Freeway Close Call

[mototireguy]

Sweet Jesus that unholy speed delta!

As others have suggested, stay to the left most part of the lane and moderate that delta.

Or tuck in behind another car doing that unholy speed delta if you must.

 

[Moto Beck]

Not to continue the:deadhorse:deadhorse:deadhorse

1. Messed up the person who pulled into the HOV didnt even stop to see if you were ok after they clearly saw your evasive maneuver and then you pulled over - almost sounds like you clipped the car but couldn't tell - any damage on your bike?

2. it looked like the other guys splitting were traveling at a pretty decent clip too through traffic too

Everyone needs to calm the hell down and take it easy when commuting - I'm new to this state and in NJ we had a fair bit of accidents as well but nothing like here and the biggest difference I can tell is that people drive at a seriously high rate of speed at all times across way more lanes of traffic. Listen to reggae or something in your helmet dude

Glad you're ok

 

[GAJ]

I see riders do that all the time and it freaks me out when I'm in a car behind them; I back WAY off in the HOV lane so I don't run them over should the worst occur.

In addition to hugging the left, of the HOV on a bike and slowing my delta with eyes GLUED to the traffic ahead on my right I'm also covering my brake which I only do in high traffic situations.

I realize I should ALWAYS cover my front brake but in truth I don't unless faced with a similar scenario to what is in the video.

 

[EastBayDave]

The thing about using a vehicle in front of you to act as a blocker, is that your field of vision ahead will be reduced, especially if you ride to the left of the lane to create a space cushion. And if the vehicle ahead of you does crash into a lane changer, you will likely have no escape path. AND, that 4 wheel vehicle can probably brake in less distance than you. Maybe if the vehicle was a reasonable distance in front of you this could work, but not if you are tailgating it.

If you are going to up your delta, and therefore your level of risk, at least up your level of defensiveness. Cover your front brake, ride to the left and have at least one eye on every wheel of every vehicle you pass, looking to see any side motion whatsoever of a turning wheel (wheels are quicker to spot first than a moving vehicle).

The biggest risk of speed is the faster you go, the more severity of injury if you crash. Don't do anything on the bike that won't allow for an escape path. If you don't have an escape path (braking, swerving or accelerating) than you probably shouldn't do it.

again I don't think everyone is being truthful to us/themselves. You all know damn well stopped non HOV lane right next to fast moving HOV lane happens ALL THE TIME. Continuing to yell about "safe-delta" is plain not being honest, you think? If you got a 30 mile commute where stopped non-HOV traffic right next to fast moving HOV is, your going to tell me you'll stay at a safe delta? I don't think so...

I'm saying be truthful, you all know dang well your going to be in the HOV lane on the far left so you can see far-ahead. Staying to the extreme-left of lane behind any vehicle, & making a conscious decision your going to use whatever road to the left is available if there's a sudden stop; regardless of cause is the way to go...?

enuf said...:x

 

[bmwbob51]

I get real paranoid anytime there's a gap!

 

[davidmc]

again I don't think everyone is being truthful to us/themselves. You all know damn well stopped non HOV lane right next to fast moving HOV lane happens ALL THE TIME. Continuing to yell about "safe-delta" is plain not being honest, you think? If you got a 30 mile commute where stopped non-HOV traffic right next to fast moving HOV is, your going to tell me you'll stay at a safe delta? I don't think so...

I'm saying be truthful, you all know dang well your going to be in the HOV lane on the far left so you can see far-ahead. Staying to the extreme-left of lane behind any vehicle, & making a conscious decision your going to use whatever road to the left is available if there's a sudden stop; regardless of cause is the way to go...?

enuf said...:x

I don't necessarily disagree with you, there are certainly times where one can go faster than a typical lane-splitting delta in a similar situation. Maybe even significantly faster if a big left hand shoulder exists. There is no one size fits all answer to that question of course.

However in the video from the OP, the rider was clearly going too fast for THAT condition. I'm assuming you agree with that.

 

[EastBayDave]

I don't necessarily disagree with you, there are certainly times where one can go faster than a typical lane-splitting delta in a similar situation. Maybe even significantly faster if a big left hand shoulder exists. There is no one size fits all answer to that question of course.

However in the video from the OP, the rider was clearly going too fast for THAT condition. I'm assuming you agree with that.

Of course. :thumbup :afm199

Now we will of course hear from those that want to lane-split the stopped lane w/the speed-limit lane, along w/assorted gibberish. :rolleyes

 

[tzrider]

I propose that this incident is a warning to you.

Please take this to heart OP.

As others are saying, your delta is too high given the lack of space side to side. Your reaction to this incident was appropriate and saved you. Had the car made his move about a tenth of a second later you would have been toast.

I don't want to read a RIP thread about you.

 

[stigeon]

1. speed delta :deadhorse

2. side of lane :deadhorse (but seriously... :wtf)

it costs you nothing to move far left. overestimation of speed/ability aside, this is an appalling choice you made. think about when actually splitting, most dangerous scenario is when there's a gap on one side and someone surprise lane-changes you.

you were in a massive surprise lane-change scenario right there and in the weakest lane position to defend against it. there is no good reason to be hugging stopped traffic when you have open space and emergency run-off area to the other side

3. expecting single occupant vehicles to not violate carpool lane :rofl

 

[1962siia]

Was there an on ramp to the frwy just prior to this close call? I always find that for the 1/2 mile or so after an on ramp there is often someone trying to wedge their way over to the HOV lane and I scan for it regularly because I know they're coming. If there is a gap in front of me I close it.

I'm not a proponent of the left side of the lane normally, especially if there is a concrete barrier. I prefer the right side because I will normally have a longer line of sight and I believe that my headlight will have a better chance of being seen through the side view mirror of the cars in the next lane over. Plus I feel like I'll have more room to react if needed. My speed delta would normally be lower than what was on your video so maybe if I was going to be clipping along like that the left side would be a better choice.

Lastly, while splitting I always have my index fingers on the front brake lever and clutch but maybe thats just a dirt bike thing. Glad it wasnt worse!!

 

[Enchanter]

Was there an on ramp to the frwy just prior to this close call? I always find that for the 1/2 mile or so after an on ramp there is often someone trying to wedge their way over to the HOV lane and I scan for it regularly because I know they're coming.

Good strategy.

I'm not a proponent of the left side of the lane normally, especially if there is a concrete barrier. I prefer the right side because I will normally have a longer line of sight and I believe that my headlight will have a better chance of being seen through the side view mirror of the cars in the next lane over.

Headlights in mirrors only work if the driver actually uses the mirror, and if the mirror is adjusted in a manner that exposes motorcycles.

Plus I feel like I'll have more room to react if needed. My speed delta would normally be lower than what was on your video so maybe if I was going to be clipping along like that the left side would be a better choice.

"Room to react" is made by creating space between us and the (potential) threat. Having a large escape path to the left is useless if you cannot get to it.

When it comes to lane position, picture this:
There is a large aggressive dog on your street. This dog has been known to leave its yard and attack pedestrians once or twice a month. Most of the time it doesn't do this, but...sometimes...

Today you are going for a walk and you must walk past this dog in its yard. Do you a) walk on the sidewalk within a few feet of this dog because doing so gives you a large escape route (To run across the street) in case you need it?, Or do you b) walk across the street before passing the dog (to enable you more time and space to react if the dog does in fact leave its yard and moves toward you)?

I agree with you when it comes to keeping your hand/fingers covering the controls in areas of high risk. This of course requires both hands on the bars.

 

[1962siia]

Thanks for weighing in Enchanter. I dont normally post in this section but I think the discussions here are great, so thanks. I want to make clear that I'm specifically referring to being in the HOV lane in normal rush hour crappy traffic, not under every/all conditions. I also prefer the right side of the lane so that my attention is not split between the open line of site ahead of me and the traffic next to me that I'm scanning for a possible lane intrusion. I'm normally pretty close to the vehicle in front of me and on the left side I have less visual information of what the cars ahead and to the right are doing. Is there a car 10 cars up with a left signal on trying to get over that I cant see? If I'm on the left side then I will generally stay back a bit farther so I can see those cars but the scanning between the line of site ahead on the left of the vehicle in front of me and the traffic to my right keeps me over on the right side as well. YMMV and I'm not saying people in the left are wrong, just that my personal experience puts me on the right side more often than not.

Also yes part of my point about my fingers on the controls was about keeping both hands on the bars. :thumbup