Reminder: Surface streets are unpredictable

[Ozymandias]

So this morning I was on my way to work after stopping by my local home brew store and riding some surface streets back to 680 in concord. I'm in the left hand lane of 2 lanes coming up on a big rig that is in the right hand lane with his right turn signal on.

When I get about 30 feet back he suddenly shifts to the left lane and his signal goes off. I'm doing about 35-40 with a 35 posted speed limit but there's not a huge amount of room left and my initial instinct was to swerve then brake. I swerve to the right, ease off the throttle and cover the brakes as he's completely vacated the right lane now and low and behold he really is making that right hand turn and apparently feels like he needs 2 lanes to do it.

I'm sure there were about 10 people at the light that thought they were about to watch a guy get run over by a big rig. I had the back stepping out and all that fun stuff but got it stopped with about 1 foot to spare with where his trailer wheels were going.

Ultimately, I probably wouldn't have been able to stop with his immediate swerve but it could have gotten REAL bad real fast if I hadn't been slowing when shifting lanes "just in case".

So there's a reminder for everyone... you're invisible and they are trying to kill you. Keep your buffers and don't rely on lane position or signal indicators to tell you what the morons are doing.

 

[VicTim]

I hear you. I was in S.F yesterday and a van came from a parking spot all the way accross market to the right . I was able to swerv and stop in time about 1 foot behind him. He opened his window and smiled as he yelled, "you were going too fast". If I was I wouldn't have been able to stop so quickly when he cut me off. I thought it best to continue on and forget about him.:mad

 

[psychocandy]

Sounds like a sketchy situation. Nevertheless, if it was a semi with a trailer, one should always be thinking that they might swing wide on a right turn on surface streets. As far as the turn signals go, I don't know what driving a big rig is like, but is it possible they were self cancelling?

Still, the big rig driver should have seen you and you probably did the right/best thing. It just doesn't sound too much like the big rig driver was doing anything other than negotiating a right turn the way semis with trailers usually do on surface streets.

 

[louemc]

This baffles me....How can anyone (especially bikers) have such a short memory...

That they need reminding? there wasn't a day that went by, that a "reminder" wasn't seen.

 

[mototireguy]

 

[dmaxAl]

Glad you didn't get squished! The trucker should definitely have checked before starting the goose neck turn (you might have been in his blind spot?), but sounds like your speed and buffer left you no wiggle room.

 

[Ozymandias]

Sounds like a sketchy situation. Nevertheless, if it was a semi with a trailer, one should always be thinking that they might swing wide on a right turn on surface streets. As far as the turn signals go, I don't know what driving a big rig is like, but is it possible they were self cancelling?

Still, the big rig driver should have seen you and you probably did the right/best thing. It just doesn't sound too much like the big rig driver was doing anything other than negotiating a right turn the way semis with trailers usually do on surface streets.

My guess is that he didn't see me. I highly doubt he did anything out of malice and just negotiating the right turn as you say. It was more the way he made everything extremely abrupt that caught me out. He was definitely jerking the wheel on that thing around and was in the right lane without a hint of needing room out of the left lane, let alone taking ALL of the left lane.

And yes, they are self cancelling.

This baffles me....How can anyone (especially bikers) have such a short memory...

That they need reminding? there wasn't a day that went by, that a "reminder" wasn't seen.

After 30+ years of riding I just got complacent as we all have at one time or another. I just happened to get caught out when it happened. I figured that little incident would serve as a good little reminder or even advice if someone wants to take it that way for the younger riders here.

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

So this morning I was on my way to work after stopping by my local home brew store and riding some surface streets back to 680 in concord. I'm in the left hand lane of 2 lanes coming up on a big rig that is in the right hand lane with his right turn signal on.

When I get about 30 feet back he suddenly shifts to the left lane and his signal goes off. I'm doing about 35-40 with a 35 posted speed limit but there's not a huge amount of room left and my initial instinct was to swerve then brake. I swerve to the right, ease off the throttle and cover the brakes as he's completely vacated the right lane now and low and behold he really is making that right hand turn and apparently feels like he needs 2 lanes to do it.

I'm sure there were about 10 people at the light that thought they were about to watch a guy get run over by a big rig. I had the back stepping out and all that fun stuff but got it stopped with about 1 foot to spare with where his trailer wheels were going.

Ultimately, I probably wouldn't have been able to stop with his immediate swerve but it could have gotten REAL bad real fast if I hadn't been slowing when shifting lanes "just in case".

So there's a reminder for everyone... you're invisible and they are trying to kill you. Keep your buffers and don't rely on lane position or signal indicators to tell you what the morons are doing.

I hear you. I was in S.F yesterday and a van came from a parking spot all the way accross market to the right . I was able to swerv and stop in time about 1 foot behind him. He opened his window and smiled as he yelled, "you were going too fast". If I was I wouldn't have been able to stop so quickly when he cut me off. I thought it best to continue on and forget about him.:mad

Oh.. obviously in those two incidents these two guys were trying to teach you a lesson guys. Blame many things in the culture

 

[louemc]

After 30+ years of riding I just got complacent as we all have at one time or another. I just happened to get caught out when it happened. I figured that little incident would serve as a good little reminder or even advice if someone wants to take it that way for the younger riders here.

That's what strikes me as odd...I've been riding for close to twice as many years (about 60 of them) ... And that has been collecting a history of events that doesn't make me complacent...Just the opposite.

More aware of what is likely to happen.

I can see it as an example, for a rider that is short of experiences..if they can learn from others, experiences, though.

 

[Ozymandias]

That's what strikes me as odd...I've been riding for close to twice as many years (about 60 of them) ... And that has been collecting a history of events that doesn't make me complacent...Just the opposite.

More aware of what is likely to happen.

I can see it as an example, for a rider that is short of experiences..if they can learn from others, experiences, though.

I guess I'm weird that way. If I go for a long time without a real oh shit moment I let my guard down a little, not completely, of course. Over the years I've gotten so that I read the traffic well enough that I'm well ahead of the game most of the time and apparently I got my oh shit this morning. :laughing

 

[DataDan]

In North Dakota last year, a rider was killed in a similar situation. The truck driver was charged and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless, for which he was sentenced to two months.

The slightly interesting aspect of the case was a pre-trial hearing to determine if there was probable cause to support the original felony charge. The judge so found, but the driver then pleaded to the misdemeanor.

The key evidence was discussion of a "jug handle" vs. "button hook" turn, shown here:



I'd be interested to hear what truck drivers have to say about it. Is it always feasible to protect the inside with a button hook, or are there situations where a jug handle is needed to execute the turn?

 

[solarae]

Good to remember this. Stay back from semis turning. Lots of them turn like that. Sucks but better to deal with reality that just wish it was different.
I find that in many situations, big trucks just do whatever the F they want. They get used to having "clout" from their size. Something we have none of. People just ain't afeared of us hitting them on some hind brain level.

 

[tuxumino]

I've noticed that what a cars indicator says it's going to do and what it does are often different and can totally see what happened Ozy happening to me. I'll watch my self around semis.

 

[TTTom]

I can't remember the details but wasn't there a female BARFER who was really badly injured getting between a left turning truck and an inside curb a few years back?

Just like getting J-hooked riding a bicycle, if you don't anticipate it you're fucked, there's no escape route.

 

[RickM]

A lot of intersections its impossible to do a buttonhook without going over the inside curb. Their only option is to do a j handle. Most of Sf is like that with less room at the intersections.

Try to avoid passing big rigs on the right side especially at intersections. The driver most likely did not see you. When he swings left , the tractor is at such an angle that the mirrors are pointing at a direction with the right lane not in view.

 

[rkorner]

A lot of intersections its impossible to do a buttonhook without going over the inside curb. Their only option is to do a j handle. Most of Sf is like that with less room at the intersections.

Try to avoid passing big rigs on the right side especially at intersections. The driver most likely did not see you. When he swings left , the tractor is at such an angle that the mirrors are pointing at a direction with the right lane not in view.

this.

especially in a crowded city like sf, its not always possible to do a buttonhook, more often than not there is a vehicle in the opposing lane.

even though we are supposed to always be attentive there are plenty of big rig drivers who do the same shennanigans you see people doing in cars during your morning commute.

 

[danate]

Had a near death experience today that gave me a firm reminder that you cannot predict what traffic will do.

Was getting off an exit on highway 1 at decent speed right behind an SUV. Just about 10 yards off the highway and still at about 50mph, the SUV slams on its brakes and begins to halt to a stop. There's a nice big shoulder to the right of the side and I swerve over to the right to get out of the line with the SUV. The SUV proceeds to then pin the wheel to the right and steer straight towards me cutting across the whole shoulder (I realize now that he slammed on his brakes to make a U-turn over the DY). I was forced into the grass which thankfully was still sturdy enough for my back wheel to push me out of and back on the road (this is on my fully loaded R1200RT). Pretty sure if I had been on a less stable bike I could have lost traction and went down and I was half expecting it in my head. Thankfully I came out ok.

Lesson learned: NEVER assume you know what a car in front of you is going to do.

Second lesson learned: if nobody is behind you and the options in front aren't completely secure, emergency brake to a stop is the best move. I could have stopped behind the guy by slamming on my brakes had I made that decision first.

Sobering day for me.

 

[Daks]

I just stay the fuck away from semis and pass them on the left if I must.
Had a family friend who drove a truck hit a small sedan. The car was thrown off the freeway and into a storefront.

Truck driver didn't even realize there was a collision until someone flagged him down.

So much room for danger. You could be dragged for miles all tangled up in one without the driver having a clue.

Doesn't matter what Truckers are supposed to do. If they don't do it, you have to be ready. Just like any other vehicle but with more handicaps.

 

[DataDan]

A lot of intersections its impossible to do a buttonhook without going over the inside curb. Their only option is to do a j handle. Most of Sf is like that with less room at the intersections.

Try to avoid passing big rigs on the right side especially at intersections. The driver most likely did not see you. When he swings left , the tractor is at such an angle that the mirrors are pointing at a direction with the right lane not in view.

this.

especially in a crowded city like sf, its not always possible to do a buttonhook, more often than not there is a vehicle in the opposing lane.

even though we are supposed to always be attentive there are plenty of big rig drivers who do the same shennanigans you see people doing in cars during your morning commute.

Thanks for the info. :thumbup

 

[nsrguy]

I drive a semi. As mentioned the driver was doing a button hook otherwise his trailer would take out the entire sidewalk/light pole etc. The correct way to button hook or the way I do it anyways is to hog both lanes before making the right. However its not always possible especially if that street you have to make a right on comes up suddenly or its way tighter than anticipated. Also on busy city urban streets its not so easy to hog both lanes.

Remember, cagers aka four wheelers are common foe to both biker and trucker. Us truckers know we're slow and dont have that anger/jealousy towards bikers that the 4 wheelers do so I can honestly say 4 wheelers are way more of a threat to bikers than trucks.