I watched it all unfold in front of me.....
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:55 pm
Yesterday I got a chance to belly up to a big plate of Mexican food and a Negro Modelo. My buddy and I returned to the car, snapped on the seat belts, fired her up, and watched the drama unfold in front of us.
I hadn't pulled out of my parking space when I watched two City Motor Cops approach the intersection from my right, side-by-side.... casually slowing down for an errant car up ahead pulling/stopping in front of them.
To my left I saw the 'errant' car preparing to turn left by nosing the front of his car into a partial turn..... stopping, and obstructing part of the oncoming traffic's lane.
The Motor Cop toward the outside of the lane, after a moment of hesitation, eventually accelerated past the nose of the opposing car.
His partner riding closer to mid-lane realized that he was headed straight for the right front corner of the sedan now completely stopped & askew in the intersection. His partner was in hesitation mode as he hadn't accelerated yet, so Cop #2 had no where to go!
In a panic, he stabbed at the rear brake, locked it up, hit the car and rolled across the hood not quite being completely thrown by the bike. What little toss the high side provided may have actually thrown him clear of getting pinched between bike & car's fender.
He tumbled (dressed in 3/4 helmet & short sleeve uniform), picked himself up, and then approached the driver still seated in the car (a little old man). Everybody was okay, the little old lady in the passenger seat got out of the car and picked up the cop's baton to hand it back to him (honest to God, I thought the cop was gonna draw down on her for having a weapon....).
Conclusion:
1) Riding side by side did NOT provide either of the bikes an avenue of escape.
2) The tough-n-fine Coply attitude was evident, as they truly believed no car would dare pull in front of them, let alone remain in their path.....
3) The disbelief that a cager could do this, created a moment of hesitation on the parts of the Motor Cops. Neither cop knew what the other was going to do...... as they needed (wanted) to keep that cool side-by-side formation.
4) If the cop on the right had goosed it sooner, two things could potentially have happened:
HE could have run into the front corner (or side) of the car, if the car decided to goose it outa their way,
- or -
if he successfully cleared the car sooner, his partner may have been provided an 'out' to swerve and miss the car.
5) I'm not sure if ABS would have aided in this slow speed, short distance mis-hap. A more aggressive use of the front brake MAY have actually helped stop the bike sooner.
6) This was totally avoidable IF the two cops had slowed to a stop rather than assuming their authority would precede them and magically clear obstructions in their paths.
Side by side riding formation has MORE than it's share of risks, even if you're on a conspicuous cop bike riding in parade with another cop on his conspicuous cop bike.
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I wanted to know a NON-motorcyclist's view of what happened was, so I asked my buddy this morning what HE saw. He began by saying that he saw two bike cops, one riding behind the other...... Without suggesting anything to him, he eventually admitted that he wasn't certain how they were riding prior to the impact. Interesting.
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I thought for a moment about sticking around yesterday and offering to be a witness, but two weeks of running and exercising daily cleaned my body of toxins and and reduced my tolerance to alcohol. The Negro Modello with my Relleno, Taco, Enchilada, rice, and tons of salsa & chips had the better of me.... so I chose to get behind the wheel instead.
I believe the impact could have been avoided, and though the old man will be cited for pulling out/stopping in front of them..... I place the blame on the parallel formation of the cops, lack of training and/or communication of how to respond while riding IN said formation, and an assumption on the parts of the Motors that poo can't happen to uniformed personnel riding in pairs on BIG motorcycles. The angle of the sun, the surrounding buildings parallel to the upright riders, the bright background BEHIND the cops (skyline & a huge white tent/water fountain illuminated by the sun @ 1:15), and the two single headlights spaced about nine feet apart, IN MY OPINION created a situation in which the two Motors were "invisible" to the old eyes and slow response of the cager. I think too that the Motor Cop could have been MUCH more aggressive with his front brake.
In addition, the cops SAW the obstruction up ahead, EVEN SLOWED FOR IT, but assumed (chose to believe) the cager would have scurried outa their way before they got to that point ..... however the elderly gentleman didn't drive outa harm's way.
Stuff happens..... ride staggered, ride your own ride. And watch out for bikes riding two abreast!
I hadn't pulled out of my parking space when I watched two City Motor Cops approach the intersection from my right, side-by-side.... casually slowing down for an errant car up ahead pulling/stopping in front of them.
To my left I saw the 'errant' car preparing to turn left by nosing the front of his car into a partial turn..... stopping, and obstructing part of the oncoming traffic's lane.
The Motor Cop toward the outside of the lane, after a moment of hesitation, eventually accelerated past the nose of the opposing car.
His partner riding closer to mid-lane realized that he was headed straight for the right front corner of the sedan now completely stopped & askew in the intersection. His partner was in hesitation mode as he hadn't accelerated yet, so Cop #2 had no where to go!
In a panic, he stabbed at the rear brake, locked it up, hit the car and rolled across the hood not quite being completely thrown by the bike. What little toss the high side provided may have actually thrown him clear of getting pinched between bike & car's fender.
He tumbled (dressed in 3/4 helmet & short sleeve uniform), picked himself up, and then approached the driver still seated in the car (a little old man). Everybody was okay, the little old lady in the passenger seat got out of the car and picked up the cop's baton to hand it back to him (honest to God, I thought the cop was gonna draw down on her for having a weapon....).
Conclusion:
1) Riding side by side did NOT provide either of the bikes an avenue of escape.
2) The tough-n-fine Coply attitude was evident, as they truly believed no car would dare pull in front of them, let alone remain in their path.....
3) The disbelief that a cager could do this, created a moment of hesitation on the parts of the Motor Cops. Neither cop knew what the other was going to do...... as they needed (wanted) to keep that cool side-by-side formation.
4) If the cop on the right had goosed it sooner, two things could potentially have happened:
HE could have run into the front corner (or side) of the car, if the car decided to goose it outa their way,
- or -
if he successfully cleared the car sooner, his partner may have been provided an 'out' to swerve and miss the car.
5) I'm not sure if ABS would have aided in this slow speed, short distance mis-hap. A more aggressive use of the front brake MAY have actually helped stop the bike sooner.
6) This was totally avoidable IF the two cops had slowed to a stop rather than assuming their authority would precede them and magically clear obstructions in their paths.
Side by side riding formation has MORE than it's share of risks, even if you're on a conspicuous cop bike riding in parade with another cop on his conspicuous cop bike.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I wanted to know a NON-motorcyclist's view of what happened was, so I asked my buddy this morning what HE saw. He began by saying that he saw two bike cops, one riding behind the other...... Without suggesting anything to him, he eventually admitted that he wasn't certain how they were riding prior to the impact. Interesting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought for a moment about sticking around yesterday and offering to be a witness, but two weeks of running and exercising daily cleaned my body of toxins and and reduced my tolerance to alcohol. The Negro Modello with my Relleno, Taco, Enchilada, rice, and tons of salsa & chips had the better of me.... so I chose to get behind the wheel instead.
I believe the impact could have been avoided, and though the old man will be cited for pulling out/stopping in front of them..... I place the blame on the parallel formation of the cops, lack of training and/or communication of how to respond while riding IN said formation, and an assumption on the parts of the Motors that poo can't happen to uniformed personnel riding in pairs on BIG motorcycles. The angle of the sun, the surrounding buildings parallel to the upright riders, the bright background BEHIND the cops (skyline & a huge white tent/water fountain illuminated by the sun @ 1:15), and the two single headlights spaced about nine feet apart, IN MY OPINION created a situation in which the two Motors were "invisible" to the old eyes and slow response of the cager. I think too that the Motor Cop could have been MUCH more aggressive with his front brake.
In addition, the cops SAW the obstruction up ahead, EVEN SLOWED FOR IT, but assumed (chose to believe) the cager would have scurried outa their way before they got to that point ..... however the elderly gentleman didn't drive outa harm's way.
Stuff happens..... ride staggered, ride your own ride. And watch out for bikes riding two abreast!
