Be SEEN, Look TWICE

ChuckS · 06-04-2006, 04:42 PM

I'm an active rider, and make a concerted effort to look for bikes, esp while driving my cage. That said, I almost took a guy out with my pick up on Friday.

Coming out of my sub, I make a left turn and immediately climb a bridge on a 2 lane blacktop road. Anyhow, I'm stopped, looking for traffic, see none, double check, start to pull out & make a left turn-- shit -- bike coming down the bridge.

Thankfully I stopped & he had plenty of clearance. He probably has no idea that it was a close call. He was riding a small black bike, wearing a black jacket & a black helmet. His headlight was on, but was pointed up (??). He was travelling at or below the speed limit, but was nearly invisible. I turned right to follow him, and even knowing were he was, he was nearly invisible from behind, too.

I SHOULD have seen him much earlier. I was looking. He had almost no contrast wearing all black & coming down an all black road and I simply did NOT see him. SCARY

Lessons learned:

Look harder for bikes.

Wear bright gear, especially a bright helmet.

Make sure the headlight is pointing forward, not skyward.

BE CAREFULL!!

ChuckS

the_gr8t_waldo · 06-04-2006, 07:50 PM

yeah but he was so damn stylish that it's hard to get angry with the squid....no?

JimVonBaden · 06-05-2006, 11:06 AM

People may laugh at me, but I AM visable, no matter what I wear!

I also wear a silver Shuberth C1 with reflective tape, as does my GF!

Jim

BobFV1 · 06-05-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

People may laugh at me, but I AM visable, no matter what I wear!

I also wear a silver Shuberth C1 with reflective tape, as does my GF!

Jim

Hey Jim - is that a GS???

Good work on the reflective tape!

hailstorm100 · 06-05-2006, 01:29 PM

I LOVE the BMWGIRL reflectors!!! Awesome!

TomN · 06-05-2006, 02:10 PM

It always amazes me how invisible most riders are with their black gear, you can not see them. High-viz baby!

JimVonBaden · 06-05-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hailstorm100

I LOVE the BMWGIRL reflectors!!! Awesome!

We cut them out using a patern made on Powerpoint. Easy and inexpensive.

Jim

hailstorm100 · 06-06-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

We cut them out using a patern made on Powerpoint. Easy and inexpensive.

Jim

Neato! :)

06-04-2006, 04:42 PM	#1
ChuckS ^OP Adventurer Wannabe Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Too Close to Detroit Oddometer: 537	Be SEEN, Look TWICE I'm an active rider, and make a concerted effort to look for bikes, esp while driving my cage. That said, I almost took a guy out with my pick up on Friday. Coming out of my sub, I make a left turn and immediately climb a bridge on a 2 lane blacktop road. Anyhow, I'm stopped, looking for traffic, see none, double check, start to pull out & make a left turn-- shit -- bike coming down the bridge. Thankfully I stopped & he had plenty of clearance. He probably has no idea that it was a close call. He was riding a small black bike, wearing a black jacket & a black helmet. His headlight was on, but was pointed up (??). He was travelling at or below the speed limit, but was nearly invisible. I turned right to follow him, and even knowing were he was, he was nearly invisible from behind, too. I SHOULD have seen him much earlier. I was looking. He had almost no contrast wearing all black & coming down an all black road and I simply did NOT see him. SCARY Lessons learned: Look harder for bikes. Wear bright gear, especially a bright helmet. Make sure the headlight is pointing forward, not skyward. BE CAREFULL!! ChuckS __________________ SPOT track of my Newfoundland adventure What? Me Worry? 1993 K1100LT w/Ural hack DL650 K4

06-05-2006, 11:06 AM	#3
JimVonBaden "Cool" Aid! Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Alexandria, VA Oddometer: 41,500	People may laugh at me, but I AM visable, no matter what I wear! I also wear a silver Shuberth C1 with reflective tape, as does my GF! Jim __________________ Click here for BMW Maintenance and Repair DVDs and Corrections. "Combo-Order Discounts!"

06-05-2006, 01:29 PM	#5
hailstorm100 Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Beautiful British Columbia, on Vancouver Island Oddometer: 92	I LOVE the BMWGIRL reflectors!!! Awesome! __________________ Ride like there is no tomorrow!!

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06-04-2006, 07:50 PM	#2
the_gr8t_waldo Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: tacoma warshington Oddometer: 1,855	yeah but he was so damn stylish that it's hard to get angry with the squid....no?

06-05-2006, 02:10 PM	#6
TomN Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2005 Location: Chalfont, PA Oddometer: 2,477	It always amazes me how invisible most riders are with their black gear, you can not see them. High-viz baby!