Is there a "best" way?

[bokobob]

Ok, I admit I am somewhat rattled, but not by any means ready to stop riding...Riding is dangerous, I know..

I refer to the commonly observed things like oncoming motorists turning left in front of a motorcycle rider, or motorists stopped at side roads suddenly coming out onto a road in front of a motorcyclist..

I am seeking advice on how to "best" cope with these biggies..

Yes, I know I am to consider myself invisible.

I wear a size 4X kawa green tshirt as my outermost garment, winter and summer....

I have a white helmet..

on my Kawa, I have a light bar with brilliant lights at each end...

One thing I have done I have now been cautioned about, by MistressK on another thread...namely, I blink my brights up and down three times or so when I approach someone wating to turn left across my lane or waiting at a side street to pull out....she got my attention big time when she said that in Canada that is a signal to the other driver to "go ahead" so to speak, just the opposite of what I intend to do..

I do downshift when approaching an intersection, and cover the brake with my hand and have my foot at the ready to acutate the foot brake...I might slow down from 45 to 35 in such a maneuver...I note that many riders sail right through an intersection on a green light without appearing to so much as look to the side...

What do you do? what do you suggest?

Thank you.

[Cajunrider]

Bob and anyone else, if you travel down here, don't ever blink your light when approaching an intersection or when facing a left turner. I can guarantee you that your right of way will be violated. Flashing your lights is considered a signal to "go ahead" over here.

[glwilson]

You're doing about all I do to avoid he situation.

Quite plainly... a driver turning-left in front of a bike is the most common accident (and deadly).

I always slow way-down, and look at the wheels of the car... because if the wheels move... the car is moving.

Also... I look for a place where I can ride the bike to avoid a collision if the driver does move in front of me. If I can't find a safe place (within reason), I slow even further. But the truth of the matter is... eventually you do have to cross in front of the car in those situations -- which for me is a real "pucker" situation.

To be quite frank... that is the most uncomfortable moment for me when riding. Even the best efforts can (and statistically will) end up not being a good situation.

I know what you mean about other riders that don't seem to take any precautions in that situation. I assume some of them are part of the statistics I most fear.

[Top Cat]

Definitely do not blink your lights anywhere. It is the universal signal to tell the other driver to go.
When approaching an intersection with cars waiting to enter the road I'm on, I watch the top of the front tire to make sure it is not moving or starting to move. I also slow and look for escape routes.
On yesterdays ride I was coming to a side road on my right. The driver looked to his right, then to his left, now there are three of us on bikes coming from his left. I look at his tire and sure enough it starts moving. A blast from my newly installed Stebel horn and he hit the brakes. As we went by he gave that embarrassed smile and waved to say sorry.
So I guess I would like to add you may want to get a Stebel horn if you don't have one.

[fish]

EYE CONTACT! thats what I do. First I try to make eye contact. From 20+years of driving school bus I learned that people don't like to get behind a bus so they dart out in front. I also cover the brake (you don't hear that to often anymore). I drive defensively with the bus and the bike.

[bobhamlin]

Originally Posted by glwilson

I always slow way-down, and look at the wheels of the car... because if the wheels move... the car is moving.

Caution about slowing down: any trailing cars enter into the equation and they can hurt you just as much.

I think watching the car's front wheels is my best advice. The slightest movement means that their foot is NOT firmly on the brake.

Eye contact is chancey. First, at distance, you can't really tell if they are looking AT you or THROUGH you. This video demonstrates.



For known problem intersections, maneuver for an escort.
On my homeward commute, I have one notorious crossover. For the half-mile prior, I get close to a bigger vehicle. Safety in numbers.

[bokobob]

Thanks for all reponses which are very helpful..
ok, will stop blinking lights...
Relieved to read that someone else slows down and downshifts at intesections....
I do have a loud horn, but it is not earth shattering....I will try it in garage and compare to my other bike's horns as it is fairly loud...might search for another with an unusual sound, such as the alternating euro sounds.....also will look into headlight modulator which I only vaguely understand....
Many thanks to all..I'll keep researching and continue to ride very defensively..
Loved the link to the Moonwalking bear.....(THAT POST IS JUST ABOVE THIS RESPONSE)

Regards,

[fish]

I'm not a fan of the headlight modulators, the cage might think your flashing your light for them to go

[dantama]

I think there are many weapons in your arsenal for not getting into a bad situation, things like watching tires for movement etc. but when it comes down to having to act, knowing how to brake is the best weapon.

There are times when lateral movements are the best move, like when a car changes lanes into your space etc. But if you are in a situation where you may impact, hitting the brakes is the best choice. Hitting a car at 40 mph vs 20 mph is a huge difference. Hitting at 40 mph has 4x the destructive force as hitting at 20 mph.

If you tried swerving, and ended up hitting anyway because they swerved that direction too, or you just didn't have the room to make it all the way, you'll have your bones crunching with 4x the force in my above scenario.

If you brake hard, and know how to do it skillfully, you might not hit at all. But even if you do hit, you will hit at a much slower speed, and each time you cut the speed in half, you hit with 4x less force.

[cactusjack]

The thing I see most is when I'm riding down a major road, is people coming out of side streets without stopping first and looking. They literally come flying out of a side street onto the main road. I am constantly on the watch for that.

I have 2 sets of driving lights - one set of CWI billet lights at headlight level and a set of Optronics lights on my crash bars. I use the CWI lights during the day with my headlight on bright, and at night I use the Optronics lights for that obvious "triangle effect"
I also replaced my front fork reflectors with amber LED units and my rear reflectors (on either side of license plate) with red LEDs. I also have red side marker LEDs on my tourpak and stop/tail/turn LEDs on the rear of my tourpak. I have taken steps to make sure my bike is visible. I will never use a headlight modulator.

I also have a Stebel horn to get someone's attention.

I usually wear black and all my helmets are black. I probably have more close calls in my car than I do on my bike.

[blowndodge]

I just shoot people................

[Yellow Jacket]

Personally I like the headlight modulator. The rate at which it flashes is much higher than anyone could do with just the high/low beam switch. I don't think it would be misunderstood as "flashing the lights to indicate someone can pull out." I run it on high beam for maximum visibility.

Sure, it may annoy some people but it does get attention. I have even had oncoming vehicles pull to the side of the road.

I also have a white strobe light on the rear.

I also wear hi-visibility yellow gear and a yellow helmet.

I still expect every vehicle I meet to not see me.

Defensive driving is a must on a bike and also in a car as far as I'm concerned.

[bokobob]

Yellow Jacket,
please elaborate on strobe lights on the back of bike.,..brand, model number, etc...photo maybe? Many thanks....does it blink over and over real fast or what?

Thanks.

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by bokobob

Yellow Jacket,
please elaborate on strobe lights on the back of bike.,..brand, model number, etc...photo maybe? Many thanks....does it blink over and over real fast or what?

Thanks.

The one I'm using is a Xenon strobe. Go to this site and scroll down until you see the Weather-Resistant Safety Strobe lights.
# HAA110W CLEAR Strobe is the one I've got. It flashes 50 times per minute.

http://www.action-electronics.com/lights.htm

I did have a problem with it. The first ride I took with it the bracket I mounted it on vibrated too much. I could actually hear it buzzing back there. The vibration caused the main capacitor on the circuit board to detach. I had to cut the unit open, re-solder the capacitor to the board and secure it to the board with some silicone caulk. I modified my bracket to reduce the vibration and it hasn't failed since.

This was a pretty cheap strobe and was just a first attempt. I don't really recommend this particular one due to the vibration. I think one of the LED strobes might be better.

I'll try to get a picture tomorrow.

Here's a photo:

[goldstar225]

While I agree that one should not flash your headlight, I'm a strong advocate of a headlight modulator. The flash rate is much different from flashing your light and is constant. Run it on the high beam and you get their attention from far away.