PSA: Avoid making a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle, or give PLENTY of space

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once bummed a ride home with a friend on his motorcycle. I was amazed by how the other drivers on the road essentially ignored him. He said he drove the bike with the assumption that no one else could see him, and made all decisions accordingly. It was a walkable community in another state, and it was crazy easy things: like pulling up to a four way stop-sign stop. Cars at each of the three other parts of the intersection. And us at the fourth. And it was like we weren't there at all. Really scary. I've tried to be very consciousious of motorcycles ever since.

That said, I walk my son to school every day in logan circle, and the cyclists on R street heading westbound through 15th street (which is one-way northbound) - every day I see ten bikes ride against their red light and bike along R street through 15th street, looking leftbound to make sure the 15th street traffic isn't coming. But they never look right to see if pedestrians are crossing the street right in front of them. Like three times a week, we have to step back or stop in our tracks to not get hit from a bike illegally crossing in our path. Just venting....

Agree. Everyone seems to only be on the lookout for those that can harm them, not those they can harm. If you aren't their size or bigger, they aren't looking for you.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my husband broke his wrist when a stupid driver made a left turn in front of him. That was when he was a teenager.
Now he commutes by bicycle, and it's still super dangerous.

[Anonymous]

This is how my mother died. She was riding her motorcycle and a Jeep turned in front of her and then stopped short. She was 48. As it happens, I turn 48 this weekend, and her death is on my mind.

Thanks for the PSA, OP.

[Anonymous]

My husband was a very cautious, careful rider... and one of the best days of our marriage was when he got rid of his motorcycle for good. They are so so so dangerous. He bought a convertible Miata as his "toy" instead, didn't expect to like it as much, but has been thrilled to find out how much he enjoys a convertible vs a motorcycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband was a very cautious, careful rider... and one of the best days of our marriage was when he got rid of his motorcycle for good. They are so so so dangerous. He bought a convertible Miata as his "toy" instead, didn't expect to like it as much, but has been thrilled to find out how much he enjoys a convertible vs a motorcycle.

+1. My DH had been agitating for a motorcycle for practically our entire marriage. Since we got a Mustang convertible a couple years ago he hasn't said a word about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is how my mother died. She was riding her motorcycle and a Jeep turned in front of her and then stopped short. She was 48. As it happens, I turn 48 this weekend, and her death is on my mind.

Thanks for the PSA, OP.

I'm so sorry for the losses of PPs who have posted. What a sudden and terrible way to lose a loved one.

[mjsmith]

I miss riding my motorcycle, but around here I was scared shitless and was never able to really relax and enjoy the ride until i got 50-60 miles away from DC to the south or West. so I sold it.

For those that don't get the allure of motorcycles. its one of the "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand" type of situations. You just have to ride to understand.

for the most part motorcycles are regular law abiding drivers like everyone else. but sometimes you get the idiots on dirt bikes riding in the street or folks riding down the center line at 20-30 mph over the limt and they wonder why bikers get a bad reputation. its the rotten few that ruin it for everyone.

I seem to recall a couple decades ago when Daytime running lights became standard/mandated on cars. that there was an increase in Motorcycle deaths/accidents. the reason being that for years motorcycles always had their headlight on and were eaily seen during the daylight hours as a result. but now with all vehicles running with headlights on the motorcycles just blend in and area harder to see.

Keep your eyes open and pay attention, you may save a life...

[Anonymous]

I loved my motorcycle. I have never felt quite so alive, so aware, so awake. As a woman, I found it shockingly empowering and meaningful; it's hard to describe. You have to be entirely in the moment on the bike because you have to be so hyper aware of all sensory input - road conditions, wind, what you see, what you hear, the slope of the road beneath you, the curve of the bend ahead. It's like a moving meditation.

And then someone who should see you, in broad daylight, smashes into you.

It was a risk I was willing to take when I was child-free. But now that I am a mom, I can't risk it. I totally understand why people do, though, and it is absolutely our responsibility as drivers of death machines to be aware of them and to mitigate the danger we pose to them through our inattention

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved my motorcycle. I have never felt quite so alive, so aware, so awake. As a woman, I found it shockingly empowering and meaningful; it's hard to describe. You have to be entirely in the moment on the bike because you have to be so hyper aware of all sensory input - road conditions, wind, what you see, what you hear, the slope of the road beneath you, the curve of the bend ahead. It's like a moving meditation.

And then someone who should see you, in broad daylight, smashes into you.

It was a risk I was willing to take when I was child-free. But now that I am a mom, I can't risk it. I totally understand why people do, though, and it is absolutely our responsibility as drivers of death machines to be aware of them and to mitigate the danger we pose to them through our inattention

Thank you for your description of motorcycle riding. I never intend to ride one (I can't even ride a bike), so through your words I was able to gain at least some understanding of what it is like.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if there are also perspective issues at work. They are smaller than what we're used to seeing on the road, so if we don't focus on them, we subconsciously think they are farther away than they really are. And therefore make the left turn in front of one, thinking that there is room.

[Anonymous]

My ex-husband's family rides, as do I occasionally, and one thing that we have done to help teach our kids to be aware of motorcycles is to change the game of Punch Buggy to Punch Bike. It helps them to be aware of bikers. They also ride (dirt bikes alone, and street bikes with their dad), and they have seen how other drivers do not pay attention to motorcycles.

[Anonymous]

When I was a teen, I visited a rehabilitation hospital for head and heck injuries only. One of the orderlies told me that 80% of the patients were there because of motorcycle accidents.

The thrill is just not worth the risk.

[Anonymous]

[/url]https://people.com/treat-williams-dead-at-71-7511398[url]

Bumping this thread to remind folks of this issue. Actor Treat Williams died:

The actor's death was confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday evening by his agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson.

"He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off," McPherson says. "I'm just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://people.com/treat-williams-dead-at-71-7511398

Bumping this thread to remind folks of this issue. Actor Treat Williams died:

The actor's death was confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday evening by his agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson.

"He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off," McPherson says. "I'm just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented."

Other reports say he was going straight on his motorcycle and the car made a left turn into him.
" Investigators . . . believe the driver of a vehicle was turning and did not see the motorcycle driven by Williams when the accident occurred. "

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/12/entertainment/treat-williams-death/index.html

[Anonymous]

The real PSA is just don’t drive or ride on motorcycles.