Commuting - I almost killed someone today

So there I was, riding on the bike trail portion of my morning commute. There are a some steps that come down to the trail that I can't see well while approaching, so I slow down and slide left a bit in case someone suddenly appears...no problem, not a soul. Right after that, I'm approaching a bridge underpass. It's about 6:10 AM, so the area under the bridge is pretty much in shadow, except for where my headlight is aimed. There's a ledge under the bridge where some homeless people tend to live, so I glance up to see if anyone's up there, in case anyone might be coming down onto the trail...nope, no one.

I then look ahead of me again, and lo and behold there's a homeless guy SLEEPING RIGHT ON THE TRAIL. There's another guy a few feet off the trail as well, but my main concern was that my front wheel is about 5 feet from this guy's head, I'm headed right at him, and I'm going about 10-12 MPH. Fortunately 1) there was no one on the other side of the trail and 2) the guy was laying along the trail instead of across it, so I ducked left quickly and missed him by about a foot.

If he hadn't been partially bald I may never have seen him. He was sleeping under a dark-colored blanket and looked like just another shadow until I saw the top of his head in my headlight. By the time I glanced back down, saw him and reacted I was only a few feet away. I'm not sure what happens to a human head when it's run over by about 175 lbs of bicycle, rider, and other gear, but it would not have been pretty.

I'll chalk that one up as reason #1,254 why it's not a good idea to ride on trails.

I'll chalk that one up as reason #1,254 why it's not a good idea to ride on trails.

There are also some reasons to ride on trails, at least in this case. It's well-maintained, and during the work week I'm virtually the only one on it. It also has the virtue of being the most direct route to work. I ride whatever is legal and works best for the need. Of course, you typically don't see homeless people (or anyone else for that matter) sleeping on the road. It was rather surprising.

Not exactly what you'd expect to find in the middle of the trail. Baby stroller, power walkeres 5 abreast, ten-foot long dog leashes, but sleeping bums?! I know when I rode a trail at night back in Seattle it was a very safe bet except for the unlit cyclists and joggers. That must have given you a terrible fright and that guy will never know how lucky he is. But on the other hand if he's sleeping on a trail or road, his number will probably come up sooner, rather than later. Poor guy. You should go back and strap a vistalight blinkie to his head.

There are also some reasons to ride on trails, at least in this case. It's well-maintained, and during the work week I'm virtually the only one on it. It also has the virtue of being the most direct route to work. I ride whatever is legal and works best for the need. Of course, you typically don't see homeless people (or anyone else for that matter) sleeping on the road. It was rather surprising.


I agree, crazy sh*t happens anywhere and everywhere. There are many reasons to hate trails. But I don't think this is one of them.

Good lookin' out. And here's to hoping it's a long time until your next close call.

Where's a polo mallet when you need one?

this pretty much sums it up http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/bos/70245362.html

Friggin' hilarious.

this pretty much sums it up http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/bos/70245362.html

rotflmfao :roflmao:

I'll chalk that one up as reason #1,254 why it's not a good idea to ride on trails.

Actually it sounded like the OP might have been overdriving his lights. If you can't see far enough to stop safely, slow down or get brighter lights. Other hazards exist on and off trail besides bums: potholes, trash, bottles, tree branches, critters, etc.

There are homeless people all over the place on the trails in Denver; it's just the Way It Is.

>> I'm not sure what happens to a human head when it's run over by about 175 lbs of bicycle, rider, and other gear, but it would not have been pretty.<<

When i was a kid i used to ride in bike-a-thons for charity. Old touring bike 10 speeds. One year i'm getting blown around by a heavy wind, at my back as i fly past the checkpoint. A few feet before i pass the desk at the ckeckpoint one of the sponsors 4 year old darted out and tripped/ fell face forward in front of me. I had less than a second to react. My front tire missed him, but the rear tire rolled over his head and put me into a 20mpg front wheel wheelie. Somehow i didn't crash and i turned around and bolted back crying more than the little kid who was totally untouched. He only started crying when he saw all the scared adult attention. He was totally fine.
The sponsors, my parents and the kids mother all spent like half an hour begging me to finish the ride. I spent the next few laps crying. (Hey i was 15...)
(No scratch that i'd be crying now at 32 too...)

Long story but bright side is 175 lbs of wheel is unlikely to kill anyone. I've had a girlfriend ski over my head, while edging. Bike wheel would feel great...

I'll chalk that one up as reason #1,254 why it's not a good idea to ride on trails.


-ofcourse, cause uh, trails are for sleeping...yes, naturally

I bet the guy was sleeping there because the trail's warmer than the surrounding area, and cleaner than the dirt too. Not smart though.

I would've given him a kick and a shout as I passed by or something. Might've saved his ass and the ass of the next poor rider who's gonna get into a major crash after riding over this guy's stupid head and then maybe get attacked by the bastard...

I almost hurt someone yesterday on the trail also. I was going home on the BWI Bike Trail approaching a bend to the right with woods right up to the edge of the trail. I moved to the middle to be able to see ahead when suddenly a female comes jogging out of the bend on my right (her left). I felt like yelling but I recognized that she was a teenage who appeared to be clueless as to rational behavior. It wasn't worth missing my train to go back and lecture her. If she hadn't been right next to the woods (on the wrong side) I would have hurt her and me bad.

I would've given him a kick and a shout as I passed by or something. Might've saved his ass and the ass of the next poor rider who's gonna get into a major crash after riding over this guy's stupid head and then maybe get attacked by the bastard...

Having worked with the homeless population, (and making a distinction between being down on your luck home-less and living on the street under a bridge for years on end homeless...) the kick either proverbial or actual would not cause anything but anger or resentment. If the guy under the bridge could connect cause and effect that way he wouldn't be sleeping under a bridge. Most of us are driven by simple survival mechanism wheter we realize it or not. When we're cold we go inside, we get jobs etc to have enough money for a roof, heat, a soft bed and warm food. If you disrupt these mechanisms through untreated mental illness, lots of alchohol or drugs, you become unable to persue these simple nessecities. I've treated guys too pickled by years of alcohol (technical term is Korsakov's syndrome) they forget to wrap up in cardboard or sleep on a grate or whatever when the snows come. Their congnitive reasoning has been damaged and replaced by even simpler drives and by the overriding need for the chemical that they are addicted to and would in many cases die from the removal of. (Alcohol is THE most dangerous drug to withdraw from.)
You can't change these guys from the street, the best we can do in health care is keep them alive long enough to have a chance to change. The only way to really help is to support the structures that treat mental illness, chemical dependance, to fight for affordable housing and city designs and push for job programs and education...
Sometimes the best a city can do is get people off the streets. I watched one park on my commute that was taken over by a dozen squatters. Every night drinking, every morning passed out in the elements and glass broken all over the path. City did nothing all summer. One morning i see mouthwash bottles all over the path and the guys are all gone. Most got really sick and more than a few were in the ER and ICU i worked in. Several died. (Drinking mouthwash bad...) Whereas i felt like i'd be a bad person for wanting the 'drunks' cleaned off my bike path, the cities not doing so just contributed to a spiral that ended in several deaths...

If this guy is really in danger or becoming a danger to others the best thing you can do is call the cops to complain. They often won't do anything unless there's a complaint. Call now and you might save the guy a kick in the head from someone less tolerant than you, save another cyclist from a crash, or if you feel the danger is there another person from an attack.
Worst that happens to the guy is a warm bed, a hot meal and a medical evaluation.

I bet the guy was sleeping there because the trail's warmer than the surrounding area, and cleaner than the dirt too. Not smart though.

And to avoid the morning dew...