Almost got rear ended today in Scarborough...very, very close

[TorontoBoy]

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I know many of the posters here don't give a rat's *** about your fellow riders, and to those that will respond with the CSB reply, how about simply not reading this thread?

I am a conservative rider and follow the speed limit. Today, northbound on Markham Road in Scarborough, at about 1:20pm, just after noon, there was extremely light traffic. I was riding just north of McNichol, in the RIGHTMOST curb lane, in the left tire track, going the speed limit of 60kph, when this black American sports car, goes by me in my lane, between my bike and the curb, at over 90 kph. I was between intersections, riding and minding my own business. The other 2 lanes to my left were completely empty. Just up ahead there was a RED LIGHT at Steeles, which forced him to slam on his brakes to stop.

I approached the car and asked him what the **** he was doing. He claimed that I did not signal for my lane change, but I had not changed lanes for more than a kilometer. For the record this was a white guy, 20-30 yrs old, short hair and a complete idiot. He was within inches of my pannier bags. For cars to use bike riders as their personal slalom course makes me shake with anger.

I very often watch my mirrors for cars coming up behind me and at traffic lights, but at his rate of speed he was on me so quickly and I was riding and checking ahead for traffic. Many people speed on this part of Markham Road, and if they want to do this in the other two empty lanes that is their decision, but why split between my bike and the curb at speed?

My point of this post is to vent and to say that no matter how safe you think you ride, there will always be some idiot that might take you out, even on a nice leisurely ride. I thank my guardian angel today for looking out for me.

 

[davkan]

Did you get his plate.

 

[El Cockblock]

I would've parked my bike on the curb, out of harm's way, and smashed his windshield with my helmet for being such a stupid ******* idiot.

Then I'd go to the closest gear store to get another helmet and continue my leisure ride...

 

[Alvito]

Wow, I would have taken down his license plate number and called 911. Driving like that, it is possible he was drunk.

Glad you're okay.

 

[PhoenixFZ]

My point of this post is to vent and to say that no matter how safe you think you ride, there will always be some idiot that might take you out, even on a nice leisurely ride. I thank my guardian angel today for looking out for me.

You've now learned that "obeying all the rules" and strictly following the speed limit will not guarantee your safety.

Glad you're okay.

 

[PhoenixFZ]

A similar thing happened to me years ago riding north of Sheppard on Yonge. I chased him, a Taurus driver, for a bit but gave up because I felt he'd kill someone--he was trying to speed away from me. When we hit a red light, I noticed a police car further up. So, I filtered between the stopped cars in front of me and knocked on the officer's window. Turned out she was a police supervisor.

She and 2 other cruisers stopped the Taurus driver and discovered he was driving with no liscence, no insurance, no ownership--and the car wasn't his. I could've pressed charges, but they already had him for all these other tickets so I let it go, (-they were still checking out his story about the car's ownership when I left).

The fact that my wife was on the back of my bike and we were both in full gear probably bought me some credibility with the officers---who were very cool.

 

[nearace]

lucky you didnt get killed,great reason to be faster than the rest or jammed in traffic.

 

[gtamike]

It's actually helpful that members post stuff like this - it helps the rest of us think of scenarios we might not have otherwise, and at least be aware of them. You were doing all the 'right things', but was still almost taken out - a good reminder for all of us!

 

[bboySushi]

A similar thing happened to me years ago riding north of Sheppard on Yonge. I chased him, a Taurus driver, for a bit but gave up because I felt he'd kill someone--he was trying to speed away from me. When we hit a red light, I noticed a police car further up. So, I filtered between the stopped cars in front of me and knocked on the officer's window. Turned out she was a police supervisor.

She and 2 other cruisers stopped the Taurus driver and discovered he was driving with no liscence, no insurance, no ownership--and the car wasn't his. I could've pressed charges, but they already had him for all these other tickets so I let it go, (-they were still checking out his story about the car's ownership when I left).

The fact that my wife was on the back of my bike and we were both in full gear probably bought me some credibility with the officers---who were very cool.

That is an awesome story. Just curious though, what exactly did you say to the officers that made them even consider pulling the guy over?

 

[PhoenixFZ]

That is an awesome story. Just curious though, what exactly did you say to the officers that made them even consider pulling the guy over?

At first, when I tapped on the window, the officer looked more annoyed than surprised. I quickly told her: "That guy in the black Taurus [pointing at car] almost killed me and my wife." The officer told me to follow her and the cars behind us all backed off. She followed the Taurus, which had slowed down realizing a cruiser was right behind it, and he pulled over into a donut shop parking lot, (-with the cruiser and me following). Two other police cars arrived in the parking lot shortly thereafter.

At the parking lot, I got off the bike and took off my helmet. I gave the officers my info., told them what happened, waited 10 minutes while they interviewed the Taurus driver, (-who never got out of his car while I was there), and that was it. The police gave me the option of charging him, but also let me know that they had him for many other infractions...

 

[kickstartt]

Glad ur ok OP. You've shown a good point here.
Theres luck needed for riding...

 

[PhoenixFZ]

Glad ur ok OP. You've shown a good point here.
Theres luck needed for riding...

Absolutely. But you can minimize the risk by riding defensively. That means that you should be riding at a speed slightly faster than the flow of traffic. You should be making the decisions about where your bike is at any given moment. I've found that when riding at the speed limit, many car drivers will "bully" you---they'll tailgate you, or cut you off.

You have to be prepared to twist the throttle and get out of situations that have the potential to go awry.

That being said, if luck isn't with you... ...you're toast: some drivers are totally unpredicable.

 

[TorontoBoy]

I'm actually still shaking.

I did not get the plate number, and in retrospect I should have taken the time. I thought at the time that if he tried to kill me already that following him would not be advisable. I was also turning right at Steeles and he was going straight.

There were no cars following or beside me, so if he ran me over there would have been no witnesses. Very light traffic, clear weather, perfectly straight and clean road, during the day, and still we are at risk.

Thanks for the understanding.

 

[PhoenixFZ]

Even if you had the plate number, I doubt the police would've done anything about it after the fact.

No one was hurt---so no harm, no foul in their eyes.

Another story for you: I was driving home from work on a busy road and witnessed a high-school boy violently pushed into traffic from the sidewalk. There was a crowd of kids there watching but no one helped him, and he could've been killed. Then the bully that pushed the smaller boy into the road walked across the road, (all the cars were stopped at this point), to talk to someone in a car! Looked like an older lady.

I got her liscense plate number, and called the police. They arrived 10 minutes later, (by then the kids were all gone), and gave them the info. The officer told me that nothing would come of it, though because: "no harm, no foul."

I was disgusted, but knew the officer was speaking the truth...sadly. It wasn't worth their time to pursue this.

 

[Face]

Absolutely. But you can minimize the risk by riding defensively. That means that you should be riding at a speed slightly faster than the flow of traffic. You should be making the decisions about where your bike is at any given moment. I've found that when riding at the speed limit, many car drivers will "bully" you---they'll tailgate you, or cut you off.

You have to be prepared to twist the throttle and get out of situations that have the potential to go awry.

That being said, if luck isn't with you... ...you're toast: some drivers are totally unpredicable.

OP, Glad you're okay!

+1, Slightly faster is generally better. I definitely feel more comfortable and more in control of the situation around me.

 

[Paul1000RR]

You've now learned that "obeying all the rules" and strictly following the speed limit will not guarantee your safety.

Glad you're okay.

exactly! obeying the speed limit will get you killed in this city, especially on the 401. Move faster than the flow of traffic so champs like this cannot pass you.

On a side note i almost lost my life in a very similar incident in my first year of riding. I was making a right when a car decided to fly past me in my own lane and my knee touched the side of his car as he went by...
No joke the guy was doing 80-100km/h and didn't even stop to see if he hit me or not, just kept going

 

[Dayao12]

Wow, I'm glad to hear you're alright...

I'm keeping one of these on my key chain next time Sh1t like that happens

 

[cbcanada]

you should have kicked his ass man. thats what i would have done... **** him.
i got off my bike just the other day and told a cabbie i was gonna smash his face with my elbow and he took off. he was driving a foot benind me...
i hope he learns a lesson and wont do it to any other rider. point is.. at some point you gotta protect yourself, stand up and make a stand

 

[TorontoBoy]

I explained the situation to an acquaintance that is a motorcycle instructor and he suggested I rethink my position within the lane. If a car can get by between my bike and the curb then I must have been too far to the left of my lane but still in the left tire track. He had a point. But I was sure I was not hugging the lane marker to my left.

I have revisited Markham Road north of Finch and surprising to me is that the curb lane seems to be 25% wider than the middle lanes. It is as if they planned for a bike lane in the curb lane but then did not paint in the lines. With this extra room, even when I was in the left tire track of the curb lane, there is sufficient room, though it is tight, for a car to lane split you between your bike and the curb. From now on, when riding Markham Road, I'll be riding in the centre of the lane.

 

[insert]

I explained the situation to an acquaintance that is a motorcycle instructor and he suggested I rethink my position within the lane. If a car can get by between my bike and the curb then I must have been too far to the left of my lane but still in the left tire track. He had a point. But I was sure I was not hugging the lane marker to my left.

I have revisited Markham Road north of Finch and surprising to me is that the curb lane seems to be 25% wider than the middle lanes. It is as if they planned for a bike lane in the curb lane but then did not paint in the lines. With this extra room, even when I was in the left tire track of the curb lane, there is sufficient room, though it is tight, for a car to lane split you between your bike and the curb. From now on, when riding Markham Road, I'll be riding in the centre of the lane.

that's what i was thinking as i read the thread. I have seen bikes, while i was riding and while driving, in their "blocking" position so close to the dividing line that they are practically splitting lanes. from a distance it can be hard to tell which lane the bike is actually in, but its still no excuse for the car not moving left if those lanes were empty.

glad you're alright. just remember, you can be the best rider in the world, it just takes one dumbass to kill you. ride with that in mind and look out for them.

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