I was going straight through an intersection yesterday when a driver in a 3/4 ton pick-up turned right. I had my lights flashing and wearing a high visibility jacket. She said she never saw me. I spent the day in hospital after quickly getting a full body CT scan. Thank you Canadian health care system! Beside the massive bruising I have a slight fracture in T7 vertebrae. What pissed me off almost as much as being hit was that the cop questioned me like I was at fault. I was also hit about five years ago when I was stopped at a stop sign and the guy took the corner in my lane. The police report of that could find no fault on the drivers part!
Got Hit (Again) Yesterday
- Thread starter cb450sc
- Start date
This is why I stick to bicycle trails. Just too darn dangerous on the road anymore. It's just not worth dying for.
My wife wanted to ride on the country roads around here.
After seeing…well yeah we stick to trails and marked bike lanes
After seeing…well yeah we stick to trails and marked bike lanes
I ALWAYS ride defensively. It is the only way to survive. I cannot do anything about a car that comes from behind me and takes me out in the bike lane as I am crossing a street she wants to turn right onto
Far too many dangerous drivers these days, impossible to avoid getting caught up in it. I hope you're able to recover fully and switch to a safer mode of transportation. I love biking, just treated myself to a $1,300 bicycle but will only use it in parks, not on any road used by cars. I had my fill of being hit by reckless drivers already.
That's a common way drivers kill cyclists, but actually there is something you can do. Head on a swivel, be aware that car is there behind you and what they might do, so you're ready to stop pre-emptively. I've done that many times over the years, avoiding getting squished like a bug as the car cut me off and drove past completely clueless that they nearly killed someone.
To be clear, I'm not blaming you. It sounds like the driver's fault. As an avid road cyclist with many thousands of miles on bikes and motorcycles, just offering tips to stay alive on a bike. As @wpod says, assume you are invisible and the idiot drivers are actively trying to kill you. NEVER assume they see you or will yield the right of way.
I had to give up the road bike. Sucks because where I live theres gorgeous XC, but there's not enough road to share it with 4 wheelers.
The average driver is upset with you being on the road the instant you come into their view.
The average driver is upset with you being on the road the instant you come into their view.
That's unfortunate! Have you talked to a lawyer? Sounds like the driver will probably get a minor slap on the wrist from law enforcement, even though it seems to meet the definition of careless driving causing bodily harm..... Suing for damages would be a good idea though, and might help them pay attention around cyclists.
After my state TOOK $100 million worth of car roadway for a couple of bikes. I was astonished there was so much outrage when humans on bikes were getting run over by cars and trucks. While the bikers are hyper aware of bikes and autos on the road together, people with in cars/trucks on cell phones and in some cases in self thought, tired from work and dozing off, in multi micro dozing state, are not and never will be. Not to mention a good number of roads that could move traffic with minimal issue NOW have traffic backups during morning and late afternoon rush hour in the burbs/city, because a 4 lane road had 2 lanes stolen from the roadway for non existent bikes. ALL forced upon us for a few bike hazis. Lawmakers with MASSIVE power to subvert funds for the very very very very very very very very few. While no one should be hurt for using their bikes, I saw the problem coming and some one down my street was almost killed because of this stupidity of marrying autos and bike way too close together because of their religious beliefs being forced on the masses.
Wow. Are there any bicyclists on this bike board? Anyone who actually rides bicycles on roads here? The thing about trails (and exercise equipment) is that it’s awfully hard to get anywhere. Each time someone posts about an unpleasant experience I read a bunch of posts telling me not to ride a bicycle. On a bike forum.
If you don’t want to ride in traffic I get it. I’m not here to tell you to do so. But it can absolutely be done safely, at least insofar as anything in life is safe, so please stop telling me it’s way too dangerous nowadays.
If you don’t want to ride in traffic I get it. I’m not here to tell you to do so. But it can absolutely be done safely, at least insofar as anything in life is safe, so please stop telling me it’s way too dangerous nowadays.
I commuted by bike or on foot for 95% of my career. I was fortunate to have fairly safe routes to and from work.
Especially on the bike, it was important to ride defensively with lots of awareness.
True. Seems like people are so angry and impatient toward cyclists. I can sort of understand though when club cyclists ride 3 or 4 abreast. That's just stupid. However most ride in a line.
Yep....I gave up riding motorcycles. Crazy out there.
I ride with 2 BRIGHT flashing front led lights and people still don't see me. I ride as if I am invisible. I also wear a helmet-mounted mirror so I can see approaching traffic. That mirror saved me from being run over once.
Each cyclist has to make that decision for themselves. Plain fact is, it's dangerous riding on the streets with cars. That really can't be denied. You have no control over what the car behind you is going to do. The question is......is that risk worth it to you? For me it is not. As I've stated we have many miles of safe paved trails in my area. I ride a bike for exercise and fun only....I don't use it where I would need to go onto a street (unless it's for a short distance to connect to another paved trail).
Iowa is blessed with many miles of bike trails through beautiful country. I ride on them due to how badly people drive and how glued they are to cell phones while driving. We have a lot of bro-dozers who think they are amazing drivers while looking downward at a phone.
I used to hate the road bikers who chose to ride on a narrow country road during peak traffic hours (5-6PM). In my view, that is asking to be struck and rather disrespectful to traffic flow. I’m glad I now commute on a two lane rural road that has a bike lane.
These aren’t commuter bicyclists on the highway. If they were they would be in full gear with no bags.
I’m Glad you are ok
I used to hate the road bikers who chose to ride on a narrow country road during peak traffic hours (5-6PM). In my view, that is asking to be struck and rather disrespectful to traffic flow. I’m glad I now commute on a two lane rural road that has a bike lane.
These aren’t commuter bicyclists on the highway. If they were they would be in full gear with no bags.
I’m Glad you are ok
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