As a motorcyclist you learn to compensate as best you can for being "invisible" to people in their cars. Trying to anticipate their incoherent actions, inattentiveness, distracted driving, etc., etc. It becomes a way of thinking and a way of surviving on the road.
But what about other motorcyclists? I know some haven't gone through any sort of training, that shouldn't be an excuse though. How about some extra consideration and respect for other motorcyclists?
On my itty bitty commute this morning another cyclist came up behind me at the first traffic light. He came up fairly fast and tucked in just a little behind and to the right of my tail end. His Aprillia was definitely louder than my bike, so I knew he was there. At least at the light.
We progressed through the next light onto third. We were stuck behind 3 or 4 cars, one of which was going a bit on the slow side, but nothing unusual for an in town commute, just before 9AM. The Aprillia rider remained behind me on through the 3rd light.
The timing on the 4th light is such that light 3 turns green then usually light 4, one block further, is green by the time you approach it.
The first two cars in line go through the 4th light. The 3rd car and I want to turn right. However, as the car and I approach the corner the Aprillia rider pulls up nearly beside me on the right! What the f*? At the corner, as I prepare to make the right turn he pulls up and passes me on the right then crosses in front of me to go around the car on the left as it makes the turn! In the diagram above the Aprillia is the red bike.
All I can say is I'm thankful about being nervous about his presence. If I had happen to have dived into that right turn a little bit quicker without checking where he was, I would have cut him off probably with both of us ending on the ground!
I would think another motorcyclist, dealing with all the crap we get from car drivers would be very aware of his relative location and the possible actions of the vehicles around him. In this case me!
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3 comments:
We are our own worst enemies.
Good on you for keeping an eye out and being aware of the situation.
How old are those assholes at PNWRiders? Are they in high school or what?
-PeeJay
we are purple
that said good looking out cause that would have been bad to for have aprilla rider hit you .. but then you could always get up afterwords and beat some sense in to him and say it was from the accident :)
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