On a motorcycle, ride like you're invisible.

[fuzzybabybunny]

After having some time to think back on my close calls I've come to this simple conclusion. I really wish they would have taught this and drilled this into our heads back in MSF class. Maybe even told us their close call stories so we new riders had an idea of what to expect. A little fear and warning can go a long way. Instead we left the class knowing to always scan so far ahead, plan exit routes, yadda yadda, but still retained too much of a "I'm in a car" mentality, one where you expect other motorists to see you.

Ride like you're invisible.

Ride like no one sees you. Even if you have high beams and super flashy gear. Be super defensive all the time and always have an exit strategy for when someone pulls into your right of way. Because it will happen. Soon. Frequently.

Hell, I now finally understand why some older riders wear those neon green reflective vests that you see highway construction workers use. I always thought that they were being overly cautious, but after having 3 close calls and a wreck in a year, they're not out of line by any stretch. But you can't count on flashy gear. I've had people pull up to an intersection, stop, look to their right, look to their left, look to their right again, and then proceed to pull out right in front of me. With me running high beams in the middle of the day. I've had oncoming traffic drive DIRECTLY INTO my lane trying to pass someone, resulting in a near head-on collision with me, one that would have resulted in them being 100% in the wrong, but me 100% dead.

Stay safe.

 

[Pantoot]

Agreed. Even better, ride like you are a target, know that everyone out there is actively trying to kill you.

I have had people make eye contact with me and then pull right out in front of me.
People are simply looking for other cars and even if they see you on your bike their brains filter you out since you don't qualify as a car and they proceed to try and kill you.

 

[JulesMaximus]

After having some time to think back on my close calls I've come to this simple conclusion. I really wish they would have taught this and drilled this into our heads back in MSF class. Maybe even told us their close call stories so we new riders had an idea of what to expect. A little fear and warning can go a long way. Instead we left the class knowing to always scan so far ahead, plan exit routes, yadda yadda, but still retained too much of a "I'm in a car" mentality, one where you expect other motorists to see you.

Ride like you're invisible.

Ride like no one sees you. Even if you have high beams and super flashy gear. Be super defensive all the time and always have an exit strategy for when someone pulls into your right of way. Because it will happen. Soon. Frequently.

Hell, I now finally understand why some older riders wear those neon green reflective vests that you see highway construction workers use. I always thought that they were being overly cautious, but after having 3 close calls and a wreck in a year, they're not out of line by any stretch. But you can't count on flashy gear. I've had people pull up to an intersection, stop, look to their right, look to their left, look to their right again, and then proceed to pull out right in front of me. With me running high beams in the middle of the day. I've had oncoming traffic drive DIRECTLY INTO my lane trying to pass someone, resulting in a near head-on collision with me, one that would have resulted in them being 100% in the wrong, but me 100% dead.

Stay safe.

They did in the one I took. I'm pretty aware of what's going on around me and I have had some instances where someone just didn't see me, typically this has been on the freeway and the person is changing lanes. I have never had an incident I haven't been able to avoid so far... knock wood.

I pay close attention to cars turning left and try to not open up too much of a gap to cars in front of me. Conversely, when I'm at the front I slow a bit, cover my brake and clutch, and focus on their front wheel while planning an escape route if needed. You learn to do this second nature. Car in the middle of the road stopped = alert level goes up. Same thing for a car waiting at a side road or parking lot to pull out.

Many of the main roads around here are divided and have left turn signals at many of the traffic lights so it's not as great a danger as other parts of the country.

 

[MagickMan]

Our instructor walked in and said, "in 20 years, 75% of you will have a serious bike accident and 6 of you will be disabled. Protect your life, no one else will."

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Our instructor walked in and said, "in 20 years, 75% of you will have a serious bike accident and 6 of you will be disabled. Protect your life, no one else will."

Damn. No, we definitely didn't get that speech. Wish we did.

At the end of the day, simply due to the physical properties of what we are riding (no protection, no cage), we HAVE to take 110% responsibility for our own safety. Can't rely on others at all for our own safety. Can't rely on safety features like cars have.

 

[MotF Bane]

That's not bad advice for anyone though. I drive my car as if nobody can see me; I always look for avenues to get away. With the way most people drive these days, riding a bike is becoming ever more dangerous.

 

[manimal]

I run straight pipes so everyone knows where I am.


not really.

Situational awareness is key when riding. Knowing where all the other cars are and always having an escape route.

 

[waggy]

well at least you learned it.

personally i just think that every person on the road is a fucking idiot and does not know how to drive. they are either putting on makeup or yaking on the phone.

that way of thinking has saved my ass a few times.

 

[T2urtle]

I took my msf in April. They drilled that into our heads. The instructors told us real life close call stories AFTER class was over to the people who stayed late.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Just please don't be like the idiot motorcycle driver who sat himself right in my blind spot where neither looking in my mirrors nor looking over my shoulder did any good. He had to have been right off my quarter panel almost hugging the car. I hit the signal, checked mirrors, checked my over my shoulder, then started to change lanes. This douchebag on a crotch rocket suddenly appears out of nowhere, gets right up next to my window, gives me the finger, and speeds off. Yeah, like it was my fault that you were hugging my quarter panel

 

[angry hampster]

I took my msf in April. They drilled that into our heads. The instructors told us real life close call stories AFTER class was over to the people who stayed late.

I took the MSF class here in Iowa about 10 years ago. I still remember the opening of my class. The instructor said something along the lines of "I've been riding for 30 years, have been hit six times, hospitalized five, and died once already."

 

[ShawnD1]

That's not bad advice for anyone though. I drive my car as if nobody can see me; I always look for avenues to get away. With the way most people drive these days, riding a bike is becoming ever more dangerous.

IMO the most important one is to never stay beside another vehicle unless it's rush hour traffic where the other person will naturally assume a car is beside them. I've seen a lot of weird close calls related to this. Some dumb ass in a minivan will start changing lanes, then look to see if it's clear, and swerve hard back into their own lane after almost hitting the car beside them.

If possible, traffic in 2 lanes should have a bit of a checkered pattern.
0 1
1 0
0 1
1 0
That way the cars can change lanes without looking and only cut someone off rather than smash into them.

 

[SketchMaster]

Agreed. Even better, ride like you are a target, know that everyone out there is actively trying to kill you.

I have had people make eye contact with me and then pull right out in front of me.
People are simply looking for other cars and even if they see you on your bike their brains filter you out since you don't qualify as a car and they proceed to try and kill you.

Even in a car, this is how I drive. I've only had one accident, and it just involved my car and some major asshatery on my part.

I like small nimble cars, downside to that passion is I live in Colorado where trucks and SUVs (think they) rule the roads; as such, I had start assuming that everyone was trying to kill me. It's actually freaky how good I've gotten, even when I ride along in someone's car I'll sit there and see redflags that I've learned to watch for and be able to warn the driver.

My Dad used to ride bikes, and after almost running a biker off road because I didn't check my blind spot I put blind spot mirrors on every car I buy and always check my blind spots before changing lanes; never know if someone's Dad is trying to pass you.

 

[exdeath]

Motorcycles hell... I do this when I'm in my *car*!

People on the road are asses.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

It sounds like you didn't have very good instructors. At my MSF course they stressed that riding a motorcycle was far riskier than driving a car and you had better accept that before you get on the bike.

 

[exdeath]

Agreed. Even better, ride like you are a target, know that everyone out there is actively trying to kill you.

I have had people make eye contact with me and then pull right out in front of me.
People are simply looking for other cars and even if they see you on your bike their brains filter you out since you don't qualify as a car and they proceed to try and kill you.

Or just the anonymity behind the wheel and in a secure cage behind their tinted windows and sun visor makes them only care about 1-upping everyone else that they don't care if they cause a wreck or kill someone as long as they get in front of that other car or get 3 feet closer to the next light.

Biggest thing that pisses me off on the road is everything has to be a alpha male machismo pissing contest competition. Gotta zoom by and cut off that sports car that could eat your lunch if it wanted to out of insecurity and jealousy, gotta accelerate through that stop sign instead of slowing down because one single car is coming, gotta run the red light or cut off a semi because "the other car" might "win", gotta tailgate that beater with HIDs on high beam to let everyone know how baller they are, etc.

This alone is responsible for at least half of crappy drivers. The other half are just clueless idiots with slow synapses that can't commit to a simple course of action like a lane change or who can't drive and think at the same time (this includes cell phones).

 

[SparkyJJO]

Hm, yeah, in one sense driving my Trailblazer just makes me blend in with everyone else most of the time. I had some people act like jerks toward me when I was driving my Camaro.

 

[Greenman]

That's rule one two and three for riding a bike Fuzzy. They should have pounded that into you in the MSF course.

 

[slugg]

well at least you learned it.

personally i just think that every person on the road is a fucking idiot and does not know how to drive. they are either putting on makeup or yaking on the phone.

that way of thinking has saved my ass a few times.

You nailed it.

My first assumption is that everyone else is completely incompetent. I don't trust other people's turn signals, or that they'll even remember to merge. When people flash lights at me to let me switch lanes, I don't do it until there's clearly ample space. When people ride my rear, I downshift and get the hell out of there. I trust nobody on the road.

I understand you're talking about bikes, but my comment is generic to all vehicles.

 

[natto fire]

You nailed it.

My first assumption is that everyone else is completely incompetent. I don't trust other people's turn signals, or that they'll even remember to merge. When people flash lights at me to let me switch lanes, I don't do it until there's clearly ample space. When people ride my rear, I downshift and get the hell out of there. I trust nobody on the road.

I understand you're talking about bikes, but my comment is generic to all vehicles.

Same here. I even have an internal grading system of how much bad driving I should expect based on variables such as minivan, vanity plates, bumper stickers, whether or not I can see the drivers head above the seat, etc.

 

[slugg]

Same here. I even have an internal grading system of how much bad driving I should expect based on variables such as minivan, vanity plates, bumper stickers, whether or not I can see the drivers head above the seat, etc.

Or if they're driving a 2006 BMW M3.

 

[waggy]

Y
I understand you're talking about bikes, but my comment is generic to all vehicles.

oh yes very true. When i was teaching my 16 yr old to drive (have custody of my wifes younger sister) i told her just figure EVERYONE on the road is a idiot and distracted.

the amount of stupid stuff you see people do while driving is insane. i have seen people read books, put on makeup, shave, and even seen one guy get a blowjob!

 

[slugg]

... and even seen one guy get a blowjob!

My bad. I can at least assure you it wasn't your 16 year old...

 

[natto fire]

Or if they're driving a 2006 BMW M3.

Heh, I remember seeing that expensive car means drive worse a bunch when I lived in Florida. Luckily, I got over my masochistic personality disorder and got the hell out of Florida. I think road salt must be humbling or something...

 

[fbrdphreak]

And I'm surprised no one has mentioned the obligatory "Well, you are choosing to ride without that protection."

Bikes are dangerous. You are making the choice. Best of luck and all that.