Tinted windows from a M/C point of view

[desertrat]

One of the things I do when aproaching a car sitting at a side street or driveway is look at the driver to see if they are looking at me. Twice this weekend I came upon cars that had the windows so dark I couldn't even see if there was a driver in there. One of them happened to be a street I was turning into. When I got up next to the car I could finally see the driver. Older lady, gray hair and pale as most older white ladies are.

This is an very real safety issue and I wish they would crack down on it.

 

[glhs837]

I don't really count on them seeing me, so that aspect doesn't bother me. Even if thier head is pointed right at me, that doesn't mean they see me. But I do agree, because I do use what I can see of them to help me predict what they are going to do. But some folks get tint for medical reasons, especially old people.

 

[ItalianScallion]

One of the things I do when aproaching a car sitting at a side street or driveway is look at the driver to see if they are looking at me. Twice this weekend I came upon cars that had the windows so dark I couldn't even see if there was a driver in there. One of them happened to be a street I was turning into. When I got up next to the car I could finally see the driver. Older lady, gray hair and pale as most older white ladies are.

This is an very real safety issue and I wish they would crack down on it.

I fully agree but the cops are too busy socializing here in Waldorf. I see lots of them sitting "69" style when they should get busy citing those cars with deep tinted windows.

I always look at the front wheel at intersections. It's usually a real good indicator of car movement. If it moves, I move.

 

[GWguy]

I like to be able to look thru a vehicle to see what's in front or to their side. I like to be able to plan my path based on what I see. Tinted windows make that difficult.

That said, I always ride like everyone else is absolutely going to do the wrong thing and ride accordingly. Nice when they do the right thing, but I plan for the worst.

 

[Asmodeus]

am i the only one who feels just slightly perturbed about the "for sale" vehicles lining the road? They always get positioned so they look like someone is going to pull out... Every day... even when I KNOW that car was there yesterday with a for sale sign on it, I gotta roll off the throttle until I can see it's not going to pull out... The ones with the heavy tinted windows make it that much worse...

 

[bulldog]

I have ridden casually, on and off for many years, but just recently bought my first bike and now ride every day. Although I thought I knew what I was doing, the motorcycle safety course I took learnt me a bunch and I am now pay much closer attention and am aware of what is going on around me. Even so, no matter how careful I am, it seems that there is always something. Almost got clocked this morning by a woman who started to pull out in front of me, but saw me just as I was "locking them up". Quickly found out that my ABS works pretty well.

 

[ItalianScallion]

am i the only one who feels just slightly perturbed about the "for sale" vehicles lining the road? They always get positioned so they look like someone is going to pull out... Every day... even when I KNOW that car was there yesterday with a for sale sign on it, I gotta roll off the throttle until I can see it's not going to pull out... The ones with the heavy tinted windows make it that much worse...

That, or they might be cops running radar...

 

[Larry Gude]

One of the things I do when aproaching a car sitting at a side street or driveway is look at the driver to see if they are looking at me. Twice this weekend I came upon cars that had the windows so dark I couldn't even see if there was a driver in there. One of them happened to be a street I was turning into. When I got up next to the car I could finally see the driver. Older lady, gray hair and pale as most older white ladies are.

This is an very real safety issue and I wish they would crack down on it.

I hear you but, I have had drivers look right through me. I don't care about seeing them, the driver, as much as I care about the 'body language' of the vehicle as a whole. Even if it's sitting still at a stop sign or light, I'm still trying to 'feel' what they are doing; waiting for me. Stop/starting/anxious to go, what have you. I'd agree there is more to be picked up on if you can readily see the driver but, I guess I can't get behind tinted window enforcement.

Now, if you are suggesting little old ladies driving is the very real safety issue...

 

[glhs837]

I have ridden casually, on and off for many years, but just recently bought my first bike and now ride every day. Although I thought I knew what I was doing, the motorcycle safety course I took learnt me a bunch and I am now pay much closer attention and am aware of what is going on around me. Even so, no matter how careful I am, it seems that there is always something. Almost got clocked this morning by a woman who started to pull out in front of me, but saw me just as I was "locking them up". Quickly found out that my ABS works pretty well.

That says to me that you need to do two things, and consider adding a third.......

Expand your "bubble" or "safe escape distance". Ensure you have a larger space, and room to evade without engaging ABS.

Trust motorists far less, assume they are going to do the worst case thing, EVERY single time they have a chance, they want to kill you, really they do. Being ready for that attempt on your life means you're ready far ahead of the time required. Some view this as paranoia, and think it means riding around in a panicky state, but it really doesn't. Just means you are in a predictive state regarding traffic at all times, and the calculations involved become mental background noise after a while. Nothing surprises you because you are mentally prepared for all the possible outcomes around you.

I have, since the purchase of this last bike, become a member of the "wagglers" club. In any situation where cross traffic could endanger me, I give my front wheel a wiggle, making my headlights move around some. Seems to increase the awareness of me by those vehicles. Far fewer folks try and pop out in front of me than before I started doing it. Don't trust them not to of course, and always have a plan to evade them without drama, but need that plan far less than before. I know there are modulatiors, but those are passsive devices, I prefer the manual touch, requires me to stay in the game more.

 

[GWguy]

Trust motorists far less, assume they are going to do the worst case thing, EVERY single time they have a chance, they want to kill you, really they do. Being ready for that attempt on your life means you're ready far ahead of the time required. Some view this as paranoia, and think it means riding around in a panicky state, but it really doesn't. Just means you are in a predictive state regarding traffic at all times, and the calculations involved become mental background noise after a while. Nothing surprises you because you are mentally prepared for all the possible outcomes around you.

And because you are in this state, if something DOES happen, you can brush it off and say 'eh, I expected that...' and continue on without raising your blood pressure or resorting to road rage. You just sigh, mutter 'dumazz' under your breath and continue riding.

 

[glhs837]

"Dumazz" and the headshake is exactly what I do Last time someone got in my bubble was right about two years ago, right after I got this bike. Saw them make eye contact after rolling forward. They stopped rolling, after seeing me, I assumed.....of course, I was wrong, and they continued to pull out two seconds later. Pucker factor was high........

speaking which which, was on the Baynet, saw a forum post about watching out for bikers......one of the posts, lady mentioned that here man was intruded upon by a bus, but thanks to his equipment and training, he was able to aly it down and not hit the bus.......

so i wondered to myself, "Where the hell was he trained?" Pretty sure no curriculum outside the local biker gang maybe do they teach laying down the bike as a good thing.

 

[Asmodeus]

"Dumazz" and the headshake is exactly what I do Last time someone got in my bubble was right about two years ago, right after I got this bike. Saw them make eye contact after rolling forward. They stopped rolling, after seeing me, I assumed.....of course, I was wrong, and they continued to pull out two seconds later. Pucker factor was high........

speaking which which, was on the Baynet, saw a forum post about watching out for bikers......one of the posts, lady mentioned that here man was intruded upon by a bus, but thanks to his equipment and training, he was able to aly it down and not hit the bus.......

so i wondered to myself, "Where the hell was he trained?" Pretty sure no curriculum outside the local biker club maybe do they teach laying down the bike as a good thing.

:fixed:

I don't know anyone who would teach to lay a bike down... no brakes if the wheels ain't pointing down...

 

[glhs837]

Had someone on here try to tell us that the friction of the bike sliding on it's side would be greater than full braking..................

 

[desertrat]

I hear you but, I have had drivers look right through me. I don't care about seeing them, the driver, as much as I care about the 'body language' of the vehicle as a whole. Even if it's sitting still at a stop sign or light, I'm still trying to 'feel' what they are doing; waiting for me. Stop/starting/anxious to go, what have you. I'd agree there is more to be picked up on if you can readily see the driver but, I guess I can't get behind tinted window enforcement.

Now, if you are suggesting little old ladies driving is the very real safety issue...

Like I said it is just one of the things I look at. Some others are tire/wheel starting to roll? Traffic coming the other way? Less likely for them to pull across anyway. Exit stragedy? If anything looks iffy, it's time to start slowing.

 

[GWguy]

Had someone on here try to tell us that the friction of the bike sliding on it's side would be greater than full braking..................

Yeah, but the sparks look cool....

 

[desertrat]

Yeah, but the sparks look cool....

Spectacular at night. Especially on a concrete highway.

 

[Toxick]

One of the things I do when aproaching a car sitting at a side street or driveway is look at the driver to see if they are looking at me.

 

[basshawg95]

"Dumazz" and the headshake is exactly what I do Last time someone got in my bubble was right about two years ago, right after I got this bike. Saw them make eye contact after rolling forward. They stopped rolling, after seeing me, I assumed.....of course, I was wrong, and they continued to pull out two seconds later. Pucker factor was high........

speaking which which, was on the Baynet, saw a forum post about watching out for bikers......one of the posts, lady mentioned that here man was intruded upon by a bus, but thanks to his equipment and training, he was able to aly it down and not hit the bus.......

so i wondered to myself, "Where the hell was he trained?" Pretty sure no curriculum outside the local biker gang maybe do they teach laying down the bike as a good thing.

in the last few days i've had 2 people literally run me off the road on my scoot.
the first lady did it on 235. when i pulled up next to her to compliment her on her driving abilities, she flipped me off before i could say a word..
you ALWAYS have to expect the unexpected...........

 

[Asmodeus]

in the last few days i've had 2 people literally run me off the road on my scoot.
the first lady did it on 235. when i pulled up next to her to compliment her on her driving abilities, she flipped me off before i could say a word..
you ALWAYS have to expect the unexpected...........

I wonder if it's the same woman in the Carolla who dove across 2 lanes in Edgewater last week so she could turn on Mitchell's Chance rd... No signal, just jerked the wheel, cut off a pickup in the right lane, me in the left and slammed her brakes into the turn lane... Pull up to the light, look over at her and she's flipping me the bird? lol... Not like it was a teenager either, this was a woman easily in her 40s... "use your signal next time lady"...

If they signal, I let them in... with plenty of room... It's a mix of courtesy and self-preservation... I just don't believe they will actually look before they start that lane change...

 

[Asmodeus]

That says to me that you need to do two things, and consider adding a third.......

Expand your "bubble" or "safe escape distance". Ensure you have a larger space, and room to evade without engaging ABS.

Trust motorists far less, assume they are going to do the worst case thing, EVERY single time they have a chance, they want to kill you, really they do. Being ready for that attempt on your life means you're ready far ahead of the time required. Some view this as paranoia, and think it means riding around in a panicky state, but it really doesn't. Just means you are in a predictive state regarding traffic at all times, and the calculations involved become mental background noise after a while. Nothing surprises you because you are mentally prepared for all the possible outcomes around you.

I have, since the purchase of this last bike, become a member of the "wagglers" club. In any situation where cross traffic could endanger me, I give my front wheel a wiggle, making my headlights move around some. Seems to increase the awareness of me by those vehicles. Far fewer folks try and pop out in front of me than before I started doing it. Don't trust them not to of course, and always have a plan to evade them without drama, but need that plan far less than before. I know there are modulatiors, but those are passsive devices, I prefer the manual touch, requires me to stay in the game more.

I change lane position a lot when riding solo... Any entrance to the road, I move from side to side to make sure anything there can see me... On Rt2 every day I probably change lane position 20 times easily.. Some of the cross over roads you have the guy behind you, the guy turning left from the southbound, the guy sitting east wanting to turn right or left, and the one sitting west wanting across as well.... I make sure each one of them sees me behind whatever vehicle I'm following... I find it usually makes tailgaters back off as well... Makes them wonder what I'm avoiding on the road?

What makes your sphincter pucker is when you do all that and as you get even with the intersection, you move left in the lane and you find that little car has creeped up beside the truck going straight and is ready to turn right... You know he didn't see you until you were right there... Funny enough the most common expression on their face seems to be annoyance that you are in the way...