| Author | Message | ||
     Griffmeister |
This was kind of upsetting to see, guess I need to vent out a little here. This happened at a notoriously bad interchange where two highways converge for about a quarter mile then split off again. You can count on an almost daily fender bender between cars at this point. It was already dark out and traffic was kind of moderate. The bike caught my eye early on since, well it is January at night with temps about mid thirties. I was in the center lane and kind of curious to see what kind of bike it was, definitely sport and not cruiser. He was in the right lane which was about to become an exit only lane. Even though it's a gentle ramp that merges back onto the other highway people tend to slow down too much and back up traffic at almost any time of the day. I can't really explain what happened next since our lanes were starting to diverge, but I could tell that the car in front of the bike, for no reason at all, started to come to a complete stop. At that angle I couldn't tell if the car was still in the travel lane or was pulling into the breakdown lane. The guy on the bike may have been distracted or didn't realize how much the car was slowing. I do remember seeing a shower of sparks before the biker hit the car so he probably laid it down before impact. That and before I lost sight of what was happening it did look like he managed to hit the side of the car rather than dead on with the trunk. Luckily the first half dozen or so cars behind them stopped to block traffic. I couldn't stop until well past the ramp but I think I was one of the first to call 911. By this time there was a steady stream of traffic between me and the scene so I couldn't see anything after that. I just hope that he survived. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
I been seeking more and more drivers looking down at thier phones at GPS, texting or holding at thier ears all the time. Scary stuff. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I don't ride my bike anywhere near the city. I leave my driveway and point it directly north towards the mountains. Commuting on a bike around here is insane. | ||
| 86129squids |
I've got a 50 mile round-trip commute, which I'm happy (!?) to do in my crappy old roach of a truck. Alcoa highway has a nickname around here- "AhllKillYa" Highway. Then Pellissippi Parkway/Autobahn. I've come up with a general moniker for roads around here... "F^cktard Freeway". If I pass ANYONE now and I see a phone, especially texting, I lay on the horn. Still fantasizing about installing train horns on all our vehicles... cost wise, I may invest in a few more Stebel horns. I believe I could see great results with a pair of them in the front of my truck bed (better resonance, maybe?) and one in the grill. THAT should get their attention... Matthew, +1000. There are many cities where there's NO WAY I'd ride street. Back to the OP- sure hate to hear of anyone going down on a bike, including bicycles. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I rode the streets of southern kalifornica for most of my life, and never felt endangered the way I do here... Back to the OP, has anybody seen any news items on the crash, wonder if he's ok? | ||
| Griffmeister |
Just found a news report. Luckily the biker got away with minor injuries, the off ramp was closed for just under an hour to clear the scene. Didn't give much information otherwise besides saying it happened in congested traffic. At least it wasn't too serious. | ||
| 86129squids |
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| Willmrx |
One of my ridding buddies, on his commute to work, about 10 miles, was killed on Thursday morning by a driver who turned in front of him. Luckily he was killed on impact. He was a very skilled rider. He will be deeply missed. http://www.modbee.com/news/article128853629.html (Message edited by willmrx on January 28, 2017) | ||
| Pwnzor |
That's horrible, I am very sorry for your loss. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Sorry to hear about this Will. Prayers for his friends and family. This happens far, far too often. It's a crucible out there. Too many people just don't care enough to pay attention. My riding time is way, way down. While there are a few different reasons for that, having to deal with un-attentive drivers is a big one. | ||
| Reepicheep |
It really is disturbing to witness an accident, either bike or car. All the ones I have seen are still imprinted on my brain. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I saw a wreck about 5 years ago in Tellico Planes, TN. Matt Barker, me and another guy were standing next to our bikes outside a gas station as a group of riders were turning into the station off the Cherohala Skyway. Suddenly we hear tires squeal, hear a BAM! And look up to see a rider cartwheeling through the air. He was following the bikes in front of him and apparently assumed oncoming traffic had stopped to let them turn in; it hadn't, and he turned right in front of an SUV that hit him. I thought for sure the guy would be dead, but a few minutes later he was talking to his buddies. He went for an ambulance ride, but apparently he wasn't seriously hurt. Witnessing that definitely put a damper on our riding for the rest of the day. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
ATGATT | ||
| Mnscrounger |
ATGATT. I leave my pegs down all the time for the downed riders I've never met. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I leave my pegs down all the time for the downed riders I've never met. Mine are always down for my brother, who taught me to ride and died way too young. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I carry a couple of the closest I've lost on my Uly's "dash". Ashes from one are under the seat of the Uly and the 1125R.  Z |
