Side swiped on 101S this morning

[Variable]

Hey all,

After more than 10 years of commuting on 101 on the peninsula, and more than 20 some odd years of riding, my number was called and I got side swiped.

Where?: 101S around San Carlos area
When?: approx. 9:45am

What happened:

- First off, let me say I had a "feeling" this morning, that maybe I should roll in the car to work, but it was such a nice day, I decided to ride in.

Flowing with stop/go traffic in lanes 1 and 2, lane sharing in lane 1, sometimes up to 45mph. Nothing reckless by my standards.
I saw the traffic start to speed up in lane 1 and a gap opened as I was approaching.
Sure enough a RAV4 type of SUV dives in, blinker goes on right as she dives in > I am right at her back left bumper at this time.
Basically had just enough time to grab the binders (front and rear).
I know people just dive into open lanes, but I'm in the wrong spot at the wrong time and going a little too fast to avoid impact.
There was no time to break, release, swerve, gas out. Just enough time to brake and say SHIT! or FUCK!....and crap my pants, I didn't really, but you know what I mean.
I end up locking up the rear and pitch the rear out to the right a little > she hits me in lane 1.
I get hit by her front left quarter panel > I start getting all wiggly (tank slapping). I thought I was going to highside, but managed to keep the bike upright (maybe because of the dirt riding I used to do).
She pulls over to the left shoulder and I pull up next to her window.
The ladies face said it all, I asked if she was okay, she asks if I am okay. We're all okay. No she wasn't hawt.
I look over the bike. Nothing wrong, no marks, no broken parts. Amazing.
Her SUV only got a rub mark probably from my gloves or jacket or something else that is black. Her side mirror was bent back, I pulled it back in for her. There also may have been a slight dent in her front quarter panel.
Now I know I should have gotten her info, but we ended up not exchanging any. To be honest, after not detecting any damage, I was more worried about being late to work, because I was late a couple of times earlier this month.

Now I know Enchanter is going to ask this: What would I do next time?
I saw the gap open. I knew that someone would dive in there. Before I knew it though, the car right next to me dove in as I was just about to pass her.
I think next time I will be more cautious and be more prepared to break in that situation, versus just flowing thru. I think it really depends on the situation, but for this one, I believe if I got off the throttle and had a finger on the brake, I may have been able to slow down and avoid her.

Buying a Lotto ticket at lunch today.

Ride safe

 

[NOS-Nelson]

More front brake and no rear brake. Glad you weren't seriously injured.

 

[DataDan]

I know people just dive into open lanes, but I'm in the wrong spot at the wrong time and going a little too fast to avoid impact. There was no time to break, release, swerve, gas out. Just enough time to brake and say SHIT! or FUCK!....and crap my pants, I didn't really, but you know what I mean.

What was the speed difference between you and the SUV?

 

[jdhu]

More front brake and no rear brake. Glad you weren't seriously injured.

Agreed. Although in pure net terms, rear will help you slow faster than just front, it just doesn't seem worth it in these situations. If you rear is fishtailing, locked up, etc, you have zero chance to swerve and avoid.

Also, this is just my opinion generally, have no idea if it would have helped you today. When you see a gap or other warning sign, be aggressive about it. What I mean is, don't sit and wait for problems, but just gas and shoot by it. Again, I know that there are some instances where you just CANNOT avoid being hit, but this will help you minimize them.

 

[Variable]

Speed difference was about approx. 10 mph.

Yes, I was lucky to come out unscathed!

And I agree > more front brake, but I definitely did not want to endo and am comfortable sliding the rear. There was exactly .002 seconds (that's what it felt like) for me to actually get on the brakes.

*JDHU - I definitely feel the same way when I see a gap open like that and *most times* will try to gun it through, aggressive/defensive riding. If I actually did that today, I would have had my rear end clipped probably and who knows what would have occurred after that.

Another thing I would like to comment on is "riding like you're invisible". Do it. Not sure if the lady saw me or not.

I appreciate the comments and concern from you all! thnx!

- BTW - gear wise: helmet, Dainese leather jacket, A* riding jeans with armor, A* GP Plus gloves, A* smx boots.

 

[Variable]

My advice:

Don't commute without one!

Can I get a witness!


Yes, yes you can.

Yup, seriously thinking of getting one of those now. Could have watched the replay in slo-mo with me saying ooooohhhhh ssshhhhhhiiiiitt......
Not really that funny, but I am feeling like one lucky mo-fo today and can laugh about it now.

A bike will stop quicker with the rear tire off the ground than with it locked up. The only time this won't work is if the front forks are bottomed out because the front tire will slide at that point. One main thing to remember when riding is how quick you can stop the bike. I've done several stoppies on the freeway and it's usually when I'm riding faster than I should be. But I know my bike and my abilities. The rear brake is for tightening up a turn and when you run off in the dirt. Hopefully only on the track.

- Definitely hear ya. As fast as it did happen, I was still able to think of the crashes I've seen videos of, where the rider endos into the car head first. I was thinking if I hit, I want it to be more bike hitting first, rather than my head.
Come to think of it, I do believe I did grab the front brakes first and the closer I got to the SUV is when I believe I got on the rear brake pedal, thus locking it up and the rear swinging around.

 

[sanjuro]

I think you have a good post-contact analysis.

I am very familiar with the location and the traffic at that time, since it is my commute as well.

Friday morning tends to be lighter traffic than the rest of the week, and with the nice weather today, it can be tempting to relax.

I get especially anxious after the San Mateo Bridge because of all the merging. In my cage, I will go from lane 4 to lane 1 as a way to slice through traffic.

One thing I will do is flash my high beams though there to increase my visibility.

Also, I think you could have read the gap opening up a little sooner, and plan to swerve into lane 1 if the car in lane 2 does the same.

It can be challenging to read traffic ahead in the middle of lanesharing. However, traffic tends to speed up by Belmont and gaps will open.

But thankfully, there is a next time. Glad to hear you are safe and here is to safe riding.

 

[GAJ]

Wow, amazing you stayed up...that certainly takes some bike control if I have the facts straight.

If I'm reading the situation correctly you were splitting at a 10mph delta in traffic that was traveling at about 45mph at the time of impact?

 

[Variable]

I think you have a good post-contact analysis.

I am very familiar with the location and the traffic at that time, since it is my commute as well.

Friday morning tends to be lighter traffic than the rest of the week, and with the nice weather today, it can be tempting to relax.

I get especially anxious after the San Mateo Bridge because of all the merging. In my cage, I will go from lane 4 to lane 1 as a way to slice through traffic.

One thing I will do is flash my high beams though there to increase my visibility.

Also, I think you could have read the gap opening up a little sooner, and plan to swerve into lane 1 if the car in lane 2.

It can be challenging to read traffic ahead in the middle of lanesharing. However, traffic tends to speed up by Belmont and gaps will open.

But thankfully, there is a next time. Glad to hear you are safe and here is to safe riding.

You are right on all accounts and having the same commute, I know you know exactly what I 'm talking about.

You are correct, I could have read the gap opening a little earlier. I keep playing it back in my head and think of what I could have done differently.
I saw the gap open, I had thought I would get in there, then the SUV was right there diving in, just as I was passing a car on my left side in lane 1, then "oh shit".

I'll see ya out there again, ride safe!

Wow, amazing you stayed up...that certainly takes some bike control if I have the facts straight.

If I'm reading the situation correctly you were splitting at a 10mph delta in traffic that was traveling at about 45mph at the time of impact?

- Yeah, seriously. Like I said, I keep playing back in my head and the more I think about it, the more I think I am SUPER lucky I did not go down. It really was that violent of a head shake, wobble, thrown up and out of seat deal. I wish I had it videotaped.
The speed I was going at that time I would estimate to be approx. 40-45 and everyone else was fluctuating between 25-35? It's mostly slow, stop and go thru there and then picks up right after Holly St exit/onramp I believe.
I think if I was going slower, I would have ate it, but the combination of speed and some dirt riding skills help keep the bike upright. Think of a race where a rider starts to slide the backend around, almost into a highside and then bucks him off, but the bike keeps going.

I just keep seeing the side of her car getting closer and closer in my head and remembering I couldn't swerve left because of the car on my left hand side.

BTW - I bought 5 Lotto tickets yesterday

 

[DaveT319]

One thing you can do next time is trust that instinct that someone might shoot the gap, roll off the throttle a bit, maybe start to cover the brake, and shift your lane position away from where danger would come from. I know it happens fast, but if you notice a situation like that and start preparing for the possibility, you'll be better prepared when it actually happens.

 

[TinyTim]

I saw the traffic start to speed up in lane 1 and a gap opened as I was approaching.
Sure enough a RAV4 type of SUV dives in, blinker goes on right as she dives in > I am right at her back left bumper at this time.
Basically had just enough time to grab the binders (front and rear).
I know people just dive into open lanes, but I'm in the wrong spot at the wrong time and going a little too fast to avoid impact.
There was no time to break, release, swerve, gas out. Just enough time to brake and say SHIT! or FUCK!....and crap my pants, I didn't really, but you know what I mean.
I end up locking up the rear and pitch the rear out to the right a little > she hits me in lane 1.
I get hit by her front left quarter panel > I start getting all wiggly (tank slapping). I thought I was going to highside, but managed to keep the bike upright (maybe because of the dirt riding I used to do).

From this description it sounds like you made a non-optional lane change on the front quarter of a RAV4 moving into an empty space to your left.

I just keep seeing the side of her car getting closer and closer in my head and remembering I couldn't swerve left because of the car on my left hand side.

But this comment seems to indicate that you did not consider the space on the left available. Where did this thought come from? It is clearly old information at the time of the incident (as you did not get pinched between two cars), and is probably the difference between your near-wreck and a non-incident.

At a higher level, your language makes me think that your mental model of lane-sharing is a special extra motorcycle lane that exists on the bots-dots when you are between two cars. If that is your reference, your lane was horribly violated by the oblivious cager, and the situation was an emergency. (You rubbed shoulders with an SUV - clearly an emergency)

Another approach is to think of lane sharing as co-occupying a portion of the existing lane with the other vehicle, with all lane related decisions (lane spacing, lane changing, etc) shared between the co-occupants. Given that the cagers are often unaware of a motocycle's presence until after we pass, the second mental model means that a lane-sharing motorcycle must be ready and willing to make a lane change at any time.

 

[CorticalStack]

Just an observation, but could it be that the fact he locked up his rear enabled him to stay up? If the rear's already sliding, it'll slide sideways just as well as forwards, right?

Food for thought, for sure!

Glad that turned out so well, Variable; I don't even want to think about what might have happened if you went down on 101.

 

[Variable]

From this description it sounds like you made a non-optional lane change on the front quarter of a RAV4 moving into an empty space to your left.



But this comment seems to indicate that you did not consider the space on the left available. Where did this thought come from? It is clearly old information at the time of the incident (as you did not get pinched between two cars), and is probably the difference between your near-wreck and a non-incident.

At a higher level, your language makes me think that your mental model of lane-sharing is a special extra motorcycle lane that exists on the bots-dots when you are between two cars. If that is your reference, your lane was horribly violated by the oblivious cager, and the situation was an emergency. (You rubbed shoulders with an SUV - clearly an emergency)

Another approach is to think of lane sharing as co-occupying a portion of the existing lane with the other vehicle, with all lane related decisions (lane spacing, lane changing, etc) shared between the co-occupants. Given that the cagers are often unaware of a motocycle's presence until after we pass, the second mental model means that a lane-sharing motorcycle must be ready and willing to make a lane change at any time.

^^ I couldn't have said it better myself.

Just to clarify, lane sharing in #1 lane, I was just passing car on my left, gap opens as I am passing car on left, at that point, I remember thinking, "a car is going to dive in there....", rav4 or whatever it was dives in as I am approaching, lock it up, and hit. Did you mean the space on my "right" being available? Where the rav4 previously was? Good point... though I if I remember correctly, it was pretty bumper to bumper and there may have been a car there too...? Something to think about next time.

I do not ride ride the bot dots however, and do not think of lane splitting/sharing as an special extra moto lane. It is for sure dangerous, but done correctly can ease congestion, save a little time and frustration. I try to be a moto advocate and do it as politely as I can. Wave to drivers who move over a little, etc.

Just an observation, but could it be that the fact he locked up his rear enabled him to stay up? If the rear's already sliding, it'll slide sideways just as well as forwards, right?

Food for thought, for sure!

Glad that turned out so well, Variable; I don't even want to think about what might have happened if you went down on 101.

In retrospect, I think locking up the rear did help get the bike sidways, so when the car and I made contact, it wasn't just my front end hitting first, but more of the right side of the bike.
Thanks for the concern, too. I drive by that spot everyday I work, so I've had plenty of time to think of the consequences.... gone down or over the center divide.

I swear track instruction and dirt riding helped me keep the bike upright....and just a wee bit o' luck!

Ride safe folks!!!!

 

[Variable]

One thing you can do next time is trust that instinct that someone might shoot the gap, roll off the throttle a bit, maybe start to cover the brake, and shift your lane position away from where danger would come from. I know it happens fast, but if you notice a situation like that and start preparing for the possibility, you'll be better prepared when it actually happens.

Most definitely!

As I had mentioned, I wasn't really feeling like riding that day, but it was such a nice day, how could I have missed a day like that to ride? Maybe my head wasn't all there? Meaning, maybe I knew the routine, had done this many, many times before and was kinda in automatic mode? Something else to think about....

Since then, I have started to cover the brake, been riding a little more cautiously... giving even more focus than before.

I definitely have learned something (listen to your instincts and do not lose focus ever) and hope others will pick something up that they had not thought of before when lane sharing/splitting or whatever the new term is now.

 

[EastBayDave]

One thing you can do next time is trust that instinct that someone might shoot the gap, roll off the throttle a bit, maybe start to cover the brake, and shift your lane position away from where danger would come from. I know it happens fast, but if you notice a situation like that and start preparing for the possibility, you'll be better prepared when it actually happens.

agreed.

Also, if you commute/laneshare daily on the freeway, a modulator might be a worthwhile investment.

 

[RhythmRider]

Wow... glad your incident didn't turn out worse, Variable. Thanks for posting. As a daily commuter, this kind of story keeps me grounded to reality... that no matter how many days in a row one may go without incident, no matter how used to traversing the traffic, one must continue to be vigilant and acutely aware of the risks involved. I agree that rolling off in anticipation of the move may have given you time to avoid the collision.

I believe that watching the cars next to gaps and trying to anticipate lane changes is key to lane sharing without incidents. If there's an opportunity for someone to change lanes, but no indication that they won't, then I think rolling off is the least one can do to lower the risk factor. I personally recommend braking slightly. It scrubs off speed faster than rolling off, giving the rider invaluable reaction time. It primes the braking reaction in case the sudden lane change actually happens, and it puts more weight on the front tire so the rider can brake harder, sooner.

 

[asthmodeus]

agreed.

Also, if you commute/laneshare daily on the freeway, a modulator might be a worthwhile investment.

+1
i'm about ready to pop one of them on...what i always do now when splitting is just keep tapping the pass trigger every second or so...it gets kind of tiring but works really well- i can see about 80% of eyeballs in the sideview mirrors notice me as opposed to about 20% when i'm not tapping...that and honestly, splitters catch me off guard occasionally when i'm caging too.
good job keeping the bike up OP!

 

[sv2007]

Hey all,
..
I saw the traffic start to speed up in lane 1 and a gap opened as I was approaching.
Sure enough a RAV4 type of SUV dives in, blinker goes on right as she dives in > I am right at her back left bumper at this time.
Basically had just enough time to grab the binders (front and rear).
I know people just dive into open lanes, but I'm in the wrong spot at the wrong time and going a little too fast to avoid impact. ...

Perhaps honking may prevent her from changing lanes?
Hard to say, but a lot of times people just pause when somebody honks at them; the slight pause time may help in preventing the collision.

 

[Enchanter]

Perhaps honking may prevent her from changing lanes?
Hard to say, but a lot of times people just pause when somebody honks at them; the slight pause time may help in preventing the collision.

Very good observation.

 

[Variable]

Definitely looking into a modulator and vid cam go-pro type thing.

Rhythm: I'd say this incident has re-grounded me also. I feel I have to be twice as aware compared to before this. I'm still commuting the same route and giving more leeway to anticipate drivers inattentiveness.

One thing I noticed I wrote was it was the number 1 lane, actually I should have written it was the number 4 and 3 lanes (fast lane and lane to the right of it) where this occurred.

Maybe I could have honked, but if memory serves me correctly, I barely had time to get on the binders. I couldn't swerve to the left because there was a car there.
And one more thing I have been thinking of..... definitely leave yourself an escape route. I definitely did not have one at this incident.