VV, thank you. That was one of the videos that came up when I googled it and it does help to visualize what is happening but the thing that threw me off was that in wikipedia it specifically mentioned this happens in two in-line wheeled vehicles and left out trikes or motorcycles with side cars.

I still wonder what is different about bicycle construction now because I just don't remember this being a problem when I was a kid. The only time I struggled as a kid was if I tried to ride a bike that was too big for me and if I did I got that same sense of lack of control when starting and stopping. For quite a while I assumed that the first bike I got last year was too big for me and that is why I had problems.

My new bike is better sized for me but I still had this happen once, that feeling like it was just getting away from me while dismounting.