A bad start to riding season.....

[DMblues01]

Started the day this morning, hearing news that a local rider was killed in an accident early this morning. He was definitely not a scooter rider, but a member of a local motorcycle club. If you live in the St Louis area, you may have already seen it on the news.

Reports say he was on a 2 lane road, when an 18 wheeler pulled out in front of him. He had no room to stop, and nowhere to steer clear on the narrow roadway he was on. He ended up going underneath the 18 wheeler, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

I was sad to here about the accident, and THEN....... I found out it was someone I knew! 
Not the way I wanted to start the day.

I know we hear all of the RIDE SAFE speeches on here a lot. But, I have to say it again. Because, today it hit WAY to close to home.

Please, please, PLEASE!!!  Be aware of everything around you when you are riding, and be ready to react at all times!
NEVER count on other drivers to see you coming! Because some them just aren't looking to begin with.

Ride Safe!  And prayers for a fallen rider!   R.I.P. Jeff 

[Stig / Major Tom]

Sorry for your loss.
I know that a lot of 2 wheeled accidents are nearly unavoidable. Fate I guess.
But so often people on 2 wheels get into trouble due to the speed they are riding......not "speeding" necessarily. For instance if we are going too fast through an intersection with cars waiting to turn....where a very careful person would be rolling off the throttle and covering the brakes as they approach this situation and watching for ANY movement of the cars ready to cross their path. You don't relax and roll on again until you are through the intersection. You can't fly through an intersection as though you are in a Hummer!

We simply have to try to put ourselves in a position so that almost no matter what a car does - we can stop or otherwise avoid the collision.
Personally - I need to be more aware of where the horn button is - so I can sound a warning to a driver that just might not see me. Turning left onto a side street today - a car pulled up on that street and did not spot me until the last second. He began to move while I was turning across his front.
Sunny day, no other vehicles about - he just did not see me & my scooter just yards from him.

It is a "head" thing with me, I guess....because I've never sounded the horn on my scooter while in traffic. Don't want to be 'rude' or some dumb thing.
The button is in an awkward spot for me, but I'm going to practice turning and riding and rear braking and... hitting that button all with the left hand.
Again, sorry to hear what happened in your town.
Stig

[DMblues01]

Thanks Stig!
And I fully agree with you. WE have to be the responsible ones and look out for, and protect ourselves. I've lost count of how many times that someone has pulled out in front of me without noticing. That rear brake lever is my best friend, because I can grab it while I'm releasing the throttle and reaching for the front brake lever.

Like I said before----WAY too close to home today!

[zombie]

The closest I ever came to disaster on a bike was 40 years ago.
The trucks that paint the stripe on the road had a pole perhaps 15' long that ran out of the front, and had a wheel, and spray gun at the end.

I got tired of following this 3MPH truck, and nailed the gas to pass on his left. Guess what? He made a left, and put 15' of pipe between me, and where I was going..Since THAT day I ride as if EVERYTHING on, in, or near the road is attempting to kill me.

It's way too easy to daydream, and even easier to get distracted looking at anything along the way. Yes it is all beautiful but it is all there waiting to kill you.

Sorry for the loss of your friend.

[TroutBum]

Sorry for your loss. I wish you peace.

Unfortunately no matter how safe we are in our riding, there are situations out of our control.

[Calothrix]

Sorry about your loss DM.....you just can't be too safe on two wheels.

[Vivo]

Sorry for your loss...  It's really very dangerous out there... but why do we ride on two wheels? I have two cars in my garage but really love my scoot... guess we just have to be more careful... accidents happen no matter how many wheels your ride has...

[Chris0381]

I'm like the odd driver in town. People ride about with dark clothing and no helmets. Yesterday I went locally and bought a bright yellow full face helmet and a neon rain jacket from the %50 off rack (I just wanted a colorful jacket of any type). I already had a comment about me riding in sunny weather with a rain jacket on. It was quite chilly even with a thick sweater. But I see motorists taking me a bit more seriously as I look like a motorcycle with that gear.

Well OK, I do look strange but I feel safer and the ride seems more enjoyable.

Also yesterday a  huge tractor trailer delivered  a boat to our Essex Marina and stopped in front of me in a narrow road, I didn't want to pass and wondered what the issue was. He got out of his cab and in a southern accent and asked if I could lead him safely to the RT 9 highway exit which I gladly did. I felt that was odd but I was taken seriously.

[mverps]

Well OK, I do look strange but I feel safer and the ride seems more enjoyable.

I may look like a dork, but I want to be seen. love those bright oranges and yellows. also have glow in the dark stripes on my helmet.

[zombie]

Ride naked, and cars will completely avoid you. Well MOST cars...

[wkreps]

DM, Sorry for your loss. It's a stark reminder for each of us when we realize it could not only be us but also someone we know. Condolences to you my friend.