Ducati Monster Forum

Out for a short & casual ride, going at a moderate pace down an empty city street in Brooklyn early in the morning yesterday (Kent Ave in Williamsburg for locals). I saw an SUV pull up to a stop sign just ahead on the right. It first pulled to sign and actually stopped.  Then, rolled out 1/2 way into the street as if it were looking to make sure all was clear. 

I am paying VERY close attention to it as by now I am close enough I can clearly see the woman's face as she looks my direction.  She has to see me, right?  I mean, she is looking RIGHT AT ME. 

Nope, she doens't see me.  Just as I reach the intersection she pulls out.  RIGHT in front of me!  AND, she was going like 5MPH!!!  She then put on her brakes and slowes down even more! She was just looking around like she was lost... IDIOT!

Like I said, I was paying close attention and I had already covered my brake and clutch so I was able to come almost to a complete stop VERY quickly.    (hmm, no icon for buldging eyes)

LESSON: Never assume they see you!  Even if you think they are looking right at you!!

Yes, you do have to wear bright neon.  And they probably won't see you anyway.

I flash my brights a lot and swerve a bit in my lane as I approach an intersection, just so that my headlight flashes at them.  And I sometimes stand up on the pegs before an intersection just to be sure.  People tend to notice that.  Oh, and my 'stich rain jacket is Hi-Viz yellow. 

I don't do that white or yellow helmet thing.  But I'm about to cover one of my helmets in supershiny, reflective vinyl.  It should look like a disco ball when I'm done.  And I'm sure I'll get lots of dates from pretty-lookin' dudes.

people hit fire engines and police cars with sirens and lights all the time.   I think of being a difficult moving target when I ride.

Exactly. I get reminded of people not being able to see me everytime I see someone rear-end a school bus.

I have a large Ducati "D" on the back I cut from Reflective vinyl.  It's this super cool ultra reflective 3M black reflective vinyl tape.  I bought a sheet on Ebay for like 5 bucks.  It looks like plain black in inside lights but when headlights (or sunlight) hit it is is super bright reflective. 

But, the decal is on the back and didn't help me this time.  Thought the headlight would be enough to get spotted...

...And, yes, people hit fire trucks, school busses and all kinds of other shit that they should see.  The other day my coworker told me that his wife just drove her car into the side of their house causing several thousand dollars worth of damage.  Her excuse?  She was in a hurry because the kids were late to rehersal. 

No matter how many of these stories I hear it still always shocks me.

Considering I've been hit TWICE while driving a school bus (38ft long, 9 feet high, 8 feet wide and painted school bus yellow) people flat out don't pay attention at times.  Just assume NOBODY sees you and you're live longer ~

JM

Here are a few that I would have felt like using:

(http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/shakefist.gif)

(http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/anger.gif)

(http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/wow2.gif)

Glad that you're alright and didn't go down! Oh and to answer your rhetorical question...

yes: (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Tht9r6sSL._AA280_.jpg)

You could be nekid and some people still won't see you.  Most Cagers are idiots who don't pay attention to shit.  Keep that head on a swivel and stay alive!  Loud pipes do help, although I believe in New York they are now impounding your bikes for loud pipes?? /rant  I hate illegal taxes politicians should die!  Quit giving away so much money to worthless lazy people and they wouldn't have to invent new ways to tax the honest citzen. /rantoff

please knock off the political rants here.  Thanks.

heh no problem, its just hard sometimes :)  Maybe I shouldn't have said die, maybe just i dunno have to sit in a cell listening to the Barney theme song for a few weeks.  i love you, you love me, we're a happy family!!

Try pouring gasoline on yourself and bike, then light it and go for a ride. though as stupid as it sounds i bet someone will still hit you.


alternatively, you can have a bunch of knives sticking out of the sore spots from your bike. im pretty sure people will be afraid of getting their car scratched up.

you are certainly in the right town for that  ;)


I personally don't believe in that "make eye contact with the drivers" thing... we're pretty small object on the road, and chances are, they're only looking for cars.  if at all...

Neither do I, the "eye contact" could be a good driver looking for traffic or a an average driver with glazed over eyes just going through the motions.

Changing lane positions I have always though helps, A moving object is usually easier to spot.

Here ya go, Teddy:  http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=23022.msg407135#new (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=23022.msg407135#new)   [laugh]

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

very nice!

What you didn't see was her dialing the cell phone below the dashboard in her right hand to set up a b'fast latte with her GFs as she was pulling up to the stop sign....her attention was never outside the car ("I could swear this is the corner where the new Starbucks is...where did it go...")

Wouldn't have seen you if you had been on fire  [coffee]

Lady making a U-turn in front of me yesterday. She couldn't understand why I was so upset.  [bang]

I read or was told sometime that cars and the drivers thereof are looking for cars. That means they are looking for two headlights. And two headlights is what registers with their subconscious as another vehicle. Hence, recognizing a motorcycle is more difficult.

Kinda makes you wish the tutorials and such for learners permits and the drivers test included caricatures of motorcycles, to get the notion implanted earlier.