Commuting - 1st day of wearing a helmet I Get hit by a car.

All my lights are on and it's not completely dark. I have the ride of way. A car pulled up to a stop sign out of a subdivision. Then proceeded as she hit me. I land on her hood and she keeps going. Looking as a tempt to run over my preciouse bike. But her b!tch car was to low and my bike was too light. She asked if I was alright as I was saying, "what the ****?" I told her I was fine & she kept insisting if I was alright. She was a kid & probably goes to the school I work at. I told her, "You know I have the right of way?" She says yeah(lying) saying "I just didn't see you." Well no sh*t she went 10! feet with me on the hood trying to drag my bike up & keep from rolling onto the windsheild and possibly further. The fat chick never lock up. It was like she was turning into a parking spot. If I were to hit something I would lock up so as to prevent further damage.

A couple apparently turned around to see if I was ok. The lady asked if I needed a ride and said they seen the whole thing. The gentlemen said, "You had the right of way. I do some biking of my own" Something of that nature. I said I was fine, just need to get my chain back on correctly. Thanked them profusely ofcourse.

I had to turn around and get my blinkie. It was a foot from the curb and was more of a miracle it didn't get ran over. It was more likely since it was jolted off/open. The rest of the damage was my bar end, pedal, & seat are scraped up. The seat IS already needing TO BE replaced.

I was more pissed off last night in my car when two kids pulled out infront of me on a four lane highway with no cars around. I hung out my head & arm out at the next light. Cursing them out. Calling them morons. I'm real brave in my car I know.

Thought I'd share my adventure...good times.

Did you file a police report? That'd be a hell of a good idea.

I'm glad you survived!

Damn dude. You are one lucky SOB. I would go out immediately and buy a lottery ticket. I think I would have called the police though. I think if they slapped a ticket on her she might think more the next time she pulls out.

Glad to hear you're alright 'cause it could have been worse. People like that should have their license taken away on the spot.

These days I'm totally prone to calling the cops in regards to any incident like this.

The impact appears to have damaged the language center of your brain. Perhaps a trip to the hospital is in order.

Sorry about your luck.

Did u call the police ? how did u not get hurt ? that must be a miracle. And you rode home ?

She was excellerating from a stop as I was riding infront of her. She stopped, but It wasn't for me. She gunned it enough for me to be scooped up on her hood & go for a short ride. I thought about a police report, but I didn't have any witnesses until I let her go. I should of made her turn back around until I inspected my bicycle a little closer. Traffic was just so heavy & I was disorientated a little. It was a newer model car so the hood caved in a whole bunch to softend my fall.

Live & you learn I guess.

You should have DEFINITELY filed a police report. 3 more feet, and you'd be dead right now.

That wasn't a simple accident. She should realize the scope of her inattention, and you should appreciate how near death that was. The fact that she made that mistake in the first place also suggests that she is probably not an attentive driver to begin with, and will likely continue to make similar critical errors in driving judgment.

Without a police filing, most of these drivers will almost definitely assume that they were "in the right" because you are the 1% minority on a bicycle, and they are the 99% majority on the road, meaning that in their limited understanding, YOU should be the one at fault, because YOU have no business being on their road. The only way to fix this misconception is to file responsible police reports for accidents such as these.

Didn't mean to harsh on you though - glad you made in through in one piece, and hope you keep on riding. Thanks for sharing your story.

No, I appreciat the criticism/information & concern. I commuted for about 1 year 2 years ago, but it was through subdivisions and crosswalks, so I've never been put in this situation. I did know I was right, becuase I read the bicycle laws in my state.

I'll stay riding. I'm just going to feel even more vulnerable & get another set of lights as soon as they come in. Unless I decide to make my own this weekend.

The seats already needing replaced.
You work at a school? I hope you don't teach English.

I won a 3 LED white headlight that has a strobe on it. I point it slighty to the right in flash mode. Cars on sidestreets will wait a full block before I pass. That didnt happen before i got that light. They are cheap and I believe it will help there.

As it is getting light seems to be when i have the most issues as well. Buzzings are closer, and people don't see you as well or something.

Glad you are OK. That's a hella scary ride! Dont do it anymore :)

Saint Louis? Where were ya at?

Becarefull I ended up yelling at the person, PULL OVER NOW while pointing oops.


One thing to remember everyone, when you write a police report you're put into the database.
If no one calls the cops no accident is ever noted.

This is also a good time to collect your paramedics number and police number.

Dialing 911 will send an army after you. Bicycler down, they get really sensitive to that.

My cop cited the person failure to yeild. They get real serious when someone hits a bicycler and the bicylce had the right away here in Phoenix.

You work at a school? I hope you don't teach English.

Oh, are you really concerned...

Hmm, there was a cateye headlight and blinkie that straps to a helmet in the 1/2 off bin. It has a huge 4C/D batterey pack that goes with it. I guess I can toss it in the backpack.

I live in St. Charles county actually 25 miles from St. Louis.

Call the cops next time something happens like this. If this girl does it again, it might not be so pretty for the next cyclist.

You should have DEFINITELY filed a police report. 3 more feet, and you'd be dead right now.

That wasn't a simple accident. She should realize the scope of her inattention, and you should appreciate how near death that was. The fact that she made that mistake in the first place also suggests that she is probably not an attentive driver to begin with, and will likely continue to make similar critical errors in driving judgment.

Without a police filing, most of these drivers will almost definitely assume that they were "in the right" because you are the 1% minority on a bicycle, and they are the 99% majority on the road, meaning that in their limited understanding, YOU should be the one at fault, because YOU have no business being on their road. The only way to fix this misconception is to file responsible police reports for accidents such as these.

Didn't mean to harsh on you though - glad you made in through in one piece, and hope you keep on riding. Thanks for sharing your story.


This is why I highly recommend everyone to carry a digital camera in a pouch on YOUR BODY at all times when riding. If something like this happened to me and I'm on a public road I would have taken the photo of the car withthe lic. plate on the first shot then a second shot on the damage to the car and then my bike then the distance travelled.

Grr.. while I was not on a bike when I got hit before this brings back some bad memories. I was at a FULL STOP at a red light with a couple other cars at a full redlight stop. I was the first car in the lane without anyone behind me. So I check the rear mirror and see an 18 wheeler coming and look forward again at the lights ready to go when the lights change. As I check the rear mirror againt he 18 wheeler is getting closer and closer then I got nailed rear ended at what I guessed was at 40 kph but that was a multi ton truck. The back of my van took heavy damage. I mean damage enough to have two 355mL coke cans stacked deep in damage. I was like "WTFFH!!!?!?!?!" at the driver and the guy was asking me to stay calm and not freak out. How can one not freak out when the lights are all red and more then one car was there so you know to stop/slow down. Christ, of all the vechicles out there a truck should slow down sooner then any car on the road. Man I was pissed off. Thankfully I had my digicam then and I took a photo of the incident right away to preserve the scene incase I had to move the car. The impact of the 18 wheeler hitting the back of my van pushed my van inot the middle of the intersection and almost past stop lights. That bastard got charged for driving without insurance if I remember the cop tellng me. Sadly no one stepped up to say they would be a witness as they all sped away. Yah I'm ok. I went to the doctor the next day or the same day (I forgot) as a precaution and also just so there was some medical record of a check up. I know the impact did jolt my head forward a bit.

Grrr... some days I swear.... IRL Quake map. Give me the rocketlauncher (I think it was the 7 key in the game :P).

*grumbles* I'm glad you made it out safe mate. If you don't have a digicam just get any el cheapo diigcam. The 3 megapixel digicams have dropped so much you can get a Kodak for like $76 CDN (About 50 USD I think) or some no name brand with a zoom as a backup for about $50 bucks CDN I think. I highly recommend everyone get a cheapo for safety.


Zero_Enigma

... The lady asked if I needed a ride and said they seen the whole thing ...

... I thought about a police report, but I didn't have any witnesses until I let her go ...

And see a doctor ... I think the incident may have affected your memory ...

Sadly no one stepped up to say they would be a witness as they all sped away.

Heh. I witnessed an accident where a really big jacked-up black pickup rearended a woman in an escort. It happened right behind me on an expressway, traffic was slowed down to about 35 and this guy comes up behind at about 60+ and nails her. He took off, her car was totalled.

Anyway, I got to the side, and stayed with the woman until the cops showed up. When they did, I said I'd seen it and they DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ME. They didn't really seem to give a damn about eyewitnesses. Of course, none of us had a license plate number, so maybe they figured they'd never catch the guy anyway.

I always assume that the driver at a side street, waiting to cross my path, has NOT seen me unless I make explicit eye contact with them. At night, that's impossible, so I just slow down and proceed very carefully. Having cycled in center city Boston for years, I've learned that traffic signals and stop signs are mere suggestions and that visual pollution makes it tough to see a bike coming. I'd like it to be different, but until cars become too expensive to drive, that's the way it will be.

You're an idiot. Re-read the story. You could even re-read your second quote. Just ignore the bold. The couple turned back around. The chick left & after that, the couple came back to help out.

Sorry I didn't put them in bold for you. Everyone else could understand, but you.

No need to get all crazy about unfortunate events. You could carry a camera, but I think plain vigilance is enough for us all. Bad things unfortunately, do happen, and I think you just have to be reasonably ready for them. If you're going to spend lots of negative energy obsessing about how you're going to "get that guy who did you wrong", you'll waste your life on it.

Enjoy the bike ride, and help out when you can.

Oh no same avatar!!

anyway, i read this study recently that was done by a traffic analyist from the University of England of something along those lines, and it basically said that cyclists that wear helmets are more likely to get hit by cars. Ironic, huh

Oh no same avatar!!

anyway, i read this study recently that was done by a traffic analyist from the University of England of something along those lines, and it basically said that cyclists that wear helmets are more likely to get hit by cars. Ironic, huh

You didn't read the study, it said nothing to that effect. http://www.drianwalker.com/overtaking/overtakingprobrief.pdf

Alright, I'll get a new Avi. As long as one of us is representing Paul Hogan.

I was planning on getting a helmet Just took a couple weeks befor I felt comfortable in the wallet after forking out the rest of the bike necessities.

Update:

I'm recovering quickly...oh wait I was lucky enough to not get hurt(or I'm just that bad@ss! yeah lets go with that).

Last week they started putting up traffic signals with crosswalks. Maybe they were in need of the traffic lights, but it's the only set on that road with pedestrian crosswalks. I don't mind waiting to push the button to ensure my safety(from morons who look in the opposite direction they're turning).

It'd be nice if they tap into the existing traffic lights for crosswalks on the big intersections(on the same road). Instead of this one w/ two subdivisions coming onto the road. Maybe all the new traffic signals O'fallon orders comes with them; finding it necessary being more and more city like.