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! 

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.   

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.   

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....