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48 Posts
Was on the way home today, in heavy traffic. That alone was my first mistake, I honestly did not have to be home right away, I don't work until 5PM tomorrow. I had gotten off a faster highway and decided to take city streets, mainly to avoid a small construction zone...mistake two.
I was stopped in a lane for heavy traffic. Light up ahead turned green, but of course, cars aren't yet going. I was watching behind me and saw a Honda coming up fast, and I had that feeling of "I'm going to die if I don't act now." I've had this feeling before, many times - I've experienced it in my job too many times for comfort, and on my recent deployment to the Middle East. Good thing too - I found the friction zone and zipped into the double yellow line median. Thank goodness it was there. Didn't have to go far.
Heard the screech of tires and immediately a crunch as the car behind me struck another, which had been immediately in front of me only a second prior. I didn't get hit, or hurt. I had left a good amount of distance, so the actual impact wasn't that bad.
I don't think I've dropped so many F-bombs in public. That's how I tend to react in life-or-death situations, I start cursing and get real mad, knife handing people and everything. Military background, can't help it. Guy claimed he didn't see me but he saw the light was green. Never mind my white bike, or white helmet, or obnoxiously bright high viz neon jacket, or the fact the sun was at my back and therefore lighting me up like the 4th of July.
Guy starts going on about how he can't afford another ticket and he'll lose his license, and he already fixed his car from crashing before. Clearly a menace on the roadway. I gave my statement to the police when they arrived, and left.
I was so mad and amped up, I forgot to put the kickstand down when I got home, and dropped my bike. I had my Pelican side cases on, so no damage, but honestly, I probably should just have pulled over and had dinner someplace before continuing. That was my own damn fault, riding while amped up and emotional. Probably justified based on how close I came to becoming the meat in a car sandwich, but still. Better to sit down and collect myself for a few minutes than get into something worse.
Definitely could have avoided the entire thing by just waiting for traffic to simmer down a bit before leaving, but I'll take small victories when I can get them.
Ride safe, everyone, and check your six constantly. I've never been rear ended on a bike, or in general, but the fact is, you may very well not see it coming.
I was stopped in a lane for heavy traffic. Light up ahead turned green, but of course, cars aren't yet going. I was watching behind me and saw a Honda coming up fast, and I had that feeling of "I'm going to die if I don't act now." I've had this feeling before, many times - I've experienced it in my job too many times for comfort, and on my recent deployment to the Middle East. Good thing too - I found the friction zone and zipped into the double yellow line median. Thank goodness it was there. Didn't have to go far.
Heard the screech of tires and immediately a crunch as the car behind me struck another, which had been immediately in front of me only a second prior. I didn't get hit, or hurt. I had left a good amount of distance, so the actual impact wasn't that bad.
I don't think I've dropped so many F-bombs in public. That's how I tend to react in life-or-death situations, I start cursing and get real mad, knife handing people and everything. Military background, can't help it. Guy claimed he didn't see me but he saw the light was green. Never mind my white bike, or white helmet, or obnoxiously bright high viz neon jacket, or the fact the sun was at my back and therefore lighting me up like the 4th of July.
Guy starts going on about how he can't afford another ticket and he'll lose his license, and he already fixed his car from crashing before. Clearly a menace on the roadway. I gave my statement to the police when they arrived, and left.
I was so mad and amped up, I forgot to put the kickstand down when I got home, and dropped my bike. I had my Pelican side cases on, so no damage, but honestly, I probably should just have pulled over and had dinner someplace before continuing. That was my own damn fault, riding while amped up and emotional. Probably justified based on how close I came to becoming the meat in a car sandwich, but still. Better to sit down and collect myself for a few minutes than get into something worse.
Definitely could have avoided the entire thing by just waiting for traffic to simmer down a bit before leaving, but I'll take small victories when I can get them.
Ride safe, everyone, and check your six constantly. I've never been rear ended on a bike, or in general, but the fact is, you may very well not see it coming.