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Watch Those Intersections
 Where's the most dangerous place to ride your bike? Is it on the freeway at 65 miles an hour? Or is it on those tight curvy roads we all love - leaning it way over and scraping the footboards? Well, most accidents occur in the city at intersections. Here are a few tips about how to avoid adding yourself to the statistics.
Intersection hazards come primarily in two forms: the vehicle on the cross street pulling into your path and an oncoming vehicle making a left turn in front of you. The main reason this happens is that they don't see you. Just because the guy in the car is looking your direction doesn't mean he sees you. On a bike, you're smaller than other vehicles and blend in with background. Another reason they pull into your path is that they underestimate your speed. Because the number of motorcycles on the road is such a small percentage of the overall vehicle population, drivers aren't as experienced at judging our speed, as they should be.
So, what should you do when approaching an intersection? The most important thing to do is to look things over and be aware of other vehicles in or approaching the intersection. Then slow down a bit and cover the front brake. This will greatly reduce your stopping distance if that crazy grandma decides she can beat you through the intersection. Next, plan your evasion path. If she pulls out, where will you go? If possible, move to a lane position that maximizes your maneuverability. For example, if an oncoming car is stopped at the intersection waiting to make a left turn, he might do it right in front of you. If you're not riding in a group, move over to the right side of the lane or into the right lane if there's more than one lane. This will give you that extra cushion of maneuvering time if he cuts you off. Lastly, keep your eyes moving, but keep checking the front wheel of the car. It will give you the earliest warning of what he's doing.
OK, you've done everything mentioned above and sure enough, Grandma decides to make that left turn right in front of you. What do you do? First, you apply your front brake with a strong, progressive squeeze (Good thing you've been practicing those quick stops, huh?). Next, you look at and steer for the evasion path you've already chosen. Don't focus on the car. Remember, the bike goes where you're looking. If you focus on the car, you'll hit it. If you focus on your clear path, you'll still be able to see the car in your peripheral vision. After you've done this, carefully apply the rear brake only if you can do so without locking up the wheel. As long as your wheels are turning, you can maneuver while braking. If you try to maneuver with the wheels locked up, you'll go down. Oh, and one most important thing - pray like mad.
Of course, all of this has to happen in a split second, so it really pays to always be alert and practice evasive maneuvers and quick stops. Also, all of the above tips apply at country intersections as well.
Source: Dewey Hemba, KMC Safety Officer
| Road Tar
 Careful for road tar and pavement marking hazards. The "tar snakes" get soft in the hot weather and can cause your bike to handle strangely when you drive on one, especially if you're turning. The road maintenance folks will grind down a high spot in the road, then fill the rough surface with tar, thinking they're doing everyone a favor. These tar areas can also be very slippery when they're wet. The painted pavement markings (arrows, "stop", etc.) can also be very slippery when wet. Watch out for 'em!!
Source: Dewey Hemba, KMC Safety Officer
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Good Marksmanship
How good of a marksman are you? Can you always hit your target? No, we're not talking about guns or archery. I'm talking about Target Fixation when riding a motorcycle. A couple of commonly heard phrases on this topic are: "The bike goes where you're looking" and "What you see is what you hit". What this means is that you subconsciously steer towards what you're looking at. That's great if it's a clear patch of road and not so great if it's a road hazard.
When confronted with a hazard such as a car turning in front of you, debris on the road, another vehicle stopped in front of you, a deer jumping into your path, or even just a pothole, the natural reaction is to look at the hazard (thinking you'll avoid it). The problem with this is that it can turn into target fixation and if that happens, most of the time you'll hit the hazard. But you can turn target fixation to your advantage if you notice the hazard and then immediately look for a clear path, focus on it, and steer toward it. If the hazard doesn't move (such as a pothole) you're home free. If it's a moving hazard (such as a car), usually you'll still be able to see it in your peripheral vision while focused on the clear path.
You can practice this technique during your normal everyday riding. When you notice debris, road kill, or even a tar patch on the road, quickly choose a clear path and steer toward it while forcing yourself to not watch the hazard. It sounds easier than it really is, but with practice, it'll become second nature. In an emergency situation on a bike, you often only have a second or less to react to avoid an accident. Having developed this technique into a reflex could make the difference between avoiding an accident or being in one. Try it.
Source: Dewey Hemba, KMC Safety Officer |
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