Monday mornings are bad enough... but this one was almost as bad as they get.
Of course, it was raining, and it was cold. Nothing makes a Monday morning like a rainy commute. So, I'm in a line of traffic at a local university, all of us doing the inchworm up to the Stop sign ahead. I'm listening to the sound of the rain on my helmet, using the squeegee on my glove to clear my visor... you know the drill... when the reverse lights of the car in front of me come on.
My mind flipped into panic mode... "WTF!!" I yelled to myself. Sure as shaZam!, the car starts moving backward. Frantically, I start backpedaling for all I was worth, just waiting for the crunch, trying to anticipate when I would have to bail and watch my GS turn into a pile of scrap. Then... mercifully, the car stopped, and then pulled forward and over to the curb. As I came alongside, my adrenaline was just thumping through me... you know what that feels like! I flip my visor and look into the car... and see this woman... must have been about 60 yrs old, she was shaking like a leaf, saying "I'm sorry...". She was very shaken up and knew she had screwed up BADLY.
I was still shaking, trying not to let the adrenaline run my mouth. I looked at her and started to yell... but I knew right away to tone it down... but I did tell her that I'm just an average guy with a wife and kids that she could have killed... and that it could have been anybody, even one of her own kids on that bike. I told her she better take her time and look around thoroughly the next time.
I drove away still shaking... and thinking... I'm NEVER going to be in that position again. That was tooo f'in' close. Lesson learned... you absolutely CANNOT predict what drivers around you are going to do, no matter how ridiculous or improbable it might seem. And I'm not a newbie, either... Leave more room than you think is reasonable, and plan your escape... you just MIGHT need it some lousy rainy Monday morning when you wish you were someplace else warm and dry.
Stay safe out there...
:cheers:
Wow, too close for comfort, I know where you're coming from. Glad that you're just shaken up and not repairing yourself or your bike!
Quote from: applecrew on October 05, 2010, 09:41:55 PM
Leave more room than you think is reasonable, and plan your escape...
+1
Leave more than enough room for...
- Escape in case the car behind you isn't stopping
- in case the car in front conks out and you need to ride away
- in case the driver rolls back too far while getting their foot off the brake and onto the accelerator while catching the roll with the clutch
- in case they randomly select reverse instead of drive
- in case they suddenly cark it and the car starts rolling back
- in case they start doing makeup in the mirror
- in case you need to get out of Dodge for ANY reason.
I find, oddly, that a tisk tisk sideways finger wave :nono: does wonders.
Michael
...and when you are stopped behind a car, position yourself so your headlight is visible in as many mirrors as possible. (Like the rear-view and the drivers side mirror).
BTW...I love it when women have their rear-view tilted so far that they can't possibly see anything but their own face. It's not a farking makeup mirror, ladies!
I've seen plenty of men do it too while shaving! :kiss3: Teenagers and old people if I see one I'm gone as fast as possible. Which in Florida well in less than a month will be close to impossible!
Mary
Um I call BS..You have a horn. You have room to move. I think the story is a load of Buddha loves you!
An opinion I would keep to myself.