I was riding up the multi-use path around Lake Monona here in Madison. There's an intersection that the path goes by. As I came up to it, an oncoming idiot cyclist turned in front of me and I almost hit him. A little shaken, I look up and see an SUV pulling into the driveway in front of me (the driveway is an enterance to a parking lot). I hit the brakes and slammed into her, front wheel first. I didn't even fall off my bike. I was a little pissed, and asked her if she was looking, to which she replied, "Yes, but I didn't see you." She pulled into the lot and we assessed the situation. I knew my front wheel was bent and unridable. I got her name, phone number, and license plate number. She offered to drive me home or to work if I wanted. I accepted the ride home.
She was a very nice lady, and was very sorry about the whole thing. I didn't get any hostility from her at all. Other than my initial harsh few words, it was almost cordial. I told her that if the wheel was just a little out of true, I could probably fix it myself, but that if there was any more damage, I would call her. I got home and tried to true it, but it was pretty bent. I put a straight wheel in the fork and, sure enough, the fork was mis-aligned. I took it to the shop and they told me that I'd a fork re-alignment (yay for steel frames) and a rebuilt front wheel would run $145.
So I called up the lady who hit me, told her how much it was, and she was fine with it. She came by after she was done with work, checked out the repair estimate, and wrote me a check. I called the shop and told them to get started on it, and then deposited the check. That went pretty smooth. She said she would be more vigilant in the future, and I really believe her.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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Link to map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=machinery+row,+madison,+wi&ll=43.075991,-89.375454&spn=0.008819,0.014098&t=k&hl=en
There driveway I mentioned is about halfway between the A and C points.
Cycliste
This lady at least seems like a genuine honest human been. No argument and she was probably glad you did not get any injury.
I don't know the area where you were riding at all. Just curious, is the road not safer to ride than this path?
khuon
Everyone makes mistakes. It's how a person handles their mistakes that speaks of their true character. The woman sounds like she's a fine honest person. Was there any damage to her vehicle?
thechrisproject
This lady at least seems like a genuine honest human been. No argument and she was probably glad you did not get any injury.
I don't know the area where you were riding at all. Just curious, is the road not safer to ride than this path?
I think the path is much safer. The path hugs the lake for a few miles, so you miss a bunch of intersections that cars have to deal with. The road I'd be on varies from 6 lanes (three each way, divided center) to 4 lanes, and the speed limit is 35-45mph (with an effective speed range of about 40-60mph).
thechrisproject
Everyone makes mistakes. It's how a person handles their mistakes that speaks of their true character. The woman sounds like she's a fine honest person. Was there any damage to her vehicle?
Not that I could tell. It was a slow crash, but enough to bend my fork a little. The shop was very optimistic about being able to bend (aka cold set) it.
operator
The shop was very optimistic about being able to bend (aka cold set) it.
I wouldn't. Get a new fork.
sbhikes
So let me get this straight. You weren't paying attention and hit her. She then took the blame and you let her pay for the damages. That doesn't sound very nice. You are lucky though.
thechrisproject
I wouldn't. Get a new fork.
You haven't seen it, and I trust them. When a true wheel was in the dropouts, the top of the wheel was only off by maybe a centimeter, which means the alignment off by much less. My Zinn and the Art of Road Bike maintenance says that it should be okay, but to get a professional opinion. I did. They said it would be okay.
thechrisproject
So let me get this straight. You weren't paying attention and hit her. She then took the blame and you let her pay for the damages. That doesn't sound very nice. You are lucky though.
I had the right of way and she illegally pulled in front of me. I'd say that she rightfully took the blame.
You are right, though, I am lucky. I could've gone through a window or been run over. I'm usually a very vigilant and defensive biker, but the near-miss not 2 seconds earlier had me a little shaken.
Portis
Link to map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=machinery+row,+madison,+wi&ll=43.075991,-89.375454&spn=0.008819,0.014098&t=k&hl=en
There driveway I mentioned is about halfway between the A and C points.
Thanks for the map. I could use a new wheel myself. Seriously, sounds like you couldn't have encountered a nicer person. She is probably one in a thousand.
rs00
I was a little pissed, and asked her if she was looking, to which she replied, "Yes, but I didn't see you."
This is so similar to an incident I was involved in a few years ago and I got a similar response, "Yes I was looking but I didn't see you." I have also heard something similar to this at the scene of a motorcycle accident that I once witnessed. The motorcycle had the right of way and a car pulled out of a side road into the motorcycle path.
Why is it that so many auto drivers often say they don't see bicycles and motorcycles? If they were truly looking they would have seen them. The usual reason they don't see them is that the driver is in a rush and is not paying enough attention. "I was looking but I didn't see you" is a blatant lie.
Crank It Up
I had a similar experience when commuting to campus YEARS ago (undergrad) on my steel Raleigh MTB. A guy making a right turn on red didn't see me and struck my rear wheel as I crossed the intersection. I was thrown off the bike but no apparent external injuries. This motorist was actually CONCERNED whether I was okay or not. Contact info was exchanged and I took the campus bus to class. I felt some chest soreness and went to Student Health Services for a routine exam and a chest X-ray. Luckily it was just a bruise. What really surprised me was that the gentleman and his wife (who answered the home phone) were VERY polite and agreed to take care of ALL expenses incurred by me ( x-ray lab fees, bike repairs, etc.). The rear wheel was fine but the rear triangle was bent; the LBS just straightened it out and it was good as new! :D
It's a great feeling to know that there are actually SOME DECENT and CARING PEOPLE in this world. :)
tim_pnw
Kinda similar experience, ... but different too...
Back in 85 I had a huge, heavy, old (even by then) 10 speed I bought from my uncle a couple years before (had a 'Space Ace' tag where you'd expect to see Schwinn).
I was going through Beaverton and got caught by a light. At the green and after a 100 yard sprint I haulled and pulled up onto the bike lane/sidewalk they have downtown to let traffic pass with more room.
Well from a bank drivethru a motorcycle pulled out in front of me and stopped for traffic. I didn't even have time to barely touch the front brake (did I tell you it was missing the rear brake?). I hit, did a flip / summersault, landed on my feet, and brought the bike over into myself cause I didn't let go with my right hand. Myself and my bike missed the motorcycle driver.
Of course my wheel/ rim looked like a 'D', forks bent and wheel pushed back, and both tubes had a bend that attach to the steering tube. Oh I crushed his exhaust pipes comming out of 2 of his 4 cylinders...
In just a few seconds we looked at each other, asked if the other was ok, and looked at eachothers rides. I put my bike on my shoulder, said 'ok', he said the same, and that was that, hoofed it to my sisters.
Bought my Schwinn Prelude 3 weeks later... that bike didn't make it a year... I was watching traffic behind me and blew thru the red light at Powell's bookstore. An 83 Caddi Seville sent me skipping like a stone.
Kinda funny... it pinched my front derailer in half, but after the hospital visit, I put my tube in a vise and rounded it out a bit... used that bike for several years switching the front gears with my fingers if needed...
Ok it turned out to be a rant, but someone in a nother post did say i needed to contribute more...
becnal
Wish more drivers were like her
thechrisproject
This is so similar to an incident I was involved in a few years ago and I got a similar response, "Yes I was looking but I didn't see you." I have also heard something similar to this at the scene of a motorcycle accident that I once witnessed. The motorcycle had the right of way and a car pulled out of a side road into the motorcycle path.
Why is it that so many auto drivers often say they don't see bicycles and motorcycles? If they were truly looking they would have seen them. The usual reason they don't see them is that the driver is in a rush and is not paying enough attention. "I was looking but I didn't see you" is a blatant lie.
I don't think it's a blatant lie a lot of the time. This has been discussed before in this forum, but people can look right in your direction and not see you. It has more to do with the way our brains work than our eyes. It is a lousy excuse, but it's not a blatant lie.
Bigmark
When I was on leave from the Navy I was driving a 1970 something Delta 88 land yacht of my fathers, I was stopped at a light, and this (younger) lady pulled out of a parking lot, and hit my passenger side door. She told me she didn’t see me, and that I must have been flying down the road. When I told her I was stopped for the light like the guy that was behind me, she changed her story, to she just didn’t see me. Now what I would like to know is how do you not see a parked car in front of you? People just don’t look at all. That’s why being on a bicycle you have to be sooooo careful. People not only don’t look, they see us as a nuance like a fly or mosquito.
Just my two cents.
My Cycling Page (http://users.zoominternet.net/~meisenbraun/cycling.htm)
Karldar
I had a guy who pulled out in front of me(left turn from a p-lot) that I hit(in my cage) trying to get me to take the blame for the accident. I don't know if he had a license, but he didn't have insurance. Surprisingly, he let me call the police and they didn't list either one of us at fault. At least this woman has the decency to take responsibility for her actions. I would try to get a new fork, tho. Not a super-expensive one, but a suitable replacement for what you had. Good luck!
When I was on leave from the Navy I was driving a 1970 something Delta 88 land yacht of my fathers, I was stopped at a light, and this (younger) lady pulled out of a parking lot, and hit my passenger side door. She told me she didn’t see me, and that I must have been flying down the road. When I told her I was stopped for the light like the guy that was behind me, she changed her story, to she just didn’t see me. Now what I would like to know is how do you not see a parked car in front of you? People just don’t look at all. That’s why being on a bicycle you have to be sooooo careful. People not only don’t look, they see us as a nuance like a fly or mosquito.
Just my two cents.
My Cycling Page (http://users.zoominternet.net/~meisenbraun/cycling.htm)
I think she saw you, she just wasn't paying attention. Reminds me of my response to a guy in Germany. I had rented a car(as mine had already been shipped) to get me through the last week before I came home. I was in a PX parking lot preparing to leave and go to on-base housing. An older gentleman(retired American military) and his wife were in their car to my right. As I eased up to exit the p-lot, he darted in front of my car, slammed on his brakes and got out looking pretty pissed. I got out of my rental(which had German plates) and asked in plain English, "Do you have a problem, sir?". I could tell he was surprised I was American. Anyway, he ranted for awhile about me cutting him off and used some choice words. My immediate response was, "I didn't see you". Then he goes off about not being able to see a 2 ton sedan, etc. What really happened was that I saw his car, perfectly in line with the row of parked cars, decided he was parked and ignored the car. I amended my previous statement to allow that I had seen him, but didn't realize he was also exiting the p-lot. That wasn't good enough, of course, so I had to ask if we needed to call the MP's. That sent him on his way, but he didn't really cool down any. I thought he was going to have a heart attack--if I didn't pop him one. I'm surprised I was able to restrain myself. Anyway, I think the whole, "I didn't see you." response is kind of a reflex statement to cope with lack of attention paid to a situation.
As for my little encounter, I found out(after the fact) that my gf and her friend had been making faces at the guy the whole time we were sitting there. No wonder he was so mad....
geeklpc1985
It is the drive way for the lake/boat parking? I have had some problems with the bike shop there with cars, no hits so far knock on wood.
Glad you ok, keep riding,
GEEK
Helmet Head
I was riding up the multi-use path ...
The dangers of MUPs can not be over emphasized.
(the dangers of traffic cycling can be over emphasized, and are constantly)
thechrisproject
The dangers of MUPs can not be over emphasized.
(the dangers of traffic cycling can be over emphasized, and are constantly)
Sounds a little like hyperbole to me. I bet I could over emphasize the dangers of MUPs.
genec
This is so similar to an incident I was involved in a few years ago and I got a similar response, "Yes I was looking but I didn't see you." I have also heard something similar to this at the scene of a motorcycle accident that I once witnessed. The motorcycle had the right of way and a car pulled out of a side road into the motorcycle path.
Why is it that so many auto drivers often say they don't see bicycles and motorcycles? If they were truly looking they would have seen them. The usual reason they don't see them is that the driver is in a rush and is not paying enough attention. "I was looking but I didn't see you" is a blatant lie.
I think it comes from using "pattern scans" in our "looking." Humans are very good at recognizing patterns and over time, drivers develop a sense of a pattern of the things that can be dangerous to them... they scan for that pattern, and anything that does not fit the pattern is not dangerous, therefore, they are "clear to go."
Pedestrians, cyclists and smaller motorcycles fall out of the pattern, they become "overlooked." The driver is NOT actually looking for you, they are looking for "moving boxes" of a particular size, moving at a particular speed. You, the cyclist does not fit that pattern. Hence you are not seen.