Do you believe in bad luck........

R

rakkaus

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These past few days I ran into at least 5 left turners in car and bike, 2 of them were really closed. thank god my bike has ABS


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No, I do not.
 
If this is happening to you that frequently then it is time you ask YOURSELF if there is anything that YOU could do differently to stop this happening.

Every situation is different but you have to actively look for situations where there may be a driver of another vehicle that may intersect your path. Are you doing that? Every time you approach an intersection, actively identify every vehicle that is likely to intersect your path, and do this BEFORE you get to the intersection.

Then you have to do something about it. Every situation is different but pick a course of action - maybe multiple.

- Adjust your path towards the left so that the oncoming driver has your headlight shining right at him. If you can't directly see the oncoming driver (not just the car, the DRIVER) then they can't see you.
- Or ... Adjust your lane position and speed if there is another vehicle ahead of you in an adjacent lane, so that the oncomnig left-turner would have to go through that vehicle in order to get to you. (Have the other vehicle run "interference" for you)
- SLOW DOWN.
- Wiggle back and forth just a bit so that the other driver sees "motion". Google-search "SMIDSY weave" and read up on it.
- Most applicable in rural areas if you see another vehicle approaching a stop sign that is on a cross street to your path and you don't have a stop sign. Adjust your speed (up or down as applicable) such that if the other vehicle blows the stop sign, you don't arrive at the intersection at the same time. Either speed up so that you are clear of the intersection before the other vehicle gets there, or slow down so that the other vehicle gets there first and you can visually confirm that the other vehicle actually stopped - or if it doesn't stop, it goes harmlessly across your path without you hitting it.
 
Thank you for the advices, I guess need to ride smarter and I wasn't going fast it's rush hours, just drivers like to rush a turn during rush hours


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rakkaus said:
Thank you for the advices, I guess need to ride smarter and I wasn't going fast it's rush hours, just drivers like to rush a turn during rush hours


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I know we tend to get lazy and comfortable after being accident free on 2 wheels for a while, but always proceed every driveway and intersection with caution. Rev your engine if you have to, I rather be annoying than dead.
 
rakkaus said:
Thank you for the advices, I guess need to ride smarter and I wasn't going fast it's rush hours, just drivers like to rush a turn during rush hours


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And with that attitude Arnold, you will be doomed to repeat this scenario until you get hit. Because nothing will change. That is if I read the sarcasm in this post correctly. If I didn't read into your post correctly, my apologies.

If there are so many cars during rush hour, why is it impossible for you to ensure a car is next to you as you move through the intersection? And don't be in that cars blind spot either.
 
That many close calls, indicates as others have said your doing something wrong. If your saying people during rush hour are "rushing turns" I take that to mean that they are going as the light turns yellow. If this is the case, then you need to realize that rush hour is no time to be "running the yellow", (speeding up to get through the intersection), as this will end badly for you.

I constantly ensure I know where vehicles are behind me then as I approach an intersection I watch the ped count down clock if I am say 300' back and it is at 2. I let off the throttle and begin to slow as I know it will be yellow before I get to the intersection. I begin flashing my brake light so cars behind know I am preparing to stop.

Use the SMIDSY, and use "blocking vehicles".

If all this fails to register with you then try the last solution approach the intersection go WOT and close you eyes.. hope for the best...LMAO Oh and make sure insurance premiums, (life insurance) are in good standing...lol
 
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It seems there are certain streets which are more dangerous than others.
Beverly St. between Queen and Dundas is one of them.
Parking is only allowed on the west side.
People will pull U turns from their parking spots directly from where they are parked. They have an aversion to looking first.
I have twice almost been smashed in a car. I will never ride the motorcycle there.
 
Google-search "SMIDSY weave" and read up on it.

++++++++this. Watched the video, took the advice, made it a habit. No more SMIDSY.
 
I see it as a game where every intersection is an accident by default unless you do something to make you're seen by the oncoming traffic turning left or the car waiting there to turn right on red.
I imagine that for them, if they hit me they get points but i can temporarily disable them and "paralyse" them if i do something to be seen. Whether it be a quick getting up on the pegs (if no cops are around) or my favourites, the quick handlebar wiggle. The anti-smidsy weave works well, especially when you're coming from a distance.

I commute to work from sauga to downtown core pretty much every day and haven't had one instance of someone coming close to turning left in front of me but maybe it's cause i'm paranoid...
 
I only go through yellows if I am in the right lane and there is a vehicle in the left lane approximately right beside me that is also intending to go through or if I am in the left lane and there are zero cars in the oncoming left turn lane.
Otherwise I just stop.
Also I approach every intersection with left turn laners oncoming assuming they cannot see me.
 
LePhillou said:
I see it as a game where every intersection is an accident by default unless you do something to make you're seen by the oncoming traffic turning left or the car waiting there to turn right on red.
I imagine that for them, if they hit me they get points
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lol

I don't gamify my riding quite like that, but I do treat every intersection as a threat. Seems like in the vast majority of bike crashes, the rider took something for granted instead of riding defensively.
 
I believe in random blind luck, good and bad. Good things happen, bad things happen.
 
LePhillou said:
I commute to work from sauga to downtown core pretty much every day and haven't had one instance of someone coming close to turning left in front of me but maybe it's cause i'm paranoid...
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best way to approach it imo.
 
eljay said:
I only go through yellows if I am in the right lane and there is a vehicle in the left lane approximately right beside me that is also intending to go through or if I am in the left lane and there are zero cars in the oncoming left turn lane.
Otherwise I just stop.
Also I approach every intersection with left turn laners oncoming assuming they cannot see me.
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A good point. Never pass on the right.
If the light turns yellow and you're in the right lane, don't try to beat it unless the car in the left lane is doing the same thing.
 
statsman said:
A good point. Never pass on the right.
If the light turns yellow and you're in the right lane, don't try to beat it unless the car in the left lane is doing the same thing.
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It's part of the checklist

- no car behind : check
- car turning left : check
- 2-ton shield of metal to my left: check
- no right turners ahead: check

PROCEEEEED
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