Posted on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 22:03 — by AnyMouse69
It's sad. If a cycle and a car get into a wreck, it doesn't much matter whose fault it is, the cyclist is probably the one who takes the most damage. Many drivers are blind to motorcyclists, but too many cyclists don't drive like they understand they're the most vulnerable people on the highway. When I see a cyclist white-lining through the 4/680 interchange during rush hour, it amazes me that there aren't a lot more downed cycles.
Rest in Peace.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 327
Do we have any statistics on fatal motorcyle accident for this year alone? They seem to be happening in the Bay Area at the rate of about one every two or three days?
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 68
It does seem that almost every weekend there is another fatal motorcycle accident...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1251
Like AnyMouse said, the way some of these guys drive these bikes it's amazing there aren't more fatalities. Not just on the freeway but popping wheelies on residential streets is pretty common where I live.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 201
The reason why there are so many accidents involving motorcycles these days is because of the fact that although the number of motorcyclists are growing, and their presence is stronger on the freeways because of increasing gas prices and commuting long hours, car drivers are still ignorant to their presence and wildly switch lanes without signaling. It's those people that scare me the most- those of you who dart between lanes, not even looking for a 1/4 second if maybe a motorcycle is coming up the lanes. Man, at least put your blinkers on so we can have a spare second to react!!!! RIP mototcycle man. I bet you were one of my fellows on the moving obstacle course that IS Hwy 4...
NOTE: Before I get any comments on this comment, I am aware that there are jerk-off MC riders who makes jack-asses out of themselves by racing thru traffic at alarming speeds, and those darn annoying harley guys who think they need to rev their engine 10X as they drive past a car, but who don't even belong on the road because obviously they can't handle their bikes and have no common courtesy. We all need to share the road, so lets look out for one-another!!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1251
Let's admit that there are lousy drivers of both cars and bikes. I know what you mean about turn signals. It seems that it's just not "cool" these days to use them. It's also not "cool" to move over to the right when you're backing up traffic. I drive from Antioch to Concord every morning at 4:30AM and I see both of these things going on every single morning.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1
I agree with everyone that motorcyclist and car drivers should drive more cautious. Truthfully I didn't really look for motorcyclist until I started dating one. We both commute everyday from Antioch to Concord and he is usually on the bike. He has taught me simple common sense things that could actually avoid an accident I am sure. When pulling up to a stop light behind a motorcycle I never though to leave enough room to make sure if I was rear ended I wasn't shoved into the bike. Sadly no matter who is at fault it's true that the motorcyclist take the brunt of the accident. I see a few every day on my way to work and I'd like to keep seeing them every day!!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1
This is a very sad thing for his friends and family. He left behind a wife and 2 kids. Unfortunately, it also seems that this story was posted prematurely (45 minutes after crash) when the road itself was closed for about 2 hours for investigation/etc. From what I had heard, he was clipped and the vehicle also took off. From the sound of this, it was not the riders fault, it sounds much more like an illegal lane change on the part of the vehicle. ("motorcycle clipped a car that was making a lane change on the freeway" sounds like he was cut off to me). I really hope this story can be updated with more current info.