Close call with a car - turns out I have muscle memory!

[Milts]

I'm pretty sure I would have had an accident yesterday if it weren't for my regular practicing of emergency breaking. I strongly reccommend it.

Had probably my 2nd closest call with a car ever on the way to work (the closest call I've ever had got me so angry at drivers that I lost focus and rode into a ditch just to spite them... several years ago).

I was in a bus/cycle/taxi/motorcycle (signposted) lane, going past a line of slowly moving cars at maybe 40+kph. Mr Red Toyota decided he liked the bus lane as well as his turnoff was only 30 meters up the road, which would be fine if it weren't for:
1) The fact that he didn't indicate
2) The fact that I was just behind him as he changed lanes.

Everything happened so fast that literally all I can remember is seeing the car start to pull out. My next memory is of riding in the gutter with my brakes on hard, clutch in and my thumb on the horn, and my toe just about scraping the paint on the rear passenger door. As far as my brain is concerned nothing happened in between, all my actions were reflex.

I've always be a supporter of regular practice of evasive/emergency techniques. I can now say that it's saved me and my bike some pain. I think the next step is one of those classes with Andrew from Ridesafe, to make sure I'm doing it all correctly...

[oneofsix]

I'm pretty sure I would have had an accident yesterday if it weren't for my regular practicing of emergency breaking. I strongly reccommend it.

Had probably my 2nd closest call with a car ever on the way to work (the closest call I've ever had got me so angry at drivers that I lost focus and rode into a ditch just to spite them... several years ago).

I was in a bus/cycle/taxi/motorcycle (signposted) lane, going past a line of slowly moving cars at maybe 40+kph. Mr Red Toyota decided he liked the bus lane as well as his turnoff was only 30 meters up the road, which would be fine if it weren't for:
1) The fact that he didn't indicate
2) The fact that I was just behind him as he changed lanes.

Everything happened so fast that literally all I can remember is seeing the car start to pull out. My next memory is of riding in the gutter with my brakes on hard, clutch in and my thumb on the horn, and my toe just about scraping the paint on the rear passenger door. As far as my brain is concerned nothing happened in between, all my actions were reflex.

I've always be a supporter of regular practice of evasive/emergency techniques. I can now say that it's saved me and my bike some pain. I think the next step is one of those classes with Andrew from Ridesafe, to make sure I'm doing it all correctly...

glad you avoided the pain. You might have to change your sig "Ridesafe schooled"

[willytheekid]

Good man!

Glad to hear you had the situation under control and the emergency braking practice paid off

[slofox]

...my toe just about scraping the paint on the rear passenger door. .

I hope you used this fortuitous proximity to kick the fuck out of said door didja?

Nice save, BTW...well done.

[superman]

Did you have a chat with him?

[p.dath]

Avoiding injury - a great way to end the week!

[PrincessBandit]

I hope you used this fortuitous proximity to kick the fuck out of said door didja?

Nice save, BTW...well done.

Did you have a chat with him?

Mr Red Toyota probably didn't even notice him.

[slofox]

Mr Red Toyota probably didn't even notice him.

Sad but may well be true...

[Blackbird]

Well done that man!

Talk to Andrew about Institute of Advanced Motorists training with him too. A friend of mine from Lower Hutt is doing his free IAM assessment ride with Andrew this month.

We need another IAM member who rides a Triple

[Zedder]

It's good to know the skills are there when they're needed.

[Milts]

I think MR Red Toyota thought I was just annoyed he was in a bus lane, rather than having any understanding of how close he came to scratching my beautiful bike (and maybe me too)
I had a quick catch up 10 minutes later when he stoped in another que of traffic - he seemed angry at me for hitting my horn more than anything else. Waste of time conversing further so I just rode on. As much as it would give me great pleasure to ugly up his car a little it wouldn't really have helped matters.

Will definitely look into any further training. In fact hopefully the summer after this I can afford a bucket, how bout that for training....

[otter]

Out of interest, how do you practice emergency braking. I've done some practice but I don't know how far I can go without locking up my front wheel and dropping it (50$ for another set of handlebars is something I can do without).

[oneofsix]

Out of interest, how do you practice emergency braking. I've done some practice but I don't know how far I can go without locking up my front wheel and dropping it (50$ for another set of handlebars is something I can do without).

advanced riding course will show you how, even the ones pitched at novice level, doesn't have to be an expert or senior level one.