They're out to getcha

[ribbert]

One advantage of getting older, and I can't think of many other than it's better than the alternative, is experience. I like to think these days I'm tuned in to pretty much any stunt an idiot on the road is likely to pull without defying the laws of physics and gravity. In recent years this has been the case. I still see plenty but it's rarely a close call.

Riding on a narrow sealed road in the country (highway speeds) at the weekend I approached a van from behind and slowed to it's speed momentarily to wait for an oncoming car to pass so I could overtake. I pulled out to pass and when about half way down its length it swerved violently towards me. The road was narrow and the only option was brakes alone, which I jumped on. It was very close and as I fell back past the rear of the van I caught a glimpse of two cyclists that appeared to have taken each other out and fallen in a heap on the road right in front of the van, they hadn't even come to rest. The van had obviously swerved around them as they fell. The combination of position, road alignment and relative speed had hidden the cyclists from my view as I approached, otherwise I would have hung back for a moment expecting the van to move out a little as he passed them, as is common practice on a narrow road.

I can't remember the last seriously close call with a car, I see plenty of potential but have to date anticipated there moves and has resulted in nothing more than braking, a prolonged blast from the air horns and if required, a one finger salute.

On reflection I'm not sure what I could have done to avoid that situation. A couple of feet further towards the front of the van, a slightly higher relative speed..... and I may have been flicked of into the nearby trees at the edge of the road at 120kph. That would almost certainly take care of the getting old problem!

It was gone from my mind almost instantly as nothing had happened and I re focussed on the riding.

I post this not as an example of what not to do or what to watch out for but a reminder not to get complacent and to remain vigilant and alert and perhaps don't let your braking skills get rusty.

Noel

[VaughanCustoms]

That is pretty wild, glad everything worked out and your ok. It is good to hear stories like this as with anything you get comfortable sometimes because you do it everyday or whatever but stay alert and safe. Risks are everywhere.

[movenon]

Good post. Glad you were not hurt Noel. You are correct, there wasn't anything you could do about it other than what you did. It's just that way on the road. The good news is we have enough power and agility to deal with these type of events.
Being prepaired and expecting anything is a good mind set to be in.
George

[Pat Conlon]

Whew...A close call Noel, I'm glad you're ok....A good reminder about hidden conditions, although I don't know how you could have foretold any problems.
Older and wiser is the best alternative for sure...

Cheers.

[JPaganel]

I had a sort of a milder version of this on the way to work a couple of days ago.

I was passing an SUV on the left going down a three-lane highway, and it suddenly lurched into me. I had half a lane and shoulder to go to, so I headed there, and then he swerved back. Then I saw why - another car cut in front of him from the right lane. The driver of that one was waving her hands around talking to somebody...

[novaraptor]

Yuppers, God and experience grant me the ability to outride the problems I can see, and the good fortune to be a few seconds late to the problems I can't forsee.  I've often mentioned to friends that were in a hurry to get somewhere and complaining about hitting the stoplights along the way about how many times you roll up on an intersection with an accident in the middle of it that just happened, and how if you were just 60 or 120 seconds earlier you would have been in the middle of it. Sometimes the things that slow you down aren't a bad thing.

keep rollin'

Nova

[Arnie]

Noel,

Glad you're ok.
I drive a van, and it is difficult to see through all the blind spots sometimes.
In the position you were in behind the van it would have been very difficult for you to see the cyclists.
And in many vans the reflections off the glass at the rear of the cabin, as well as the rear glass would have made you invisible to the van driver.  I'd guess the driver would have focused more on the cyclists than you.
My advise is to be extra careful around vans and not ride in their blind spots.
Glad you're able to relay this story.

Arnie

[pdxfj]

Good to hear you reacted quickly enough.  Things like that are quite a wake up call.

My most recent close call was last Saturday.

Heading up to my parents house on the FJ, with my sister and her family following me.  It's a 3 1/2 hour drive one way up Interstate 5.  The stretch between Longview, WA and Seattle is a horrible drive.  I have seen some crazy accidents and really stupid drivers.  Not uncommon to be doing 80mph and have traffic passing you like you're standing still.  Even if it's pouring down rain.

After stopping for breakfast and telling my brother in law to stay closer to me, we got back on the freeway.  Once on the freeway I glanced down into my left mirror to see if my followers were there.  I see a car coming very fast in the left lane and then disappear and reappear in my right mirror only to go off the freeway onto the shoulder.  Shoulder is grass and trees.

Quick check of my surroundings shows no one is next to, or in front of me so I turn around on the bike to witness what happens next.

The driver over corrects and shoots back onto the freeway, still at a very high rate of speed (I'd say 80+) but they are now going sideways, straight across all lanes of traffic.  All four wheels are locked up and they do two, complete 360 degree rotations before slamming into the center, concrete median.

This all happened about 10 yards behind my sister and her family.  Had we got on the road just two minutes later we would have been in the middle of that mess.  It appears the car missed all other traffic, but no one was coming though the tire smoke so I guess the wreck stopped all traffic.  Good thing I told my brother in law to stick closer.. since he was hanging way back in fear of something happening to me..

It's a jungle out there and you can't let your guard down for even an instant.

[CanDman]

One day I was coming home from work.....was transferring from one highway to another....I came off the ramp doing about 80 kms/hr.....(I was driving in my work van)......anyways....I had been driving the van (which was in desperate need of a brake job). As I merged with the freeway traffic and speed...I accelerated back up to 120.......well as soon as I moved into the next lane (left side)...suddenly in front of me was a huge pile up unraveling.......cars about 100 yrds ahead starting banging into each other....well I pushed my brakes to the floor...and nothing.....there was a little grab there but I was flying head first into this mess.....I knew I was in trouble so I swerved back toward the shoulder... to try to miss the cars crashing in front of me.....that's when I heard the deep whine of the drum brakes of an 18 wheeler skidding past my passenger door in the shoulder...so I swerved back to the left to avoid being crunched..... just missing the car stopped to my left...I managed to swerve around the car and miss the transport.......as I continued to cut hard left.......and missed another car ....turned back right and slid my way through a hole between 2 other cars.......all without coming to a stop........had I stopped suddenly....for sure I would have been rear ended......I don't know how I managed my way through that obstacle course...but I came away without a scratch on my bumper.......about a quarter of a mile down the road.....my head started spinning and my hands and legs began shaking......several cars in the express lanes were passing me .....waving and clapping....and giving me the thumbs up.....
 I have always said a quick prayer every time I get in a vehicle or on my bike....and ask for journey mercies........and that day I was thankful I did.......
CanDman        

[Bminder]

Thanks for telling us your story Noel. Glad you're ok.
I have become good friends with some Aussies who live at Meadow Flats between Lithgow and Bathurst.  When there are here in the states they always go on and on about how wide our roads are compared to yours.

Anyhow, I'm a newbie with only a month or so of street riding under my belt. I've been reading motorcycle books about scenarios like yours and many friends are giving me advice.
I'm trying to approach riding like I'm a fighter pilot and the street is full of bogeys trying to shoot me down.  
There definitely is a lot of strategy to learn, like where to place your bike in the lane to be seen the best in different scenarios, anticipating sudden moves like that van did to you, and NOT TRUSTING ANYONE.
It's fun!

[Bminder]

One day I was coming home from work.....was transferring from one highway to another....I came off the ramp doing about 80 kms/hr.....(I was driving in my work van)......anyways....I had been driving the van (which was in desperate need of a brake job). As I merged with the freeway traffic and speed...I accelerated back up to 120.......well as soon as I moved into the next lane (left side)...suddenly in front of me was a huge pile up unraveling.......cars about 100 yrds ahead starting banging into each other....well I pushed my brakes to the floor...and nothing.....there was a little grab there but I was flying head first into this mess.....I knew I was in trouble so I swerved back toward the shoulder... to try to miss the cars crashing in front of me.....that's when I heard the deep whine of the drum brakes of an 18 wheeler skidding past my passenger door in the shoulder...so I swerved back to the left to avoid being crunched..... just missing the car stopped to my left...I managed to swerve around the car and miss the transport.......as I continued to cut hard left.......and missed another car ....turned back right and slid my way through a hole between 2 other cars.......all without coming to a stop........had I stopped suddenly....for sure I would have been rear ended......I don't know how I managed my way through that obstacle course...but I came away without a scratch on my bumper.......about a quarter of a mile down the road.....my head started spinning and my hands and legs began shaking......several cars in the express lanes were passing me .....waving and clapping....and giving me the thumbs up.....
 I have always said a quick prayer every time I get in a vehicle or on my bike....and ask for journey mercies........and that day I was thankful I did.......
CanDman        

Kinda reminds me of this video of a Russian Truck driver. Well... not really, but it's an amazing video.
Narrow Escape: Lucky driver 'catapults' out of truck through windshield

[HARTLESS]

I live in Portland, Oregon and its the #1 bicycle friendly city in the US...........STUPID MOTHER#@&%@$$ idiot bicyclists! I don't think I have ever seen people who are so dumb.....i just don't get it, they think they own the whole . road 99% of the time....freaking A! ugh, sorry just had to throw that out there, not all bicyclist are dumb,but most are btw, I ride a bicycle 8 hours out of the day 5 days a week...

[Arnie]

I live in Portland, Oregon and its the #1 bicycle friendly city in the US...........STUPID MOTHER#@&%@$$ idiot bicyclists! I don't think I have ever seen people who are so dumb.....i just don't get it, they think they own the whole . road 99% of the time....freaking A! ugh, sorry just had to throw that out there, not all bicyclist are dumb,but most are btw, I ride a bicycle 8 hours out of the day 5 days a week...

I used to be a keen bicyclist, but my situation changed and I got older (fatter and less fit) too.
I agree that many bicyclists are extremely aggro on the road, which is surprising to me as they are even more vulnerable than motorcyclists are.  Drivers are even less fearful of them, so have no hesitation in pushing them into the curb or parked cars.

What is it you do that lets you be on a bicycle 8hrs a day?

Arnie

[Pat Conlon]

He's got to be one of those crazy ass couriers (they are amazing in how they cut thru traffic...big balls)

....... Or a ganga runner...

......in Portland 'thou, he's prolly both...

[HARTLESS]

HAHAHAHA, never catch me as a courier and def not a ganga runner.....lol I do bike patrol. so if you are in downtown Portland let me know, I drink a lot of coffee.