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There has been quite a rash of bike “accidents” here in the DFW area over the last few weeks. I use quotes because I don’t see them so much accidents but more like screw-ups.
The first was after dark on the freeway in Dallas. Two cruisers were clipped when a car changed lanes. One recovered but the other went down and encountered a semi. Needless to say, dead at the scene. The screw up? Riding close enough to a car that it couldn’t change lanes without touching your bike. I’m personally so paranoid that, for me, there are only three options: ride far enough back to allow room for a blind lane change, ride far enough ahead to allow the same or rotate the throttle to full and pass the sucker.
Second was a group of riders, about ten I think, in Fort Worth. One rider snapped the throttle open and zipped ahead of the rest. He was followed by another who did exactly the same. First rider closed the throttle abruptly to coast back to the group –no brake lights- and the second rear-ended him. Again, dead at the scene. Two screw-ups compounding each other.
Last a sport bike with two up was approaching the elevated Y entrance to a freeway. Left lead north, right lead south. Biker wanted to go north but a slower vehicle was in the way. He attempted to pass on the right at high speed and brushed the concrete divider, spilling the bike. The driver went with the bike and was relatively un-injured but the passenger, being high and without handlebars for support went over the divider and onto the service road below. No helmet. She is still in critical condition in the ER. Passing on the right between a vehicle and the divider? Not much comment needed on this one.
We all make mistakes, and lord knows I’ve made my share, but as we dust off the bikes and head out on the highway, looking for adventure, remember how frail the human body is and do your best to avoid the simple screw-ups.
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