Close call rant - Oceania Bus reg#2003

[madbikeboy]

This thread clearly shows that handguns should be a licence requirement for bikes...

If common sense doesn't stop bus drivers from trying to kill us, perhaps a healthy fear that we'll return the favour will

I've heard it said a few hundred times that car drivers don't care because they don't have a healthy fear of us - I know an American old timer that reckons that cars used to treat bikes with huge respect in SoCal because they would assume that all bikers were real bad-asses, and therefore you didn't fuck with them.

[slofox]

Had some dork in a "softwash" van pull a lane change right in front of me this morning.....putting on the indicator as he crossed the lane markings.....but he was generous - he gave me at least two feet to stop in.....so I emailed his company and politely asked them to suggest that drivers take care on the road.....fat chance......

[Tank]

Had some dork in a "softwash" van pull a lane change right in front of me this morning.....putting on the indicator as he crossed the lane markings.....but he was generous - he gave me at least two feet to stop in.....so I emailed his company and politely asked them to suggest that drivers take care on the road.....fat chance......

You never know. There is nothing truckers fear more than a politely worded email.

[Bend-it]

Yeah, but fear isn't the correct motivation... common decency is.

Or is common decency not so common and I'm just being idealistic?

[Bend-it]

Had some dork in a "softwash" van pull a lane change right in front of me this morning.....putting on the indicator as he crossed the lane markings.....but he was generous - he gave me at least two feet to stop in.....so I emailed his company and politely asked them to suggest that drivers take care on the road.....fat chance......

Oi Slo!

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/road/roadwatch.html

[slofox]

Oi Slo!

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/road/roadwatch.html

I am their most regular contributor Bend-it........

[Bend-it]

I am their most regular contributor Bend-it........

: GOOD ON YOU :

Maybe if the cops are chasing down idiot drivers, they won't be out issueing tickets as much... and somebody must be collecting the stats somewhere and figuring out that truck and bus drivers need abit of work...

[Bass]

Thanks for writing what I was thinking. Nice one.

I stand by what I wrote.
I understand that his tone and choice of words is offensive, but he is not justifying or making excuses - simply giving the benefit of experience. In other posts he is explicit in saying that you had the law on your side (and you did), but his main point is that you are dead right and could still be dead.

I completely agree that it is not always easy to stay out of the blind spot of other vehicles in motorway traffic which is one of the reasons why I seldom commute on the bike, but that does not negate what he wrote

I've heard it said a few hundred times that car drivers don't care because they don't have a healthy fear of us - I know an American old timer that reckons that cars used to treat bikes with huge respect in SoCal because they would assume that all bikers were real bad-asses, and therefore you didn't fuck with them.

There is a fair amount of research out there on this topic. The common (though not universal) conclusion arrived at, is that we first see what our subconscious perceives as a threat. So if we accept this then you are correct in your comments above regarding fear, although not quite in the sense that you intended.
What this means is that a car driver will often not see a motorcyclist at first glance because we are too small to be perceived immediately by their subconscious as a threat. Also that the subconscious can have filters in place, which is why you can often easily spot a cop car in a line of traffic or a patched biker on a Harley.

Note that what I have just written is neither an excuse nor a justification for not seeing an oncoming motorcyclist. In learning to drive, we have the obligation to learn observation skills that overcome the subconscious prejudice and so actually see what is happening around us on the road. (Hence my comment that a formal complaint would be a good thing.)
It does however offer some explanation, which is a different thing altogether.

[Bend-it]

I stand by what I wrote.
I understand that his tone and choice of words is offensive, but he is not justifying or making excuses - simply giving the benefit of experience.

I think we'll agree to disagree here.

I agree that it is only wise that bikers don't stay in other vehicles' (bikes included, we all know what hopeless mirrors sportbikes have) blindspots, but
a. I don't think that's all noob was intending with his offensive post
b. it's not even relevent because MBB was passing the bus with a perfectly reasonable 8-9kph speed differential, not just sitting there.

Note that what I have just written is neither an excuse nor a justification for not seeing an oncoming motorcyclist.

Here, we agree.

I'm going for a bike ride and hopefully won't have any experiences as relayed here.

[Bass]

I think we'll agree to disagree here.



Here, we agree.

I'm going for a bike ride and hopefully won't have any experiences as relayed here.

Fairy muff

[Kickaha]

I love truckies, you are less than 10% of the national fleet yet you are involved in 40% of accidents. Sounds like you and the rest of your crew need driving lessons or counselling.

Does that take into account the mileages they do?

[Swoop]

wish i had knives on my hubs like in the movie ben hur.... hehehe ride up next to the cunts and strip a big hole in the side of them.....

Simple. Have a couple of cut-off screws poking out of the heel of your boot. Just drag your heel along the side of the vehicle...

I've heard it said a few hundred times that car drivers don't care because they don't have a healthy fear of us - I know an American old timer that reckons that cars used to treat bikes with huge respect in SoCal because they would assume that all bikers were real bad-asses, and therefore you didn't fuck with them.

There's a concept that has eluded katman.

[newby]

Ill put my hand up and admit my first post was a bit quick off the mark. I wrote that straight after reading the first post, and didnt take the time to word it properly.

However as Bass and Patrick have pointed out, keep reading beyond my first post, its pretty clear and simple...

Bend-it, no offense intended here, but you need to re-read the whole thing and put the timeline of posts together....might then make a little bit more sense to you.

As for the experience thing, yeah im a newby to biking, but i have spent more hours and kilometres than nearly anyone else who has never driven for a job.

And it is obvious here that some people will not accept the fact the vehicles have blind spots. Even cars have blindspots, which is why you are supposed to turn your head to check. That is not possible with a truck, simple as that.

As for saying if you cant be sure nothing is in your blindspot then dont change lanes, that is rediculas as your argument against not ever passing a large vehicle.

Usually you 'eye' the traffic moving in your mirror. For example you see red car moving into your line of site, you keep an eye on it, no cars are behind red car, then red car passes you, and still no other cars have entered into the line of site, so road is clear. This is why people who linger next to other vehicles increase their chances of getting hit.

I guess natural selection will always prevail. Bass's statement of being dead right, doesnt make you any less dead, really sums it up though.

Cheers

[Salival]

why is it all bus drivers tend to be fucking awful, pushy, dangerous drivers... i mean, i know they are fucking upset with their lives but surely they can have some care for others... jesus the way they push into the traffic sometimes is rediculously dangerous....

Couldn't agree more - two days into having the new bike I almost got taken out twice in as many seconds whilst going past the bus stop on Dixon Street in Wellington. And they have their own fucking lane!!

[Katman]

There's a concept that has eluded katman.

No concept eludes me.

The only trouble is, if I give any of you fuckers an inch you'll demand a mile.