But for the grace of God...

[rule62]

About 15 minutes ago:
I'm headed west on Rio Salado.  I'm at the light at Mill in the right hand lane.  Light turns green.  At the same time I see a car heading south on Mill.  I don't believe it's going to stop before making its right turn.  While in the middle of the intersection, I move to the left lane.  The car doesn't stop.  It makes a right turn and goes wide.  It's right beside me pushing me toward the median curb.  Brakes on hard.  Thank goodness for the steering damper.  Back gets light.  Tires squeal.  I'm committed to a "get off"... but it didn't happen.  Not sure how... but it didn't happen.  This is without a doubt the closest I have ever been to crashing my motorcycle into another vehicle.

make the beast with two backsing Volvos!!!

What could I have done differently?  Waited at the green light, anticipating that the Volvo wasn't going to stop, as I had originally thought.

Glad to still be here.  All in one piece.  Still shaking a little.

[Michael]

Holy crap, Ryan. Thank Goodness you're okay.

Definitely by the grace of God.

[Dietrich]

Wow! Glad for your super-human skills.  We tried to save you man!  Could have been safely at home watching a documentary about motorcycle racing.

[hoyden]

It was the Yellow. Definitely yellow saved the day.

Volvos suck!

Glad you are okay!

[pennyrobber]

Glad to hear you kept upright. There is nothing you really should have done differently in my book.

[Monster Dave]

Glad you're alright Ryan! 

[MostroNero]

First: Very very glad to hear you kept the rubbers down and didn't have to get hurt.

From what you've written, I can maybe, hopefully, offer a little insight. First, great job keeping your eyes open and anticipating the situation. Anticipating what the Great American Auto Motorist (GAAM) might do, or is likely to do, is a skill that takes time to develop and one that too few riders fully concern themselves with.

In this case, you had a good read on something that seemed likely to happen well in advance of it happening and you made good compensation for it....somewhat. You read that the car probably wasn't going to stop for his red light before making his turn, but you didn't further consider that he'd go wide to the far lane; something 95% of all GAAMs do 99% of the time despite laws to the contrary.

Expecting that, might you have, in addition to moving left in the intersection, slowed sooner, when you first made the prediction, and allowed the GAAM to swing his head-up-assed turn in front of you?

I don't know because I'm only interpreting your account of the scene, and seeing a possible out for you.

I've spent 30 years riding in this city and developing a keen skill to anticipate where the GAAM is going; what he can and cannot see; and whatever else I might determine about the risk he presents to me. In a nut shell, I look at every car around me and consider the question, "Who is this monkey and what can he do to wreck my day?" and then do what I can to make it so he can't do that. I can't think it's luck that I'm still here.  [moto]

[rule62]

totally agreed