from invisible cows?! You're brilliant!!

hey... I came up with the idea... you guys make it happen... :D

Sometimes you just have to take one for the team. And think of the children.

Sadly, we don't, because we can't.

We can run PSAs and put bumper stickers on our bumpers until we're blue in the face, but we will never be able to stop humans from being the self-absorbed cretins they are.

Yes, we can make ourselves more visible. We can take all the recommended precautions. We can ride defensively and "safely", but we will never be able to overcome the rampant idiocy of the general public.

It's like the man at the MIXER ride says; "Keep your head and arms inside the MIXER at all times", but we don't.

We ride motorcycles.

JC

I've had people turn left in front of me many times. We all have. It varies from *WTF are you doing?!* to *Holyshit that guy almost hit me!*

I've given it thought. There's only one thing I've come up with that might even have a chance, and that's a stretch.

Before you can even *qualify* for an auto driver's license, required everyone to ride a motorcycle for a given period of time. Say, 2 years? If EVERYONE had to ride, and subject themselves to the same thing we do day in and day out, maybe, just maybe, they would be a little bit more attentive.

I know thanks to my motorcycle riding, and constantly scanning for cars, animals, etc. that it does make me a much more aware driver.

While I know this would never happen in reality, I think it's about the only thing that would even have a chance of helping.

In Michigan there are lots of roads that don't allow you to turn left. You have to turn right and then do a u-turn. We call them Michigan lefts. As roads get reconstructed, some of them are being reconfigured to this style. It's sometimes a pain in the ass but it is safer.

http://www.michiganhighways.org/imag...higan_left.gif

http://www.michiganhighways.org/inde...igan_left.html

I have reflective tape lining the edge of my windscreen, on the rear of the bike, and all over my helmet. As I am approaching intersections or places where people are turning in and out, I move from side to side within my lane to make myself more visable. Hopefully it helps.

However I've had people turn left (u-turn) directly in front of me while driving my CAR. So :idk:

I don't think making us look more human will help much either. Why? Because I've had strangers berate me for having the audacity of being a mom AND a motorcyclist. How dare we risk-taking motorcyclists have children, right?

unless theres a signal there, it appears the u turn part is now very similar to the "cursed left turn"

I know that.

I don't want to know that.

But, I know that.

Fuck.

unfortunately, this is very well said and very true.