by "valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv)
Published 09/27/2017 at 19:08
by "valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv)
Published 09/27/2017 at 19:08
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STARS: 3
Yesterday I was going eastbound in my bike lane approaching a ‘T’ intersection where my direction of travel has no stop (the top line of the T). There were some eastbound cars up ahead signalling for a right turn (onto the vertical line of the T) so I begin to coast in order to leave enough room. As I approach the junction I’m beside a pickup truck who was NOT signalling. Just before I enter the intersection I see him begin to make a right turn, directly into me.
As a cyclist I do not wish to get hit and I also don’t subscribe to the mantra “it’s not if , but when ”. However I know it’s a reality and a small part of me plays the scenario out once in a while. But I never expected it to happen quite like that, where I was literally right next to the guy.
I quickly swerve right to try and avoid him. He does see me, thankfully, and gets on the brakes. Some part of the truck, probably the bumper, taps my rear wheel or frame and I feel the back tire get pushed out. I am able to keep my balance and roll through the intersection. At that moment I desperately want to turn around and do some damage to his beater truck but have already crossed the road. He quickly glances up to me and then takes a good look at the bike lane (there were several bikes a bit behind me).
Adrenaline was pumping and I was pretty angry. I did not hold back in pointing out to several drivers to use their signals on that ride, and I’m doing it more now. To the car it’s a scratch, and to me it’s serious damage. If you don’t signal (I’m sure most Oppos do, this is a blanket statement) I will call you out on it and if you don’t care I’m taking off your fucking side mirrors.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/27/2017 at 19:11, STARS: 1
Yipes! Glad you’re ok!
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
09/27/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 1
Glad you’re OK.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
09/27/2017 at 19:13, STARS: 7
Glad you’re okay.
People who do not indicate probably cheat on their spouses and punch babies.
I don’t care if you’re changing lanes in front of me after passing, making a required turn from a turn-only lane, or pulling to the curb to park/stop.
YOU. ARE. REQUIRED. BY. LAW. TO. SIGNAL. YOUR. INTENT.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
09/27/2017 at 19:26, STARS: 0
I’m glad you are okay. This is also a pet peeve of mine. If your blinker isn’t on how the fuck am I supposed to know where you are going at an intersection?
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
09/27/2017 at 19:27, STARS: 0
A freakin’ men brotha.
"Straightsix9904" (Straightsix9904)
09/27/2017 at 19:28, STARS: 0
Damn dude. Glad your okay. I honestly can’t believe I haven’t been hit in the past 6months of riding to work. I’m aggressive, when people turn into me I slap cars and mirrors. Actually,I’m more surprised I’m not shot, this is Texas after all.
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
09/27/2017 at 19:34, STARS: 0
I’ve been lucky so far — just have to deal with idiot pedestrians on part of the loop around the lake here when I ride there. Glad you and the bike are ok. OTOH, bad things can happen when other cyclists aren’t paying attention! This is my son’s wheel from nationals when someone pulled out of the drafting line without looking as he was passing.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
09/27/2017 at 19:36, STARS: 1
Always signal, and always CHECK the bike lane before crossing it. (This is also why the American approach to bike lane design is basically always dangerous, because it doesn’t account for these conflicts.)
"valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv)
09/27/2017 at 20:55, STARS: 0
Oof, I don’t think I wanna know what else happened during that crash! He’s ok?
"valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv)
09/27/2017 at 21:02, STARS: 0
Haha I would not feel comfortable pulling that in Texas! In Toronto it’s a different story...
"syaieya" (syaieya)
09/27/2017 at 21:18, STARS: 0
As someome in an american town with lots of bike lanes added seemingly at random, do you have an example of something better?
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
09/27/2017 at 21:32, STARS: 0
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"razorbeamteam" (razorbeamteam)
09/27/2017 at 21:35, STARS: 0
That sucks, but glad you made it out ok. Did your wheel get bent at all? I got hit 5 years ago when an old man in a BMW (of course) didn’t stop at a stop sign. I got clobbered pretty good and spent the night in the hospital. I don’t ride to work anymore because I got freaked out. I still ride for fun, but not in the city. Gotta imagine Texas is a tough place to ride.
"valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv)
09/27/2017 at 22:38, STARS: 0
I think the bike made it out unscathed, it didn’t feel unbalanced after I kept riding it. Sorry to hear about your experience... Sucks that someone else’s inattentiveness affects you more than them. Hope you get back on one day. And I’m in Toronto!
"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
09/28/2017 at 09:18, STARS: 0
Glad you are okay. Getting hit sucks, because the system doesn’t really care if motorists strike cyclists.
I couple years ago I was hit by an idiot in a pickup pulling out of a business driveway onto the road without looking. I bounced off the side of his pickup a few times before my screaming got him to look and realize what he was doing. Had he knocked me over, I’m certain he’d have just driven off with no idea that I even existed. I filed a police report, but there is nothing they can do if someone isn’t injured and no serious property damage occurs— it doesn’t count as a crash if you *almost* run someone over.
Last year I had a guy (also in a pickup) turn onto the road I was on, but do so into *my* lane rather than the correct side of the road. He was staring right at me, then turned his truck even sharper into me, to the point I had to hit his fender with my fist to push away and try not to get hit. That of course enraged him and he got out and started yelling that I “hit his truck” and how he was going to kick my ass. There was no point trying to explain that since he was driving in the oncoming lane and I had already stopped, it we him hitting me, not the other way around.
Try to stay safe out there. It is harder and harder with the terrible drivers all around.
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
09/28/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 0
Believe it or not, both kids managed to stay upright after this. My son had to run his bike about 1/4 mile to the wheel pit (while wearing his cycling shoes) though, so lost too much time and got lapped out.