Pedestrians !!!

[KARNYC]

I've had my bike for two months and all I can say is thank God for frame sliders. This past week while riding in town a pedestrian holding a child walked out in between two cars. Instead of walking to the corner and crossing like a normal human, this woman took a risk with her child and crossed the street without looking.

I was going about 15 mph in second gear and had to do a hard maneuver to avoid hitting them. I applied the brake a little bit too hard and the front wheel locked, bike slid down and I went with it.

Wearing the right gear saved my skin and thank God I did not hit that child. This is the first time in 20 yrs that I own such a light bike with such great brakes. I guess I need to go and practice some panic stops and get used to the bike.

[Punx Clever]

Try riding on a college campus some time... I really don't understand how someone can stand to listen to their iPod loud enough to drown out the clatter of a dry clutch and sound of a ducati... but they do.  And they cross the street randomly without looking... and they don't follow traffic signals. and. and. and.

So I completely feel for you!

[rgramjet]

I love it when they look right at you while strutting across the street, making you come to a complete stop from 30mph when theres noone behind you......God forbid they wait 5 extra seconds or even walk 1/10th faster.  I cant stand "entitled" pedestrians...... 

Whatever happened to "Look both ways, then cross"?

[Howie]

Sorry to hear.  I'm surprised she didn't send the kid out first.  NYC pedestrians have a death wish.

[Buckethead]

Judicious application of a really loud horn usually gets their attention.

[sfarchie]

Sorry to hear.  I'm surprised she didn't send the kid out first.  NYC pedestrians have a death wish.

I think many of the NYC pedestrians now live in SF. 

Glad no one got hurt and you confirmed I will get frame sliders. Which ones do you have?

[Ducatista]

Good on you for stopping in time, even though it meant dropping the bike.  So often obstacles in the road can be avoided without a crash, but with a child involved, there is no way to predict where the kid (or idiot mother) would have gone if you had done a swerve to avoid.  You made the right choice.  I will only step out if I see the vehicle stopping already and would NEVER step out in front of a bike.  I know it's just plain old mean.  They could be right on an oil patch or something.  At least a car has 3 other contact patches and nice linked brakes to stop on.

[KARNYC]

I think many of the NYC pedestrians now live in SF. 

Glad no one got hurt and you confirmed I will get frame sliders. Which ones do you have?

Thanks for all the comments, I have Speedymoto frame and axle slidders. A must have!

[gsr2is300]

Thanks for all the comments, I have Speedymoto frame and axle slidders. A must have!

I just installed all of my sliders yesterday.  Do you have any pics of the bike with the sliders and damage to the sliders?  I am just curious how well the frame, fork, and rear axle slders work.

Glad to see that everyone was ok with the accident.

[Jarvicious]

Judicious application of a really loud horn usually gets their attention.

That or narrowly avoiding them by a foot followed by a couple of high revs coming out of some unbaffled cans 

College kids really are bad.  I'll stop all day if they're in the crosswalk and sometimes if I'm feeling nice and they actually hustle across the street instead of the casual stroll I get from most of them.  As someone said though, the "entitled" ones who don't even look before they step off the curb deserve a Darwin award. 

[duc996]

Some pedestrians even try to challenge you and see if they can beat you crossing the street.What i do is if i know there's a pedestrian crossing i just slow down and look both ways.

[Bizzarrini]

At least a car has 3 other contact patches and nice linked brakes to stop on.

You always wheelie through town??? 

[Jarvicious]

You always wheelie through town??? 

You don't??  How do you keep your front tire from wearing?