| Author | Message | ||
     Oldog |
We have been enjoying spectacular weather for the past few days, So taking advantage of it I ride to work, My hours are flexible so I usually report in after 9:00, Today I had one of those Holy-S@#$%^@# moments I travel up 421 just west of Wilmington NC, At the north end of town there is a bridge, (Stellings-Holms) so there is a T intersection. 421 and the brige are both 5 lanes at the intersection with a truck stop / convenience store on the right as you go north, As I approached the intersection, a silver car moved up the inside oncoming lane around a slow moving truck to turn left across my lane, the car was inching, this had my attention for a few seconds as I approached the intersection. The speed limit is 55 and in truth I was probably going 60 to 65, at about 50 yards or so from the intersection a dark blue pontiac sedan darted from the store on the right across the right lane and stopped in the intersection, in my lane, it looked like a car or truck beyond it was crossing to the left [ I think ] I don't remember if any one was in the right lane near behind me I elected to go into the vacant on coming lanes as the traffic was 1/4 mile or further away This put me in-front of the blue car for a second and I think it was moving ( slowly ) I missed by perhaps 3 feet I swung back toward the right Staying close to the turn lane so I could duck ( lane split ) till I could stop, sort it out and proceed As you would expect I was quite angry as all I saw was the back of the drivers head [ till I got close and passed ] I turned around to follow this car to its destination with the intention of having a "word" with the driver........ I got caught at the intersection light so shortly after the green light I lost sight of the car, and proceeded to Leland my first chance to turn around and go on to work, at the bottom of the ramp I found the blue pontiac sitting on the side of the road, 3 older passengers ( the car was a rag ) I pulled off behind the car shut off the bike, and walked up to the drivers window, I asked the driver "were you just over on US 421?" Driver: "I'm having car trouble, its cutting out on me" Me "were you just over on US 421 at the station?" My voice was steady and I was not shouting Driver: "I'm sorry" Me "Do you realize that you damn near killed me?" Driver mumbles, I walk off and leave... I figured I made my point and did not want come across like an ass. Some thoughts I have been playing the event back thru my mind and am left wondering if I could have done better avoiding the car. I have no clear memory of the right lane traffic behind me, and the road beyond the blue car I think there was truck 100 yds beyond him crossing the right lanes. comments on avoidance techniques requested In one piece and glad of it - ol'dog | ||
| Strokizator |
Driver: "I didn't see you; you were going so fast." Me: "So which one was it, you dumb dunce?" Some of the safety instructors here will have good advice. Looks like you were focusing on the obvious danger ahead of you and almost got blindsided by the geezers in the Pontiac. LIke my father used to say "If it's not one thing, it's your mother." | ||
| Rick_a |
I always try to have an escape vector pre-planned. Anything over a few feet I call good these days. My close calls are measured in inches  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Glad you are OK Jim! | ||
| Oldog |
I always try to have an escape vector pre-planned. Anything over a few feet I call good these days. My close calls are measured in inches You still ride in the Blanding Blvd area? I bet you clank when you walk Rick My mom lives out in OP and when I ride in for a visit, my defense sphere is in over drive. Most areas I am in are no where near as busy or congested. Yeah I try to have an escape route planned I got way lucky today, the fact I have no clear recollection of the right lane, did I miss a better way out ? If I believed in karma I would say I used up all of my good karma today ... } | ||
| Sifo |
did I miss a better way out Maybe, maybe not. The bottom line is that you identified a way out, and executed what was necessary to make it happen. Taking time to check all possibilities could also have made you too late to take the way out you had. Glad to hear you are OK. I get enough of that kind of stuff around here to really make me start thinking about riding sometimes. | ||
| Rick_a |
Worse. I'm commuting from OP to University BLVD in Jax and back. Still not as bad as the Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. What a mess. The wife still gets in a bit of a tizzy when people drive a bit askew. I'm like, "woman, that kinda stuff doesn't even phase me anymore." I wouldn't over analyse. The fact that you are unscathed means you made the right decisions. | ||
| Oldog |
Rick: I saw a bumper sticker while visiting OP some time ago, it said "If you don't like how I drive stay off of the sidewalk" I was on my way out of town a couple of days later and I watched a woman in a 4 door drive south on the side walk to reach an adjacent driveway. I nearly fell out, | ||
| Pikeben08 |
I almost got smeared by a septic truck in roundabout the other day. I love the concept of roundabouts but I hate that 50% of Americans don't know how to use them. Worst part was the guy had the look on his face like he had no idea what he did wrong. | ||
| Etennuly |
Glad you were on the + side of your near miss Jim. One thing I do that you did not, is to slow down through intersections. I don't trust what I cannot see in them. Often I approach a green lighted 55 mph intersection at 50 or so to leave room for Bozo's who may want to share a problem, like the car quitting. I watch my mirrors for crap behind me as I approach them to. slowing a bit allows me time to see more. Re-accelerating is not a problem on the Uly if someone tailgates a bit through the intersection  . | ||
| 86129squids |
I'm working on a double-bell Stebel Nautilus horn that I found, got it years ago when it was a take-off at the HD dealership- it needed a slight repair, and the horn seems to be "congested"... compressor works fine, but it won't quite "holler" like it should yet... Still REALLY want to install real TRAIN horns on all our vehicles. The Stebel is as close as you can get, IMHO. What Vern said too. I've long had the habit of looking at everyone's head/face that I possibly can in traffic, making note of what they're doing. Sadly, so few nowdays are JUST driving, eyes forward, hands on the wheel. Most are doing EVERYTHING else. I get most aggravated when I see LEO's on the frickin phone... no, actually when I see punk kinds rolling and texting! Here's something interesting: http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/08 /16/212337606/herzog-plumbs-guilt-and-loss-wrought -by-texting-and-driving | ||
| Oldog |
Thanks Vern. Yeah Brad I had looked at a Stebel Nautilus but I have an HID ballast behind the fly screen, and can't think of where else to put it...[ in the fairing on the '25 ] I almost got smeared by a septic truck in roundabout the other day. Glad you are all right [as the resultant collision would have put you in the crapper (sorry))  ] , we have some here in slow speed areas, What is the correct way to use one ( besides Knee dragging practice? } | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Glad to hear you and your Buell are ok Jim. They're not making either one of them any more!  However, I think you answered your own question. I have no clear memory of the right lane traffic behind me, and the road beyond the blue car I think there was truck 100 yds beyond him crossing the right lanes. Our ability to process information goes way down as we speed up. Even future world champion Marc Marquez was penalized for not noticing a yellow flag during practice this weekend. "Slow down and live" used to be a common saying. In a complex situation like the one you were in, it is still pretty good advice. | ||
| Oldog |
Thanks Jon | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
The right way to use a roundabout/traffic island. Traffic on the island has priority & circulates anticlockwise if you drive on the right & clockwise if you drive on the left. I'm now going to assume you're all driving on the right. When you reach a roundabout any traffic will be coming from your left & has priority. If you want to turn right, rh indicator enter r-a when traffic permits & take exit. If you want to go straight ahead, enter r-a when traffic permits & circulate anticlock, keep an eye on traffic arriving at r-a to your right, turn on rh indicator when level with the exit preceeding the one you want. Going left is similar to straight on with the difference that you enter r-a with lh indicator on & you hug the centre while circulating. These are not hard & fast rules as the size & placement of islands plus the vehicle you're driving dictates how you do things. Remember there will be multiple camber changes in the road & sand/gravel will collect at the edges. Plus diesel spills & general f***tardery make them risky too. Much more fun than traffic lights though. | ||
| 86129squids |
I wholeheartedly agree! We have a couple of roundabouts installed around here... I think they might be an antidote to texting/driving. (Not gonna bet on it.) | ||
| Oldog |
Grump, thanks for the input, There are several in the area here, ( an upscale shopping area here in town [ Wilmington NC ]) these are mostly two lanes, there is one in Kinston NC ( I use it on the way to M2nc's place ) its 2 lanes as well, The use seems intuitive thanks for clarifying..... | ||
| Britchri10 |
Her grumpy! What about multiple mini roundabouts? I remember discovering the new one in Wantage shortly after I rode right over the middle of it in a rainstorm at night. It didn't half make the bike buck! | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
For the ultimate traffic islands, Google "magic roundabout swindon " Remember this is the UK where they drive onthe left. | ||
| Britchri10 |
Wycombe & Hemel Hempstead have similar (although it's been a while since I was there...) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Back in the 90s the pre video surveillance age, before number plate cameras & all that, many towns had large industrial zones with large open roads & roundabouts for the main junctions. Most of these were expansion or "New" towns like Swindon or Milton Keynes, Peterborough was my nearest, & there was a thriving (if illegal) street racing scene on the industrial zones, the roundabouts providing hairpins & chicanes etc. A few strategically placed folk with CB radios to warn of the coppers coming & evenings & weekends were fun fun fun. | ||
| Aaron_thomas |
Glad to hear you made it thru. Don't question your judgement if you made it thru you did well. Having had so many incidents like yours happen to me I no longer even question myself. I always look ahead for stupidity and hope I have given myself a way out if it does happen. Always expect the worse. Avoid known trouble spots where stupid drivers do stupid things. Always ride sober and alert.. | ||
| Rick_a |
The scariest moment I've had lately is a guy behind me that ran a red light and split the lane between me and a stopped car at about 65mph. That could have gone really bad. There were literally only inches between us. Unfortunately under such circumstances one has little control over the situation. I chased the gentleman down and gave him a palm up gesture with shoulder shrug. I think the message was loud and clear. | ||
| Prior |
Oldog, Glad to hear you made it out of that one ok. I've had way too many close calls this summer as well. I'll be in your next of the woods next weekend, specifically in Wilmington Sat afternoon to get a bushel of crabs to drag back to the beach... Perhaps we could meet up for a cold one. Prior | ||
| Oldog |
Can Do nine one zero 524 two three six nine let me know, Brankins favorite place is Flaming Amy's are you going to be in Carolina beach area? |
