Well I had my first close call today. I knew it would happen sooner or later, especially hearing encouraging words like "Get comfortable with crashing because it will happen," and "It's only a matter of time." Anyway, onto the story:

I was riding on campus to my class as I do every day, but this time I took the scenic route which would give me a great ocean view. Alongside the road that I was on there are always cars that are parked parallel to the road. It's sort of hard to picture, but perpendicular to this road with the cars is a gate, and people often park right in front of this gate. If they do this, they are not flush with the parallel parked cars - this creates a blind spot for drivers because if someone is backing out from this gate area you would not be able to see that they are moving and backing up onto the main road.

I was mingling along at a mere 25 miles per hour, and I don't know if it was my own fault because I was too busy enjoying the view or the driver's fault, but this guy's SUV seemed to come out pretty darn fast. I was able to see it right on time and had to swerve pretty hard to avoid missing his car (luckily nobody was in the oncoming lane). I'm so surprised that I was able to swerve enough and not tip the bike over yet still avoid hitting the guy.

I know it might not be the wisest thing to do, but when I ride around campus I don't really wear gear - only the helmet. Today I was even wearing sandals (imagine how mangled my feet would have been). Every road here on campus has parallel parking which is often pretty congested, and the lesson I learned today was to just take it slow and always pay attention to the road regardless of whether there seems to be traffic movement or not.

Well, I'm not going to critisize you at all for not wearing gear. Glad to hear your ok and everything turned out alright. Hopefully you will take this experience and learn from it. Keep ridin, and keep ridin safe.

Well the only reason I don't wear gear is because it's just a short ride to class. I live on campus, and at most it's a mile ride to the main parking lot and main campus. Maybe a third of a mile as a crow flies, but crows don't fly here at Pepperdine.

In order to minimize the risk of street riding you need to keep 100% foucs on the road and anticipate cages doing the kinds of things that you describe.  If you anticipate and plan escape routes before the event, you will have a much better chance of avoiding an accident.  It sounds like you were aware of the potential for danger, but did not take precautionary measures.  And BTW, it's stupid not to wear your gear.

Were you on PCH between Pepperdine and south Malibu?
If so, that stretch is scary even in a cage. It just seems really tight and people are stepping out between cages, cages pulling out suddenly. It also seems like people are in a 'beach mode' and just not paying attention to what they're supposed to be doing.

Good job swerving, that's one nice thing about our GSs, easy to flick around...

Quote from: cucamongaWere you on PCH between Pepperdine and south Malibu?
If so, that stretch is scary even in a cage. It just seems really tight and people are stepping out between cages, cages pulling out suddenly. It also seems like people are in a 'beach mode' and just not paying attention to what they're supposed to be doing.

Good job swerving, that's one nice thing about our GSs, easy to flick around...

No I was actually on campus. You're right about that stretch though - that's scary to traverse no matter what type of vehicle you're using.

I'll have to berate you a bit for not wearing shoes...Maybe you were in the "beach mode" a bit too?  It's not THAT hard to pack your sandals in your backpack and swap once you are stopped and at your destination.

Quote from: Mk1inCaliI'll have to berate you a bit for not wearing shoes...Maybe you were in the "beach mode" a bit too?  It's not THAT hard to pack your sandals in your backpack and swap once you are stopped and at your destination.

So very true. That is what I will be doing from now on. By the way, thanks for the criticism. I obviously need it.

This might help:

http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_9508_skill/