I got hit by a car

Hassled Enough Already said:

I was on my side of the white line going not very fast. A car whizzed
by me at 50-55 mph. The right side-view mirror clipped me. Whomp!
The car stopped. Everything went SOP. I rode to the hospital in an
ambulance. No broken bones. Not even much in the way of a bruise.
But I have one hell of a sore shoulder. 48 hours later the ms soulder
is feeling better.

What else to say about it? We know this happens. We accept that
risk. In retrospect it was not a safe road even though there was a
paved shoulder and a white line. Basically, there was truck traffic
both directions and there were cars heading fast to town.

Here's my point: don't say the law protects you and you can ride in
that lane and that cars can't. This car drifted into my lane because
the lady wasn't paying attention to me. She had a big truck on her
bumper and big trucks on the other side of the road coming toward
her.

We have to accept the world the way it is. We have to accept
responsiblity for our actions. We get clobbered just as badly whether
the law is with us or against us.

Choose low traffic roads and ride in groups. You're probably even
better off getting in the way of cars if that will cause them to slow
down.

But basically, think about the road and the traffic. The best roads
are the "roads to nowhere" not the roads to the nearest shopping
area.

So the side mirror hit me a three inches or so into my shoulder. It
was a hell-of-a whomp... But I'm OK now. One or two more inches
closer --- I wouldn't be writing this...

I got nailed by a mirror about 4 years ago and took his mirror off, yet
he didn't stop. My elbow took most of the hit and while not broken was
badly bruised. There was no oncoming traffic so I figured any car would
have pulled over, but not this one. The police didn't even want to
bother with the paperwork of recording this hit and run. My only payback
was that he had to pay to get a new mirror put on a relatively new mini
truck. He was also a teenager doing about 70 in a 35 with a lowered
pickup that had a "No fear" sticker in the rear window. I really wished
I could have caught him, and tested that sticker's motto, but cars are
faster than bikes...so.
Bill

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

Quoted message said:

I was on my side of the white line going not very fast. A car whizzed
by me at 50-55 mph.

Just curious, what do you mean by "my side of the white line" here? In
the traffic lane where drivers are looking for other vehicles, or on the
shoulder where they aren't?

On fast roads, if the shoulder isn't wide enough to ride six or ten feet
away from the traffic lane, I find I get better clearance from motorists
if I stay in the traffic lane where vehicles belong. That doesn't mean
it makes motorists happier, they are more likely to honk or yell if I'm
not cowering in the gutter, but at least I know they've seen me.

--
[email hidden] is Joshua Putnam
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/>
Updated Bicycle Touring Books List:
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/tourbooks.html>

Hassled Enough Already wrote:

<big snip>

Quoted message said:

But basically, think about the road and the traffic. The best roads
are the "roads to nowhere" not the roads to the nearest shopping
area.

First, sorry to hear about your accident and am glad that it didn't
turn out worse.

But, I don't think that your conclusion above can be extrapolated from
your sample of one. At least in my own experience these types of
accidents can happen anywhere. As I have posted in other threads three
members of my club have been hit by cars in the past year or so. None
of the events happened on roads to shopping centers. In fact all of
them were pertty much on roads to no where.

Hassled Enough Already said:

I was on my side of the white line going not very fast. A car whizzed
by me at 50-55 mph. The right side-view mirror clipped me. Whomp!

Sorry to hear this. Hope you are recovering.
[...]

Quoted message said:

But basically, think about the road and the traffic. The best roads
are the "roads to nowhere" not the roads to the nearest shopping
area.

what if you are going shopping?

best wishes
james

In article <[email hidden]>, Hassled Enough

Already said:

I was on my side of the white line going not very fast. A car whizzed
by me at 50-55 mph. The right side-view mirror clipped me. Whomp!
The car stopped. Everything went SOP. I rode to the hospital in an
ambulance. No broken bones. Not even much in the way of a bruise.
But I have one hell of a sore shoulder. 48 hours later the ms soulder
is feeling better.

What else to say about it? We know this happens. We accept that
risk. In retrospect it was not a safe road even though there was a
paved shoulder and a white line. Basically, there was truck traffic
both directions and there were cars heading fast to town.

Here's my point: don't say the law protects you and you can ride in
that lane and that cars can't. This car drifted into my lane because
the lady wasn't paying attention to me. She had a big truck on her
bumper and big trucks on the other side of the road coming toward
her.

But is this where the matter ended? Was the motorist not charged? Do
you have any recourse other than to lick to your wounds?

The violator should bear the brunt of your frustration not the law
transgressed; and only those laws that aren't upheld don't protect. But
if the facts are as you represent them, and the driver is absolved of
any fault, I can't but conclude that your cynicism is justified.

Luke

Hassled Enough Already said:

Choose low traffic roads and ride in groups. You're probably even
better off getting in the way of cars if that will cause them to slow
down.

I freely admit I'm a wimp where traffic is concerned, so I generally
stay away from roads with heavy traffic or high speed limits. That
said, there are times when you can't avoid it. And there are drivers
who are unsafe at any speed.

I'd be wary of getting in someone's way, but when I'm out on rural
roads I will often stay near the middle of my lane until I see a car
coming from behind. When they're within ~50 yards I gradually move
right toward the shoulder to maximize the distance between us. I've
found this method usually works, even with wacky teenagers.

-JR

I agree with this method, and I've often used it. From the car's
perspective,
you're in the middle of the road, and moving towards the shoulder.
It's
hard for them to miss seeing you. Mirrors help a lot to use this
technique.

Also, this was NOT your fault. She is responsible to control her
freaking vehicle. If she was in a jam, she should have slowed down,
until the situation cleared.
Jim
http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/

Quoted message said:

I'd be wary of getting in someone's way, but when I'm out on rural

roads I will often stay near the middle of my lane until I see a car
coming from behind. When they're within ~50 yards I gradually move
right toward the shoulder to maximize the distance between us. I've
found this method usually works, even with wacky teenagers.

Quoted message said:

Hassled Enough Already said:

I was on my side of the white line going not very fast. A car whizzed
by me at 50-55 mph. The right side-view mirror clipped me. Whomp!
The car stopped. Everything went SOP. I rode to the hospital in an
ambulance. No broken bones. Not even much in the way of a bruise.
But I have one hell of a sore shoulder. 48 hours later the ms soulder
is feeling better.

What else to say about it? We know this happens. We accept that
risk. In retrospect it was not a safe road even though there was a paved
shoulder and a white line. Basically, there was truck traffic
both directions and there were cars heading fast to town.

Here's my point: don't say the law protects you and you can ride in
that lane and that cars can't. This car drifted into my lane because
the lady wasn't paying attention to me. She had a big truck on her
bumper and big trucks on the other side of the road coming toward
her.

We have to accept the world the way it is. We have to accept
responsiblity for our actions. We get clobbered just as badly whether
the law is with us or against us.

Choose low traffic roads and ride in groups. You're probably even
better off getting in the way of cars if that will cause them to slow
down.

But basically, think about the road and the traffic. The best roads
are the "roads to nowhere" not the roads to the nearest shopping
area.

So the side mirror hit me a three inches or so into my shoulder. It
was a hell-of-a whomp... But I'm OK now. One or two more inches
closer --- I wouldn't be writing this...

I got nailed by a mirror about 4 years ago and took his mirror off, yet he
didn't stop. My elbow took most of the hit and while not broken was badly
bruised. There was no oncoming traffic so I figured any car would have pulled
over, but not this one. The police didn't even want to bother with the
paperwork of recording this hit and run. My only payback was that he had to
pay to get a new mirror put on a relatively new mini truck. He was also a
teenager doing about 70 in a 35 with a lowered pickup that had a "No fear"
sticker in the rear window. I really wished I could have caught him, and
tested that sticker's motto, but cars are faster than bikes...so.
Bill

If you could read "no fear" it would have been better to have read his
licence plate ;-)

--
Posted by news://news.nb.nu

Martin Borsje said:

Quoted message said:

Hassled Enough Already said:

I was on my side of the white line going not very fast. A car whizzed
by me at 50-55 mph. The right side-view mirror clipped me. Whomp!
The car stopped. Everything went SOP. I rode to the hospital in an
ambulance. No broken bones. Not even much in the way of a bruise.
But I have one hell of a sore shoulder. 48 hours later the ms soulder
is feeling better.

What else to say about it? We know this happens. We accept that
risk. In retrospect it was not a safe road even though there was a
paved shoulder and a white line. Basically, there was truck traffic
both directions and there were cars heading fast to town.
Here's my point: don't say the law protects you and you can ride in
that lane and that cars can't. This car drifted into my lane because
the lady wasn't paying attention to me. She had a big truck on her
bumper and big trucks on the other side of the road coming toward
her.

We have to accept the world the way it is. We have to accept
responsiblity for our actions. We get clobbered just as badly whether
the law is with us or against us.
Choose low traffic roads and ride in groups. You're probably even
better off getting in the way of cars if that will cause them to slow
down.
But basically, think about the road and the traffic. The best roads
are the "roads to nowhere" not the roads to the nearest shopping
area.

So the side mirror hit me a three inches or so into my shoulder. It
was a hell-of-a whomp... But I'm OK now. One or two more inches
closer --- I wouldn't be writing this...

I got nailed by a mirror about 4 years ago and took his mirror off,
yet he didn't stop. My elbow took most of the hit and while not broken
was badly bruised. There was no oncoming traffic so I figured any car
would have pulled over, but not this one. The police didn't even want
to bother with the paperwork of recording this hit and run. My only
payback was that he had to pay to get a new mirror put on a relatively
new mini truck. He was also a teenager doing about 70 in a 35 with a
lowered pickup that had a "No fear" sticker in the rear window. I
really wished I could have caught him, and tested that sticker's
motto, but cars are faster than bikes...so.
Bill

If you could read "no fear" it would have been better to have read his
licence plate ;-)

He was going waay too fast for me to get it. The "No Fear" was in very
large letters in his back window. Besides, it is a very small town, so
how many red, lowered, Japanese mini-pickups could there be in that
area. I rode into the little town, population under 1,000 and looked for
that truck with blood on my mind but he must have parked it in a garage
really fast. The last time I tried to report an incident to a cop he
said they would look the other way if I took care of it my way.
Small town, not L.A.
Bill

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:09:15 -0800, Joshua Putnam <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I was on my side of the white line going not very fast. A car whizzed
by me at 50-55 mph.

Just curious, what do you mean by "my side of the white line" here? In
the traffic lane where drivers are looking for other vehicles, or on the
shoulder where they aren't?

On fast roads, if the shoulder isn't wide enough to ride six or ten feet
away from the traffic lane, I find I get better clearance from motorists
if I stay in the traffic lane where vehicles belong. That doesn't mean
it makes motorists happier, they are more likely to honk or yell if I'm
not cowering in the gutter, but at least I know they've seen me.

From what he wrote, if he had been in the lane she still wouldn't have
noticed him and he'd be dead.

dgk said:

From what he wrote, if he had been in the lane she still wouldn't have
noticed him and he'd be dead.

Very doubtful. If that were true, there'd be lots of bike fatalities.
But look how rare bike fatalities are.

- Frank Krygowski

Quoted message said:

dgk said:

From what he wrote, if he had been in the lane she still wouldn't have
noticed him and he'd be dead.

Very doubtful. If that were true, there'd be lots of bike fatalities.
But look how rare bike fatalities are.

- Frank Krygowski

That is because there are so few bikes in relation to cars and cyclists
are by nature much more aware of their surroundings. I don't ride while
using my cell phone, for one, I pull over and stop, cars don't.
I also only ride in the middle of the car lane until I hear one coming
up behind me and then get over. I depend a lot on my ears so I don't
play music while riding and would never consider wearing a headset
unless at home. Trust your own instincts, not the car drivers.
Bill

Bill Baka said:

Quoted message said:

Very doubtful. If that were true, there'd be lots of bike fatalities.
But look how rare bike fatalities are.

- Frank Krygowski

That is because there are so few bikes in relation to cars and cyclists
are by nature much more aware of their surroundings. I don't ride while
using my cell phone, for one, I pull over and stop, cars don't.
I also only ride in the middle of the car lane until I hear one coming
up behind me and then get over. I depend a lot on my ears so I don't
play music while riding and would never consider wearing a headset
unless at home. Trust your own instincts, not the car drivers.

Rates Bill! Frank is implying that the death RATE for cycling is small.
So, the absolute number of cyclists vs. motorists isn't the issue.

gds said:

Bill Baka said:

Quoted message said:

Very doubtful. If that were true, there'd be lots of bike fatalities.
But look how rare bike fatalities are.

- Frank Krygowski

That is because there are so few bikes in relation to cars and cyclists
are by nature much more aware of their surroundings. I don't ride while
using my cell phone, for one, I pull over and stop, cars don't.
I also only ride in the middle of the car lane until I hear one coming
up behind me and then get over. I depend a lot on my ears so I don't
play music while riding and would never consider wearing a headset
unless at home. Trust your own instincts, not the car drivers.

Rates Bill! Frank is implying that the death RATE for cycling is small.
So, the absolute number of cyclists vs. motorists isn't the issue.

And we are less likely to die on the couch supposedly.

Bill Baka said:

That is because there are so few bikes in relation to cars and cyclists
are by nature much more aware of their surroundings. I don't ride while
using my cell phone

I'm sure you'd never be so soft as to ride within range of a mobile phone
tower anyway. That's something only effete roadies would do!

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Le Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:09:15 -0800, Joshua Putnam a écrit :

Quoted message said:

On fast roads, if the shoulder isn't wide enough to ride six or ten feet
away from the traffic lane, I find I get better clearance from motorists
if I stay in the traffic lane where vehicles belong. That doesn't mean
it makes motorists happier, they are more likely to honk or yell if I'm
not cowering in the gutter, but at least I know they've seen me.

I got hit from behind by a car last September, first (and hopefully last)
time in 35 years of cycling. I was thrown into the grass with a broken
rib, the bike badly damaged, all this 1000 km from home on the third day
of a 2 weeks cycling trip.
Well, all these details are not relevant to this
discussion except for one: as visibility was relatively poor (slightly
foggy, rising sun in my face), and the road not very friendly, I chose to
ride to the extreme right on a 30 cm wide shoulder, which I normally
_never_ do. I was afraid of being hit "straight" by somebody driving too
fast in the fog; instead I got hit by the mirror of a guy driving
relatively slowly, who would have had plenty of time to avoid me, and
even to stop behind me, had he looked only briefly to the side of the
road. The guy swore that he hadn't seen me, and had been surprised by the
sound of the impact. I have every reason to believe him, which doesn't
mean he has any excuse.
I have been able to continue my trip as planned, the bike has been
repaired at his insurance's expense, and my rib is now in perfect shape.
But what remains is that even after now 5 months I haven't regained full
confidence on the road, specially on roads with fast trafic.

Turtle

fastturtle said:

Le Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:09:15 -0800, Joshua Putnam a écrit :

Quoted message said:

On fast roads, if the shoulder isn't wide enough to ride six or ten feet
away from the traffic lane, I find I get better clearance from motorists
if I stay in the traffic lane where vehicles belong. That doesn't mean
it makes motorists happier, they are more likely to honk or yell if I'm
not cowering in the gutter, but at least I know they've seen me.

I got hit from behind by a car last September, first (and hopefully last)
time in 35 years of cycling. I was thrown into the grass with a broken
rib, the bike badly damaged, all this 1000 km from home on the third day
of a 2 weeks cycling trip.
Well, all these details are not relevant to this
discussion except for one: as visibility was relatively poor (slightly
foggy, rising sun in my face),

Foggy, sun in his face too, and maybe not awake yet.

and the road not very friendly, I chose to

Quoted message said:

ride to the extreme right on a 30 cm wide shoulder, which I normally
_never_ do. I was afraid of being hit "straight" by somebody driving too
fast in the fog; instead I got hit by the mirror of a guy driving
relatively slowly, who would have had plenty of time to avoid me, and
even to stop behind me, had he looked only briefly to the side of the
road. The guy swore that he hadn't seen me, and had been surprised by the
sound of the impact. I have every reason to believe him, which doesn't
mean he has any excuse.

At least he stopped, many wouldn't.

Quoted message said:

I have been able to continue my trip as planned, the bike has been
repaired at his insurance's expense, and my rib is now in perfect shape.
But what remains is that even after now 5 months I haven't regained full
confidence on the road, specially on roads with fast trafic.

Turtle

Glad you're OK.
Bill

Michael Warner said:

Bill Baka said:

That is because there are so few bikes in relation to cars and cyclists
are by nature much more aware of their surroundings. I don't ride while
using my cell phone

I'm sure you'd never be so soft as to ride within range of a mobile phone
tower anyway. That's something only effete roadies would do!

I am only in range until I get into the mountains and sometimes get
business calls at the worst times, or my wife. Once I get out of range I
just turn it off and know I have at least a few hours undisturbed.
Bill