Close Call in a Tunnel - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Black_Beauty · 07-21-2008, 05:30 PM

Friday afternoon after work I am headed to my friends house, about a 2 hour drive, on my 2007 S-50. I am riding thru the city of Pittsburgh on a 4-lane highway, Rt376. I am approaching the 2nd of the two tunnels I need to navigate, I am in the left lane crising with traffic about 40 MPH, a mini-van in front of me, a car to my right and a full size, lifted, pick-up behind me, enough comfort room around me to feel satisfied but I am alert, except for the view in front in partially blocked by the tinted windows of the mini-van. As we enter the tunnel known as the Squirrell Hill Tunnel about 3/4 mile long. As my eyes adjust to the light in the tunnel I see the mini-van abruptly stops due traffic in front. I have time to quickly get the bike stopped, but hear the sickening sound of tires screeching behind me. I guess the tobacco chewing cowboy behind the wheel of the pick-up was not paying attention. Funny how things go into slow motion at times like these, it seemed I had lots of time to decide what to do, although it was fractions of a second. Instinct told me to avoid being a pancake on the front bumper of the ford F250, I need to head left, as traffic in the right lanes were still moving. I Squeeze thru between the now stopped mini-van and the tunnel wall to my left, my left boot scraping on the tunnel curb wall, avoiding the mini-van side mirror, I sneak past with out a scratch on me or the bike. The boot... oh well, thats why I wear them. As i pull back in front of the mini-van, I look over my shoulder and wave at the driver, she saw the whole thing in her mirrors, and knew why I did what I did.
This is my first bike I have ridden in over 30 years, I bought it new 2 months ago and have about 2500 miles on her. I am glad it is not any bigger. This was the first incident so far, and it had a butt pucker factor of at least 9.0.
Thanks for all of your tips from this site, your experience is priceless.
Stay safe, Stay alert.