[Little Pig]

Let this be a lesson to all motorcyclists to make sure they watch their mirrors at traffic lights, keep the bike in gear and cover the throttle and clutch. All but the most anemic bikes have the acceleration capacity to drive out of the way of a potential wreck like this if the rider is attentive.If you’re not first in line at the light, leave enough room between you and the car in front that you can get up alongside if something like this happens. Two cars in a rear-ender generally means ticked-off people and a tow truck. With a bike, a rear-ender nearly always results in an ambulance at best, and a coroner’s wagon at worst.

[CurlyDave]

This kind of stuff is exactly why I quit riding many years ago.

I was safe, but those around me were not...

[OldMissileer]

Let this be a lesson to all motorcyclists to make sure they watch their mirrors at traffic lights, keep the bike in gear and cover the throttle and clutch.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses teach the maneuvers necessary to avoid just such a scenario.

MSF has the beginners course, which I took about nine years ago to brush up after getting off bikes for a couple of years, and then they have an Advanced Rider's course which is good to take every couple of years to brush up on emergency procedures.

[Mashood]

All the defensive driving in the world won’t make a hill of beans if the courts treat offenders with kidd gloves.
Appears that motorcyclists are second class citizens.

[Salamander]

As if I didn’t already have *enough* to watch out for when *not* sitting still.....:-\

[valkyry1]

Let this be a lesson to all motorcyclists to make sure they watch their mirrors at traffic lights, keep the bike in gear and cover the throttle and clutch. All but the most anemic bikes have the acceleration capacity to drive out of the way of a potential wreck like this if the rider is attentive.

Thats what I always did, but then you still had the cars running thru the red-lights, and/or making the illegal left turn thru them. 

[Chuckster]

Over the course of my forty year riding career I was hit twice while stopped at a light, once by another motorcycle! Fortunately, no injuries. You bet I watch my mirror. The bike caught me by surprise though d8^(

[Blue Jays]

In addition to watching mirrors, keeping the motorcycle in gear, plus covering throttle & clutch, another technique I employ is *blinking* the brakelight. I use a completely "random" pattern so it doesn't potentially lull a driver or make them target fixate. Good suggestions above from all.