Are bikes invisible?

[outrunner]

I went out for a wee run today and was happily going up the A7 towards Edinburgh, dry, sun shining, what more could you ask for? On the top of Middleton moor there is a straight bit of road with a layby about half way along on the left, as I got nearer I could see there were a few scooters and 2 cars parked up there. Then I noticed the front wheels of the rearmost car turning slightly to the right, nah I thought, he will not pull out and even if he does I can get by as there was no traffic coming towards me.
As I was thinking this the other bit of my brain that tries to keep me alive shut the throttle and placed my fingers on the front brake lever and my foot on the rear brake pedal.
Sure enough, the blind barsteward pulled out, but not just that, he did a U turn right across the road!
After a bit of rapid decceleration and a few choice hand signals I carried on my way leaving the scooter riders shaking their heads in disbelief, but I am quite sure he never even saw me gesticulating at him. How the feck can you not see a bike with headlight on, twin led marker lights on and the rider wearing a white helmet? Just shows you need to be on your toes every second that you are out there riding. However, even allowing for that stupid prick I had a nice day out.
　
　


Andy.

[karl singleton]

yes utterley unbelievable. Saw two incidents today one of which was a near fatality. My wife was driving along road to bakewell and as usual doing her obiding by the speed limit to the letter style of driving. I think you all know the type. This road is full of blind bends etc and a car overtook her on the otherside of the road on a blind bend coming around the corner one lucky motorcyclist who probably had a near coronary heart attack at what he had to swerve to avoid and stay alive. One lucky guy nearly got written off by the idiot who had zero patience. Then there was a further incident further down the road similar but again very near miss.

[Austin]

Looks like there has been a fatality at a notorious junction just up the road from me. Road closed for 3 hours and about 10 police cars in attendance, some clearly crash investigators. The was a car about half way across from the junction with the front completely wiped out. The bike was severely damaged at the front and just being loaded onto a truck as I went by. Classic SMIDSY I would say but I wouldn't be surprised if the bike was speeding too looking at the damage. A very sobering sight especially as son #2 picked up a CBR600F sport yesterday.


Sent from my iPhone with a smile

[AlanH]

How the feck can you not see a bike with headlight on, twin led marker lights on and the rider wearing a white helmet?

The car driver probably didn't even look so it's not a case of not seeing, it'a a case of not looking - unless you had the sun behind you. Well done for not t-boning him. I can testify that t-boning a u-turning car is not good for your health.

[RickSkye]

If there is a possibility that someone in front is going to do something stupid, its a certainty.

We have an interesting problem up in the Highlands, foreign lorries trying to pass cars as if they were motorcycles, absolute nutters. They don't care if people have to take to the verges to avoid them. Keeps you alert.

[ianbiggar]

well avoided, Andy - glad you still had a good run.
Ian

[lowflyer]

Phew Andy,

Close one mate

At least those arthritic ridden digits managed to pull you up on time

And I'm sure that the skid marks will wash out in time


Ride safe buddy

[Dee Duble Yuh]

In answer to the thread title: Yes.

[Whealie]

And I'm sure that the skid marks will wash out in time

Makes a change them being on the inside

[winxp-master]

Could have been bad that Andy, glad you managed to avoid it. It's similar to what happed to a good m8 of mine, it was a dual carraigeway and some young idiot thought i'm going the wrong way i'll do a u-turn. My m8 (with pillion) t-boned the car at 90mph (i know thats speeding but hey we have all done it!) because it was on a slightly unsighted curve. He nearly lost a leg, was revived twice i think during the op so save it, lost muscle from his arm and fekkin all sorts. The pillion now walks with a permanent limp because he lost about 4 inches from a leg bone etc etc... There was 4 bikes involved and only the last bike managed to avoid it and it was his cousin who then proceeded to chase the young idiot across fields screaming that he was going to kill him because as far as he knew he'd just lost a close family member and a few of his m8's!

The young lad actually phoned the police himself screaming for help that a loonatic was trying to kill him, lol... I spoke to him too and asked him about it and he said at the time i think i would have killed him had he got his hands on him.