I'm a cautious rider, avoid pinch points, think ahead, and figure well before I put myself in a dangerous position, I need to look ahead and pay attention.
I also believe like driving, 90% of accidents are avoidable!
I've never been hit but have learned from a couple of near miss experiences. 2 times!
1) Ripe age of 19, went on a road ride with a buddy who got a new bike. I was riding a Schwinn Varsity 10 speed but never actually rode out on the road. So we went along our way on a major street. I did fine but we cut across a back street, lightly traveled. I saw him cross the road ahead of me heading onto another street. Seemed quiet so I started moving into the center of the lane!
SKREEEEETCH! Wow! I turn right in front of a car. Thankfully the guy didn't hit me. If he had I could only blame myself. 37 years later, I never take it for granted and always look back no matter who I am with or where I am!
2) Doing an organized ride with 10,000 other riders. Looong line of cyclists crossing over a freeway overpass. Lady with a flag waving cyclists into a left turn. I would say she shouldn't have been waving at us at this point because there was a car coming from behind us. Or she could have shouted out to cyclists that a car was approaching.
But she is waving the flag for the turn early in the ride so following the line of cyclist, I begin to turn and we are on the tandem. I did turn my head back and saw the car but by this time, I seemed to have been in my turn but had control of the bike so we would not have gotten hit. But the car slammed on the brakes and I did correct my turn to avoid any collision.
I was actually shocked the lady volunteer was waving cyclists through at that point. So after that, I learned to NEVER RELY ON ANOTHER to call your shots, always look for yourself!
Years later, a gal on the same ride was following the other cyclists and made a left turn right into the path of an oncoming truck. Lost her life! Seemed pretty familiar to the same situation we were in, l know better for sure!
Another time, waiting to cross Rt 66, speed limit 50 MPH, on my bike at a light waiting for the light to turn green. My light turns green and I just about to start off when I see a car approaching at a good rate of speed. Something just didn't seem right so I remained still. Sure enough, a driver looking the other direction blows full speed through the red light at about 50 MPH. Had I gone 5 seconds earlier, I would have been right in his path.
Green does not mean go! Volunteer waving a flag telling you to make a left turn, does not mean go! Pay attention , do not put yourself in harm's way!
I also believe like driving, 90% of accidents are avoidable!
I've never been hit but have learned from a couple of near miss experiences. 2 times!
1) Ripe age of 19, went on a road ride with a buddy who got a new bike. I was riding a Schwinn Varsity 10 speed but never actually rode out on the road. So we went along our way on a major street. I did fine but we cut across a back street, lightly traveled. I saw him cross the road ahead of me heading onto another street. Seemed quiet so I started moving into the center of the lane!
SKREEEEETCH! Wow! I turn right in front of a car. Thankfully the guy didn't hit me. If he had I could only blame myself. 37 years later, I never take it for granted and always look back no matter who I am with or where I am!
2) Doing an organized ride with 10,000 other riders. Looong line of cyclists crossing over a freeway overpass. Lady with a flag waving cyclists into a left turn. I would say she shouldn't have been waving at us at this point because there was a car coming from behind us. Or she could have shouted out to cyclists that a car was approaching.
But she is waving the flag for the turn early in the ride so following the line of cyclist, I begin to turn and we are on the tandem. I did turn my head back and saw the car but by this time, I seemed to have been in my turn but had control of the bike so we would not have gotten hit. But the car slammed on the brakes and I did correct my turn to avoid any collision.
I was actually shocked the lady volunteer was waving cyclists through at that point. So after that, I learned to NEVER RELY ON ANOTHER to call your shots, always look for yourself!
Years later, a gal on the same ride was following the other cyclists and made a left turn right into the path of an oncoming truck. Lost her life! Seemed pretty familiar to the same situation we were in, l know better for sure!
Another time, waiting to cross Rt 66, speed limit 50 MPH, on my bike at a light waiting for the light to turn green. My light turns green and I just about to start off when I see a car approaching at a good rate of speed. Something just didn't seem right so I remained still. Sure enough, a driver looking the other direction blows full speed through the red light at about 50 MPH. Had I gone 5 seconds earlier, I would have been right in his path.
Green does not mean go! Volunteer waving a flag telling you to make a left turn, does not mean go! Pay attention , do not put yourself in harm's way!