Foo - Got hit today.

Trying to do a Michigan left. Totally my fault but I ****ing hate this place for riding. I'm ok, just a little banged up, bruised, and sore. Bike is rideable although it may need a new front wheel, we'll just have to see.

I can say, however, that cars are much softer than trees.

Damn man...be careful will you. I don't want to hear of you getting hurt.

What the hell is a Michigan Left? How bad is the bike? Did you get any blood on it?

Michigan left ?
Too bad about the wheel, glad to hear your ok. Take some advil.

Damn man...be careful will you. I don't want to hear of you getting hurt.
Yeah, I'm just not used to this place. Bicycles be damned seems to be the motto.

What the hell is a Michigan Left? How bad is the bike? Did you get any blood on it?
This is a Michigan left. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_u-turn_crossover)

No blood, but on the plus side, I still managed to make it to class and then back home.

Yeah, I'm just not used to this place. Bicycles be damned seems to be the motto.

Okay - but you also said it was your fault. What exactly did you do??



Good luck with the healing.

wow, could they come up with a more senseless way to turn left? They should call that a Foo turn.

That 'll teach ya to curse Grandma.

Okay - but you also said it was your fault. What exactly did you do??



Good luck with the healing.

It's very confusing unless you understand the concept of the Michigan left. It's essentially a u-turn to turn left rather than a normal intersection. This place has a Michigan left for northbound traffic and one for south bound. The problem is that the southbound one lies just north of the northbound so it's really confusing to try and figure out if southbounders are making a left or if they're going straight and then I have to cross three lanes of traffic to get to my turn. It's very confusing, stressful, atypical, and unless you're on your toes, dangerous.

That 'll teach ya to curse Grandma.

****! You're right! I actually flipped off some old guy about 20 minutes before that because he passed me in a freakin' turn lane! Damn Karma! :lol:

Funny how the only other time I came across "Michigan Left" was also on FOO....

I'm glad you're not injured. Here's hoping your wheel pulls through.

I freakin' forgot to pack my truing stand, too. :( I wonder if someone around here has one I can borrow. This wheel may take some serious surgery.

Oh, and I can't chew right now, so that's fun.

I freakin' forgot to pack my truing stand, too. :( I wonder if someone around here has one I can borrow. This wheel may take some serious surgery.

Oh, and I can't chew right now, so that's fun.

Can you use some zip ties and your fork to do this?

133910

This is a Michigan left. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_u-turn_crossover)

No blood, but on the plus side, I still managed to make it to class and then back home.

Damn...MI's as bad at designing roads as they are at designing cars.

Can you use some zip ties and your fork to do this?
Not a bad solution. I might give that a try. :)

It's very confusing unless you understand the concept of the Michigan left. It's essentially a u-turn to turn left rather than a normal intersection. This place has a Michigan left for northbound traffic and one for south bound. The problem is that the southbound one lies just north of the northbound so it's really confusing to try and figure out if southbounders are making a left or if they're going straight and then I have to cross three lanes of traffic to get to my turn. It's very confusing, stressful, atypical, and unless you're on your toes, dangerous.


You win - I'm confused. :twitchy:

You win - I'm confused. :twitchy:
yeah, that's how I feel every time I come up to that intersection.

That's how I feel every time I try do do a michigan left in traffic. On the surface they seem a decent idea, until you have any real amount of traffic, and then everything gets all screwed up, and is eventually replaced by a light.
Good luck with your front wheel and jaw.

I had no idea there was anything bizarre in the auto universe that hadn't been fully maximized in Massachusetts. But the Michigan Left (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_Roads-Travel_mich_left_213414_7.swf)is one of them for sure.

Got hit today.
Stop wearing that Target t-shirt when you ride. You're just asking for trouble.

http://images3.cafepress.com/product/16017773v1_480x480_Front_Color-White.jpg

Trying to do a Michigan left. Totally my fault but I ****ing hate this place for riding. I'm ok, just a little banged up, bruised, and sore. Bike is rideable although it may need a new front wheel, we'll just have to see.

I can say, however, that cars are much softer than trees.

Dude, your a future scientist, why don't you just punch in the info and find out why these things happen so you can keep it from happening in the future? :p ;) Glad your OK. :)

reminds me of a left I make regularly:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=19+strathmore+rd+natick,+ma&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.41771,67.763672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=19+Strathmore+Rd,+Natick,+Middlesex,+Massachusetts+01760&ll=42.298822,-71.391386&spn=0.001097,0.002068&t=h&z=19

I make a left on Worcester road (from the bottom of the screen).
Opposing traffic can also make a left (from top of screen)
Consequently opposing traffic (me included) literally sheer each other off as we pass in our cock-eyed pass and opposing turns.
In addition (see white car) the opposing traffic has the option of going straight (maybe)
Gotta Love Route 9 in the Natick, MA area. Well, no maybe we don't.

Those Michigan lefts are entirely way too strange. Glad I've never ever had to deal with them.

Good to hear that you're a-ok.

Trying to do a Michigan left. Totally my fault but I ****ing hate this place for riding. I'm ok, just a little banged up, bruised, and sore. Bike is rideable although it may need a new front wheel, we'll just have to see.

I can say, however, that cars are much softer than trees.

I love the my fault part. The last time I came close to getting hit it was my fault too. I work with someone who just cannot ever admit he is wrong. When he is backed into a corner and there is nothing he can possibly say he starts yelling about anything slightly related, and jumping around. It kind of makes me feel like 'poor guy.' Even being able to admit you are wrong seems like a valuable skill that is worth practicing after seeing his condition.

Sorry to hear about the experiences that let you rank car and tree impacts, but at least with the tree it was probably the tree's fault :)

On the positive side an armchair heart attack probably packs quite a wallop for people who don't get to bump up against these kinds of things.


How bad is the bike? Did you get any blood on it?

Enjoyed that :)

I love the my fault part. The last time I came close to getting hit it was my fault too. I work with someone who just cannot ever admit he is wrong. When he is backed into a corner and there is nothing he can possibly say he starts yelling about anything slightly related, and jumping around. It kind of makes me feel like 'poor guy.' Even being able to admit you are wrong seems like a valuable skill that is worth practicing after seeing his condition.

Sorry to hear about the experiences that let you rank car and tree impacts, but at least with the tree it was probably the tree's fault :)

On the positive side an armchair heart attack probably packs quite a wallop for people who don't get to bump up against these kinds of things.



Enjoyed that :)
I think there were contributing factors. The set up of the street, I believe she changed her mind at the last minute, etc, but it really boils down to me not paying the attention that I should have to avoid this.

glad to hear that you are ok. heal up quick.

well at least you're ok, relatively.

we have those Michigan lefts here too. on a 7 lane road with a large center island. but at least there is a bike path just to the south of it.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lakeshore&sll=43.636331,-79.463717&sspn=0.001469,0.001918&ie=UTF8&radius=0.05&rq=1&ev=p&hq=lakeshore&hnear=&ll=43.636663,-79.463527&spn=0.001469,0.001918&t=h&z=19

I'll add that to my list of reasons why Michigan should be given to Canada haha

So were you rear ended or t-boned? no pun intended...

So were you rear ended or t-boned? no pun intended...
Just clipped the left front of the car.

All told, I'm here, not in a hospital, having dinner with <3 2 Ride and the kids. I got ****ing lucky.

OK, I get it....

Two wrongs don't make a right; three rights make a Michigan left.

Glad you're all right. I mean OK. I mean....

This is a Michigan left. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_u-turn_crossover)

No blood, but on the plus side, I still managed to make it to class and then back home.


Having seen several left turn induced accidents in other parts of the country, and exactly none in Michigan, I have come to believe it is by far the most annoying yet safest way to have people turn left on busier streets.

I freakin' forgot to pack my truing stand, too. :( I wonder if someone around here has one I can borrow. This wheel may take some serious surgery.

I've never needed a truing stand. Just crank on the spokes with it in the fork or frame. Use the brakes as a guide unless you have disks. And if you have discs, just make a jig with tape and a wire or something.

Having seen several left turn induced accidents in other parts of the country, and exactly none in Michigan, I have come to believe it is by far the most annoying yet safest way to have people turn left on busier streets.

the aussies have you beat with their J-hook turns.

the aussies have you beat with their J-hook turns.

Is that a jughandle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jughandle)? I like those OK.

Is that a jughandle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jughandle)? I like those OK.

nope, aka hook turn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_turn

Having seen several left turn induced accidents in other parts of the country, and exactly none in Michigan, I have come to believe it is by far the most annoying yet safest way to have people turn left on busier streets.

btw, what's wrong with just having an advanced turn left signal with no left turn unless signalled to do so?
sure, it adds another lane for left turns at the intersections, but totally does away with that huge center island and shoulder required for long wheelbase vehicles to make the turn.

screw the wheel - you're okay, the driver is okay, that;s all that counts.

be careful out there, everybody.

btw, what's wrong with just having an advanced turn left signal with no left turn unless signalled to do so?
sure, it adds another lane for left turns at the intersections, but totally does away with that huge center island and shoulder required for long wheelbase vehicles to make the turn.

That's a good question, and one which I can't really answer substantially. I only know what I've seen, and it suggests the Michigan left works better. Although, I'm sure some would argue about the superiority of a roundabout system.

That's a good question, and one which I can't really answer substantially. I only know what I've seen, and it suggests the Michigan left works better. Although, I'm sure some would argue about the superiority of a roundabout system.

that's a british invention, no way the americans would accept a system where people drive on the wrong side of the road.

How do Michigan drivers turn right?

How do Michigan drivers turn right?

make a left then throw the car into reverse?

aw dang UA... i'm glad you got out of this without anything fatal. on another note... i've been hit by a car and then gone directly to class afterwards. -___- except i didn't get there on time.

Dam UA! Glad you're OK!!!

You win - I'm confused. :twitchy:

yeah Michigan lefts are crap, I do transportation engineering and there are lots of "facepalm" when some new young grad wants to use more "michigan left," just because you name drop...we still call you a moron.

Jaw isn't as painful today but the rest of me feels like I got hit by a car.... Oh wait...

I've been sleeping most of the morning but I'm off to class today.

jaw isn't as painful today but the rest of me feels like i got hit by a car.... Oh wait...

i've been sleeping most of the morning but i'm off to class today.


lol!

So what about the driver? Did she at least stop to help you??

Hope you are going to feel better, UA. And I hope nothing is seriously wrong with your jaw.