Getting Cut Off on the Motorcycle

Trimble Rd. San Jose 2010-07-29 10:45AM

Update: A lot of people want to get in to the argument of who is to blame. It's my opinion and that of the law, that you must signal to change lanes. Furthermore, if the lane is occupied, you do not have the right of way and should not enter the lane. It is the responsibility of the driver to check lane occupancy and maintain the means to do so.

In short- I think in terms of passenger vehicles, using the term "Blind Spot" to describe the sides of your vehicle really means, "I shouldn't have to check my mirrors AND turn my head to change lanes." Semis have real "blind spots", cars rarely do.

That being said, I realize that if I am riding alongside a vehicle, the chances of an incident are higher because people fail to check. This is why I'm prepared for it to happen. In urban driving, it's something I've adjusted to, since I spend a lot of time alongside cars where traffic is dense and lane changes are frequent.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Motorcycle
• Cutoff
• cut
• off
• traffic
• jeep

[venturadave]

Why not honk? I installed a super loud air horn on my bike and let'm have it. Fun to watch them throw their neck vertabre out looking for the tractor trailer.

[networklanman]

@venturadave honking has never really been second nature to me. I'm usually busy executing my escape plan, but I have toyed with the idea of installing a compact nautilus.

[TheRedneckAtheist]

With the exception of trucks and large buses, "blind spots" are caused by people not setting up their mirrors correctly, if you set your sideview mirrors to show the same thing that's in your rear view then you're doing it wrong.

[networklanman]

@TheRedneckAtheist RTFM right? :-)

[thaking583]

Do you have a dry clutch??

[networklanman]

@thaking583 no.

[psteverific]

It's not illegal to be in someone's blind spot, but it is discouraged. It is, however illegal to change lanes without first checking your blind spot.

[boogie504]

@thaking583 Even if he did you wouldnt hear it while hes going, lol

[SansAuthoritas]

@kawimotojunkie

I hear that.

[kawimotojunkie]

@SansAuthoritas Honestly, they were both in the wrong. However, wrong only matters when both drivers actually live to tell their story to the police. Witnesses = car in the wrong. No witnesses = motorcyclist wrong. Every motorcyclist should avoid being next to another vehicle if at all possible. It's dangerous enough out there without having to worry about people swerving into your lane.

[SansAuthoritas]

@kawimotojunkie

Not defending the cager, but question: how can you tell if he signaled? From the moment he started moving, there's no way to see his turn signals.

[SansAuthoritas]

Way to ride in his blind spot. You're a motorcyclist. You should know better.

[stout6]

Follow him home and slice his tires

[kawimotojunkie]

Anybody defending the driver is a tool. He didn't signal, he didn't shoulder check. He just moved over.

I bet every one of the people defending the cager are the people who drive in gray cars in the rain with no headlights and NEVER signal. Anyone who has never ridden a street motorcycle is an involuntary manslaughter charge on wheels to me. I drive a car too for my job, but I always check both mirrors, signal, shoulder check, then move over slowly. The way it should be done......!?!?

[TheRedneckAtheist]

@TheMawnkey And all squids cut off truckers on the freeway and go 160 MPH in school zones, generalizations rule!

[TheMawnkey]

@TheRedneckAtheist All cagers have a glaring blindspot for bikers regardless of how they configure their mirrors. It extends 360 degrees around the vehicle.