Recent Road Observations

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jetboy
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Recent Road Observations

Post by jetboy »

There are a couple of things that I've noticed since I got the Buddy that I'd like to bring up in case the information can be of help to someone in the future.

The first thing is the tendancy for drivers turning a corner (either a right on red or a left after a stop) to not see you behind the "A" pillars on their cars. Please ensure that you can see them looking at you and/or use your horn. I've been pertubed twice in one day by this inattentiveness on their part. Fortunately the Buddy's front brake is awesome. Now, I must get to installing that Stebel...

The second issue is something that ocurred yesterday morning. We got some severe thundertsorms the night before in the Denver area, and there was an intersection I came upon where the lights were flashing - two flashing red in opposite directions and two flashing yellow in opposite directions. The confused drivers wanted to stop at the yellow lights to let me go. I was more than happy to wave them on trying to point out that they did not need to stop at a flashing yellow light while was stopped at the red. Even given their "courtesy", I did not want to put myself in the middle of that intersection under those circumstances. I could see myself trying to explain how I ended up getting hit... :wha:

Anyway, almost the same kind of issue at a shopping center where the incoming cars had no stop sign but one stopped for me anyway! the car behind me was ticked because the guy wasn't moving and I wasn't going to cross in front of the other car! I finally had to do some crazy arm-waving to get him to move. :roll:

Has anyone else out there experienced this kind of dangerously "courteous" bahvior?

-jetboy
"All these things - like telly witch-doctors, and advertising pimps, and show business pop song pirates - they despise us - dig? - they sell us cut-price sequins when we think we're getting diamonds."
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mandelia
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Post by mandelia »

wow. can't say i've noticed that here in OH, but it really seems like states need to put in some motorcycle specific questions in the written test for an auto driver's license
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ScooterDave
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Re: Recent Road Observations

Post by ScooterDave »

jetboy wrote:The first thing is the tendancy for drivers turning a corner (either a right on red or a left after a stop) to not see you behind the "A" pillars on their cars.
I am a bit confused. Do you mean the b pillar? The a pillar is what supports the windshield. I do not understand.

Dave
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jetboy
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Re: Recent Road Observations

Post by jetboy »

ScooterDave wrote:
jetboy wrote:The first thing is the tendancy for drivers turning a corner (either a right on red or a left after a stop) to not see you behind the "A" pillars on their cars.
I am a bit confused. Do you mean the b pillar? The a pillar is what supports the windshield. I do not understand.

Dave
Yeah, I mean the "A" pillars. I think given just the correct angle, it can obscure those of us on two wheels.

My situations had to do with someone making a right on red from the oncoming lane just as my left turn light went green and someone coming out of the intersection at my left (and taking a left) rolling through a stop sign without really looking hard as I was doing about 20 down a neighborhood street.
"All these things - like telly witch-doctors, and advertising pimps, and show business pop song pirates - they despise us - dig? - they sell us cut-price sequins when we think we're getting diamonds."
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Tazio
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Post by Tazio »

I see this all of the time riding a bicycle in California. I also refuse to ride in front of a vehicle, sometimes even when I have right of way.
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Post by ScooterDave »

ahhhh... I know what you mean now.

That is why I tend to ride with my steel toe Grinders. Does wonders for doors.

Dave
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xtetra
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Re: Recent Road Observations

Post by xtetra »

jetboy wrote: ! the car behind me was ticked because the guy wasn't moving and I wasn't going to cross in front of the other car! I finally had to do some crazy arm-waving to get him to move. :roll:

Has anyone else out there experienced this kind of dangerously "courteous" bahvior?

-jetboy
I think the problem is that our scoots are all so stylin' people can't help but stop and gawk. :wink:
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gt1000
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Post by gt1000 »

Has anyone else out there experienced this kind of dangerously "courteous" bahvior?
I wouldn't knock considerate behavior on the part of cagers. I often see exactly what you're talking about at 4 way stops. In general, 4 ways are confusing to most drivers, especially if two or more vehicles arrive at the same time. If the weather is bad, sometimes you do see car drivers trying to "help out" by letting you go first. Sometimes they'll wave you through, sometimes they just wait there like zombies. After 20 or 30 years of riding you develop a sense of when it actually is safe to go. If you really don't want to test the other driver's intentions, I've found that if you put a foot or two down on the pavement very deliberately, they get the message that you're letting them go. Also, a wave on your part will usually get them moving. For the last year, Denver has been intent on replacing traffic lights with 4 ways so we're all bound to see more 4 ways the next few years.

As far as parking lots go, forget it. Nobody gives a damn about traffic rules in parking lots, it's like Thunderdome. A busy parking lot is one of the most dangerous places you can possibly be on two wheels.
Andy

2006 Buddy 125 (orange), going to a good MB home
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eyeonit
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Post by eyeonit »

gt1000 wrote:
Has anyone else out there experienced this kind of dangerously "courteous" bahvior?
it's like Thunderdome. A busy parking lot is one of the most dangerous places you can possibly be on two wheels.

omfg!!!!! rofl.... Two men enter one man leave!!!! Dude that made my day. Thanks for the laugh.
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jetboy
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Post by jetboy »

gt1000 wrote:...it's like Thunderdome.
Ha! Yeah, that pretty much sums up the way I feel too!

-jetboy
"All these things - like telly witch-doctors, and advertising pimps, and show business pop song pirates - they despise us - dig? - they sell us cut-price sequins when we think we're getting diamonds."
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Post by dru_ »

I'm sorry, but I have to defend my position that the most dangerous place for a bike is a QuickTrip parking lot for a tank of fuel. I firmly believe that the average cage driver loses all sense of reality when their 6000 lb SUV declares that it's thirsty. The situation is compounded by the 4 children in the back seat, evidently telling the driver that they have to pee or are thirsty too. It is at that point when these drivers make th mad dash for the nearest pump, to hell with whatever is in the way, be it bike, car, sherman tank.

the short version, be wary. There are only two types of drivers out there, those that can't see you and those that are out to get you.
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ERik3tb
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Post by ERik3tb »

The reason that no one cares in a parking lot is that there are only 4 traffic laws that can be applied there.

And 2 of those are regarding vehicular homicide.

I took a refresher safe driver course and the cop teaching it just laughed when asked about right of way or stop signs in a parking lot.
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