6th Sense
 

Having committed myself to commute to a new job via train and bike, my main focus since March has been staying alive. Like all commuters I have had my share of close calls, aggressive drivers, half asleep or speeding bus drivers and gorgeous sunrises.

Yesterday on my way home, my survival 6th sense kicked in. Fort Belvoir has recently finished widening and repaving its main drag including bike lanes. The post speed limit is only 35 but at 5 pm the road is very busy and has quite a few, untimed stop lights. I was approaching a light on a slight downhill, running almost 20 mph with a green light. My view of the light and intersection was blocked as a small bus pulled alongside me just before reaching the light. Having scanned ahead I thought I remembered see a car in the turning lane heading my direction. My 6th sense told me she was going to turn in front of me as soon as she cleared the bus. As I was reaching for the brakes, sure enough she started to accelerate. I was sliding my butt back on the seat as the rear wheel locked up on loose gravel for just an instant. In that same instant the driver saw me, slowed and I released the brakes and continued.

In my mind's eye I could see the whole thing happening before it did. Say it's part of defensive riding, say it's self-preservation, say it's the Lord looking over my shoulder, it's your call but yesterday I was glad for my 6th sense.

There may have been some divine guidance involved but I have to believe at least some of it was your experience. Maybe you have been through something kind of like that, seen someone else or heard about it third hand. It seems that as you get older it is easier to anticipate trouble ahead. Whatever the reason, I'm glad to hear the driver stayed alert rather than texting or changing stations on the radio right then.

I had something like that happen once except my 6th sense failed me. Now I try to be more aware. I am betting it was some type of experience you had that made you that much more aware. Good for the driver not barreling through you.

Good job analyzing the situation. I did the reverse on my ride home yesterday - I passed by a stopped car without even realizing that the car was running and the driver was preparing to pull out, though it was quite obvious in hind sight. Luckily for me the driver was watchful. I'd slept just 4 hours the night before, so I was beat coming back.

I think it just becomes ingrained in your subconscious to expect/anticipate the worst possible maneuver. In a previous life I was an over-the-road truck driver. After several years it just occurred to me one day that I must have some type of ESP--I knew what the car ahead of me was going to do before they did it. I could see a car at an intersection I was approaching and I just somehow knew they were going to pull out in front of me. I would start checking my mirrors and try to find an escape route and/or move my foot over the brake pedal.
It may be some type of learned behavior--maybe a behavior modification, Pavlov's dog kind of a thing.

Your sixth sense is when you see dead people. What you're talking about here are your Spidey senses.