Tight Squeezes
Keep a keen eye out for disappearing routes
You’re on your way home from work on the hottest day of the year. Traffic is moving slowly and the heat coming off our motorcycle’s engine is becoming oppressive. You are in the middle of a line of cars and trucks approaching an intersection. The lane is lines with cones to direct traffic through nearby construction.
The mid-afternoon sun is intense and you’re losing your cool as traffic creeps glacially forward. As you near the intersection, you decide to get moving by threading between the traffic and right side road edge. As you move forward alongside a semi-truck, you notice the truck moving into your path. The open lane you hoped to dart through is closing quickly. You swerve slightly to the right away from the trailer, but the cones and dirt lining the road leave little room to continue. Your front wheel is about to be pinched by the truck’s rear wheel so you chop the throttle and grab the brakes. The next thing you know, you’re sliding off the road into the dirt with cones flying everywhere.
In an effort to find relief from the traffic congestion and heat you saw an opening and decided to take it. You didn’t count on the trucker having the same idea. The dirty road and narrowing lanes caused by the construction should have triggered extra caution. Your selected path around the truck was located in his blind spot where the driver had little chance of seeing you. It’s not called the ‘no zone’ for nothing.
When the trucker made his move, you were already committed. An evasive maneuver was required. Unfortunately, the toad surface was not conducive to hard braking which caused your tires to skid and your motorcycle to fall.
Next time, consider an alternative route to avoid the heaviest traffic and any construction zones. If that’s not possible, be patient and select opportunities to move through traffic with more consideration to the possibility of an unexpected lane change. And, if a quick braking maneuver is necessary, favor the rear brake when traction is very limited.
Anita
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Delusive drivers
Delusive Drivers
A driver can’t signal his intentions if he hasn’t decided what to do.
You’re out for a ride in the country, following a secondary highway that wanders past farms and the occasionally family store. There are lots of twists and even right-angle turns, and a few railroad grade crossings, but everything is well marked. You’ve ridden this road before, and have a pretty good idea of the layout. The weather is warm and dry today, the surface is clean and predictable, and there are few other vehicles on the road. The bike begs to be ridden aggressively today, and you can’t resist. Most of the road is posted 55 mph, which feels good at 70. You feel comfortable taking the 25 mph corners at 40.
Approaching a left-hander near a country store, you decelerate, ease over to the right edge of the pavement, and prepare to accelerate just as soon as you are over the railroad tracks. The driver ahead appears to be slowing to turn off at the store, and you plan to pass him on the left. But, rather than continue his turn, the driver suddenly brakes to a stop in the middle of the road. You can’t pass on his left because not where is an oncoming SUV. You attempt a quick stop, applying both brakes just short of skidding, but at the speed you’re traveling, you run out of room. You manage to ease over to the right, but the painted white line and the plastic aprons for the railroad tracks conspire to cause the bike to slide left and bang into the car door. You aren’t hurt, but it’s a collision, and you are at fault.
It may be fun to ride the back roads at spirited speeds, but you need to slow immediately for situations that are out of your control, such as wild animals, sightseeing trains, or tourists who are lost or undecided. The oncoming SUV driver could be planning a left turn into the store, or the car on the right could be about to pull out. In this situation, you should have reduced speed sooner, and waited for the other drivers to get out of the way before deciding your move. It’s important to be in full control of the bike, but it’s just as important to be in control of the situation.
Anita
A driver can’t signal his intentions if he hasn’t decided what to do.
You’re out for a ride in the country, following a secondary highway that wanders past farms and the occasionally family store. There are lots of twists and even right-angle turns, and a few railroad grade crossings, but everything is well marked. You’ve ridden this road before, and have a pretty good idea of the layout. The weather is warm and dry today, the surface is clean and predictable, and there are few other vehicles on the road. The bike begs to be ridden aggressively today, and you can’t resist. Most of the road is posted 55 mph, which feels good at 70. You feel comfortable taking the 25 mph corners at 40.
Approaching a left-hander near a country store, you decelerate, ease over to the right edge of the pavement, and prepare to accelerate just as soon as you are over the railroad tracks. The driver ahead appears to be slowing to turn off at the store, and you plan to pass him on the left. But, rather than continue his turn, the driver suddenly brakes to a stop in the middle of the road. You can’t pass on his left because not where is an oncoming SUV. You attempt a quick stop, applying both brakes just short of skidding, but at the speed you’re traveling, you run out of room. You manage to ease over to the right, but the painted white line and the plastic aprons for the railroad tracks conspire to cause the bike to slide left and bang into the car door. You aren’t hurt, but it’s a collision, and you are at fault.
It may be fun to ride the back roads at spirited speeds, but you need to slow immediately for situations that are out of your control, such as wild animals, sightseeing trains, or tourists who are lost or undecided. The oncoming SUV driver could be planning a left turn into the store, or the car on the right could be about to pull out. In this situation, you should have reduced speed sooner, and waited for the other drivers to get out of the way before deciding your move. It’s important to be in full control of the bike, but it’s just as important to be in control of the situation.
Anita
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Sitting Ducks
Sitting Ducks
You’re riding home through the maze of shopping center entrances and neighborhood access streets after a hard day of work. Traffic lights control the heavy commuter traffic. It’s a routine ride, but you are distracted by the nagging thought that you left your cell phone at work, so you take the opportunity at the next red light to quickly search your tank bag to find it.
You stop behind a minivan, click the transmission into neutral and begin opening the bag’s zipper when you hear squealing tires behind you. A quick glance in your mirrors reveals the sickening sight of a car closing very fast. You squeeze the clutch and stop the bike into first gear, but you’re too close to the minivan to maneuver out of the way. The impact sends you violently backward onto the hood of the careless driver’s car with the back of your head smashing into the windshield. Thankfully, you were wearing a helmet and you escape with only a seriously bruised elbow and shoulder. Unfortunately, your bike is a total loss.
It was a good ideal to eliminate the distraction about your cell phone, but it would have been smarter to pull out of traffic, or at least wait until the surrounding traffic was completely stopped before attempting to search your tank bag. When sitting in traffic, it is smart to keep our bike in first gear and your attention on your mirrors to identify and react quickly to hazardous situations from behind. Flash your brake light to alert inattentive drivers that you are stopped. Finally, it’s better to stop far enough away from vehicles in front to allow a near-straight escape route between the rows of cars to the left or in the breakdown lane to the right. Following these simple steps can prevent you from being a sitting duck.
Anita
You’re riding home through the maze of shopping center entrances and neighborhood access streets after a hard day of work. Traffic lights control the heavy commuter traffic. It’s a routine ride, but you are distracted by the nagging thought that you left your cell phone at work, so you take the opportunity at the next red light to quickly search your tank bag to find it.
You stop behind a minivan, click the transmission into neutral and begin opening the bag’s zipper when you hear squealing tires behind you. A quick glance in your mirrors reveals the sickening sight of a car closing very fast. You squeeze the clutch and stop the bike into first gear, but you’re too close to the minivan to maneuver out of the way. The impact sends you violently backward onto the hood of the careless driver’s car with the back of your head smashing into the windshield. Thankfully, you were wearing a helmet and you escape with only a seriously bruised elbow and shoulder. Unfortunately, your bike is a total loss.
It was a good ideal to eliminate the distraction about your cell phone, but it would have been smarter to pull out of traffic, or at least wait until the surrounding traffic was completely stopped before attempting to search your tank bag. When sitting in traffic, it is smart to keep our bike in first gear and your attention on your mirrors to identify and react quickly to hazardous situations from behind. Flash your brake light to alert inattentive drivers that you are stopped. Finally, it’s better to stop far enough away from vehicles in front to allow a near-straight escape route between the rows of cars to the left or in the breakdown lane to the right. Following these simple steps can prevent you from being a sitting duck.
Anita
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
One-way Blunders
One-way Blunders
Don’t assume everyone knows it’s a one-way street.
You’re riding through an urban neighborhood on our way to work on a two-lane road where both lanes go in the same direction. There are crossroad intersections ever 1000 feet or so with a stoplight or stop sign at each intersection. Most of the stoop lights are synched to each other. Allowing traffic to move at a steady rate. You are behind a lower car in the right-hand lane, so you decide to change lanes to overtake the slower driver. You pass at a relaxed pace, knowing that the one-way road continues for several more blocks. Once past the car you decide to move back into the right lane.
Only moments after you return to the right-hand lane a car pulls out into the left lane heading in the wrong direction! Yikes! The inattentive driver passes to your left with a puzzled look on his face as you attempt to signal his mistake. He disappears out of your peripheral vision still accelerating. Suddenly, you hear skidding tires behind you and the sound of crunching metal and plastic. You check your mirrors before pulling over to assess the damage.
The head-on collision involved two cars in addition to the errant driver’s vehicle. The first car in line took the brunt of the hit with the car following rear-ending the unfortunate driver. Cell phones were being dialed to dispatch emergency personnel, so you go on your way.
Your thoughts swarm around the narrow escape you just experienced. Hand you continued to ride in the left-hand lane, you could have easily have been the victim of the driver’s error.It may have been dumb luck that you were in the right-hand lane at the moment the driver entered the one-way street in the wrong direction, but you can be grateful that a lesson was learned without harm to you. While most drivers recognize a one-way street, there is the real possibility that an approaching driver unfamiliar with the neighborhood will turn from an intersecting road heading in the wrong direction. To avoid being caught up in this possibility, avoid the left-hand lane in two lane one-way streets.
Anita
Don’t assume everyone knows it’s a one-way street.
You’re riding through an urban neighborhood on our way to work on a two-lane road where both lanes go in the same direction. There are crossroad intersections ever 1000 feet or so with a stoplight or stop sign at each intersection. Most of the stoop lights are synched to each other. Allowing traffic to move at a steady rate. You are behind a lower car in the right-hand lane, so you decide to change lanes to overtake the slower driver. You pass at a relaxed pace, knowing that the one-way road continues for several more blocks. Once past the car you decide to move back into the right lane.
Only moments after you return to the right-hand lane a car pulls out into the left lane heading in the wrong direction! Yikes! The inattentive driver passes to your left with a puzzled look on his face as you attempt to signal his mistake. He disappears out of your peripheral vision still accelerating. Suddenly, you hear skidding tires behind you and the sound of crunching metal and plastic. You check your mirrors before pulling over to assess the damage.
The head-on collision involved two cars in addition to the errant driver’s vehicle. The first car in line took the brunt of the hit with the car following rear-ending the unfortunate driver. Cell phones were being dialed to dispatch emergency personnel, so you go on your way.
Your thoughts swarm around the narrow escape you just experienced. Hand you continued to ride in the left-hand lane, you could have easily have been the victim of the driver’s error.It may have been dumb luck that you were in the right-hand lane at the moment the driver entered the one-way street in the wrong direction, but you can be grateful that a lesson was learned without harm to you. While most drivers recognize a one-way street, there is the real possibility that an approaching driver unfamiliar with the neighborhood will turn from an intersecting road heading in the wrong direction. To avoid being caught up in this possibility, avoid the left-hand lane in two lane one-way streets.
Anita
Unfamiliar Rides
Unfamiliar Rides
It’s fun to ride other people’s bikes, but beware! You’re on your way to meet a few friends for a long weekend ride. The weather is terrific for the overnight excursion and your bike is running great. You arrive at the designated meeting spot to find the other riders having their breakfast and engaged in a lively conversation about their respective bikes. During the conversation, one friend insists that his new bike is worlds better than the older generation bike you own. The owner of the new model wants to prove his position, so you both agree to switch bikes sometime during the ride. Everyone finishes their breakfast and suits up to go.
During a rest stoop you and your friend decide that it’s a good time to switch bikes. At first you ride cautiously, not wanting to risk crashing your friend’s bike. But the new motorcycle seems to ask to be ridden harder through the twisty sections or road. You oblige by turning the throttle.
You dart into a blind right-hand corner when you are surprised to see that the turn’s radius decreases significantly toward the exit. You press hard to lean the bike more, but this bike turns quicker and sharper than your bike and you end up in the dirt on the inside of the turn. The next few moments are a blur. Eventually, you notice the new bike laying on its side. You are mostly okay, thanks to your full complement of riding gear, but you’re horrified at what you’ve done. You jump up to assess the damage while the rest of the riders park their bikes and run over to assist. The damaged bike’s owner looks in disbelief at his now scraped and broken machine.
Statistics suggest that crashes occur more often when an unfamiliar bike is involved, whether a borrowed bike or a newly purchased one. Handling, power, and braking characteristics are different between different types of bikes, and even between two different examples of the same model. One bike may respond differently from another simply because of a different tire profile or a suspension setup.
When you do choose to test a demo bike or take the offer to ride a different bike owned by a generous fellow rider, take time to get a feel for the differences the unfamiliar bike possesses. And, consider declining the offer if you are uncomfortable with the risks.
Anita
It’s fun to ride other people’s bikes, but beware! You’re on your way to meet a few friends for a long weekend ride. The weather is terrific for the overnight excursion and your bike is running great. You arrive at the designated meeting spot to find the other riders having their breakfast and engaged in a lively conversation about their respective bikes. During the conversation, one friend insists that his new bike is worlds better than the older generation bike you own. The owner of the new model wants to prove his position, so you both agree to switch bikes sometime during the ride. Everyone finishes their breakfast and suits up to go.
During a rest stoop you and your friend decide that it’s a good time to switch bikes. At first you ride cautiously, not wanting to risk crashing your friend’s bike. But the new motorcycle seems to ask to be ridden harder through the twisty sections or road. You oblige by turning the throttle.
You dart into a blind right-hand corner when you are surprised to see that the turn’s radius decreases significantly toward the exit. You press hard to lean the bike more, but this bike turns quicker and sharper than your bike and you end up in the dirt on the inside of the turn. The next few moments are a blur. Eventually, you notice the new bike laying on its side. You are mostly okay, thanks to your full complement of riding gear, but you’re horrified at what you’ve done. You jump up to assess the damage while the rest of the riders park their bikes and run over to assist. The damaged bike’s owner looks in disbelief at his now scraped and broken machine.
Statistics suggest that crashes occur more often when an unfamiliar bike is involved, whether a borrowed bike or a newly purchased one. Handling, power, and braking characteristics are different between different types of bikes, and even between two different examples of the same model. One bike may respond differently from another simply because of a different tire profile or a suspension setup.
When you do choose to test a demo bike or take the offer to ride a different bike owned by a generous fellow rider, take time to get a feel for the differences the unfamiliar bike possesses. And, consider declining the offer if you are uncomfortable with the risks.
Anita
Monday, July 9, 2007
Orange Barrel Blues
Orange Barrel Blues
You’ve finally found time for a weekend trip, and you’ve been riding mostly superhighways to save time. There has been a lot more construction than you would have liked, but you know that’s just the nature of summertime travel. You’ve noticed hundreds of those big plastic construction barrels used as warning barriers. Some have flashing lights on top. Some are placed outside the concrete barriers. But you also observe that some are placed between traffic lanes, like those between the right lane and that entry ramp, and you wonder if they are a motorcycle hazard. With several trucks entering the freeway on the entry ramp, you’re looking for an opening that will allow you to change lanes to get out of their way. But before you a can move over, the wind blast from a large truck has blown over an orange barrel, and it’s bouncing right toward you. Before you can react, the barrel slams into the front wheel and is crunched under the engine. You lose steering control, and the bike topples over in a trail of sparks and an exploding saddlebag. Fortunately, drivers behind you are able to brake in time to avoid running you over. You’re not hurt badly, thanks to your riding gear, but you’re shocked at how easily a flimsy plastic barrel can cause a bike to go down.
When approaching or riding through a construction zone, you need to be aware of hazards such as loose gravel and edge traps. But don’t forget about those big orange construction barrels. The greatest barrel hazard is when they are placed between two lanes, where larger vehicles might knock them out into your path.
Anita
You’ve finally found time for a weekend trip, and you’ve been riding mostly superhighways to save time. There has been a lot more construction than you would have liked, but you know that’s just the nature of summertime travel. You’ve noticed hundreds of those big plastic construction barrels used as warning barriers. Some have flashing lights on top. Some are placed outside the concrete barriers. But you also observe that some are placed between traffic lanes, like those between the right lane and that entry ramp, and you wonder if they are a motorcycle hazard. With several trucks entering the freeway on the entry ramp, you’re looking for an opening that will allow you to change lanes to get out of their way. But before you a can move over, the wind blast from a large truck has blown over an orange barrel, and it’s bouncing right toward you. Before you can react, the barrel slams into the front wheel and is crunched under the engine. You lose steering control, and the bike topples over in a trail of sparks and an exploding saddlebag. Fortunately, drivers behind you are able to brake in time to avoid running you over. You’re not hurt badly, thanks to your riding gear, but you’re shocked at how easily a flimsy plastic barrel can cause a bike to go down.
When approaching or riding through a construction zone, you need to be aware of hazards such as loose gravel and edge traps. But don’t forget about those big orange construction barrels. The greatest barrel hazard is when they are placed between two lanes, where larger vehicles might knock them out into your path.
Anita
Sunset Surprise
Sunset Surprise
Just because there wasn’t any gravel on the road a few minutes ago, doesn’t mean it isn’t there now.
You’ve enjoyed hanging around the motorcycle rally, kicking tires and telling lies, but late Saturday afternoon you decide to experience that twisty road over the mountain pass that everyone has been bragging up. The road turns out to be just as exciting as they said, and one advantage of turning around and riding down the mountain is that you’ve just seen the road and know what the surface is like. You feel more comfortable riding aggressively, closer to the limits of traction and lean angle.
But, halfway down, approaching a sharp downhill left-hander, you are shocked to see a fresh trail of gravel spread across the pavement. It wasn’t there a few minutes ago. You quickly lift the bike vertical and get hard on the brakes, sliding through the loose gravel and straight off the pavement onto a level dirt area. Apparently, within the last few minutes some local driver spun his tires, spreading gravel out onto the pavement.
Your tactic of getting the bike vertical and sliding straight off the road was good, but you were extremely lucky there was a level area to slide into, rather than a tree or rock wall. This could have been a serious crash. While it’s fun too ride aggressively, avoiding accidents requires that you always keep speed within sight distance, and never assume you know what you can’t see. Downhill left-handers are more hazardous because of gravity and surface camber. Clever riders slow down earlier when approaching potentially hazardous situations, not only to scrutinize the surface, but also to ensure there is no cross traffic.
Anita
Just because there wasn’t any gravel on the road a few minutes ago, doesn’t mean it isn’t there now.
You’ve enjoyed hanging around the motorcycle rally, kicking tires and telling lies, but late Saturday afternoon you decide to experience that twisty road over the mountain pass that everyone has been bragging up. The road turns out to be just as exciting as they said, and one advantage of turning around and riding down the mountain is that you’ve just seen the road and know what the surface is like. You feel more comfortable riding aggressively, closer to the limits of traction and lean angle.
But, halfway down, approaching a sharp downhill left-hander, you are shocked to see a fresh trail of gravel spread across the pavement. It wasn’t there a few minutes ago. You quickly lift the bike vertical and get hard on the brakes, sliding through the loose gravel and straight off the pavement onto a level dirt area. Apparently, within the last few minutes some local driver spun his tires, spreading gravel out onto the pavement.
Your tactic of getting the bike vertical and sliding straight off the road was good, but you were extremely lucky there was a level area to slide into, rather than a tree or rock wall. This could have been a serious crash. While it’s fun too ride aggressively, avoiding accidents requires that you always keep speed within sight distance, and never assume you know what you can’t see. Downhill left-handers are more hazardous because of gravity and surface camber. Clever riders slow down earlier when approaching potentially hazardous situations, not only to scrutinize the surface, but also to ensure there is no cross traffic.
Anita
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