Clipped by a Cager

Last Thursday night in city traffic and just as the light turned green, a cager in a hurry thought he could fit between me and the car stopped on the left beside me.
He was off by a fraction of an inch and clipped my left leg and my rear turn signal on the way by at a pretty good speed.
He kept on going and I didn't get a plate or make of car as I was more concerned in getting to the side of the road and not falling in the traffic. No one else stopped and perhaps the guy who hit me didn't know he touched me, but I sure felt it.
I lost a 6" x 6" piece of skin above my boot as he hit me hard enough to bury my sock into my leg and have a swollen ankle and bad bruising on the lower part of my foot
I will have some time for wrenching as I won't be able to up shift for a week or so and I only need to bend my rear turn signal bracket back, but I have to admit the experience scared me a bit. I was watching the right mirror in case any one turned inside me and I didn't see the car that hit me , until his car was hitting my lower leg!
I was in the right track staying out of the oily patch in the center of the lane, but I am thinking I will always stay in the left track from now on!
Perhaps the rear brake light needs an upgrade on these older bikes?
I am thanking my lucky stars I am not in orbit! If he had hit me directly instead of angling by on the left, I don't think I would be posting this today!

 

Wow, that's a helluva thing. Glad you're relatively all right.

As far as upgrades, lane positioning, etc, I don't think there's much you're gonna do about a cager like that. He saw you, he knew you were there, he was going around you no matter what.

Kinda like trying to prevent getting run over by a fleeing felon - the bottom line is, he's gonna do what he's gonna do, so the best you can do is get lucky...

It's a jungle out there....

 

Damn! That sucks although obviously, it could have been worse.

If I remember correctly, in the MSF class they mentioned getting nailed from behind at stop lights is something to watch for.

 

Right but he wasn't hit from behind he was hit on the side!

Glad you'll be all right.

People are crazy drivers.

 

That is ridiculous. I guess thats why the MVD handbook says to position yourself in a way that doesnt promote someone to lane share.

 

I keep replaying this incident in my mind to think how I could have prevented it, but if I was in the left tire track maybe he would have still tried to squeeze through.
I am wondering if he was already committed to going through when the light turned green because of the speed he was going and only saw me at the last minute. Is it time to get one of those tail lights that strobe while you are stopping?

I think I will stay on the back roads for awhile, the drivers here in Vancouver seem to be less courteous than I remember from living in Ontario and Quebec! There seems to be an "it's all about me" attitude and a lot of stop sign running combined with high speed.
For example, this just happened on one of my favorite after work ride locations:
Clocked at 200 km/h, cars impounded

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columb ... rrari.html

I am a glad I didn't meet them by accident, I was on that road that afternoon!

 

Nearly impossible to pull off sometimes, though. I make a point of "protecting my space" and if I even sense that a car wants to do such a thing, I will change from the right to left track or vice-versa as necessary to stake my claim. Doing that will often get their attention and let them know that the "whole box" is mine, not just the half I choose to ride in.

All of which does no good if you're already stopped of course.

I always watch my rearview when stopped.

Glad you're OK.

 

Thanks, Fitz.

I just came back from my second Dr's visit, he says it is healing OK, but to watch for signs of infection, it doesn't look too pretty but it will be good on Halloween to scare the kids!

I was looking in my right mirror when he hit me, I didn't expect to get it from the left!

 

I see what you mean. Occasionally when im in downtown Phoenix and I see someone looks like they are about to do it, I will put my bike at an angle and cover as much as the lane as I can. I suppose when it comes right down to it, people in cars dont care to consider the danger they pose to motorcyclists. Getting to their destination 0.03 seconds faster is the only thing on their mind.

Jeez, that guy must have been going pretty fast, did he even slow down at all??

 

No, I didn't see any brake lights, he was hitting the gas and gone, I only know the brown/gold color of the car, small and low but not the make.

No one stopped but me

I rode home using my heel to shift up before the pain and swelling got too bad to ride.

"And I don't want to die
I just want to ride on my motorcycle!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu_HQaen ... re=related

Sounds best in a full face helmet for the sound effect

 

I had a honda civic try to lane share with me two days ago, after I already merged car lengths infront of him while I was driving this:



but before the merge lane narrowed down all the way, I saw him run up behind me and if not for the blind spot mirror I would have ran him over as he was beside me between my front and back tire and below the window. I looked down and he was flipping me the bird.

Why is it the states with the most "driver training" drive the worst?

 

Hi, iwingameover

Hmmm,

I was thinking my cager might have been in a Honda civic, too
It was that style for sure.

He would have come out second best if I had your rig!

 

Well its too bad you might be out of commission for awhile. Sounds like you trooped through it to get home. I guess its fortunate that you and your bike didnt get a very serious injury. Both will heal in time

Oh btw, whats a cager? lol

 

The REAR Brake Light DOES nee help.
You'll find most of our Bikes have lost the reflector's shine.

You can shoot the Reflector with a coat of Chrome Paint.
It helps.
(Leave the Bulb in. Use a burnt-out one or tape it.)

ADD LED Lights where you can.
If you commute on your Bike; buy a HIGHLY REFLECTIVE Vest or Safety Garment.

Make SURE the OTHER GUY sees you!
http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3660977

 

Thanks for the tips, Rick
I am thinking of getting the turn signals to be on all the time, like my GPz550 and change the tail light to something bigger, the 650 Seca tail light is a lot smaller than the 750.
What about those brake light modulators?
Does any one have one they can recommend?

 

Plansea, we now offer brake light modulators, drop me a PM or e-mail and we can get you set up!

 

Glad to hear you'll be ok Plansea. I don't know if any reasonable rider would anticipate a fruity cager creating a lane and clipping you, but the MSF basic rider course has a few applicable 'street strategies'.

Search and scan aggressively for potential factors and hazards. Searching provides you with info to make decisions. Searching is more than just what is in front of you and includes the areas behind and to the sides. Check both mirrors often. The eyes should not fixate on any one object for more than a split second. Prioritize elements in the traffic environment.

Consider playing a 'what if ....' game as cagers are often unpredictable. Maintain a margin of safety. Intersections have the greatest potential for collisions for riders and other traffic.

When stopped, check behind you for vehichles approaching. Flash the brake lights when someone approaches from the rear. Flash the brake lights before and during stops (except for emergency stops). Have an escape plan and remain in first gear.

Ok, so I just reread the BRC handbook....but only because I have the experienced rider course on Saturday.

 

Glad to hear that you are OK Plansea. The unfortunate part is that no matter how badly we try and "protect" your space, it will come down to his car (hard solid steel) to your body. Trust me, I still have interesting colors on my left knee and I can't walk correctly . I am still healing from a broken right knee cap from an accident that happened in late April. All because of some idiot that I believe was texting while driving. I still have the motorcycle but if I ride it again, it will be to get the hell out of the city and the people that have no idea that life is so fragile that there frickin phone or text can't wait until they are stopped. I thought it was bad in the 90's, Its deadly out there now. Keep it safe guys and gals

Sean

 

Thanks for all the good wishes guys. If you don't ride a bike I don't think you can know how scary it is when a car touches you.
I am going to be nervous now when riding at night in traffic.
I did a bit of walking today after the visit to the Dr.s office and I noticed I am really careful at crosswalks now and being close to moving cars.
I am very thankful for it only being a close call and the sun seems to be shining a bit brighter these days!
My Dr. rides race bikes at the track and has a Ducati for the street, so he knows how I feel.
It is not fun being a "crash test dummy"

 

Ray Lahood, secertary of the national highway safety and transpertaion board is constantly siting motorcycle injuies and deaths in order to make harsher laws against riders.
I've e-mail him on several occations that cars are the mian cause of bike crashes. he has yet to respond.
Glad your ok, and provide yet more proof of the true facts of bike riding.

 

Mighty glad you're on the mend!

Funny story. I was riding my old wing one frosty winter day and turned on to a bridge at highway speed. Hit a patch of ice and put my stupid left foot down. Wrenced my knee a good one. Legs are not meant to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a fraction of a second. Went to see the Doc who is a retired US Navy Dr ret. He told me that heand his wife rode his full dresser Gold Wing from Oregon to Florida. Coming back through Oklahoma on one of those looooong stretches of boring highway he saw a rock that was a little larger than a softball laying in the road. Yup! You guessed it. He kicked the rock with his booted foot to get it off the road. He said he thought he was going to kick himself in the back of the head! Broke 4 toes! Knucklhead!

Loren

 

^^^^^^^^^ THIS.

I make it my soul purpose when i'm coming to a stop sign or light, to block anyone trying to squeeze by me. If i think being in the center of the lane is going to be the best place to be, i'll make sure i've done my braking in the left track, then swerve to the middle right before i stop.

I'm super glad you're ok, and still have your leg! Hopefully this will be a good example to new riders. Always make sure your left side is blocked! ALWAYS!

It's better to let the odd person slip by you're right side if they're turning right, than EVER letting someone think they can slip by on your left side *in your lane* There are some corners that have a big sweeping right curbs. There's nothing you can do to stop people from getting by you there, unless you've got a riding partner to block that far over.

 

First up glad your ok.To those that have made comments on visibility and on making sure you are visible all well and good and yes sometimes it helps.
But I honestly believe it is about perceived threat value, if you are driving a 1/2 ton of metal versus some guy on a bike,well lets face it I wont get hurt so it is his problem, he will get out of the way and if he doesn't I will still be ok after all we all know those things are deathtraps and if you ride one you are obviously suicidal.
THE FACT IS MOST OF THE POPULATION SIMPLY DONT CARE !
Which is reflected in the fines they pay after you have been crippled for life.
This is in no way meant to belittle or dismiss those that have been cut down before their time.
We have all had close calls and simple disbelief at other peoples behaviour on the road and I know in my case the reason I can hug my kids and see my lovely wife smile is sometimes just luck.
Been drinking so probably have not expressed myself well and broken my own rules about keyboards and alcohol.
Be careful out there look left look right and assume nothing there are a whole lot of blind idiots on the road.
By the way old cars have steel mirrors and when you kick them at at 80k's your leg hurts for a week at 19 at 45 it would probly hurt for the rest of your life.
Stay safe!
Glenn.

 

Glad u only got some minor scratches, but yeah makes you realise for sure how vulnerable u are on a bike.
Vancouverites are pretty friendly, untill they get into a cage, it seems most of them instantly turn into brainless, selfish morons.
Looks like things will only get worse in the future, miles and miles of new highways being build everywhere and nothing's done about some decent driver training or awareness.
One moron gets to teach another moron how to drive and all they need is to get lucky for 35min on the exam.
Same goes for bikers though, 10min parking lot test and ur deemed to be able to safely participate in traffic.
:roll:

 

I had a close call yesterday on the ride home. BMW sport utility merging into traffic, accelerated to the end of the merge lane and pulled out, nearly hitting me. I ride blocking position. As the most likely hazard was from the right side, I was in the right tire track. Made no difference to the jerk, he just kept coming even with my horn blowing. I was on my Venture, daylight, he accelerated from a point behind and to the right of me, so he had to see me. He doesn't know it YET but I got his plate.

Ride defensively. Best to assess where the most likely problem may come from and then keep yourself positioned in the lane where you will be visible in the mirror of those who might change lanes but be prepared for the a##%*&@s who don't care. I usually ride in the left position but move as conditions arise. I try to stay out of the center lanes on multi lane roads.

 

Years ago I took a "defensive driving" course with my son when he was about to get his drivers license. One thing I learned from that course and has stuck with me all these years; stay in a lane where you have a safe exit should the need arise. Always, always have an escape route, and no telling how many times in cars, or bikes it's come in handy.

Crappy drivers everywhere, always in a hurry. Be careful out there.

 

I installed a 12 led flash to solid on light bar from custom dynamics, part #lb03,26.95 plus shipping.It is small but BRIGHT. You can see it under the trunk in my gallery. Maybe modulator and light bar!