Ducati Monster Forum

Seems like this might have been discussed, but I didn't find a thread:

I realized as I was riding home yesterday that there are a few particular intersections where I know cars are going to act in a dangerous manner.  Not dangerous as in law breaking, just dangerous in that their behavior doesn't jive well with what a motorcyclist might typically do out here.

My best example is, as I ride on the 10 East to take the 405 South, at that exit there will be a lot of cars who chose not to get in line earlier, and try to jump in front of cars closer to the ramp.  At this point, I know I need to be extra careful of those drivers as I try to enter the exit lane myself, because of course I'm lane splitting to get ahead as well.

I'd like to hear what you guys feel are dangerous intersections around LA also.

On ramp to the 110 N from the 10 E
On ramp to the 101 N from the 110 N
Left hand turn onto Santa Monica from La Cienega - Almost always get cut off if you're in the right turn lane
Any intersection on Pico from Hoover to La Brea
Almost the entire stretch of Alvarado from Hoover to Sunset
Santa Monica from Western to the 101 entrance

I'm sure I have more here somewhere in my brain but those are a few. And those are at just about any time of day.

in OC, 57s to 91w.  everyone on the right is trying to get to the left, everyone on the left is trying to get to the right.  everyone else is lane diving at the last possible minute.

Same at 57s and 22e/w and 5s (Orange Crush).

Between Bacon Junkie and his bacon.  ;D

Forgot about that one! I have FHE!!

...Pretty much the whole San Gabriel Valley.  Terrible drivers.

Parking lots outside of Korean supermarkets.  I've had two small accidents in my car just because some folks decided it was OK to back out of a parking space into me without looking.  I wasn't even "sneaking up," I was waiting for another car to vacate a parking space with my friggin' turn signal on both times.  In one instance, the person had walked past my car to get into theirs and STILL managed to back into me.

There's a stretch of Sepulveda Blvd just past the 47 heading westbound (it's Willow St further towards the East) where the right lane (there are two) suddenly turns into a right-turn only.  It's confusing because there are still two lanes after the intersection.  Tractor-trailer drivers frequently keep going straight through the lane and will not stop for cars/motorcycles/stray dogs...

Any of those stupid photo radar/red light camera intersections.  People just act stupid around those things.

HEY!  >:(

Oh, wait... ;D






[bacon]

605 freeway on Fridays.

60 Fwy east bound between 605 & 57 outside lane with long potholes  :o :o :o as wide as Monster front tire.

10 W. in the carpool lane right before the 710 freeway. I hit a huge chunk of raised asphalt that dented both my rims... :o

I somehow held on, but it did throw me up into the air w/ major tank slap. Luckily I came back down onto the seat and was able to get over to the shoulder. (This was at midnight...)
I found a replacement rear rim that I'm putting on tomorrow.

I don't even know if I want to make a claim through the State/Cal Trans especially with this budget crisis our state's in.
But, I've already sent them notices to fix it ASAP though. I was super lucky w/ my outcome and don't want anyone getting hurt.

WOW ! :o :o :o  that's scary, glad you are safe. [beer]

Yeah our roads must be some of the most horrendous in the nation.  I bent 3 rims one after the other in my VW commuting to work down Beverly Blvd from random giant potholes.  I couldn't imagine what would have happened on the bike, but luckily it's much easier to avoid them.  If any of you frequent it, you probably know the stretch - between western and rossmore, where it conveniently becomes smooth as a baby's butt after the country club begins. Thankfully they just repaved that whole stretch, woohoo!  Won't be long before the cleaning lady transit buses bust a bunch of holes in the pavement again, though...

Worst, imo, intersection in town?  Franklin and Bronson in Hollywood, especially heading North on Bronson trying to cross Franklin, especially during rush hour.

A block away at Franklin and Tamarind isn't much better, a bit, but not much.

In Long Beach, 7th st can be very dangerous esp. around rush hour- the bellflower/pch/7th st. intersection can be dangerous, as people often split off to the left to get towards the VA or CSULB and no one looks. :( Plus the potholes are pretty major.
Anaheim St. is also a mess... some VERY VERY bad drivers around that area.

Thanks for the heads up, that could have easily been me.

Maybe this should be a permanent thread, informing each other about roadway hazards in SoCal...

Another spot I remembered is on the 90 going East as you enter it from the marina.  Just as you pass over the Ballona bike path and are banking left, there is a long pothole the width of a tire in the middle lane.  I know to always stay in the far left lane to avoid it.  I've notified the city to fill it because it has noticeably grown over the last 6 months.

I would say going north 405 fwy to south 710 Very bad at rush hour. I'v seen a bike up next to the wall's over pass with a cop there but know rider!

Even going north 110 to the 5 north is bad as well.