howsteepisit

Riding yesterday I was nearly hit twice. First time was a car who missed a right turn and stopped just across the intersection to back up and do a T turn, almost right into me. The second was a car passing oncoming traffic into me, fortunately there was enough of a shoulder for me to avoid a head on. I really get the feeling that people really are starting to believe they can multitask safely while driving. I cannot believe that with the several times I have had near misses this year that people are paying any attention to what they are doing. There cannot be that many total idiots or malicious creeps out there can there?

billydonn

I think it's mostly total idiots as opposed to malicious creeps. I'm with you... the multitasking is really getting out of hand.

maddmaxx 

Yes, there can be that many.

I would have given a more extensive answer but I'm also watching a basketball game and buying something on Ebay............

luv2cruz

A couple of months ago, a rider was hit and badly injured while riding in Jackson, MS. The driver admitted that she was looking at her cellphone and texting when the accident occurred.

It's a jungle out there....ride carefully!

Tom Bombadil

Scary stuff. Glad you avoided harm.

Doohickie

More and more I'm thinking that I should be using lights all the time, day and night. I seem to attract more attention from motorists in the daytime when I set my headlight to blink mode.

Yen

Yikes! That sends chills up my spine. I'm glad you survived both near-misses.

I vanpool to work. There is only a handful of riders who are willing to drive a big 14-passenger van, and I'm not one of them, so I'm thankful for those who are. However, one of them eats, drinks, changes the radio station and talks while giggling almost the entire way to/from work. We've had more slam-on-the-brake moments since we began just a few months ago than I've had in my own car in years. A few weeks ago, she had to hit the brakes very hard to avoid slamming into a car that had suddenly stopped (gee, if only we weren't following so closely...). Then I noticed that she was holding a food bar in the same hand that was holding the steering wheel. I seriously doubt she'd be able to control this van to prevent a rollover incident. I'm considering changing to another van if I have the opportunity.

dclaryjr

That's what scares me. The rednecks that think I belong on the sidewalk will blow horns and gesture at me, but I don't worry about them hitting me. It's the bozo trying to text or find a song on their mp3 player that pose a threat!

BengeBoy 

In the fall it's always gray in Seattle, even in mid-day. I find myself using at least a tail light and often a headlight as well even during day time weekend rides.

BTW, my worst "close calls" in the past year have all come in quiet suburban neighborhoods. I think there are enough bikers around Seattle that on busy roads drivers are at least partly aware they'll see a bike.

But when people are just leaving their home, or are within 2 or 3 blocks of their house, they seem to just go on autopilot and turn off their brains -- they are dialing a cell phone as they roll out the drive, not looking at stop signs, doing rolling stops, etc. I am more scared getting out of my neighborhood and back into it on my daily commute than I am riding in downtown Seattle in rush hour traffic.

RepWI

I no longer leave my garage without my lights on, day or night. There is a reason the automobile industry began designing cars whose lights turn on at the turn of the ignition key.

maddmaxx 

As I hear more and more about "left hook" incidents I realize that I need a front flasher even during the daylight also. I wouldn't leave home without the rear flasher but your right about the number of bicycle blind drivers out there.

gear

Next time your cruising down the highway check out how many cars drift from one lane into another then back into their own lane. I began noticing this when I noticied that I was being passed by a lot of cars with their passenger wheels in my lane as they passed me. People just aren't paying attention to their driving.

Engyo

Several years ago now, but both times I got hit were in broad daylight in clear weather. Both times it was by drivers who passed me (in Texas bicycles must stay as close to the right-hand edge of the road as is practicable) and then turned right, clipping my front tire during the turn with their rear fender.

BluesDawg

Another factor added to the distracted drivers is that this time of year there are fewer cyclists on the roads than in the warmer months, so drivers are less tuned into seeing bicycles. People tend to see what they expect to see.

stapfam

Riding around in the day time and there are always cyclists that appear from no-where, especially round towns. But the ones I have no trouble seeing are in bright clothes and have blinkies on.

And one ride on the Tandem at night and we hit 3 cars. One pulled out in front of us and we hit the bumper. That was going to be expensive. Next was on a roundabout and he pulled out in front- We swerved and put a crease across the trunk lid. And the third got too close overtaking us and the cars mirror got damaged on the stokers Bars. Lights on that are very good with 3 front lamps- two rear lamps and I even had a blinkie on my coat.

The only way you will survive out there is have quick reactions and Superb 360 deg vision. Won't happen.

BengeBoy 

Whenever I see this happen I always try to look at the driver -- 80% of the time when I see something really erratic, the driver is on the cell phone.

Other signs driver is on the cell phone --

-- erratic speed on the freeway (going from 55 to 75 to 60 to 70 again)
-- weird / poorly timed lane changes

Digital Gee

Not fun, but be glad you weren't the victim of "three time's the charm!"

qcpmsame 

The local military bases in N.A.S. Pensacola Region have banned cellphone usage on base. I wish the state would do the same. I am tired of dodging cars and trucks while they chat away merrily and unaware. My bike or in my truck I am still trying to be hyper aware of the growing "Multitaskers" out there. Just hang up and drive.

Bill

djnzlab1

HI,
I was nearly hit twice the other day ,
I was making a left turn in the correct lane( inside left took the lane) had flashers going front and back,
and was moving as far forward to allow a car to cross towards me and go behind me and continue on.
The driver of the van was looking at me but its like she was running from something, my guess maybe she had a car coming at her and was trapped, she rolled right up to me I pulled the bike up onto the center section of the road over a curb or would have been hit.
I believe she was scared of being t-boned by another car she may have misjudge the on coming cars speed or it was speeding as she crossed but may have not realized the damage I could have taken if hit by a car? It all happened so fast.. things can really go bad quick when your on a bike.
Never looked back after making the turn,
Yea I do feel like a second class citizen when they don't even stop. even a little lip service of Iam sorry from the inside of a car.I don't think they realize how deadly a car/bike crash can be at low speeds...
I found a stobe thats yellow for the back and one thats white for the front 5 times as bright as a led, I believe the police use them on their bikes with the blue llight thats why I went with white and yellow.

https://www.lightmanstrobes.com/page391.html

Does anyone feel like they need more term life.
Doug

dclaryjr

You can get them in red as well:


Clear on the front would be a good choice.

MNBikeguy

Watch the video in the link below. Don't read the web site just yet, just watch.
Fascinating and compelling evidence.
https://michaelscomments.wordpress.co...of-perception/