Jesus. I was riding to work this morning and sitting at an intersection on Geary in SF. I lane split up to the front along with a Harley one lane over (which is legal in CA, and in San Francisco it's not uncommon to sit at the light with 4-5 motorcycles). So the light went green and I accelerated through the intersection. I was tired and riding slow, not 100% alert yet as I hadn't had my coffee which may have been part of the problem. Not sure if I checked before I entered the intersection, I think I did? I heard some tire squealing noises and looked right and a white car had blown the red light and slammed on its brakes, sliding into the intersection and stopping about six inches from my back tire. It happened so fast I think the Harley and the car to my right may have hit him. It didn't even register with me what happened for another 3 blocks. This is the SECOND time I've almost been hit by someone running a red.
Anyway I learned my lesson. Always always always make sure the intersection is clear, everyone is stopped or stopping and let a car go through the intersection first if you can. Ride safe and PATIENTLY folks...
Go buy a lottery ticket and be thankful she started stopping when she did and not a second later.
I'm sure if you check YouTube, you'll find conclusive video evidence that you shouldn't just trust the signals! Glad you made it through safely! :thumb:
Being "first" at an intersection is always a yellow flag for me to be extra alert when I start moving, whether I can see any cars or not.
A few years ago, in my cage, I was in the front row (3 lanes every direction) at a red light. The light turned green, and I barely started to move (I'm never in a hurry, thank god) when I just kinda thought "There is a white blur moving toward me from the right side, I don't think he's going to stop..." WHAM! A white Mustang t-bones the lady in the car that started out next to me but was about 2 carlengths ahead of me from the light.
The guy in the Mustang had run a light that had been red for a good 5 seconds. Everyone was ok, and I called the lady's husband for her and gave the police a good witness account.
Never let your guard down at intersections.
Glad you're ok. Hope the Harley guy was OK and will enjoy many years of not waving to anyone. :thumb:
Quote from: Caffeine on May 22, 2009, 04:38:13 AMHope the Harley guy was OK and will enjoy many years of not waving to anyone. :thumb:
i've noticed that too. guys on cruisers don't wave. chp's don't wave. city cops wave, sportbike riders wave, chopper (homemade, not $100k) riders wave, and standard riders wave.
wtf is it the cruiser guys and chp?
/threadjack
Like I said lesson learned! Thanks for the replies. I won't be charging into intersections anymore! Hope that Harley rider was OK too.
And I find that most commuters don't wave either! I assume at least in SF everyone is hanging on through the potholes, avoiding cabs, trying not to crash on the train tracks....