I have 3 basic routes. The one I chose today is not my usual route as it involves more distance, faster speeds and aggressive drivers with lots of truck traffic
I head south on Oak Street then East along Marine Drive on my way towards Burnaby. I have to go through 2 cities before I end up in Coquitlam. This route is not unlike a mini-Indy 500 with cars zigging in and out, trying to grab pole position
I leave before 7am and travel in the opposite direction of rush hour. Most live in the suburbs and drive/ride into the City. I live in the city and ride to the suburbs. I dislike this route as it makes me ride faster than I should and today I nearly got "wiped out". You may spot the dangerous position I put myself in on the windy stretch
Here I am riding along Marine Drive. The posted speed limit is 50 kmh, but if you actually rode at this speed you would be run over and they would have to unroll you from the road
It is not safe to snap "rolling" photos on the upcoming stretch so I changed to video mode. You need to keep a sharp eye out for aggressive trucks and tailgaters. I found myself behaving like "them" when I use this route, as I decided to take a much slower route with more traffic lights.
I am sorry for the blurry video. I am using a Lumix TS3 but I forgot to change it to Scene Mode so it was "hunting" for focus most of the time and never really "locked in". There was an aggressive truck which didn't see me and I nearly got squished into the curb
Bob:
ReplyDeleteGreat for you to be going against the rush hour - thought that would be good for your stress levels but there are clearly plenty of idiots still around. I hate people hassling you when you stick to speed limits.
PS, is your headlight permanently on? With the indicating truck, I wonder why he didn't see you!
ReplyDeleteGeoff:
Deletewhat would an IAMS trained rider do? It was a 3 lane separated road. I was in lane 3 coming up fast. The truck made no indication of any lane changes until it was beside me. The truck actually started to move over into my lane at the same time the indicators went on. After a couple of curves the left lane splits into 2 lanes for a dual left turn lane, at a signal light. I wanted to go straight. All I could think of was to "GUN IT" as there is no shoulder, just a curb. If I slowed down it would have been beside me, with decreasing space between us.
My dual headlights are always ON
That's a really serious ride and route. We almost saw something happen that would have been ghastly! Glad you didn't get "squished" The point of my challenge was for people to show the glory or the drudge, so you did just fine. I enjoyed the ride and appreciated seeing one of your challenging routes. Thanks for making that extra video effort, too!
ReplyDeleteMartha:
Deletethat is the more dangerous of my 3 routes. There are usually more trucks. You can't ride a small scooter as traffic flows too fast. Everyone is in a rush to go nowhere fast. My commute is not 49cc friendly as even coming out of our company driveway after work, traffic is going nearly 50 MPH, with 4 lanes of traffic.
That's a lot of traffic. I don't see how you do it everyday.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll be the dissenter and say that the truck didn't seem too aggressive. Having driven similar vehicles, in a mirror it's difficult to see any vehicle especially something small such as a motorcycle if it's sitting in its "blind spot" unless they are moving faster or slower than the truck. The headlight really helps but only if it is moving relative to the truck.
Richard:
DeleteTruckers here drive by intimidation. they are aggressive and change lanes frequently. That truck started to squeeze into my lane even before he signalled. He was trying to cut me off, and there was nowhere to go as the lanes are narrow, with a curb . . . no shoulders.
Love the video Bob.
ReplyDeleteThat truck was scary, the main thing I noticed there was that his blinker went on pretty much at the same time that he started moving over, I have to wonder if he gave more than a cursory glance in his mirror. It's one of my pet hates tho, if people indicated then looked it would give someone like you and me a chance to take some action, I always thought an indicator was there to warn people of your intentions, if you are already moving over when you put on your indicator then its not much of a warning is it.
I agree with you wholeheatedly about the people who hassle you for doing the speed limit, I really wonder why people think they need to kill themselves or others just to get somewhere what amounts to a maximum of a couple of minutes earlier.
In case you hadn't guessed, I hate riding in traffic too!!
Noticed you got a reflection shot in too .. well done :)
Brenda:
DeleteI think the trucker turned his wheel at the same time as he turned his wheel into my lane. If he had signalled his intention FIRST, I would have stayed behind him, so he was trying to cut me off, ON PURPOSE
Glad you weren't squished Bob. I don't envy your commute even if you are going against most of the traffic. I don't like big city driving at all.
ReplyDeleteI must be a small town girl at heart. I think if I lived in a big city I'd want to live in one big enough I could walk everywhere and not need wheels.
Trobairitz:
DeleteI like "small town girls", and Troubadour does too . If everyone could go the speed limit, or close it would be better, but lots of drivers don't signal, and make right turns on RED lights without stopping.
pretty ride, but yikes on the close call!...
ReplyDeleteMs M:
DeleteYIKES is RIGHT. Most drivers don't follow the rules of the road, and they are NOT courteous.
I'll take the stop signs and stoplights any day. I, too, am glad you didn't get squished.
ReplyDelete~Keith
Keith:
DeleteIt takes over an hour for me to get to the open road. Then the traffic thins out and there are less stop signs. I get less energetic knowing that I have to ride two hours extra (both ways) just to get to a good road.
Yikes, that was scary. I'm glad you weren't squished, too.
ReplyDeleteKathy:
Deletethat truck gave no indication of any lane changes until I was beside it. Then it started to move into my lane at the same time as the signal light went on. They should have signaled ahead of time to give warning.
I'm glad nothing happened either.
I've been on roller coasters less nail-biting than that. Especially the part with the truck.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how some people, like that truck driver, are not only arrogant, but stupid.
I think your ride is scenic, with all that Northwest vegetation.
I was up in your neck of the woods -- sort of -- in Whidbey Island last week. Paradise, as far as I'm concerned. Take cover! Californians moving your way. Including me.