Lane-splitting motorcyclist apologizes after freeway hit
Q I know many car drivers hate many “lane splitting” motorcyclists as do I when they do it at 60 mph or faster. For the most part, they get bashed in your column.
So, I thought I would share an incident that occurred to me and my wife in our SUV one day.
We were in the carpool lane on the on-ramp to Highway 101 at Trimble Road when I saw a motorcycle in my side view mirror coming up the ramp lane splitting. I had just installed new wider tow mirrors on my vehicle. When I saw him, I started to say to my wife, “Uh oh, better not hit my new mirrors” but before I could finish saying it, “bam!” he hit the mirror and continued on with more lane splitting and onto the freeway.
I gave him a blast of my horn as I felt I had no other recourse.
He had pulled off to the side of the freeway. Thinking he wanted a piece of me for honking or maybe his bike was damaged, I also pulled over. He walked up to our passenger side window and asked us if it was our mirror he had hit. We told him yes, it was.
He then asked if it was damaged and apologized for hitting it. We told him there was no damage and asked if his bike was damaged or if he was injured. He said there was no damage and he was not injured and apologized again. At that, we both continued on our way.
We know not all motorcyclists are of the bad ilk. It was nice to “run into” one that was good. I felt he should be acknowledged. — Dan Hendrix, San Jose
A I’m glad you have done so, but I would not have honked at him or stopped on the shoulder. Too risky. Pulling off at the next exit would have been better.
Q Any idea when Lawrence Expressway will be repaved? Lawrence was repaved from Homestead Road to Highway 101 over a year ago. Word was southbound from Homestead Road to Quito Road was supposed to be done this summer.
It’s now August and there’s no evidence it will be happening anytime soon. What gives? — Geralyn Lindh, San Jose
A Work will resume in earnest in another few days and should be done by Christmas.
Q When is the projected completion of the San Tomas Expressway widening between El Camino Real and Homestead Road? — Gary Amstutz
A Southbound should be done late this year; northbound in April.
Q I’m waiting to see how driverless cars will handle a Costco parking lot during the weekend. — R.O., San Jose
A Boy, that will be the test of all tests.