Recently I was returning from a quick trip to the corner grocery store and was hit by an undercover deputy in an unmarked car. To be fair, both of us made mistakes, and the lack of a bike lane on this road was a major factor.
I was returning from the store at a time when there was a bit of traffic on the road, so I used the sidewalk (which only runs on one side of the road, the wrong side for the direction I was traveling.). As I approached a side street I noticed a car blocking the crosswalk, so I began to stop. I saw the driver checking the traffic, and he backed up. I assumed he saw me and was getting out of my way while he was waiting for the traffic to clear for him to pull out. I then continued , but he pulled out and my front wheel went between his tire and wheel-well. It destroyed my Raleigh mountain-sport bike and gave me a good dose of whiplash. The chief deputy for my county is a bicycle enthusiast and he took me to the local bike shop and bought me a new Raleigh hybrid c30. This is not as good a model, but it is new and the bike I had was used when I bought it, and it had seen a lot of miles since I got it.
I am 68 years old and had a stroke about 3 years ago. I returned to riding a bike after the stroke (I had not had a bike in about 8 years.) I also began writing full time, with my blog being one of my main concerns. My blog deals mainly with "green" topics (I was originally a physicist). I approach cycling as "alternative energy", but have always just enjoyed it.
Anyway, I want any input about this accident, or any such.
I was returning from the store at a time when there was a bit of traffic on the road, so I used the sidewalk (which only runs on one side of the road, the wrong side for the direction I was traveling.). As I approached a side street I noticed a car blocking the crosswalk, so I began to stop. I saw the driver checking the traffic, and he backed up. I assumed he saw me and was getting out of my way while he was waiting for the traffic to clear for him to pull out. I then continued , but he pulled out and my front wheel went between his tire and wheel-well. It destroyed my Raleigh mountain-sport bike and gave me a good dose of whiplash. The chief deputy for my county is a bicycle enthusiast and he took me to the local bike shop and bought me a new Raleigh hybrid c30. This is not as good a model, but it is new and the bike I had was used when I bought it, and it had seen a lot of miles since I got it.
I am 68 years old and had a stroke about 3 years ago. I returned to riding a bike after the stroke (I had not had a bike in about 8 years.) I also began writing full time, with my blog being one of my main concerns. My blog deals mainly with "green" topics (I was originally a physicist). I approach cycling as "alternative energy", but have always just enjoyed it.
Anyway, I want any input about this accident, or any such.