At What Point - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

sunny · 07-28-2005, 11:07 AM

do you move out of a semi's way when you can see in your mirrors that he isn't going to make the stop that you are sitting at?

just curious.

SuzukiGirl1 · 07-28-2005, 11:12 AM

Oh my goodness Sunny, what happened??!??

sunny · 07-28-2005, 11:22 AM

nothing happened. just a semi was approaching from behind and he wasn't able to stop in time. for that matter i had a hard time stopping at that particular rural light myself. he ended up pulling over into the turn lane as i was about to get out of his way.

i was just wondering when you all would have moved. earlier? later?

Scourge · 07-28-2005, 11:24 AM

When in doubt, always err on the side of your own personal safety.

SuzukiGirl1 · 07-28-2005, 11:25 AM

So, were you approaching a light and it turned yellow and you were trying to stop??

I don't know what I'd do, or when. It's hard to tell. If I'm first in line at the light, I stay in first gear, so I might've looked and gone if I could...or took a quick right on to the side street??

**Louis** · 07-28-2005, 11:36 AM

I do that same as SuzukiGirl. If I'm the first and no one else is behind me, I'm ALWAYS in gear, ready to go. If I know the traffic light cycle and some cars are behind me and I got a long wait, I might go into neutral to relax the hands.

Not sure what I would 've done in that situation though.

Nexus242 · 07-28-2005, 12:22 PM

Humm interesting question. So when I'm at a light I'm either to the far right or far left in the lane almost on the line if needed when I see cars tailing too close to me. I figure at that angle I can lane split between the ahead car to avoid being rear ened. Not untill the car behind me comes to a full stop will I go into neutral too.

I also NEVER pull up on anyone's bumper infront of me, got to leave a 4'-5' exit plan route if needed. If again the driver behind me is on my tail I crawl to a final stop leaveing maybe 8'-10' feet between me and the car in front of me so I can inch up after stopping to give me some breathing room from the driver behind me. And if that driver continues to inch up on me at some point I just stop and look at them, wait for the light to turn green, count another 5-8 seconds holding up that driver while the light is green and then swifty pull away from them.

I've been slammed into twice at stop lights in my Civic, did rehab for about a year and really don't want to have that happen to me on a bike. Leave yourself and exit route and watch your six in the mirrors and be ready to go when you hear the brakes lock up.

themeatmanlandry · 07-28-2005, 12:39 PM

Answer: Any time before impact.

oldgeezer · 07-28-2005, 01:12 PM

Another answer: As soon as I recognize the potential danger. That's why in traffic, I try to leave enough room ahead of me to take evasive action.

FIVEINCH · 07-28-2005, 01:14 PM

First sign of smoke...

stp1971 · 07-28-2005, 02:53 PM

When you can tell he not stopping or will not be able to stop,, I am outta there. I have no intentions of being Mack Truck food. I always pull to the right or left side of the car in front in gear so that if the person behind is not stopping I shoot off to that side and the car in front gets nailed. Sorry,,but they would've gotten hit anyways.

oldgeezer · 07-28-2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp1971

and the car in front gets nailed. Sorry,,but they would've gotten hit anyways.

Yeah, but you would have softened the blow.

stp1971 · 07-28-2005, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgeezer

Yeah, but you would have softened the blow.

huh,,HA I say to you!!!!!!! OH WELL...... tough titty said the kitty..... I am sure the drivers insurance in the car in front and their future lawyers can more than compensate them for the harder blow.

I'd rather get out of the way and watch from the sidelines...

mr_resistible · 07-28-2005, 04:26 PM

I line up on either the right or left side, leave room and be ready if I have to make a quick exit, but I also don't want to dart out into the intersection if there are cars going the opposite direction.. I would split the lane or ride the shoulder as far as I had to to get out of trouble and avoid getting into more trouble.

Hardware · 07-28-2005, 06:16 PM

There's no clear-cut threshold you can explain. It varies depending on a wide array of factors. The configuration of the intersecton & roadways, the speed of the approaching truck, adjacent stopped vehicles and moving traffic in the vicinity.

That said, err on the side of caution and use your escape route (you always leave at least one, RIGHT???) earlier as opposed to later.

Better to ride up onto a sidewalk early, find out that the truck was actually able to stop safely well behind your stopped position - and feel a little silly - rather than have EMT's remove you from the undercarriage of a Kenworth with a steam cleaner...

tlwisner · 07-28-2005, 10:34 PM

Looking in your mirrors when you are stopped is a good habit to have, I'm glad nothing bad happened.

It's always good to mentally plot an escape route in case the person behind you is going faster than you are. If you wait until the last second, your evasion could collide with the other driver's evasion - so if you're in doubt just safely get the heck out of the way.

Yeah, what Hardware said.

07-28-2005, 11:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
sunny Leaned over, knee down Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: '97 suzuki savage, '90 honda shadow, '75 kh400, and a broom Location: fort worthless Posts: 4,678	At What Point do you move out of a semi's way when you can see in your mirrors that he isn't going to make the stop that you are sitting at? just curious. __________________ "blah blah blah, the world revolves around me, blah blah blah, your perception of events can't possibly be valid, blah blah blah, i wasn't there but i know everything about everything, blah blah blah." - 95% of the male population. you WISH this post was brought to you by rum.

07-28-2005, 11:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
SuzukiGirl1 Moderatrix Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: 2004 SV650S Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,700	Oh my goodness Sunny, what happened??!?? __________________ SuzukiGirl '04 SV650S, Yellow...lovely!!

07-28-2005, 11:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
sunny Leaned over, knee down Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: '97 suzuki savage, '90 honda shadow, '75 kh400, and a broom Location: fort worthless Posts: 4,678	nothing happened. just a semi was approaching from behind and he wasn't able to stop in time. for that matter i had a hard time stopping at that particular rural light myself. he ended up pulling over into the turn lane as i was about to get out of his way. i was just wondering when you all would have moved. earlier? later? __________________ "blah blah blah, the world revolves around me, blah blah blah, your perception of events can't possibly be valid, blah blah blah, i wasn't there but i know everything about everything, blah blah blah." - 95% of the male population. you WISH this post was brought to you by rum.

07-28-2005, 11:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Scourge U.B's LoveChild Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: 2002 V-Star 650 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 1,253	When in doubt, always err on the side of your own personal safety. __________________ I hate rude behavior in a man, won't tolerate it..

07-28-2005, 11:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
SuzukiGirl1 Moderatrix Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: 2004 SV650S Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,700	So, were you approaching a light and it turned yellow and you were trying to stop?? I don't know what I'd do, or when. It's hard to tell. If I'm first in line at the light, I stay in first gear, so I might've looked and gone if I could...or took a quick right on to the side street?? __________________ SuzukiGirl '04 SV650S, Yellow...lovely!!

07-28-2005, 11:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,628	I do that same as SuzukiGirl. If I'm the first and no one else is behind me, I'm ALWAYS in gear, ready to go. If I know the traffic light cycle and some cars are behind me and I got a long wait, I might go into neutral to relax the hands. Not sure what I would 've done in that situation though. __________________ Louis

07-28-2005, 12:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nexus242 Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: yellow and black Location: Wide awake in dreamland... Posts: 1,935	Humm interesting question. So when I'm at a light I'm either to the far right or far left in the lane almost on the line if needed when I see cars tailing too close to me. I figure at that angle I can lane split between the ahead car to avoid being rear ened. Not untill the car behind me comes to a full stop will I go into neutral too. I also NEVER pull up on anyone's bumper infront of me, got to leave a 4'-5' exit plan route if needed. If again the driver behind me is on my tail I crawl to a final stop leaveing maybe 8'-10' feet between me and the car in front of me so I can inch up after stopping to give me some breathing room from the driver behind me. And if that driver continues to inch up on me at some point I just stop and look at them, wait for the light to turn green, count another 5-8 seconds holding up that driver while the light is green and then swifty pull away from them. I've been slammed into twice at stop lights in my Civic, did rehab for about a year and really don't want to have that happen to me on a bike. Leave yourself and exit route and watch your six in the mirrors and be ready to go when you hear the brakes lock up. __________________ The killer in me is the killer in you My love I send this smile over to you...Smashing Pumpkins

07-28-2005, 12:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
themeatmanlandry Happy-ass Lunatic Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 2002 Bandit 600S (Black); 2006 GSXR750 (Black) Location: Memphis Posts: 11,136	Answer: Any time before impact. __________________ I dont need no walls around me. And I dont need no drugs to calm me. I have seen the writing on the wall. Dont think I need any thing at all. No. dont think I need anything at all. All in all it was all just the bricks in the wall. All in all it was all just the bricks in the wall.

07-28-2005, 01:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
oldgeezer Handlebar Consultant Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 646	Another answer: As soon as I recognize the potential danger. That's why in traffic, I try to leave enough room ahead of me to take evasive action. __________________ Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, d!ckheads--they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

07-28-2005, 01:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
FIVEINCH U.B's LoveChild Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: GSXR600K4 + D&D = DSRPTV!!!!!! Location: San Angelo, TX Posts: 1,083	First sign of smoke... __________________ I can see you... MK86: The US Navy Sends Its Regards... FIVE INCHES AT A TIME!!

07-28-2005, 02:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,742	When you can tell he not stopping or will not be able to stop,, I am outta there. I have no intentions of being Mack Truck food. I always pull to the right or left side of the car in front in gear so that if the person behind is not stopping I shoot off to that side and the car in front gets nailed. Sorry,,but they would've gotten hit anyways. __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

07-28-2005, 04:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
mr_resistible Wants Better Weather Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: 05' C50 Location: Gering Ne Posts: 665	I line up on either the right or left side, leave room and be ready if I have to make a quick exit, but I also don't want to dart out into the intersection if there are cars going the opposite direction.. I would split the lane or ride the shoulder as far as I had to to get out of trouble and avoid getting into more trouble.

07-28-2005, 06:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
Hardware Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2004 Bike: 2004 Hayabusa Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 843	There's no clear-cut threshold you can explain. It varies depending on a wide array of factors. The configuration of the intersecton & roadways, the speed of the approaching truck, adjacent stopped vehicles and moving traffic in the vicinity. That said, err on the side of caution and use your escape route (you always leave at least one, RIGHT???) earlier as opposed to later. Better to ride up onto a sidewalk early, find out that the truck was actually able to stop safely well behind your stopped position - and feel a little silly - rather than have EMT's remove you from the undercarriage of a Kenworth with a steam cleaner... __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons...for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

07-28-2005, 10:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
tlwisner Throttle Jockey Joined: Apr 2004 Bike: '05 Boulevard C50 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 3,208	Looking in your mirrors when you are stopped is a good habit to have, I'm glad nothing bad happened. It's always good to mentally plot an escape route in case the person behind you is going faster than you are. If you wait until the last second, your evasion could collide with the other driver's evasion - so if you're in doubt just safely get the heck out of the way. Yeah, what Hardware said. __________________ Tim Wisner AMA, SCRC Happiness is something we create

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