Saw a nasty looking crash (rider on the floor in recovery position) in Fulham today…stopped for a bit but the Ambulance and police were there so I rode on…realised it had really shaken me up so rode back to see if I could help in anyway (obviously I couldn’t as there was loads of police there). Police said the guy wasn’t that bad and it looked worse than it was.
Really got me thinking about if it was me and how my girlfriend would be ringing me when she got out of work…
Was shaken up but in a weird way I’m glad I saw it.
I’m leaving an extra 15 minutes to get to work tomorrow.
Last year I was riding on my old bike a Honda cbr 125 I tried getting in between a coach and pedestrian island all because the bike in front of me was bigger and got through so I thought I could do it , as i got closer the coach got tighter to the island I ended up panicking hitting the island front wheel causing me to fly into the rear side of the coach , police told me only inches from going under back wheel , my back completely flipped over , I come away with just a graze down my leg but got on the bike the next day to ride it to the bike shop , it didn’t put me off riding but since then I give myself that extra 10 to 15 seconds to think whether its worth going in between anything, unfortunately bikers are more vulnerable to crash my advice since I crashed is everyone on the road to you is a danger and make yourself as visable as possible i.e flouresent belt or jacket , louder exhaust , and again just give yourself them extra 10 seconds to think if its worth it.
Had a very close shave last night, shook me up a bit and reminded me that you have to keep your wits about you.
Pulled away from my parking spot, turned right into the road, which splits at the end three ways (left, right, straight on) at the lights but has a little side road on the left before the lights which I always take cos it takes me a different quicker route.
Tired after a days work and my concentration down cos I have only just started a very familiar ride, did not do a lifesaver to check before the left turn and wasnt even indicating, scooter comes running up the inside and brakes when he sees me turning into him, and I brake, we are inches away from touching. Scooter had a pillion so would have been a bad one if he had not have braked in time.
Really got me thinking, I was just very lax this time, and it could have ended badly. Doesn’t matter how quick/familiar/easy the ride (probably even more danagerous if it is) - bad stuff can happen if you are not 100%.
Familiar routes are the worst, you get lackadaisical about it and end up not looking where you are going because you know where you are. Change your route every now and then to keep you on your toes. Makes a big difference. Seeing a crash does sober you up fast and remind you that you are not immortal or impervious to accidents.
I remember seeing an add on TV a while back saying that 90% of bike accidents happen within 5 miles of home for the exact reasons you are describing.
Coming home the other night from work up Grosvenor Rd i could see a blue Vauxhall Astra parked on the opposite side thought this was unusual as there is never normally cars parked there. A truck passed the car and the next thing she is half was through a U-turn causing me a two other bikes to brake and change direction. Think if i hadn’t seen the car while waiting at the lights would have been worse. Best bit was once she had been beeped at by one of the other bikes she decides to swerve left nearly putting me into the curb then takes both hands off the steering wheel and starts waving them in the air, not sure how constructive this action was but each to their own.
Its a bit biased really cos 90% of most people’s travel happens within 5 miles of their home, so naturally any accidents are likely to happen where the traveller is travelling, logically anyway… but the point is valid, familiarity breeds contempt…
I pulled away from traffic lights on a fairly big junction last night. Halfway across and a big BMW came straight through a red light at easily 50 MPH , missed my front wheel by a couple of feet…Had I given the bike a bit more stick off the line,he would have been over me. Angry at the time but rattled a bit later…The driver didn’t even touch his brakes and just drove on…:w00t:
I normally try to give parked cars a wide berth but I was nearly caught out this morning. There was a solitary car with balcked out windows parked by the side of the road just after I turned right at a mini-roundabout. As I accelerated past it I thought ‘um I’m a bit close to this car…if there is someone in there about to open the door…’ and just at that moment the door started to open…:blink:…very lucky for me that the driver checked her mirror before she got out or I would have been toast.
To lower the risk of local crashes I’ve set myself ‘speed limits’ on the local roads, (like 20mph down my narrow road). I also try to look for changes like different cars parked in the street so I don’t go into autopilot mode.
Also highlights what a bad idea to undertake people, especially bikes. This is exactly why undertaking is not allowed. Still, worth checking as cyclists can’t be expected to follow road rules, since they are saving all the little children with their green ways…
To be honest, i have found the main problem seems to be male car drivers (not that I’m being sexist, just in my own experience). Hardly a day goes past on my way to work without male car drivers trying to race me - revving at the lights, hooting the horns and once on the south circular this 4 x 4 driver overtook me (and I was going about 5 mph above the legal speed limit) and braked right in front of me.
I think it’s general frustration at being stuck in traffic and also maybe because I’m a lady biker on a big bike (well I think it’s big anyway LOL). I have to say though that nearly (although not all) bikers of both sexes I have encountered on the road have been the absolute epitome of politeness:)
If i see drivers about to pull out of side streets without looking I use my horn to alert them, ditto if am filtering and there are roads to the opposite which drivers could suddenly turn into without indicating.
I’ve found men to be more ‘awkward’; more aggressive, and in a lot of ways more dangerous. But don’t get me started on 4x4 driving women in Chelsea.
I’ve found lady learner scooter riders to be WAY better than male ones. Can’t usually tell with normal bikers, cos most of them wear proper clothing, so no comment on that.
Everyone should take note of Whistler’s close shave at the lights - be careful when taking off fast at traffic lights at junctions - always look left/right first to spot the ars*$ole/muppet that has run a red light and will hit you side on -this type of accident happens a lot and is usually fatal if you are on a bike -
The urge to take off fast on amber often happens when you’re waiting at lights alongside another bike/porsche etc revving their engine and your competitive intstinct kicks in - don’t let the red mist take you over - better to stay alive and ride another day - than get taken out at a junction;)
