghbzorro]

I started riding 3 years ago. My instructors (and riding friends) have DRILLED it into me that I keep checking over my shoulder, especially in a left turn situation like the one you have described. My read is that you were lucky this time.

[LITEITUP]

Yeah you'll be going through this crap all the time. People dont care about bikes or the riders. You have to constantly scan the road for problems, check your mirrors and ride like everyone is going to run you over.

[Bill-S-Preston]

I find mini vans are the worst.

[Maholli]

Originally Posted by LITEITUP

Yeah you'll be going through this crap all the time. People dont care about bikes or the riders. You have to constantly scan the road for problems, check your mirrors and ride like everyone is going to run you over.

[bjay51d]

Originally Posted by fiestagato

So the other day Im riding on a mid sized road (two lanes both ways) speed limit ~40mph, I usually make the a left turn across the oncoming lane to get to my place. Im waiting for traffic to clear so I can make the left and im sitting towards the left side of my lane when a truck (not quite semi sized but large) decides its a good idea not to wait for me to turn or change lanes but just keeps going through and comes within inches (probably more like milimeters) of swiping my shoulder. How commonly is this kind of RETARDED driving encountered for you guys?

PS I only started riding in the spring

Hindus are good for doing that dumb ****.I ride close to the line so cars in the next lane can see me if the look in their mirrors.I guess all the unused lane drives them crazy.they just have to pull up and share your lane with you.Funny thing is when I black out on em, they look at me like whats your beef

[ghbzorro]

Originally Posted by bjay51d

I ride close to the line so cars in the next lane can see me if the look in their mirrors.I guess all the unused lane drives them crazy.they just have to pull up and share your lane with you.

My instructors emphasized the need to have "presence" in the lane to keep other drivers from encroaching on your space. Perhaps you should consider changing your tactics if they result in a car running beside you? Cheaper than a firearm.

[TKDmasterZ]

Fiesta, I've been rear ended twice waiting or slowing down to turn right into a drive way...totalled the bike both times, but I got a way lucky without a permanent damage. You really have to try very hard to avoid from situations like that. I'd actually go further down and make a U at a signal if possible. You CANNOT let drivers take chances on you when you're on the bike...specially sitting idle in the middle of a moving road. Be careful out there. Learn not to trust any drivers out there.

[bjay51d]

Originally Posted by ghbzorro

My instructors emphasized the need to have "presence" in the lane to keep other drivers from encroaching on your space. Perhaps you should consider changing your tactics if they result in a car running beside you? Cheaper than a firearm.

I rather be seen by a car thats about to switch lanes.I know these hindu people see me .They just lack common sense...

[dattaway]

I don't left turn with traffic behind me even in a big truck. I always drive/ride like I'm invisible. My route quickly evolves into a safe route. I learned to do this after studying traffic accidents. Left turns, u-turns and lane changes are the killers. NO close calls in years.

[02954TY]

You are going to see this SO much it's going to drive you NUTS! And hey, mr Archie Bunker......It's NOT a hindu specific problem. I've had this happen to me and it's been White ladies and black ladies, and white dudes and black dudes and Latino's and Latinas........in other words its EVERYONE!!!!

[ReSpEcT]

Here is Louisiana its VERY common for cagers to use the excuse "I didnt see him". Ive seen many accidents where cagers have ran stop signs or redlights and have sadly killed the motorcyclists. Sadly enough the cager is only issued a ticket with 'Failure to yield".....This is becoming a common occurance here in this sorry azz state. And the cagers claim "we" the bike riders are the people that do stupid chit. Its so bad now, i know many bikers who carry guns just for in case a cager goes on road rage. And the police wonder why the bikes always run when we see the blue lights, LMAO....=-)

[denzee]

What to do in that situation is stay more in the middle of your lane when turning left so it's impossible to pass around without changing lanes. If you hug the left side of your lane, you encourage people to just try to sqeeze by you without actually changing lanes. You must fill your lane as best possible at all times. Like ghbzorro says "lane presence" is key. These clowns in cages, with cell phones going, eating lunch and screaming at kids are rarely paying close attention. If it looks like they can make it through, away they go. Especially soccer Moms in SUV's.

Dennis

[dattaway]

I've noticed a significant portion of drivers during rush hour are more likely not to yield for smaller vehicles. Its the "I'm bigger than you, so you must yield for me" attitude. If it looks like I'm going to stop for anything, they will take full advantage of that and expect to use me as a shield against other cars to protect them. Many drivers are animals, dogs, or whatever you want to call them. They drive like they are in Mexico.

[bjay51d]

Originally Posted by denzee

What to do in that situation is stay more in the middle of your lane when turning left so it's impossible to pass around without changing lanes. If you hug the left side of your lane, you encourage people to just try to sqeeze by you without actually changing lanes. You must fill your lane as best possible at all times. Like ghbzorro says "lane presence" is key. These clowns in cages, with cell phones going, eating lunch and screaming at kids are rarely paying close attention. If it looks like they can make it through, away they go. Especially soccer Moms in SUV's.

Dennis

I live in a very populated part in central jersey.People barely check their mirrors befor they change lanes.If they do happen to look in their mirrors the first thing they see is my hi beams.if im in the middle part of the lane theres more of a chance that they wont see me and cut me off.
I hear what you are saying though.I just think that being seen by the car about to change lanes is more important in my area.Theres only a small percent of idiots that still think they are in india that do this lane share thing.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by denzee

What to do in that situation is stay more in the middle of your lane when turning left so it's impossible to pass around without changing lanes. If you hug the left side of your lane, you encourage people to just try to sqeeze by you without actually changing lanes. You must fill your lane as best possible at all times. Like ghbzorro says "lane presence" is key. These clowns in cages, with cell phones going, eating lunch and screaming at kids are rarely paying close attention. If it looks like they can make it through, away they go. Especially soccer Moms in SUV's.

Dennis

you definitely do have to keep a big lane presence. basically you drive like you own the road because if you're in that lane its your lane, no one else's. people don't understand bikes have as much right to the entire lane as a car does.


I drive a tractor trailer and I'll tell you I can fit that thing in places people don't try to go with their little cars. I do pass cars waiting to take lefts if I have the room, whether its 3 feet on each side or 3 inches and of course at the appropriate speed. but if there's a bike there I always make sure to keep as much distance from him/her as possible. if I can fit but its within inches I'll just wait. I don't wanna scare the person because what if I do and they fall over. I don't wanna run anyone over.

[07Repsol]

Originally Posted by Bill-S-Preston

I find mini vans are the worst.

Exactly. I was taken out by a minivan. What was scary (I know I'm going to get flak for this one)is it was driven by a asian female!! If we send asian women with minivans to Iraq the Iraqis would run for their lives screaming in terror. The war would be over in a week.

[dr_love]

yeah this stuff happens all the time in orlando. you want to see some bad driving come on down here. the other day i was going down the highway(two lanes each direction and a turning lane shared in the middle) i was in the left lane and this lady in a SUV started changing lanes right into me. luckily there was the middle turning lane for me to shoot into or else it would have been a sandwich with me in the middle. the funny part is the lady looked directly at me when she was doing it. i wasnt even in her blind spot i was right next to her window.

if your from orlando you know 50/Colonial around lunch hour. GOOD STUFF

[ghbzorro]

Originally Posted by dr_love

i was in the left lane and this lady in a SUV started changing lanes right into me. the funny part is the lady looked directly at me when she was doing it. i wasn't even in her blind spot i was right next to her window.

Some drivers learn that motorcycles don't need full lanes, because they see them squeezing between lines of cars at stoplights or in heavy, slow-moving traffic. Sadly, this is not just a third-world phenomenon, though that is where it belongs.

[CBR929RE]

if you wanna just point out bad drivers, get behind a Toyota Pruis with NH plates. there are none worse than them. they think they own the entire road, the traffic behind them doesn't mean **** cause they want that 70mpg and the only way to do it is drive 50-55mph.

no one from NH should be allowed to work in/around Boston because they always screw up the afternoon commute which screws me when I'm working cause thats when I leave the warehouse to go to my first stop. and of course thats heading towards and eventually into NH.

[PartsGenius]

It's the mirrors sticking out of trucks and minivans that scare me. I've been ticked once in the helmet and once in the shoulder.

[bjay51d]

Originally Posted by PartsGenius

It's the mirrors sticking out of trucks and minivans that scare me. I've been ticked once in the helmet and once in the shoulder.

I would lose my mind if someeone actually hit me.