Big Rig vs my roadking
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 3
From: Portage, IN
In Seattle there are a lot of shallow angle off ramps combined with an on ramp. Usually behind a barrier to separate them from the main part of the traffic, often times there is an HOV only lane in the on-ramp. I drive a truck also and I can see where the bike becomes invisible to the truck.
Truck exits freeway behind the barrier - no real direction change yet, just a lane change and continues on straight then he moves over to get to the actual off-ramp. At the beginning of the approach lane is the onramp with HOV only lane on the far right, likely where a motorcycle would be. Trouble is, with the curve in the on-ramp and being about 1.5 to 2 lanes to the right he is completely out of the trucks mirrors. If the bike and truck are doing around the same speed the truck will never see the bike. What I see is:
In such a scenario this is completely the fault of the bike - simple shoulder check and acceleration to merge (a forgotten art to many these days) as it is the responability of the traffic coming on to merge safely with existing traffic.
Completely NOT the trucks fault - again, oncoming traffic must merge with existing traffic, not the other way around. Coupled with the fact that a truck cannot see traffic from behind and to the right whereas that traffic CAN or should see existing traffic to their front/left.
Lack of situational awareness at work here. Honestly - this type or driver/rider should be on public transit regardless of how many wheels.
I was in the Seattle (Everett/Lynwood) are a few weeks ago, first time in many years on a bike as I live up north where there's only hordes of Canadian milk buyers. Don't really like going there anyway and liked it even less on a bike but I'm aware of the dangers. I'm SB, 4 lanes plus HOV on the far left. I'm in the fast lane with HOV to my left and travelling slightly faster than the other 3 lanes. Car ahead and to my right moves left, no signal, no shoulder check and directly into my path. The difference is I had anticipated the move and simply went to the HOV lane and passed the idiot. Looking in the mirror I see the car doing an oh **** move - swerving back to the lane it came from. Driver had no clue.
Truck exits freeway behind the barrier - no real direction change yet, just a lane change and continues on straight then he moves over to get to the actual off-ramp. At the beginning of the approach lane is the onramp with HOV only lane on the far right, likely where a motorcycle would be. Trouble is, with the curve in the on-ramp and being about 1.5 to 2 lanes to the right he is completely out of the trucks mirrors. If the bike and truck are doing around the same speed the truck will never see the bike. What I see is:
In such a scenario this is completely the fault of the bike - simple shoulder check and acceleration to merge (a forgotten art to many these days) as it is the responability of the traffic coming on to merge safely with existing traffic.
Completely NOT the trucks fault - again, oncoming traffic must merge with existing traffic, not the other way around. Coupled with the fact that a truck cannot see traffic from behind and to the right whereas that traffic CAN or should see existing traffic to their front/left.
Lack of situational awareness at work here. Honestly - this type or driver/rider should be on public transit regardless of how many wheels.
I was in the Seattle (Everett/Lynwood) are a few weeks ago, first time in many years on a bike as I live up north where there's only hordes of Canadian milk buyers. Don't really like going there anyway and liked it even less on a bike but I'm aware of the dangers. I'm SB, 4 lanes plus HOV on the far left. I'm in the fast lane with HOV to my left and travelling slightly faster than the other 3 lanes. Car ahead and to my right moves left, no signal, no shoulder check and directly into my path. The difference is I had anticipated the move and simply went to the HOV lane and passed the idiot. Looking in the mirror I see the car doing an oh **** move - swerving back to the lane it came from. Driver had no clue.
Agreed..on the bike merging on it's up to the biker to control his own path..very lucky he wasn't run over and killed..
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 689
Likes: 6
From: Glen Rose TX
I tend to take people at their word until I catch them lying sooo.. Not saying this is right and have at times considered it a fault, but to me it is how I choose to go through life and better than the other alternative... thinking everyone is lying.
OP, glad you are OK and as you are finding out a couple of years and 20,000 miles doesn't mean you have a lot of experience. This is one of the most if not the most dangerous sports you can partake in regularly and you had best put on your game face each time you swing a leg over a motorcycle.
I will also bet that you are one of those slow and careful drivers? Suppose many people do this because they are not confident enough in their abilities to work through traffic. I personally can't ride like that. Rarely do I ever get passed by anyone because I feel more in control of my surroundings when I am the one coming up on other vehicles. I make it a point not to ride in blind spots and when I pass someone I get around them quickly. In no way am I advocating weaving through traffic and excessive closing speed is something to allways be aware of and avoid.... being one of the faster vehicles on the road helps to lessen the closing speed of any idiot coming up on your six also... (yes I subscribe to the idea that everyone way slower than me is an a-hole and anyone way faster is an idiot :-)
There is no way in hell that I would have been getting onto a freeway and not seen a 18 wheeler... I would have seen it as I was getting onto the ramp and would have adjusted to my speed to either get in front of it (my preference) or fall in behind it until able to get around it.
You absolutely came up into his blind spot since you were merging onto the highway.... and your are jacking around with your fairing instead of worrying about riding. Lucky you aren't a greasy spot in the road.
Either give it up if you can't take it seriously ALL THE TIME and if you keep riding work on getting your confidence level to a point that you can work your way through traffic at a slow but steady pace.
OP, glad you are OK and as you are finding out a couple of years and 20,000 miles doesn't mean you have a lot of experience. This is one of the most if not the most dangerous sports you can partake in regularly and you had best put on your game face each time you swing a leg over a motorcycle.
I will also bet that you are one of those slow and careful drivers? Suppose many people do this because they are not confident enough in their abilities to work through traffic. I personally can't ride like that. Rarely do I ever get passed by anyone because I feel more in control of my surroundings when I am the one coming up on other vehicles. I make it a point not to ride in blind spots and when I pass someone I get around them quickly. In no way am I advocating weaving through traffic and excessive closing speed is something to allways be aware of and avoid.... being one of the faster vehicles on the road helps to lessen the closing speed of any idiot coming up on your six also... (yes I subscribe to the idea that everyone way slower than me is an a-hole and anyone way faster is an idiot :-)
There is no way in hell that I would have been getting onto a freeway and not seen a 18 wheeler... I would have seen it as I was getting onto the ramp and would have adjusted to my speed to either get in front of it (my preference) or fall in behind it until able to get around it.
You absolutely came up into his blind spot since you were merging onto the highway.... and your are jacking around with your fairing instead of worrying about riding. Lucky you aren't a greasy spot in the road.
Either give it up if you can't take it seriously ALL THE TIME and if you keep riding work on getting your confidence level to a point that you can work your way through traffic at a slow but steady pace.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 9
From: Washington
I am trying to troubleshoot about my incident so it wont happened again. It all boils down to not paying attention in my part. I have a new accessory installed and trying to evaluate the way it was advertised. I was disappointed about the result of my setting. I am pi$$ed off and wishing I spent a little more money and bought the other brand. I was on a heavily traffic freeway during my runs. This was my third trials and on the same route so I felt confident. If I summed it all up, the result is me being out of focus. In addition, I don't know the drivers credentials and experienced driving a semi. He is an older person with salt and pepper hair. He wears glasses.
There is no way I can let a semi come very close to me like that. At all times while riding, I have a sense of what is around me. I can feel even a small vehicle if its right next to me even with a music on. I can hear that whoossy sound when a car is approaching on my side. On occasion, I can multi task while riding. Like listening to my radio and savoring a scenic area or having a conversation with my passenger through our headset.
I posted my story so riders may learn from my mistakes and not for making up a story or getting an attention. What happened to me has already wore off but it has etched in my memory for a future reference.
What I like to do now is to chase his insurance so they can replaced the damage parts. It seems they are giving me the classic run around. Unfortunately, I have no motorcycle insurance which is not required here. So I have to do all the processing myself.
There is no way I can let a semi come very close to me like that. At all times while riding, I have a sense of what is around me. I can feel even a small vehicle if its right next to me even with a music on. I can hear that whoossy sound when a car is approaching on my side. On occasion, I can multi task while riding. Like listening to my radio and savoring a scenic area or having a conversation with my passenger through our headset.
I posted my story so riders may learn from my mistakes and not for making up a story or getting an attention. What happened to me has already wore off but it has etched in my memory for a future reference.
What I like to do now is to chase his insurance so they can replaced the damage parts. It seems they are giving me the classic run around. Unfortunately, I have no motorcycle insurance which is not required here. So I have to do all the processing myself.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 16
From: Blaine, WA
YOU were are fault, suck it up and pay the bill.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
OP stated that he was getting on and the truck was exiting...not a good time to be evaluating a batwing. If nothing else, this transitional time is when your check of surroundings needs to be heightened and you need to haul *** to get to an escape lane (left). I never ride next to anyone and assume that everyone else on the road is either drunk or stupid.
How fast was the OP/Truck moving? Story doesn't make sense at 70, but if congested and 15mph, could see it happening. I am losing hearing, but one reason I don't like interstate riding, is listening to all the tire whine from other vehicles.
Don't fix your radio. A major distraction. I concentrate better on riding since my radio shorted out, and I am not going to fix it.
Last edited by Ron750; Aug 25, 2014 at 01:51 AM.
