Getting hit by a car, is it a matter of time?

Fatherzen

I was also once the victim of a drive by spanking early one morning from a car full of drunken sailors. Another morning a drunken squid grabbed my arm from his car and propelled me for about a half a block. It was rather frightening.

Michael Ferebee

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dwj444

The advice that some have given above about getting used to cars, etc. is sound. It is an unfortunate fact that most drivers on the road are unsure about how to deal with cyclists. Sharing the road with cars is simply something that must be done; indeed, in some US cities (and elsewhere I imagine) it is illegal for adults to ride their bicycles on the sidewalk anyway. It really is the safest place.

I have been hit twice in the roughly nine years that I've been commuting by bike. As a teenager, I slid into the side of a car that turned in front of me without signaling. In the last month, while on a training ride, I was cut to the curb by a taxi on a city street -- I averted being squashed against parked cars only by banging like crazy on the passenger window of the cab with the flat of my hand. I scared the @*#$ out of the fare though!

My best bit is using your hand signals, and don't just stick to the standard boyscout versions. Signal a left turn with an extended left arm (I usually pat my head very obviously and then point repeatedly before I even start moving). Right turns are a bit tougher, but you're usually nearly merging with right turns in the states (the raised left arm with fist held alof at a 90 degree angle to your elbow works fine). When I change lanes I signal. When I see an obstacle (double parked car, pothole, etc. etc.) I extend my left arm with my palm facing the driver (signaling them to bacik off), then slowly move into the center of the lane. I would much rather ride down the center of a lane and piss off someone behind me than get doored, or worse. Drivers tend to appreciate this, since they have the warning that we so often crave from them.

Make the golden rule your rule when it comes to signaling and then cross your fingers. Otherwise . . . check out your local activists' calendar for chances to advocate for your rights and safety on the road!

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Time to make the doughnuts.

R2D2

Yup, Got bumped once.

I was right in front of the guy at a stop light (he was turning right, but looking left). I had the "walk" signal, he had the red light (small red sports car).

I was almost past him when he accelerated and his bumper made contact with my left pedal (clipless), swinging me completely around, but I was able to stay upright (some mysterious act of luck). Only trashed my rear wheel.


I ran into the back of a parked car once. Very embarrasing (right in the middle of the University). Do NOT look down to adjust stuff in your hand while riding.

Tons of close calls.
R2

S. Morman

About a year ago I was involved in an accident and I'm still recovering. I was headed north and the driver was headed south. It was a perfectly bright sunny day so the visiblity was great (from my perspective). There was a three way intersection that I was crossing over (it was to my right) and the driver decided to turn onto that road. I guess she didn't see me in my bright yellow jersey. I hit the car doing 20mph, performed the three most perfect flips in the air with the bike (according to the witness) and landed in the middle of the road without the bike. One of my shoes was still clipped into the bike and the other I was still wearing.

Fortunately for me I was wearing my helmet (I never leave home without it), but unfortunately I took out her passenger-sdie mirror with my right knee. Here is the amazing part, I didn't break any bones, and all the damage was tissue damage. I took out all the tissue o the inside of my right knee down to the muscle without damaging any of the muscle. Talk about lucky (I guess). I have 5 skin graphs (sp?) on my right leg, so there are some pretty interesting battle wounds now.

The driver doesn't own the car (it's her daughters), she doesn't own a house (she is living with her daughter), and there is minimal coverage onthe car with NO property damage. Go figure.

Needless to say, my 2001 Bianchi Eros with its steel frame was crushed. The front tire overlaps the downtube. It this is is shorter now my an inch.

I took me a year to figure out if I wanted to ride bikes again. At the time of the accident my daughter was only 6-weeks old and the only thought going through my head during my ambulance ride was...what if my daughter had to grow up without her father. I've been on the road a couple times this year on my mountain bike and I feel confident, yet much more cautious, on the road. I can't let something like this own my life and I enjoy cycling too much to just give it up. One thing is for sure and that is that I will probably ride slower because of the accident.

Randal Lovelace

Riding slower will not stop stupid people from hitting you, I guess the best way to say this is directly, don't let anything stop you from doing something you enjoy.

I have been involved in over 18 car accidents (mind you, not all were the other guys fault.....lol) but have not stopped driving sports cars.

Have been hit a couple of times on my bike (see previous post for details) and I simply ride faster and smarter than before.

Randy

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Randal Lovelace on Nishiki Sport

randalranman@wmconnect.com

Riding is like breathing, it's something you have to do.

jjk

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Guest
I can't see how bikepaths can be dangerous?

Unless we are speaking of some other form of bikepath.

The bikepaths I speak of, are paths which are completely set aside from roads and used for the sole purpose of either pedestrians walking or cyclists cycling. And the odd rollerblader too.

How anyone could manage to die on one of these paths I'm not sure?

There is a 'Bikepath' fitting your description about 30 miles in length in my area that I use on occasion and the answer to your question is: While they often start out as 'Bikepaths' they quickly become 'multiusepaths'. Walkers, joggers, roller bladers, and Dog Walkers. All of these pose a danger to cyclist since they will often cause colisions or force a cyclist off the trail in order to avoid a collision. At many locations going off the trail could be fatal since there are some significant drop offs and numerous trees. Dog walkers are the most frequent cause. There are signs that state dogs must be on a leash which is 6 feet or less but unleashed dogs and 20 ft recoil leashes are common and so are collisions with these dogs and leashes. Since the path is only about 14 ft wide a 6 ft. leash added to the arm length of the dog walker who is on the path doesn't make collision any less likey either. In my opinion the signs do nothing more then encourage people to walk dogs on the path which is not an appropiate use in a place where people are riding bikes and rollerblading. While I don't personally know of any fatal accidents as a result of this the possibility is there.

The trail over it's 30 mile length has a number of places where it crosses roads. Some of these crossings are in my opinion very dangerous. One that instanly comes to mind crosses a semi-rural road at the bottom of a downhill curve. Traffic moves along this road at 50MPH or more. Your visibility when looking for cars coming down the hill is a few hundred feet. You stop, look and then go to cross and a car flies by semingly out of no where. The possibility of a fatal accident here is so strong that it becomes a probability.

Brunswick_kate

I must live in a dreadfully polite jurisdiction because I can't remember the last time I passed a pedestrian on the multi-use path with leashed dog that the owner didn't reach down and grab the dog's collar or at least pull in the leash to make sure I passed unimpeded by Rover's chase instinct.

I'm not a dog owner so I just rather assumed that it was standard dog owner behaviour.

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Insanity has its price -- Please have exact change.

meth24

I've wrecked four times in my life, none with cars and 3 of those times were on our trail that is over 15 miles long. It does cross the road maybe 3 times through the whole trail and goes through campus (Ohio State). Campus starts to get bad now with about 50k students going in the fall. Most people are courteous, but even if only 2% aren't then you have quite a few risks as it is a busy trail. Everything from people walking, jogging, rollerblading, dogs, strollers and at one part there's a mini skateboard park. There's quite a few blind corners and unless you are lucky quite a few times where you have to slow down to a crawl just to pass someone. Much easier to pack the bike up, go a few miles north and ride through the country that is slowly building into a suburbia.

jjk

You must indeed live in a polite place. Here (New York) about half of those facing you do as you describe. The ones not facing you don't always here your warning since many are wearing ear phones which makes the percentage smaller. Finally, the ones who don't have the dogs leashed, can't reach down because the dog is too far away. Instead they sometimes call the dog, which usually results in the dog running across your path.

Example of less then polite: Less then a week ago a dog walker facing me with an 'un'leashed dog on a straight portion of the trail(He sees me coming). He does not grap the dog, he does not leash the dog, the dog runs straight at my front wheel forcing me to brake hard in order to avoid a colision. He says "you should slow down". I reply the dog is required by law to be on a leash at all times. Put him on the leash. He responds that "this is a pedestrian walkway and I should not be on a bike - you damn bikers ". He is standing directly under the Bike Route sign as he says it. He entered the trail at an entrance that has a large sign that has the name of the bike route and adds "dogs must be leashed at all times"(All entrances do). Local law requires dogs to be leashed in ALL public palaces as well. At this point I have had it and tell him he has a choice, He can put the dog on the leash or I will put the dog up his a.. I meant it. He knew I meant it. He put the dog on the leash and then left saying he was calling the police. I Finished my ride without a police escourt. This is not the only time I encountered this type of behavior from dog walkers.

Brunswick_kate

I don't think I'd last 5 mins in New York. My heart would give out by the wild behaviour

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Insanity has its price -- Please have exact change.

jjk

Well it's not boring and You just need to keep things in perspective. About 15 million people in NY Metro Area. A quick rule of thumb is 10% of any group are jerks. Means 1.5 million jerks in NY. Running into one occassionally should not come as a surprise to anyone.

wbmorrison

THE ACCIDENT RECOUNTED BELOW HAPPENED JUST THIS WEEKEND. A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. THIS IS SUCH A PERSONAL RECORD OF THE EVENT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WORTHWHILE TO SHARE, NOT TO DISCOURAGE RIDING, BUT TO ENCOURAGE SAFE RIDING, AWARENESS...AND PRAYER. [AUTHOR'S NAME AND OTHER'S FULL NAMES WITH-HELD.]


Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 14:57:44 -0500
Subject: Bike accident

I got this today from the exxonmobil cycling team out of houston.

Brazoria Bicycle Accident — My Memories

The day before yesterday, Saturday, August 30, 2003, I was involved in a bicycling accident near Brazoria. I sustained a few scrapes and bruises, but all are minor physical injuries that will heal. Emotionally, I feel like someone tore my gut out. I have been riding with our local bike club for 19 years. I have seen some terrible accidents over that time, but never anything like this before. I have heard the accident scene described as grisly, unbelievable, an unspeakable! tragedy, and a nightmare; however, words cannot truly depict the devastation and loss of life that my eyes witnessed.

The day started out like our typical Saturday mornings at the Lake Jackson Recreation Center. Twenty-one cyclists gathered and were chatting with each other in the parking lot. Kenny introduced us to his girlfriend from Dallas, Amanda. We left the parking lot at 7:30am with the sun shining down on us. Two doctors and a police officer were riding in our group. We were riding West on Highway 332. The road was dry until
approaching the bridge that crosses the Brazos River into the town of Brazoria. There the road was wet from a small isolated shower that had passed through earlier, but the sun was still shining. Kenny and Amanda were laughing and talking in front of me as we rode under the bridge.

Within a second, the serenity of our Saturday morning ride was shattered. I heard a commotion at the front of our group and looked up to see a silver truck sliding sideways into our pace line. I tried to turn to the left to avoid the truck, but my tires slipped. I thought I was going to be hit by the truck as I fell down on my left side. As I slid down the pavement, another cyclist, Al, ran into my leg and went down hard on the left of me. At the same time, I heard the dreadful noise of the truck spinning past
my right side. Before I could stand up, I heard someone behind my left side calling 911. It was Billie telling them to send multiple ambulances. Andy was directly behind me stopping traffic.

I looked around in total disbelief. The bicycles and riders that were in a neat pace line were now scattered on the road in front of me and in the ditch and field to my right. The truck came to rest behind my right side. I saw a huge dent in the side of the truck. There was someone lying between the truck and the bridge. It was Amanda. I didn't understand how she could be behind me. She was moving and someone was running up to her. I started
looking at all the riders that were down. I noticed two riders just a few feet away to my immediate right. They were not moving. That's when I first started feeling something tearing at my gut.

As I stumble toward the rider nearest to me I felt a sense of panic because I had not seen my wife yet. I started shouting her name. Margie responded; she was safe on the left side of the road. I heard Lance, the police officer riding with us, call for LifeFlight. I saw the doctors rushing to help. I knelt down next to the first motionless rider. I was shocked when I saw it was Jim T; he was gone. My mind did not want to believe what
my eyes saw, but he was gone. A lady that stopped to help knelt down and began praying to God to save him, but he was gone. I looked over at the second motionless rider. It was Brian D; he was gone. CPR, prayers, and tears could not revive them. Emergency Medical Technicians, followed by LifeFlight, arrived within minutes, but Jim and Brian were gone.

I just couldn't believe it. In the blink of an eye, two skilled riders; two good men; they were gone. It happened so fast, I wondered if they even knew what hit them. After tending to Kelton, Margie came over to me to and gently pulled me away from Jim so the EMTs and DPS Officers could do their job. I didn't want to leave Jim's side. I didn't want to accept that I couldn't do anything save him. The hard reality was no one could do anything
to bring Jim or Brian back; they were gone. Andy P, an Episcopal minister, led us in a prayer over each of them.

I watched the doctors, EMTs, and DPS Officers do their jobs. They took care of the other injured riders. Al and Kelton were on there way to Brazosport Memorial Hospital. Amanda was on LifeFlight going to Hermann Hospital. Lance was helping the other officers with the accident investigation. I felt a profound sense of respect for these professionals and the work they have to do every day to try to save lives. It must be hard to have a job where you
have to deal with human frailty and vulnerability so frequently. By the disturbed looks on the faces of those professionals working the scene, it must be very hard.

One of our friends, John, heard about the accident and drove over to see if he could help. He loaded Margie's bike and my bike into the back of his truck to take us back to Lake Jackson. As we drove away, I saw a black hearse pulling up to the accident scene. It hit me hard that Jim and Brian would not be going home to their wives and daughters. My heart ached for
their families. My gut felt like it had been wrenched out of me. Although I have had to deal with the loss of loved ones in the past, I have never been a witness to such a tragic and senseless ! loss of life. The sun was still shining, but it was one of the darkest days of my life.

skiracecoach

I don't know that it is inevitable. I think the odds depend on location. I have riden since the 1986, averaging as much as 700 miles per week, as little as 200. During this time I have been hit twice. Once in 1987 on a July afternoon in Ohio by a drunk driver, a hit and run. He was unlicensed and uninsured and some kind motorists helped me while others chased him down and got his license plates. The officer who arrested him said he was so high that when he tried to pull his eyelids open, his eyes just rolled back into his head.

The other in 1996 in S. Carolina. The second time I was hit head on by a driver who was passing another car. He actually came back to attempt to beat me up for damaging his car. I quickly flagged down other cars for witnesses. After an argument I told him to call the police if he thought I had wronged him. He called, then got tired of waiting and left. By then I had his license number and several witnesses. So he ended up as a hit and run driver and had to pay mutliple fines.

When living in Kentucky I was never hit, but had rocks, pennys, a cooler of ice, pop, beer (in the can) and other unidentifyable objects thrown at me.

The Chicago area was much different. In the suburbs people were generally courteous and tried to give you room as they passed.

I now live in Denver and have only had one close call. A guy passing another car coming up a mountain, as I was coming down. He ran me right off the road and it could easily have been another head on. That is a rarity here though. Most drivers here bend over backwards to be polite to cyclists.

In evaluating my overall experience I'd say your level of risk varies in accordance with where you live. Some cultures are more conducive to sharing the road than others.