Too close for comfort.

[Flyingpony]

Warning: Rant.

So there I'm sitting at the lights behind a car with front brake on to enlighten rear. Hear a truck approaching so quick inspection in the mirrors tells me it's one of those construction crane styled trucks.

Continuing to keep eye on approaching truck however with right indicator on, he'll park behind me. Why my lane!

[Engages first gear – Clunk]

So, you'd think given those truck cranes have massively forward protruding hoist arms with huge wire hook thingies attached, that they'll be polite and stop before the hoist even remotely encroached on any air space nearby!

Well, to my horror instead of stopping early, he tries to park up close like most trucks do, so the equation quickly became: gas + clutch = safely parked beside car in front.

When the light changed to green, at least he remained stationary waiting for us (car and me) to be on our way.

Please don't scare us if you're driving one of those trucks. It might look okay from where you’re sitting, but it’s a totally different viewpoint from ours. Remember our mirrors are those “objects in mirror are closer than they appear” convex spherical ones.

This isn’t the first time those truck cranes have scared me.

Ironically, on other side of intersection waiting for a green light indicating left was a much bigger one …

[Waylander]

I remember a time I was in a similer situation only we were moving and I was the tail end of a line of traffic with oncoming on the left. (This was in the states) truck comming up behind failed to hit his breaks and I only just moved into the median area to avoid being crushed. Always pays to have an exit, you never know what could happen.

[crashe]

Flyingpony - Did you happen to get the name of the company?

If so ring them up and ask to speak to the General Manager or supervisor and explain to them what their drivers are doing...

Explain how it feels when the driver comes up that close when you are on the bike.

If no one rings up and tells the company supervisor's, then the bosses have no idea what pratts they have for drivers, driving for them.

[DingDong]

You scare easy man

[White trash]

Harden up mate, the dude probably drives the bastard thing 200,000 kays a year and is as perfectly at home in it as I am on my bike. If he's gotta give you more room, then I've gotta cease doing wheelis between cars on the motorway, I'm sure the drivers aren't to fond of that sort of behaviour.

Now if the fucker had'a had the rear bags smokin', tail 10 feet outa line, howling towards you, you'd have good grounds for concern.

[myvice]

One of those broke/slipped its hook off the retaining cable one day in Symonds St at a set of lights, did the big wreking ball thing into the little Jap hatch in front of it.
Learn something new every day:
DONT GET HIT BY ONE!
The car was fine... just a bent bit in-between the number plates.
One down... My Bond laser watch works well, hehehehe

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Now if the fucker had'a had the rear bags smokin', tail 10 feet outa line, howling towards you, you'd have good grounds for concern.

You think that would do it WT?

[danb]

Hmm remindes me of Rubbish trucks (Yea dont ask) - The amount of crazy shit they do the drivers and there Runners must have "Rubbish" a.k.a Shit for brains!

[N4CR]

Hmm remindes me of Rubbish trucks (Yea dont ask) - The amount of crazy shit they do the drivers and there Runners must have "Rubbish" a.k.a Shit for brains!

The crazy shit does the drivers? Where are the runners?

[danb]

The crazy shit does the drivers? Where are the runners?

Bugger missed the ",,,,"

Hmm remindes me of Rubbish trucks (Yea dont ask) - The amount of crazy shit they do, the drivers and there runners must have "Rubbish" a.k.a Shit for brains!

[Dafe]

Dude, you need a decent grunting Vtwin thousand so you don't ever hear anything again at the lights except your angry howling beast!
Then you learn to enjoy the closeness. Because when the light goes green, you leave that fat ass so far behind you he feels stuuuupid & small!
Gotta luv it!!!

[Flyingpony]

Flyingpony - Did you happen to get the name of the company?

If so ring them up and ask to speak to the General Manager or supervisor and explain to them what their drivers are doing...

Explain how it feels when the driver comes up that close when you are on the bike.

If no one rings up and tells the company supervisor's, then the bosses have no idea what pratts they have for drivers, driving for them.

Don't know their company name but know where their office is located because I used to ride passed there daily. Will drop in one lunchtime and a leave a message.
Nothing against the driver, just felt he got too close.