Rider down - with lesson learned- (update)

[beby99]

It is my riding buddy (also wife's cousin). He's been riding for about 30 yrs.
Happened yesterday while riding his 1983 V45 Magna. As he was rolling
down the road he came up on another rider, a guy riding a Harley. So he got
a few car lengths behind and staggered his position to the right. A few miles
later they came to an intersection with a gas station on the right (at corner of
intersection). The Harley puts on his right signal to indicate he's turning into
the station while a woman in a cage is waiting to make a left out of the station.

At this point the woman screws up?..she assumes the two riders are together.
As soon as the Harley makes his turn she pulls out in front of my cousin thinking
he was going to turn also. He in fact did NOT have his signal on and was slowing
down for the approaching intersection. He was aware of the woman before she pulled
out and was already preparing for her?with brakes engaged he was still going to
make contact so he laid it down and took a tumble.

He managed to get up with just a few bumps and scrapes and the bike was not
badly damaged. The woman stopped, got out of her SUV and said "I thought you were
going to turn with your friend." At which point, cousin proceeded to curse her out and
explain to her the rules of the road. He than goes back to the bike to get it out of
the street?.as she than proceeds to leave the scene of the accident. Multiple witnesses
get her plate number and the cops are called.

Lesson learned: Don't assume 2 or more riders are traveling together just because there
next to each other.

[Hoomgar]

There are so many scenarios like that. You have to watch for them all. I had a woman do a very similar thing to me just this morning on the way to work. About 45 minutes ago.

This is all part of my "control your environment as much as you can" philosophy I have about riding bikes on public roads. To avoid that, he would have had to been aware of the possibility first, then he could have controlled the situation. It was in no way his fault.

Sorry to hear this happened

[earlfor]

That fits with my "if they can get to you they will" philosophy. :-) Tbe bike ahead turns into the station, the woman assumes she will be able to pull out while its turning. Doesnt matter who has right of way, there's a likely bullet coming your way. I slow to a speed to continue on at that will allow a stop instantly. Basically, I would creep past her at less than 5 mph.

Earl

This is all part of my "control your environment as much as you can" philosophy I have about riding bikes on public roads. To avoid that, he would have had to been aware of the possibility first, then he could have controlled the situation. It was in no way his fault.

Sorry to hear this happened

[Hoomgar]

That fits with my "if they can get to you they will" philosophy. :-) Tbe bike ahead turns into the station, the woman assumes she will be able to pull out while its turning. Doesnt matter who has right of way, there's a likely bullet coming your way. I slow to a speed to continue on at that will allow a stop instantly. Basically, I would creep past her at less than 5 mph.

Earl

This is all part of my "control your environment as much as you can" philosophy I have about riding bikes on public roads. To avoid that, he would have had to been aware of the possibility first, then he could have controlled the situation. It was in no way his fault.

Sorry to hear this happened

I hear you. And if they are not giving me eye contact I am forced to slow down even more. This in turn makes them wait even longer. You would think people would understand that? I have since I was 13 for goodness sakes :?

[Peppermint Patti]

Just goes to show...YOU NEVER KNOW.... 8O All the experience in the world sometimes does not help.

Hope he doesn't hurt too much over the next few days, and that he gets the bike up and running soon, with little work and cost.

Please give him our best wishes and love.

pmint 8)

[beby99]

Thanks PP....he was able to ride the bike home after the cops gave him
the go-ahead. They have still not located the woman which they are
treating this as a hit-and-run. You would think having her plate number
they would just camp out at here house...maybe she took off for a few
days or has the vehical hidden??

[Peppermint Patti]

OR.....Maybe she has something called 'clout'.
She may be somebody's daughter or sister...perhaps her husband has some job w/ "clout".

I would be calling the police dept. myself, to make sure they're keeping on it. If nobody calls, they figure nobody cares.

pmint 8)

[beby99]

Yep....could be.

[beby99]

They caught her Took her to jail for leaving the scene of accident.
Also got her for failing to yield right of way and hit and run.

She's got insurance so at least the bike will be good as new. But she will
be screwed when it comes to renewing it.

[gspaul]

Very good!

[gspaul]

Very good!

[Peppermint Patti]

There goes the "clout" theory.

GOOD !!!

pmint 8)