2 Months Later (1 Month after getting a new bike) - Another Accident
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gboy
So after being involved in an accident on August 1, being without a bike for the whole month, and then purchasing a whole new bike on Sept 1, I'm involved in another accident just today. The first accident involved me being hit going eastbound in the curb lane by a left-turning westbound driver. The insurance company still hasn't paid, even though the driver was charged with an illegal left-turn. Today's accident involved me being hit going westbound in the left-lane getting sideswiped by a left-turning motorist, who other drivers allowed through two lanes of moving traffic. The police officer said we were both at fault, and I agree somewhat, but what should I do in relation to insurance? The driver initially suggested no harm, no foul (as the impact tacoed my front rim and his quarter-panel, about equal to replace) but then when I took the bike to get inspected at the bike shop, the gear/brake hoods would take about $400 to replace as a set. Not to mention the computer at around $100 or so. Since initially, the total damage was estimated to be under $1000, considered unreportable in Ontario, and I'm somewhat at fault, what should I do?
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
I'm not sure that you are legally at fault. I wouldn't take a police officer's word for it. Depending on the actual laws in Ontario, you might be (legally) in the clear.
What you were doing might have been unwise while still being legal.
gboy
I'll be bussing it for the next week or so I think, the pass came included with my tutition. I think I'll wait to see how much the damage is estimated to be, and then decide on a course of action from there. When I finally do get back on my bike, I think I may change the route, and always stay in the curb lane.
carless
and I'm somewhat at fault, what should I do?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762727837/002-7119710-0756008?v=glance
Find out if your unlucky or need to learn how to ride. Seriously, do some thinking and find out.
cc_rider
Why did the police say that it was partly your fault?
Little Darwin
Bad news...
It doesn't seem you were hurt, so that part is good news.
Hopefully all your accidents are behind you... But, just in case, you may want to scour the thrift stores and classified ads, and stick to buying disposable bikes for a while. :)
John Wilke
It doesn't seem you were hurt, so that part is good news.
Hopefully all your accidents are behind you... But, just in case, you may want to scour the thrift stores and classified ads, and stick to buying disposable bikes for a while. :)
Sorry to hear of your crashes (no such thing as 'accidents' ). Be thankful you're not worrying about hospital bills.
Perhaps you can find a beater bike for commuting? I would!
John Wilke
Milwaukee
gboy
Well, took the bus today, and it does take a little longer and requires more hassle than if I went by bike. And walking was a bit of a pain, but I did get down to the library after class to read Art of Bicycling. Well worth the read, and I realized a few things about my riding that may have contributed to the accident. When I get my bike repaired, I'll surely change my route to a less intense street (lots of lane conflicts and speed differentials) and give myself lots of buffer room.
carless
Well, took the bus today, and it does take a little longer and requires more hassle than if I went by bike. And walking was a bit of a pain, but I did get down to the library after class to read Art of Bicycling. Well worth the read, and I realized a few things about my riding that may have contributed to the accident. When I get my bike repaired, I'll surely change my route to a less intense street (lots of lane conflicts and speed differentials) and give myself lots of buffer room.
If you want to be a cyclist full time, you have to learn full time. Riding with the club, or a lonely bike path is easy. To deal with traffic, road hazards and drivers is very complex. It's not like driving, manual, test, parents teach you, you have to develop skills that they don't teach in classes. I have waited 10 minutes to cross a street, I have walked 1/2 mile on a busy street, I've also google mapped for 1 block between streets. The payoff is enormous, so keep doing it!
Roody
I agree with carless. If you like riding, keep it up. You don't sound very happy with the bus! Just learn the best ways, and don't do streets that are too complex for your own comfort. I think it helps if you tell yourself, "Just because I had two accidents, it does not mean I'm likely to have a third."
New2Cycling
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762727837/002-7119710-0756008?v=glance
Find out if your unlucky or need to learn how to ride. Seriously, do some thinking and find out.
That's one of the best books I've ever read on cycling.
gboy
I think my route was just full of conflict and I started to become just like the motorists I despise - those impatient, agressive, road-ragers that hog the road. So when I get my bike back, I'm changing my route to a roads without so many lane differentials and crossings so I can have some peace of mind. Oh, and maybe I'll relax my belief in vehicular cycling just a tad, as my rigidity in traffic doesn't seem to be serving me well.
sbhikes
I think my route was just full of conflict and I started to become just like the motorists I despise - those impatient, agressive, road-ragers that hog the road. So when I get my bike back, I'm changing my route to a roads without so many lane differentials and crossings so I can have some peace of mind. Oh, and maybe I'll relax my belief in vehicular cycling just a tad, as my rigidity in traffic doesn't seem to be serving me well.
That sounds wise. Cycling should be rewarding and fun, not stressful and aggravating (or injury producing). There's no reason to take noisy, busy, stressful streets if you don't have to. There's nothing to prove out there.
Brian
I'd see if it's possible to pursue the other insurance company. If it's anything like the system in the US, they can find liability at 50/50, and pay 1/2 your damages. When it comes to collecting from you, they probably won't have high hopes of collecting from a uni student that bikes to school. And they can't legally not pay you for your damages, even though they know you won't be paying theirs. Tough call. And yes, work on your traffic skills.
Helmet Head
Today's accident involved me being hit going westbound in the left-lane getting sideswiped by a left-turning motorist, who other drivers allowed through two lanes of moving traffic.
I'm having trouble picturing what happened here.
What direction was the left-turning motorist who hit you travelling before he started his left turn?
The other drivers who allowed him to turn through two lanes of moving traffic... what direction were they traveling?
Brian
He wants to know what to do about his bike, not VC advice.
Helmet Head
Back off. I'm just trying to understand what happened.
I don't see you telling carless he's not looking for "urban cycling" advice. Why pick on me?
Brian
Back off. I'm just trying to understand what happened.
I don't see you telling carless he's not looking for "urban cycling" advice. Why pick on me?
Because carless won't turn this into another VC debate. You still have that chip on your shoulder too. Getting bigger.
Helmet Head
Because carless won't turn this into another VC debate.
So you will? Way to go.
I repeat... Back off. I'm just trying to understand what happened. Gboy can decide for himself whether to clear it up.
Brian
So you will?
No. If you check, you will see that I've offered an opinion about recovering some of his damages. That's all.
[edit] Telling me to back off is both childish and futile.
Helmet Head
If you check, you will see that I've offered an opinion about recovering some of his damages. That's all.
All you've done is offer an opinion about recovering some of his damages? That's all? I think not. Perhaps you need to check. I suggest you start with your non-sequitor in #17:
He wants to know what to do about his bike, not VC advice.
Brian
All you've done is offer an opinion about recovering some of his damages? That's all? I think not. Perhaps you need to check. I suggest you start with your non-sequitor in #17:
Yes, that was all the advice I had for him. Post 17 was a comment directed at you about not turning this into another VC debate. It must be past your bedtime, and you're getting cranky. Go to sleep.
Helmet Head
There is no question about what advice you may or may not have for the OP, Mr. "work on your traffic skills" (#15).
The issue is how you're turning this thread into a tangential debate. But you're right about it being late here. Good night.
Brian
You've turned it into a debate. If he wants to share the details of the accident, he will. He seems much more interested in getting back on his bike.
Helmet Head
You started this tangential debate by postulating that my purpose here was to start a VC debate.
If gboy shares the details of the accident, it will be because he wants to, but also because I asked about the details, in the very post that you derided.
We may differ in our opinions, but we should be able to treat each other fairly never-the-less. Your post #17 was unfair.
For the last time, good night.
gboy
Whoa, didn't know my accident would cause such a stir! Anyways, the details were somewhat similar to my other accident (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=126702) that happened in August, where I was also hit by a left-turning driver. However, the current accident did not happen at a signalled intersection but rather a block before one. The westbound drivers i was following behind in the left-lane suddenly stopped to let the left-turning driver from the north (who wanted to go east-bound) make his turn, but I didn't have enough time to react (or was in a bad mood) and so continued on my path in the right-wheel position of the left-lane. And so that's where I hit him, even though if all conditions were right and I was less adament about my right to the road, I probably wouldv'e been able to make a detour around his vehicle.
Brian
I'll just observe now, and see if this takes an ugly turn.
webist
That's one of the best books I've ever read on cycling.
Thanx. I just ordered it.
Bacciagalupe
On a slightly unrelated note, gboy, you may want to get a cheap bike specifically for commuting. Maybe $100 -200 (USD) for a one-speed "beater" bike. Besides, if you leave a fancy bike at school all day, there's a bit of a theft risk.
And if you can leave an expensive bike at school all day without any worries about it getting stolen, then I'm moving to Ontario. :D
gboy
And if you can leave an expensive bike at school all day without any worries about it getting stolen, then I'm moving to Ontario. :D
Well I had it locked up with a cable and a U-lock, but I really wasn't worried about it. Once I even had it locked up in the same configuration for two nights downtown in front of the bus station, when I took the bus home, and it was in the same spot when I got back. This was downtown London, Ontario so if it had been Toronto, it would've been surely stolen. By the way, the new bike is a 2005 Brodie Romax.