Posted on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 11:00 — by Kawigurl
I'm just asking everyone who drives especially on HWY 4 (Commuting Hours)- PLEASE:
*Use your blinker before switching lanes *Don't wildly switch lanes *Check your brakelights and turn signals every once in a while! *SCOOT OVER! Don't try and pinch Motorcycles off because we WILL get around you and that just makes us mad. :-(
All these requests I think are pretty sensible, yes? I mean legally you have to use your blinker before changing lanes anyway... so that one's not so drastic of a request. And really, that is the most dangerous peril for me, splitting lanes on Hwy 4. It's these people that are in such a rush who don't use their blinkers before switching lanes- it's how us MC riders get hit and even get killed!! AND, since lane splitting in this state is LEGAL, you could be found at fault and LIABLE for the death of someone for driving recklessly!
I'm just pleading with you people in cars... please make the roads safer for MC riders. Our number is increasing due to rising gas prices, the length of time we must commute each day, among other less-important factors... I just don't want this to be a huge issue.
This is being asked by a courteous MC rider who always waves at those who scoot over for her, and who doesn't cut cars off or fly rapidly and wildly thru traffic... I just want to get to work... and every morning I ask myself, nay, plead with God - PLEASE, please let me make it through traffic today. Now take a deep breath, and steadily make your way through the moving obstacle course that is- HWY 4.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 430
I'm curious. Do you always use your blinkers when switching lanes?
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 201
As a matter of fact I do. As I said in my post, I'm courteous! And I try and set a good example for other MC riders, and try to make car drivers see that not all of us MC riders are jerks... Why does that matter?
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 322
Kawigurl, I used to ride many years ago, before it was legal to split lanes. The guys I rode with did it anyway. I didn't do it because I didn't want a ticket (plus it scared the bejeeses out of me) It's legal now and with more riders on the road every year I see more lane splitting all the time. I'm now more aware of it, and try to remember to look out for them. The only time it's bad is when I'm in traffic thats not moving and someone goes flying past me at 60 plus miles and hour. That startles me. A startled driver is not a safe driver. You're right. Most motorcycle riders are not jerks. I have neighbors that ride in an effort to reduce their commute times so they can spend more time with their families. Nothing wrong with that. I see people trying to squeeze the bikers out of the lane all the time. That makes me mad! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carl Spackler: This crowd has gone deadly silent, a Cinderella story outta nowhere. Former greenskeeper and now about to become the masters champion.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 201
Lol- I can relate....
There are some MC jerks out there flyin thru traffic, and believe me they erk (sp?) me as much as the next guy... but then those are usually the ones getting scraped up off the freeway.
But all that aside- I appreciate your courtesy! Believe me - you get used to lane splitting. But that fear and anxiousness for me will not go away, which I believe keeps me safe and alive. I got hit coming home on Hwy 4 just last month. Thank god the woman used her blinker so I *did* at least have a moment to react to her suddenly changing lanes w/o looking. But it still resulted in me getting hit. It took her until she pushed me halfway into the other lane to realize she hit me!!! All the while I'm wrestling with my balance and handle bars.... >:-(
Although, I didn't drop the bike ;-)
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 430
I only mention using blinkers because I find a lot of people don't practice what they preach.
Being courteous should be directed at everyone, not just the ones who move over for you.
Maybe the ones not moving over are in a bad mood after being awaken too early by a noisy bike. Just a thought!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 201
I have given that thought- and I do practice it every day... the last thing I'd want to do is to soil someone's "clean palate" by acting like a jerk! Thus causing them to resent us riders... I just ride safe, everywhere, around everyone. There's really no other choice unless you want to be roadkill ;-)