Bikers "sixth sense"

**Bob** · 13th April 2005, 22:31

You know that way you pick up on signs telling you something is going to happen? I had a perfect case last night.

The East India Dock Road allows bike access (legally) to the bus lane. It has a left turn a little way down, so vehicles have to enter the lane momentarily.

So I enter the bus lane... and notice the car slightly ahead in the 'normal' lane is sitting a bit over to the left. So instinctively, I positioned myself a lot closer to the kerb than I usually would.

Just as well - stupid *rse comes up to the back of the line of traffic and just swings the wheel and goes into the lane without checking. I still had to brake *hard*, but my "just in case" positioning had saved it from being an even harder task to avoid the fool.

Obviously, in all of the braking, I also sounded horn, revved engine and yelled abuse. The fool was so unaware, she looked in her rear view mirror to see if someone was there! I was actually sitting to her left - from where I issued another torrent of abuse (I was actually quite calm once the slight shakes any emergency braking move will generate had subsided - but decided that if you can scare the cr*p out of this sort of person, next time they might think first) - which she realised shortly before getting out of my way as quickly as she could manage...

**Ms Piggy** · 13th April 2005, 22:35

Good save! I reckon you kinda get to know & prepare for the worst after riding a while. I've given up gettin g annoyed at the number of drivers that pull out in front of me from side streets - it happens at least twice a week now.

**ajturbo** · 14th April 2005, 10:56

seams to me that if you have to commute ... a small sledge hammer in right/left hand at all times is a must??

**sAsLEX** · 14th April 2005, 11:08

Originally Posted by ajturbo

seams to me that if you have to commute ... a small sledge hammer in right/left hand at all times is a must??

heard of people keeping a rather large bolt down the head stock of their bike, and if people cut them up or endager their lives they just throw them a bolt!

**Wolf** · 14th April 2005, 13:01

Can understand what you mean, Bob. Quite often I know what other vehicles are going to do before they do it based on where they start to position themselves before the manoeuvre. As bikers - less protected and therefore more mindful of what's happening around us - we tend to read the subtle cues better than cagers.

**Maximus** · 14th April 2005, 13:05

Originally Posted by ajturbo

seams to me that if you have to commute ... a small sledge hammer in right/left hand at all times is a must??

Or BOTH hands?!!

**Lou Girardin** · 14th April 2005, 13:10

It's a life saver that the noob's need to learn fast.
Little things like a cage moving left or right slightly as the driver checks the exterior mirror for a lane change.
Watching for the front wheels start to pivot on a car waiting to turn as you approach.
Or on twisty's when you see a momentary flash through the trees as the sun reflects off an oncoming car.
Checking for shadows moving in front of parked trucks etc.

**Maximus** · 14th April 2005, 13:14

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Checking for shadows moving in front of parked trucks etc.

Definately!!!
This advice was passed on to me by my old man, and I have never forgotten it- which is lucky cause I probably have avoided at LEAST 4 accidents (in bloody auckland) by heeding this advice!

**James Deuce** · 14th April 2005, 13:15

I had more than 20 incidences of drivers pulling out on me last week, as soon as I'd decided to trade the GSX. It is not hyperobole at all! All of them happened within 5kms of home, and half of them were generated by Taxi drivers either failing to give way or stop at stop signs. Every incident was presaged by mental alarm bells that had me slowing and on the brakes before I knew what I was doing. It was very, very scary. In one case I took to a side road to avoid a redlight runner. I was half way round before I realised that I was going the wrong way home, and then I heard the horns tooting behind me. It's nice to have my 6th sense back.

**Ixion** · 14th April 2005, 13:22

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

It's a life saver that the noob's need to learn fast.
Little things like a cage moving left or right slightly as the driver checks the exterior mirror for a lane change.
Watching for the front wheels start to pivot on a car waiting to turn as you approach.
Or on twisty's when you see a momentary flash through the trees as the sun reflects off an oncoming car.
Checking for shadows moving in front of parked trucks etc.

All good ones

I watch for the reverse flash on a car that pulls up. Most cages are auto nowdays. Most autos when you put them from Drive to Park they flash the reverse light for a second as they go through reverse. If a car pulls up and I don't see the flash, or see seatbelts being taken off (if I'm close enough) , I assume they're going to do a U turn in front of me. Heaps of false alarms, but it's saved my neck a few times.

I find you can make quite good guesses about what they will do just from their style of driving. Watching in the mirror and see a cage cutting in and out of the traffic , coming up behind you. Guarantee he'll move in on your space (if you let him) . Traffic coming toward you with a short straight bit ahead. Cage behind the leading cage starts closing up the distance between him and the cage in front. Bet he's going to try to pass, even though you're in the way . If you let him

**XTC** · 14th April 2005, 13:32

I dunno about a sixth sense.... I think it just comes down to expecting the worst to happen and being prepared for it. You have to expect the car in that side street to pull out, or the car in the "fast" lane (that is actually going slower) to decide that he likes the space your in in your lane etc. You can't just ride around expecting to have the right of way just because you have the green light as some one coming through the red opposite can take your right (and life) away just like that. So expect these things to happen and be prepared whether you are on your bike or in the cage. Be safe out there and make yourself seen by using your lights at all times.
P.S I have seen alot of bikes lately that have thier packs hanging down over thier tail lights go check yours now as one of them may be you.... Hard for cars to know you are there or stopping without being able to see your tail/brake light.