Almost killed by a truck

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was so angry, I
wanted to shoot him if I had a gun with me.
What will you do? Please advise.

Your initial reaction was fear, and it was natural. You were nearly killed.
My guess is that you have been acculturated to deny fear as an acceptable
emotion, so you turned it into anger, instead.

Both fear and anger will arise almost instantaneously, and you don't need to
regard them as "negative". But just because they are natural, it doesn't
need to you need to wallow in them. While a head of righteous anger puffs up
the ego for a while -- and you do have a good reason to feel righteous in
this instance -- in the long run, it isn't fun to be angry. Fear isn't
pleasant either. So the question is, what do you do with how you feel?

It's clear that feeding your fear and anger only sustains it. What's less
clear is that trying to supress it does the same thing. So the best thing
you can do is breath deeply and feel the way you feel. A gentle, detatched
curiosity works well in this instance. You breathe deeply, and just notice
that for a bit. Unbidden, the anger comes back. Notice how the emotion feels
in your body. It might be a tightness in the chest, a pit at the stomach.
You can gently observe how it comes into your mind and feelings. "Oh, there
it is again, that feeling". But after feeling it for a bit, go back to
breathing deeply, and noticing and feeling how that feels again. Sometimes
the anger through this process will shift back over to the original fear
again. That's OK, just be there with it, and then return to the breath.

If you do this for a while, not just once, but every time a wave of anger
hits you, eventually the anger diminishes. You have let it go.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

Quoted message said:

Hello, I had five years commuting by bicyle, This morning, a truck
drove very close to me, I saw there was only about 2 feet space
between my front wheel to the truck front wheel, I had no choice, moved
as fast as i can to the sidewalk, fortunately, there is no curb between
drive lane and side walk. I am OK.

The truck was caught by me at a traffic light. I was so angry, I
wanted to shoot him if I had a gun with me.
What will you do? Please advise.

I think a .45 or 9mm is too heavy for biking and the venerable snub
nose .38 is not very accurate, although in this particular case you
would be at close range.

Quoted message said:

I think a .45 or 9mm is too heavy for biking...

But it is visible through the shorts which has a certain deterrent
value that is not to be underestimated! Anyway a fully loaded Glock is
only about 670g. Weight weenines could just go with a partially filled
magazine.

Joseph

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think a .45 or 9mm is too heavy for biking...

But it is visible through the shorts which has a certain deterrent
value that is not to be underestimated! Anyway a fully loaded Glock is
only about 670g. Weight weenines could just go with a partially filled
magazine.

Joseph

On a serious note, I saw a while back a t-shirt that had a realistic
looking .45 screen printed and positioned so when worn it looked like
it was stuffed into the back of the waist. Wonder what that would do
for the average 'neck?

Quoted message said:

What will you do? Please advise.

I wouldn't ride so close to the curb.

These are the kind of stories that make me think abt
giving up bicycling and taking up backpacking

R Brickston said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think a .45 or 9mm is too heavy for biking...

But it is visible through the shorts which has a certain deterrent
value that is not to be underestimated! Anyway a fully loaded Glock is
only about 670g. Weight weenines could just go with a partially filled
magazine.

Joseph

On a serious note, I saw a while back a t-shirt that had a realistic
looking .45 screen printed and positioned so when worn it looked like
it was stuffed into the back of the waist. Wonder what that would do
for the average 'neck?

I've heard it suggested that the best preventative is to wear a loud
shirt with the local country's colors/symbol. Big maple-leaf,
stars-n-stirpes, tri-colore, whatever.

Joseph

I set my goal is to commute to office by bicycle twice a week.
Although people are talking the deterioration of environement, but
people are still driving gas-guzzling cars, politicians sit in their
limo and only do their cycling show when there is a chance.

Now I have to think about it.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I set my goal is to commute to office by bicycle twice a week.
Although people are talking the deterioration of environement, but
people are still driving gas-guzzling cars, politicians sit in their
limo and only do their cycling show when there is a chance.

Now I have to think about it.

No, you need to get back out there and ride. You take a bigger chance in a car
than on a bike.

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email hidden]
(_)/ (_)

In article <[email hidden]>,

Kristian M Zoerhoff said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I set my goal is to commute to office by bicycle twice a week.
Although people are talking the deterioration of environement, but
people are still driving gas-guzzling cars, politicians sit in
their limo and only do their cycling show when there is a chance.

Now I have to think about it.

No, you need to get back out there and ride. You take a bigger chance
in a car than on a bike.

Yup. And maybe choose a different road.

campaignOn 26 Jul 2006 01:05:59 -0700, [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

R Brickston said:

Quoted message said:

> I think a .45 or 9mm is too heavy for biking...

But it is visible through the shorts which has a certain deterrent
value that is not to be underestimated! Anyway a fully loaded Glock is
only about 670g. Weight weenines could just go with a partially filled
magazine.

Joseph

On a serious note, I saw a while back a t-shirt that had a realistic
looking .45 screen printed and positioned so when worn it looked like
it was stuffed into the back of the waist. Wonder what that would do
for the average 'neck?

I've heard it suggested that the best preventative is to wear a loud
shirt with the local country's colors/symbol. Big maple-leaf,
stars-n-stirpes, tri-colore, whatever.

Joseph

Maybe make one that has the name of a liquor or beer store emblazoned
on it.

Quoted message said:

Hello, I had five years commuting by bicyle, This morning, a truck
drove very close to me, I saw there was only about 2 feet space
between my front wheel to the truck front wheel, I had no choice, moved
as fast as i can to the sidewalk, fortunately, there is no curb between
drive lane and side walk. I am OK.

The truck was caught by me at a traffic light. I was so angry, I
wanted to shoot him if I had a gun with me.
What will you do? Please advise.

Unfortunately, trucks are quite immune to pepper spray, even the
bear-repellant, law enforcement grade stuff.
Other posters mentioned taking the lane instead.
I'd go with taking the lane.

-bdbafh

You would be better off in the middle of the lane. That's what's
recommended for bikes in town, if it's in town you were.

I had a much worse experience than you cycling in Spain years ago.

I was cycling along on the hard shoulder of a Spanish road, on the way
to Santiago, past a garage when a truck transporter which was passing
me suddenly pulled into the garage. By the grace of God I was wide
awake and had the presence of mind to go into the garage with him.
Otherwise I'd have been killed. I yelled at the driver and when I came
up to him he was trembling from head to toe in the cab. I've never seen
an adult shake like that. I just said in my pidgin Spanish (at the
time. It's better now) Fue muy peligroso senor.

I cycled on but wasn't the better of it for a few days. During that
period of time I came the closest I have been to quitting cycling. It
was about 10 years ago.

About half an hour later he drove past me with a big salute, enormously
grateful that I hadn't at least assaulted him. He had made a mistake,
which is what humans do now and again.

Quoted message said:

You would be better off in the middle of the lane. That's what's
recommended for bikes in town, if it's in town you were.

I had a much worse experience than you cycling in Spain years ago.

I was cycling along on the hard shoulder of a Spanish road, on the way
to Santiago, past a garage when a truck transporter which was passing
me suddenly pulled into the garage. By the grace of God I was wide
awake and had the presence of mind to go into the garage with him.
Otherwise I'd have been killed. I yelled at the driver and when I came
up to him he was trembling from head to toe in the cab. I've never seen
an adult shake like that. I just said in my pidgin Spanish (at the
time. It's better now) Fue muy peligroso senor.

....

Quoted message said:

About half an hour later he drove past me with a big salute, enormously
grateful that I hadn't at least assaulted him. He had made a mistake,
which is what humans do now and again.

That's a very hard one to recognize as fear and anger clouds your
perception, but good of you to point out.

My guess is that he was equally glad that he miraculously dodged the
bullet of anguish and unbearable guilt he'd have suffered had he caused
you serious injury or taken your life. He got a do-over ... something
life does not always grace us with.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
*****************************

Quoted message said:

Hello, I had five years commuting by bicyle, This morning, a truck
drove very close to me, I saw there was only about 2 feet space
between my front wheel to the truck front wheel, I had no choice, moved
as fast as i can to the sidewalk, fortunately, there is no curb between
drive lane and side walk. I am OK.

The truck was caught by me at a traffic light. I was so angry, I
wanted to shoot him if I had a gun with me.
What will you do? Please advise.

Hi there.

Be thankful you didn't end up under the wheels. It happened to a
cyclist I know. He was knocked down by a large gravel truck which had
pased him whilst he was cycling in the country. Fortunately my friend
suffered only a broken arm and scrapes. His bicycle was totalled. A
passing motorist saw the accident, called 911 and pursued the truck and
forced it to stop. The truck driver didn't even know he had hit the
cyclist.

First thing to remember is that the truck (or any car)is much bigger
than your bicycle and you are so it isn't the wisest thing do to
escalate things.

Was it a large truck? Often times a large truck when passing a cyclist,
as happened with my friend, simply loses sight of the cyclist when the
truck is returning to the right side of the lane. Due to the angle of
the truck the cyclist ends up in a blind spot.

Best thing is to stay aware of overtaking traffic.

Also remember that motorists checking their mirrors are looking for
automobile sized objects *NOT* 25 to 30 pound bicycles,

Another thing to be aware of is that a motorist who sees a cyclist in
traffic riding *NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANE* MAY mistake the
cyclist for a pedestrian on the sidewalk. All the more reeason to place
yourself in the lane only yielding when safe to do so.

Riding in the middle of the lane when there is no traffic behind you
will usually cause an overtaking motorist to lean on the horn to get
you to move. At least they see and acknowlege your presence. Good
quality bicycle mirrors are in my opinion one of the best pieces of
safety equipment a cyclist can use. I use one on my brightly colured
helmet. That mirror alows me to scan the area behind me even when going
around a right corner wher a handle bar mounted mirror would give a
great view of the fields behind me to my left.

There is a great little device available in many novelty stores. It
makes the sound of machine gun fire or rocket fire and a few other
weapons as well.

Taped to your handlebar you push a button and pretend that you are
Snoopy shooting 'ze evil road hog' down in flames. It's a great stress
reliever. I know a chap who has one in his car to use when drivers do,
shall I say, idiotic things.

Be careful riding when angry as it can cause you to take chances you
never would even consider taking when you are your normal calm, cool
and collected self.

Acts of road rage can be perpetrated by cyclists as well as automobile
drivers.

Glad you're okay.

Peter

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Hello, I had five years commuting by bicyle, This morning, a truck
drove very close to me, I saw there was only about 2 feet space
between my front wheel to the truck front wheel, I had no choice, moved
as fast as i can to the sidewalk, fortunately, there is no curb between
drive lane and side walk. I am OK.

The truck was caught by me at a traffic light. I was so angry, I
wanted to shoot him if I had a gun with me.
What will you do? Please advise.

When riding (or driving for that matter) in the vicinity of
trucks, one needs to be aware of this:

http://tinyurl.com/pwvmv

(in full:
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/PENNDOT/Districts/district4.nsf/040301-s1-nozones.htm)

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

did the truck have one of the signs on the back that asks you to call ...
1-800-howsmydriving or whatever?

I've always wondered what would happen if I called the number..

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello, I had five years commuting by bicyle, This morning, a truck
drove very close to me, I saw there was only about 2 feet space
between my front wheel to the truck front wheel, I had no choice, moved
as fast as i can to the sidewalk, fortunately, there is no curb between
drive lane and side walk. I am OK.

The truck was caught by me at a traffic light. I was so angry, I
wanted to shoot him if I had a gun with me.
What will you do? Please advise.

Thank you all for replies.

I made the decision that no more commuting by bicycle during Monday to
Friday. For those who commute by bicycle, hope you have safe trips
everyday.

But I will still ride bicycle during weekend.

Lots people mentioned about riding in the midddle of the lane, the
traffice rules also say cyclists should do this.
I think this rule works for small town, because less evils on the road.

That rule is based on the circumstances that all drivers are angels.

You would be better off in the middle of the lane. That's what's
recommended for bikes in town, if it's in town you were.

Thomas Wentworth said:

did the truck have one of the signs on the back that asks you to call ...
1-800-howsmydriving or whatever?

I've always wondered what would happen if I called the number..

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello, I had five years commuting by bicyle, This morning, a truck
drove very close to me, I saw there was only about 2 feet space
between my front wheel to the truck front wheel, I had no choice, moved
as fast as i can to the sidewalk, fortunately, there is no curb between
drive lane and side walk. I am OK.

The truck was caught by me at a traffic light. I was so angry, I
wanted to shoot him if I had a gun with me.
What will you do? Please advise.