Lucky escape

Quoted message said:

Going through a green light in the middle of the traffic lane

And, in what country did that happen, dear Carl?

Sergio
Pisa

Quoted message said:

And, unlike most posters who've mentioned getting hit by cars, I
haven't so much as a scratch on me. Hope everyone else is as lucky as
I was.

Were you wearing a cloth cap?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And, unlike most posters who've mentioned getting hit by cars, I
haven't so much as a scratch on me. Hope everyone else is as lucky as
I was.

Were you wearing a cloth cap?

I'm betting it wouldn't have happened had he been wearing the proper
safety equipment (i.e., a blond wig).

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"For your convenience, we recommend courageous, efficient self-service."
-In a Hong Kong supermarket

Quoted message said:

Going through a green light in the middle of the traffic lane with no
other cars or bikes on my side of the street, I saw that the oncoming
idiot in a red sedan was starting to turn left across the wide
intersection and heading right at me.

I swerved right, enough that he missed my ankle, but not my rear tire,
knocking it almost out from under me. Why I didn't crash is a mystery.

Drivers waiting for the light to change began shouting and getting out
to ask if I was all right. Meanwhile, the fellow who hit me stopped a
little ways down the street and then zoomed off.

The tire must have taken most of the impact. Despite the impressive
skid mark on the pavement and a bit of red paint on the sidewall, it
was undamaged, so it must have been a glancing blow.

Nothing was broken. The rim was badly deformed, but I was able to
ride it home slowly.

I foolishly called the police, which wasted an hour. Since it was
after 5 p.m., it took three phone calls and a trip across town to the
main station before anyone asked me for details when I said that I
wanted to report a hit-and-run.

No one ever asked if there were any injuries or damage, much less what
kind of vehicles were involved--they were too busy transferring me to
other numbers, where everyone was gone for the day.

Even 911, which the last recorded message urged me to call,
interrupted my "I want to report a hit-and-run accident" with the news
that I'd have to go to the main police station and fill out a report.

I gave up in disgust after learning at the front desk that the cameras
mounted at every major intersection in the city don't work any more
than the police on traffic duty do after 5 p.m.

On the bright side, I pulled a rear wheel off an identical spare bike
from eBay, swapped the 11-tooth cassette, Slime tube, and Kevlar bead
and strip tire, and got a bike ready for tomorrow in less time than
the cops spent blowing me off.

And, unlike most posters who've mentioned getting hit by cars, I
haven't so much as a scratch on me. Hope everyone else is as lucky as
I was.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Glad you are allright, Carl...car-bicycle accidents are always tough on
the bicycle and often, rider. If you ever find the idiot that hit ya,
you have my permission to break his windshield, just before you call
the 'heat'.

Quoted message said:

Going through a green light in the middle of the traffic lane with no
other cars or bikes on my side of the street, I saw that the oncoming
idiot in a red sedan was starting to turn left across the wide
intersection a nd heading right at me.

Quoted message said:

I gave up in disgust after learning at the front desk that the cameras
mounted at every major intersection in the city don't work any more
than the police on traffic duty do after 5 p.m.

Carl, don't believe them. They are just trying to blow you off. It
costs essentially nothing to have the cameras continue after 5pm. But
the most important thing you have is the red paint on your tire. If you
have a rough description of the vehicle, there may not be too many of
them in your town. Certainly not with paint rub-off, or having just
visited the body shop. Get a new tire and keep that one for evidence.

Yes, it's work and a pain to pursue this further. But there is a window
of opportunity.

41 said:

Yes, it's work and a pain to pursue this further. But there is a window
of opportunity.

Sounds like a commuter. Your window of opportunity will close for say,
a week and a half while [censored] cowers in fear. Then he'll boldly
start using his convenient old route.

Hide in the bushes. Bring your own camera. Take lots of pics.

I have heard of/seen such incidents where other motorists or peds
helped ID the perp. Luck of the draw, too bad no one came up to you and
recited the license number.

Glad you're OK. "Protect yourself at all times". --D-y

41 said:

Yes, it's work and a pain to pursue this further. But there is a window
of opportunity.

But filling out the police report without an identification now, shows
that the incident was serious. Then when you ID the perp later, you can
just call in with your report number and fill in the blanks. Much more
likely for the police to give the guy a ticket if you have the report
filed early. Then you could even take him to small claims court for
damages.

Per [email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I have heard of/seen such incidents where other motorists or peds
helped ID the perp. Luck of the draw, too bad no one came up to you and
recited the license number.

I witnessed one myself some years back.

Was following another car in my car.

Driver's head turned 90 degrees to the right, mouth moved emphatically as driver
shouted something at a guy on a bike, car swerved sharply to right knocking
cyclist into the curb and ass-over-elbows onto the sidewalk.

Driver then proceeded to drive away.

I followed, flagged down a cop, explained what I'd seen.

Cop let the guy go without even a ticket. Said the guy claimed he didn't see
the cyclist.

Scary thing for me was knowing there's one more wacko driving around that knows
he can get away with that stuff. Switched to MTB riding not too long after
that.
--
PeteCresswell

Diablo Scott said:

41 said:

Yes, it's work and a pain to pursue this further. But there is a window
of opportunity.

But filling out the police report without an identification now, shows
that the incident was serious. Then when you ID the perp later, you can
just call in with your report number and fill in the blanks. Much more
likely for the police to give the guy a ticket if you have the report
filed early. Then you could even take him to small claims court for
damages.

(long, somewhat OT):
Not to harp, but it's funny how these things can work out. In a
non-bicycling accident, someone (who my wife saw in her mirror was
looking down, reading something on her seat) slammed into the rear of
our car. Stopped, gave personal info, and insurance card info, which
coverage proved to have been cancelled for repeated previous accidents.
I called the cops, and her former insurance company. "Phony insurance?
I'll write her a ticket for that!" said the officer over the phone. I
had to go downtown and provide details, plus maybe a signature. I
talked to the former insurance company via a local rep. There was
probably a little more trouble dumped on her doorstep from that time
spent, too.

Sound harsh? Well, the first person I called was the driver. Seeking
"financial responsibility", as why should I pay to get the car fixed
(rear buggy bumpers not being cheap)? She went off on me, "you don't
understand my situation", etc. etc., so I did a little work on her.

Very, very satisfying. She could have offered to do something
constructive, in any way, and I could have gone for it.

Hope you find this hit-and-runner and nail him for it. --D-y

Quoted message said:

41 said:

Yes, it's work and a pain to pursue this further. But there is a window
of opportunity.

Sounds like a commuter. Your window of opportunity will close for say,
a week and a half while [censored] cowers in fear. Then he'll boldly
start using his convenient old route.

Hide in the bushes. Bring your own camera. Take lots of pics.

I have heard of/seen such incidents where other motorists or peds
helped ID the perp. Luck of the draw, too bad no one came up to you and
recited the license number.

Glad you're OK. "Protect yourself at all times". --D-y

Great idea. Be there at the same time of day.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Going through a green light in the middle of the traffic lane

And, in what country did that happen, dear Carl?

Sergio
Pisa

Dear Sergio,

USA.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:34:55 -0400, "(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Driver's head turned 90 degrees to the right, mouth moved emphatically as driver
shouted something at a guy on a bike, car swerved sharply to right knocking
cyclist into the curb and ass-over-elbows onto the sidewalk.

Driver then proceeded to drive away.

I followed, flagged down a cop, explained what I'd seen.

Cop let the guy go without even a ticket. Said the guy claimed he didn't see
the cyclist.

Well he didn't see the cyclist, right? It's true! And remember, it's a
car road!

--
JT
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On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 05:35:24 -0700, Dane Buson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And, unlike most posters who've mentioned getting hit by cars, I
haven't so much as a scratch on me. Hope everyone else is as lucky as
I was.

Were you wearing a cloth cap?

I'm betting it wouldn't have happened had he been wearing the proper
safety equipment (i.e., a blond wig).

Around here, a guy with a blond wig is target practice more often than
not.
--
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