Whats goin on out there?

[Jinx3d]

I cant figure it out, every time I drop by and read kiwibiker, I read about terrible "cage drivers", people dropping their bikes, broken bones and speeding tickets.

I think in the last year I had 1 person pull out on me. Even then it wasnt a big deal, since I could see she wasnt looking so I had already done half my braking before she pulled out.

I'd put this fantistic riding experience down to my safety vest and bright yellow bike - except that I dont wear one and my bike is dark blue. (black jacket)

Are others really having such bad riding experiences?


Jinxed [touching wood]

[sAsLEX]

I think people just use this forum to vent, they should get a boxing bag or something maybe!?

I see heaps of crap driving but just get out of there and carry on my way.

[saul]

Hey man I like that

[justsomeguy]

It's more that a lot of us use KB as a place to let off steam, seek sympathy, rant and rave and so on....

So we tend to exaggerate, get carried away, play mine is bigger than yours and the like.

I must say though that it's not all hot air, there have been a few truly serious events recently.
Also you must realise that we have nearly 2300 members and the friends, family and colleagues of these 2300 people who indirectly become related to KB. Add that to how small NZ is and you tend to literally have every incident that occurs brought up and commented on. We have our own share of police, firemen, ambulance officers, lawyers, insurance assesors, practically every mainstream occupation, hence giving us an insight into the "going-ons" in all walks of life.

JSG

[FROSTY:Me]

I cant figure it out, every time I drop by and read kiwibiker, I read about terrible "cage drivers", people dropping their bikes, broken bones and speeding tickets.

I think in the last year I had 1 person pull out on me. Even then it wasnt a big deal, since I could see she wasnt looking so I had already done half my braking before she pulled out.

I'd put this fantistic riding experience down to my safety vest and bright yellow bike - except that I dont wear one and my bike is dark blue. (black jacket)

Are others really having such bad riding experiences?


Jinxed [touching wood]

On the whole if I don't have one close call in a day Im running scared.
But then Im commuting in "rush hour" auckland traffic and being honest with myself people are at their worst--either running late to work or stressed out trying to get home.
I Just accept it and get on with life.
I must say when I was just riding for pleasure I couldnt really name a time I had a close call

[Sensei]

Its all down to Timing Jinx3d . If its good no worrys . If it not then look out

[marty]

ahhh it's the TL thing - loud pipes save lives.

[GROOMER]

I think in the last year I had 1 person pull out on me.

Not the safest method of contraception I might add

[Beemer]

I think it depends on the day - if someone does something to piss me off, I usually yell at them and gesticulate wildly with one finger or make the sign straight away. I then go home and tell my husband about the dickhead I have just encountered. For those who don't have the presence of mind to tell someone what a tosser they are at the time, and for those who don't have anyone at home to vent to then I suppose KB is the only place they can share the experience and perhaps get some sympathy!

I have always been a great believer in telling someone they have pissed me off WHEN they piss me off, not three weeks later!

[parsley]

Driving north over the harbour bridge the other day on the way to work and some guy pulled out of the side road (Shelly Beach Road?) without looking and nearly knocked me over. I was tempted to put my fist through his window he was that damned close - I couldn't understand why he was so blind, unless he was deliberately ignoring me.

The surprising thing was when I got in to work the guy who sits next to me said "Was that you on the bike over the bridge? I was behind you - I couldn't believe that guy pulling out on you like that". Nice to know it wasn't just my imagination!

I've been riding in NZ for about 3 months now and that's the first serious incident I've had, but I've lost count of the number of times I've seen people pull out or change lane without indicating. Are we being put at risk every day? No. Are we being put at risk too often? Yes.

[Ixion]

Hint on stopping wallies pulling out on you.

Once you see said wally waiting on the sideroad/driveway, or zooming up to it, if he looks at all dodgy:

If you're on a multilane each way road, adjust position forward or back so that as you come up to him, you're close enough to a car/truck/bus, that if he were to hit you he'd also hit the car/t/b. He might be willing to risk hitting you (" Its a motorbike, he'll have to stop") but he won't risk hitting someone his own size.

On a single lane (ie one each way) try to time it so that you're similarly covered by an oncoming vehicle in the opposite lane.

Both methods can still leave you vulnerable to him pulling out and doing a left turn, but that's the least dnagerous pull out, because his acceleration will take him away from you , increasing your available stopping distance.

Same logic as going through intersections using another vehicle as a shield.

Oh, and if he looks the slightest bit dodgy, tootle him melodiously with your tootler. Mine gets a LOT of use. A few people look annoyed ("What you going on about"), but it's recommended in the road code. Better many unnecessary tootles, than one squashed biker.

(Didn't see him waiting/coming ? Need to be more paranoid).

Don't think I've had a pull out scare in the last year or so (Just watch, having tempted the Biker Gods now, I'll end up being totalled this week when someone pulls out on me )

[marty]

Not the safest method of contraception I might add

Q:what do you call people who use the 'pull out' method?















A: parents

[Lou Girardin]

The difference between a"fricken blind bastard" incident and a "shit, how did I miss him" incident is you.

[vifferman]

The difference between a"fricken blind bastard" incident and a "shit, how did I miss him" incident is you.

Probably.

I think part of it is at least that D'Auckland drivers are crap, and traffic density is higher. Apart from during my learning phase during the first year of bike ownership, when I was young and stupid, I'd had no accidents or close calls at all until I started communtering in D'Auckland. Although all but one of the crashes I've had in the last 5 years were other people's fault, I know that ALL of them could've been avoided or prevented by me.

[Ixion]

Probably.

I think part of it is at least that D'Auckland drivers are crap, and traffic density is higher. Apart from during my learning phase during the first year of bike ownership, when I was young and stupid, I'd had no accidents or close calls at all until I started communtering in D'Auckland. Although all but one of the crashes I've had in the last 5 years were other people's fault, I know that ALL of them could've been avoided or prevented by me.

One thing in Dorkland is that cos the roads are so busy you get several hazards at once - one guy ahead waiting to turn right in front of you, someone coming toward you going to turn in front of you into that road, and a guy coming out of the opposite road going to turn in front of you - all at the same time. It can be quite hard to keep an eye on all of them.