Agreed, in spades.
Just about soiled my pants!!
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,404
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From: Haymarket, VA
Just about soiled my pants!!
At my usual haunt today in Middleburg, VA. This place sits right on the street with tables at ground level & an upper level deck where I was sitting.
My bike is parked on the street with the space right in front of me empty.
I'm having my AM coffee & watch a Toyota Matrix pull forward into said space & then starts backing up to get between the marks, except he goes past the left hand mark. As I watch I'm thinking is this guy going to stop before he crunches my bike? I start yelling at the top of my lungs whooooooooaaa!!! I saw my bike shake, he had just bumped it, thank God!
I went running to his car & I see this mid-eightish man & I said, did you not see my bike?! He said no, he had not seen it. He was very apologetic & asked if there was any damage, & I said no. I just don't understand how he could have pulled in without seeing my bike. I'm thinking he should not have been driving if his eyesight was that damn bad.
My bike is parked on the street with the space right in front of me empty.
I'm having my AM coffee & watch a Toyota Matrix pull forward into said space & then starts backing up to get between the marks, except he goes past the left hand mark. As I watch I'm thinking is this guy going to stop before he crunches my bike? I start yelling at the top of my lungs whooooooooaaa!!! I saw my bike shake, he had just bumped it, thank God!
I went running to his car & I see this mid-eightish man & I said, did you not see my bike?! He said no, he had not seen it. He was very apologetic & asked if there was any damage, & I said no. I just don't understand how he could have pulled in without seeing my bike. I'm thinking he should not have been driving if his eyesight was that damn bad.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 2
From: Novi MI
A LONG time ago, 1970, I had an old couple pull in straight into a parallel parking spot directly behind my Honda CB 350. As I was walking away, I heard people yelling, "Hey you're going to hit that motorcycle. Can't you see the motorcycle?". I turn around and the guy is trying to leave by driving straight forward. The only thing that stopped him was the bystanders yelling at him. I went back and moved the bike to a different parking spot. A lot of old drivers should have given their licenses up but refuse to believe reality.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
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From: Coastal Carolina
At my usual haunt today in Middleburg, VA. This place sits right on the street with tables at ground level & an upper level deck where I was sitting.
My bike is parked on the street with the space right in front of me empty.
I'm having my AM coffee & watch a Toyota Matrix pull forward into said space & then starts backing up to get between the marks, except he goes past the left hand mark. As I watch I'm thinking is this guy going to stop before he crunches my bike? I start yelling at the top of my lungs whooooooooaaa!!! I saw my bike shake, he had just bumped it, thank God!
I went running to his car & I see this mid-eightish man & I said, did you not see my bike?! He said no, he had not seen it. He was very apologetic & asked if there was any damage, & I said no. I just don't understand how he could have pulled in without seeing my bike. I'm thinking he should not have been driving if his eyesight was that damn bad.
My bike is parked on the street with the space right in front of me empty.
I'm having my AM coffee & watch a Toyota Matrix pull forward into said space & then starts backing up to get between the marks, except he goes past the left hand mark. As I watch I'm thinking is this guy going to stop before he crunches my bike? I start yelling at the top of my lungs whooooooooaaa!!! I saw my bike shake, he had just bumped it, thank God!
I went running to his car & I see this mid-eightish man & I said, did you not see my bike?! He said no, he had not seen it. He was very apologetic & asked if there was any damage, & I said no. I just don't understand how he could have pulled in without seeing my bike. I'm thinking he should not have been driving if his eyesight was that damn bad.
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From: Mount Laurel, N.J.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,133
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From: Japan
It happens all the time. Happened to me twice and one of the people was my wife. People just do not see bikes, like they do cars. First time was my first bike ('80 Honda CX500) back in '91. Was at Wendy's enjoying a burger and some guy comes in and asked me if the bike outside was mine. I could tell by the vexed look on his face that he didn't have good news for me. Go out to my bike laying on it's side in a puddle of gas and the front brake lever broken off. Told the guy to get lost before I broke his nose. At least he had the decency to come in and tell me. 2nd time, my wife was backing up into the driveway with my Fatboy behind her. I ran out in a panic, but it was too late. She backed into the (stock) rear fender and put a big dent in the tip. Found somebody to pull the dent out without braking the paint. So, that was lucky. Every time I hear my wife come home, now, and my bike is in the driveway, I run out real fast and guide her in so she doesn't hit my bike. When parking at restaurants and such, I always, ALWAYS look for the most remote and least likely spot for a car to plow into my bike. People just don't pay attention, so we have to do our part to prevent it. Just like driving defensively, we have to park defensively as well...
Last edited by HoggyMtnBreakdown; Aug 5, 2012 at 09:31 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Wisconsin, USA
I am an optometrist. WI used to have a 4 year renewal period for everyone. They changed it about 15 years ago for everyone, even if you are 100. Scary. I have been writing letters to legislators, Governor, state patrol. Nobody gives a crap.
The only person who took any action was a prominent motorcycle accident attorney Michael Hupy who also wrote a letter to the state. So good for him.
People in their seventies can usually see fine if they stay up on their eye exams, and get cataract surgery when it is recommended.
Long story short:
People who never wore glasses before, will need reading glasses in their 40s. In their 50s, they will develop a farsighted with astigmatism RX,, which will decrease them to the 20/30 to 20/60 range, unaided. It would be good to wear distance glasses then, but a lot of people don't. Usually in their 60s they get bad enough where they wear them for distance.
In their 70s most people are getting advanced cataracts. This causes frequent refraction changes so it is important for people to get annual exams, or at least monitor their vison one eye at a time by checking a clock or TV captioning.
If your Doctor recommends cataract surgery do it. Waiting just increases the risk of having a car accident , tripping on steps, and if you wait too long, makes the surgery riskier.
Scary out there.
The only person who took any action was a prominent motorcycle accident attorney Michael Hupy who also wrote a letter to the state. So good for him.
People in their seventies can usually see fine if they stay up on their eye exams, and get cataract surgery when it is recommended.
Long story short:
People who never wore glasses before, will need reading glasses in their 40s. In their 50s, they will develop a farsighted with astigmatism RX,, which will decrease them to the 20/30 to 20/60 range, unaided. It would be good to wear distance glasses then, but a lot of people don't. Usually in their 60s they get bad enough where they wear them for distance.
In their 70s most people are getting advanced cataracts. This causes frequent refraction changes so it is important for people to get annual exams, or at least monitor their vison one eye at a time by checking a clock or TV captioning.
If your Doctor recommends cataract surgery do it. Waiting just increases the risk of having a car accident , tripping on steps, and if you wait too long, makes the surgery riskier.
Scary out there.
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Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,404
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From: Haymarket, VA
I should mention I turned 71 in April & I guarantee you I can pass any test they throw at me, & I guarantee you I can outride most younger riders, experience counts!
Last edited by streeteagle; Aug 5, 2012 at 09:50 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,133
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From: Japan
You must be one badass grandpa on that Deuce, pops! Congrats on that and on just saying "no" to "Geezer Glides". LOL>