Setup:
Hwy 528 comes up into Rio Rancho as a four lane 40 mph road,then decreases down to two lanes at 40 mph in about a 2 mile stretch. Along this 2 mile stretch there are are 5 stoplights. Traffic is heavy for some, but coming from back East and driving out in Cali, traffic here is nothing.
What happened:
I come up the hill which makes this nice sweeping turn staying in its own lane, then when you get on the hill you merge left and enter Hwy 528. Well, like I said this is a great sweeping uphill turn... I of course am doing 60 mph in a 40 so as to enjoy the turn a little. I come up on the hill and let off the throttle and slow to 45 mph (there abouts) there is a hole in traffic and I move into the center lane, I like the center lane cause there is no more merging for the rest of the ride I am on. Anyways, right at the top of the hill there is a stop light and its red. I come to stop and at this point all the cars catch up and surround me. The light turns green and the cars in the left lane are now racing off to get in front of traffic and merge before the lane ends. I come off slowly and let 3 cars in, in the next lane over (left) 2 cars move in where the 3 cars were. Ok, now I have cars/trucks all around me and we are doing approx 43 mph with no issues.
Here it comes.... I notice the red truck next to me is kinda moving into my lane. I ride the left side of the lane so I notice that the passenger door is getting closer to my leg. I look down and there is a young boy (6yrs maybe) looking up at me and waving. I smile thru the helmet and look past him to see his Mom talking on the phone (holding it with her right shoulder) and not seeing me next to her. I start to move over in the lane and she still keeps coming. I push up the visor and yell and hit the horn... she is still coming in. On my right is a full size pick up and I am just in front of the drivers door, the car (blueish in color) behind me is like right on by tail and the car in front of me (white) is slowing down. I think the woman in the read truck will notice she is coming in between two cars that are barely giving me room... she doesn't.
Now I am starting to freak out and flash my brake lights and put my left hand down to signal slowing down, but the white care behind me is still coming on strong and not noticing anything I am doing. I look again to the right and calculate if I can cut in front of the truck without causing to much trouble. The driver of the truck, I notice, is watching what is happening and has moved over to the left side of his lane and signals for me to come over. I move into the lane next to the truck and the red truck is now fully in the lane I was just in. The white truck slows down and lets me in front of him and I wave, he waves back and shakes his head. Nerves are shot and the next light is turning yellow... then red. I am parked right next to the red truck, so I calmly knock on the passenger window, the boy smiles, looks over at his Mom (I think) and she looks over at me. She now gets this worried, scared type look, and the boy looks back and he has a scared look on now as well. I am now calm and just shake my head and roll forward to the white line. Light turns green and I move off. This time I increase speed quickly and to 45 mph and stay in front of all the cars. Also, I am now having to merge back to the left to be where I need to be.
Sorry for the long post, cause like this all happened in a matter of seconds, but it seemed a life time.
All, please be careful out there on the roads. Those that drive cars, smoke, talk on the phone, and adjust the radio stations are just not seeing us on two wheels; let alone other cars. For that matter it doesn't seem any individual driving a car pays attention to those of us on two wheels.
Holidays are coming and its a time rejoice with family and friends... PLEASE be careful.
Thanks for listening.
Hwy 528 comes up into Rio Rancho as a four lane 40 mph road,then decreases down to two lanes at 40 mph in about a 2 mile stretch. Along this 2 mile stretch there are are 5 stoplights. Traffic is heavy for some, but coming from back East and driving out in Cali, traffic here is nothing.
What happened:
I come up the hill which makes this nice sweeping turn staying in its own lane, then when you get on the hill you merge left and enter Hwy 528. Well, like I said this is a great sweeping uphill turn... I of course am doing 60 mph in a 40 so as to enjoy the turn a little. I come up on the hill and let off the throttle and slow to 45 mph (there abouts) there is a hole in traffic and I move into the center lane, I like the center lane cause there is no more merging for the rest of the ride I am on. Anyways, right at the top of the hill there is a stop light and its red. I come to stop and at this point all the cars catch up and surround me. The light turns green and the cars in the left lane are now racing off to get in front of traffic and merge before the lane ends. I come off slowly and let 3 cars in, in the next lane over (left) 2 cars move in where the 3 cars were. Ok, now I have cars/trucks all around me and we are doing approx 43 mph with no issues.
Here it comes.... I notice the red truck next to me is kinda moving into my lane. I ride the left side of the lane so I notice that the passenger door is getting closer to my leg. I look down and there is a young boy (6yrs maybe) looking up at me and waving. I smile thru the helmet and look past him to see his Mom talking on the phone (holding it with her right shoulder) and not seeing me next to her. I start to move over in the lane and she still keeps coming. I push up the visor and yell and hit the horn... she is still coming in. On my right is a full size pick up and I am just in front of the drivers door, the car (blueish in color) behind me is like right on by tail and the car in front of me (white) is slowing down. I think the woman in the read truck will notice she is coming in between two cars that are barely giving me room... she doesn't.
Now I am starting to freak out and flash my brake lights and put my left hand down to signal slowing down, but the white care behind me is still coming on strong and not noticing anything I am doing. I look again to the right and calculate if I can cut in front of the truck without causing to much trouble. The driver of the truck, I notice, is watching what is happening and has moved over to the left side of his lane and signals for me to come over. I move into the lane next to the truck and the red truck is now fully in the lane I was just in. The white truck slows down and lets me in front of him and I wave, he waves back and shakes his head. Nerves are shot and the next light is turning yellow... then red. I am parked right next to the red truck, so I calmly knock on the passenger window, the boy smiles, looks over at his Mom (I think) and she looks over at me. She now gets this worried, scared type look, and the boy looks back and he has a scared look on now as well. I am now calm and just shake my head and roll forward to the white line. Light turns green and I move off. This time I increase speed quickly and to 45 mph and stay in front of all the cars. Also, I am now having to merge back to the left to be where I need to be.
Sorry for the long post, cause like this all happened in a matter of seconds, but it seemed a life time.
All, please be careful out there on the roads. Those that drive cars, smoke, talk on the phone, and adjust the radio stations are just not seeing us on two wheels; let alone other cars. For that matter it doesn't seem any individual driving a car pays attention to those of us on two wheels.
Holidays are coming and its a time rejoice with family and friends... PLEASE be careful.
Thanks for listening.
