My accident

[mattian]

Im posting this with a view to getting some constructive criticism as to what, if anything, I could have done better to avoid this situation.

About 2 months ago. About 9.15am on a Friday morning, was riding down Albert Street, central Auckland. Those of you familiar wih Auckland, in the vicinity of Crowne Plaza hotel, heading towards Victoria street.
I was following a taxi, at a respectable distance, both of us within the speed limit. Now theres 2 lanes here. We're both in the right lane and a bus lane on the left. Im going straight ahead at the next set of lights.
I notice him pulling left into the bus lane, without indicating (probably shouldve been my first clue of funny business in hindsight)and at the same time he's slowing right down, just like he's pulling over. Im travelling straight ahead so, Im staying my course in the right lane. As Im passing, he decides right at that moment to either do a U-turn or, make a hard right and turn across my path of travel. I see him looming up in peripheral vision and swerve right in an attempt to get around him but its obvious he hasnt seen me at all. Crunch, bike slams into his right bumper and wobbles, im trying to save it but even though its not at all high speed, I lose it. BIke goes skidding off down Albert street with lots of noise and sparks.
I take abit of a hit on my left knee and shin. Doesnt hurt much at the time, but in subsequent days becomes a wee bit painful. Nothing serious though.

Lots of people around to help me organise myself and get my bike off the road.
Taxi driver looks very shaken and hes sorry. We exchange details etc. My 2009 Gladius which has been my only transport for the past 5 years and 100,000+ Kms is written off.

Looking back on this experience, his pulling over without indicating should have been a clue of what "might" be about to happen, but short of having ESP im trying consider what if anything may have been able to do to avoid the collision. perhaps nothing at all? certainly, lessons were learnt. Taxi drivers are the fucking worst.

anyway, any comments or suggesttions would be greatley appreciated.
Ta.

[Banditbandit]

Not much you could do ... many riders have been caught by fucking idiots doing exactly that ... U-turning from the left .. even cops have done it to us ..

[Paul in NZ]

Sounds like you have already learnt a lesson? Sometimes your oh oh that looks weird sense needs listening to and other times it does not... Hard to tell when to listen..

Many many people caught out like that but if there IS a lesson its to make sure you ride where the car in front can see you (ie not in the blind spot) and do your best to make SURE the fucker has seen you...

[TheDemonLord]

Since I had a slipnslide, I ride covering the front brake - had I been in your situation, I might have also covered the rear when I started to see a Taxi do weird shit, which might have helped haul her up in time.

I will say that I wasn't there, so don't know all the details - you might have been able to swerve left instead of right and pass behind the taxi, you might have been able to give it some gas and scoot in front.

but these are all academic really

[Erelyes]

Paging Dr Katman... Paging Dr Katman...

No real way to tell from a description on the interwebs to be honest mate.

You mentioned seeing the taxi in your priff'rill, so I'm presuming braking would have achieved nothing. From what you've said it sounds like he couldn't have done a much better job of knocking you off if he'd been trying to do it deliberately. Some things are unavoidable despite your best efforts.

[mossy1200]

U-turning from the left .. even cops have done it to us ..

Sitting in Aro Valley café on Saturday watched one nab 6 customers in the reduced 30 zone. 3 times pulling 3 point turns within 20 metres of a blind corner. 2 occasions causing traffic to brake suddenly. I was tempted to *555 him near the end of my coffee.

[R650R]

Nothing you could do, hard to give advise when we don't know what your level of awareness/experience is.

But always assume the vehicle in front is going to do something stupid. I try to keep a minimum 4 sec gap in all conditions now whether I'm on my bike, car or in truck.
Doesn't cover everything but lot less stress and braking.

I've done over 2 millions kms in Trucks and also watched an unhealthy amount of Russian dashcam vids.... yet weekly if not daily I see a new WTF is that manoevoure from someone.

One thing I recommend is to wargame out scenarios on your regular routes sop your mind is preprepared and know where you've got space for evasion.

[caspernz]

Nobody who wasn't in your shoes at the time will have the perfect answer. On the face of it, you may not have been suspicious enough of the taxi drivers' behaviour, but we all make that error. Hope you heal up well.

Taxis are my number one pet hate for the exact reason you described though, and I treat them as live ammo.

[Katman]

Paging Dr Katman... Paging Dr Katman...

I wondered how long it would be before someone started stroking their cock.

My only contribution is that if the cab was prepared to chuck a turn in front of you there was probably nothing much coming the other way.

The erratic move to the left would have me moving as far out the the right of the lane as safety allowed.

[awa355]

In future, if following a taxi, check to see if the driver has a towel wrapped around his head, if so, leave plenty of room.

[Berries]

Doesn't everyone in Auckland wear a turban?

[ellipsis]

...often things in cities fuck up, sometimes quick, sometimes slow, you just can't always, sometimes, no times oftenly avoid the happenstance of somebody wanting to impose themselves upon your supposedly inviolate space...then ...BANG... they have violated your space...the silliness of them...this would not happen back in Bradford...

[samgab]

You can't entirely eliminate the risk of something like this happening again, so:

1: Ride as defensively, and with as much situational awareness as possible. Do training. Practice emergency braking and maneouvering.
2: ATGATT, for the chance that 1 lets you down.
3: Full insurance, for when 1 has let you down and 2 has hopefully protected your body.

1 is about preventing an incident wherever possible, 2 is about minimising risk to your person, and 3 is about mitigating the damage.

[ICE180]

similar thing happened to me but I got taken out and smashed my knee cap security officer got done for wreck less driving etc went to court the whole thing so I am glad to hear it was only your bike written off

nothing you can do as I found out

[Gadget1]

Im posting this with a view to getting some constructive criticism as to what, if anything, I could have done better to avoid this situation.

About 2 months ago. About 9.15am on a Friday morning, was riding down Albert Street, central Auckland. Those of you familiar wih Auckland, in the vicinity of Crowne Plaza hotel, heading towards Victoria street.
I was following a taxi, at a respectable distance, both of us within the speed limit. Now theres 2 lanes here. We're both in the right lane and a bus lane on the left. Im going straight ahead at the next set of lights.
I notice him pulling left into the bus lane, without indicating (probably shouldve been my first clue of funny business in hindsight)and at the same time he's slowing right down, just like he's pulling over. Im travelling straight ahead so, Im staying my course in the right lane. As Im passing, he decides right at that moment to either do a U-turn or, make a hard right and turn across my path of travel. I see him looming up in peripheral vision and swerve right in an attempt to get around him but its obvious he hasnt seen me at all. Crunch, bike slams into his right bumper and wobbles, im trying to save it but even though its not at all high speed, I lose it. BIke goes skidding off down Albert street with lots of noise and sparks.
I take abit of a hit on my left knee and shin. Doesnt hurt much at the time, but in subsequent days becomes a wee bit painful. Nothing serious though.

Lots of people around to help me organise myself and get my bike off the road.
Taxi driver looks very shaken and hes sorry. We exchange details etc. My 2009 Gladius which has been my only transport for the past 5 years and 100,000+ Kms is written off.

Looking back on this experience, his pulling over without indicating should have been a clue of what "might" be about to happen, but short of having ESP im trying consider what if anything may have been able to do to avoid the collision. perhaps nothing at all? certainly, lessons were learnt. Taxi drivers are the fucking worst.

anyway, any comments or suggesttions would be greatley appreciated.
Ta.

Sorry to see about your accident. I've nothing to add regarding constructive criticism etc, it appears to have all been covered.

What's the story on your next motorcycle though?