Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - I got side-swiped today!

I was about 5 miles in to my morning ride when I noticed a vehicle in my mirror. I merged to the right side of the bike lane. A few moments later all I saw was a flash of headlights and then the rear-view mirror hit my arm and leg. I was able to stay on the bike and there was no damage. The car tapped its brakes a few times, indicating that he knew he hit me, but kept on going. :mad:

My attire: red shorts, red shirt, red gloves, and all lights operational. Did I mention I was in the Bike Lane?

I was about 5 miles in to my morning ride when I noticed a vehicle in my mirror. I merged to the right side of the bike lane. A few moments later all I saw was a flash of headlights and then the rear-view mirror hit my arm and leg. I was able to stay on the bike and there was no damage. The car tapped its brakes a few times, indicating that he knew he hit me, but kept on going. :mad:

My attire: red shorts, red shirt, red gloves, and all lights operational. Did I mention I was in the Bike Lane?
0uch! Glad you didn't kiss the pavement or get hurt any other way!

- you're aware of the new law in FL regarding safe passing of bicyclists? 3-foot minimum!

- but i doubt anyone will heed the new reg... heck, there's no traffic enforcement as it is!

That happened to me in Queens two weeks ago. Woman in an SUV hit me with her mirror, didn't stop until the red light. I caught up, cut her off, and started screaming at her, wouldn't let her go until I was done. I wanted to call the cops but it was a really nice day, had a friend with me and wanted to enjoy the ride.

I've never been hit by a car, but I've almost been hit by stuff thrown from cars.

It's a Felony in Oklahoma for people to throw things at bikers, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. I've seen this one in action before--On the tail end of a 30 mile ride, some fool threw a crumpled soda can at me. He didn't hit me, but the police officer behind him was impressed by the throw. He was so impressed, he arrested the man, got my information, and I was called to testify. The judge was also impressed, and gave him 3 years community service and a $1500 fine for littering. :)

The judge also said that I should let my biking friends know that if anyone did that to them, get their tag number and report it. I think I was fortunate that there was a cop right there though, otherwise I doubt anything would've been done about it. Oklahoma also has a safe-passing law, but I think it's more a law that they can use to further punish someone if they end up really hurting a biker, not if they just 'bump' us.

Did you get license, make/model? Report 'em! Grrrr! Hate motorists! Motorists bad!

Okay, calming....calming....blood presure coming down...

:-)

Did you get license, make/model? Report 'em! Grrrr! Hate motorists! Motorists bad!

Okay, calming....calming....blood presure coming down...

:-)
Amend that to "Hate IDIOT motorists?" Not all of em are bad!

Amend that to "Hate IDIOT motorists?" Not all of em are bad!

+1 to what Tom said.

Just like there are IDIOT motorists there are IDIOT cyclists. Possibly a better vent is "Hate IDIOT's" :)

+1 to what Tom said.

Just like there are IDIOT motorists there are IDIOT cyclists. Possibly a better vent is "Hate IDIOT's" :)
Okay...<sheepish>...only idiots bad...

Hey, don't sweat it! We all generalize sometimes! I hope I get called when I do it!

Hey, don't sweat it! We all generalize sometimes! I hope I get called when I do it!I don't generalize...

http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/j/jawdrop.gif

You don't?

http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/j/jawdrop.gif

You don't?it was funny in my head...

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2363/happy8km.gif

I was unable to get a license. It was still dark (5 AM) and I was in shock. I was asking myself, "WTF? Did I just get hit?"

I assume it was an old codger (We have lots of those in FL) , the car resembled an gold Oldsmobuick.

I was unable to get a license. It was still dark (5 AM) and I was in shock. I was asking myself, "WTF? Did I just get hit?"

I assume it was an old codger (We have lots of those in FL) , the car resembled an gold Oldsmobuick.

How fast was the motorist going? I got knocked in the noggin' this afternoon by a Kitsap Transit bus, he undershot when he changed lanes & got me in the head with his mirror while slowing to a stop. He apologized right there, it was an honest mistake.

Good to hear you are in one piece.

In my 17 years of commuting I've been hit with sodas, hot dogs, cigarettes, basket balls (got me right in the head), bird poop, and a baseball bat (a kid leaning out a car window hit me in the head - cracked my helmet and hurt my neck).

I've had people turn right in front of me. I've been run off the road (2 foot drop off the road into a gravel bed). Had a guy threaten to kill me. Even had a cop tell me to get off the road and ride on the sidewalk.

I've had a sink hole open up in the asphalt as I was riding over it. And worst of all I had a semi with its rear door open go past me and blow me off the road (he was hitting his breaks hard and the door swung around at insane speed-missed me by just a few inches but the air blast pushed me right off the road).

Every time it happens I thank God that I didn't die and keep going (and I add a new entry to my list of things that almost killed me).

That said I'd sure like to carry a big freak'n gun and "restore natural selection" to the driving community - a few less drivers would be a good thing. ;)

All that red, plus the black of your brake/shift cables...

Driver probably thought you were a University of Georgia fan. :)

Glad you are (relatively) OK.

Good to hear you are in one piece.

In my 17 years of commuting I've been hit with sodas, hot dogs, cigarettes, basket balls (got me right in the head), bird poop, and a baseball bat (a kid leaning out a car window hit me in the head - cracked my helmet and hurt my neck).

I've had people turn right in front of me. I've been run off the road (2 foot drop off the road into a gravel bed). Had a guy threaten to kill me. Even had a cop tell me to get off the road and ride on the sidewalk.

I've had a sink hole open up in the asphalt as I was riding over it. And worst of all I had a semi with its rear door open go past me and blow me off the road (he was hitting his breaks hard and the door swung around at insane speed-missed me by just a few inches but the air blast pushed me right off the road).

Every time it happens I thank God that I didn't die and keep going (and I add a new entry to my list of things that almost killed me).

That said I'd sure like to carry a big freak'n gun and "restore natural selection" to the driving community - a few less drivers would be a good thing. ;)


That is encouraging news. I am about to head out again this morning thinking something like that couldn't happen again, I guess it will. *sigh*

Maybe we should start a list of ways that we've almost been killed on and off the road...

I'm so glad to hear that you are okay, (51). I haven't been riding long at all and that is a fear I have. I went riding with my mother-in-law the other day and she is really car-shy when we ride. She was riding her bike in Florida several years ago and was hit by a motorist. Except for some bumps and bruises, she was okay, but that's a very scary thing.

Sounds like you need a video camera on your helmet with a AA powered digital video recorder (DVR) with "continuous preroll".

After something happens, you tell it to save the last 30 seconds of footage. Then see if you can ID the vehicle and provide the short video clip as proof.

I've thought about the Dewey helmet cam for years and years. Now it's possible. I figure I have about one or two really scary moments each year. At that rate that a lot of "hauling a camera around" for nothing. Still it would be cool. "Where's Dewey?" "I don't know, check his helmet cam."

No guys - don't just focus on the negative. I've got lots of positive stories:

1) Riding with a friend. We stop at a light. Babe pulls up in a sports car. Sun roof. Babe. In the car. She has a tight skirt on and I guess you can't drive a stick with such a tight skirt. Must be a physics thing. So she's hiked the it all the way up to her waist. Babe. Wow. Friend and I exchange "do you see that" looks. Yup. We see'n that. Babe... Wow...

2) Found 26 dollars in the road on my morning commute.

3) Found my luck pliers on the roadside on a long ride. Bike had broke down. Twenty miles from home. Weather turning bad. Me with not enough clothing. At least ten miles from civilization. Those pliers saved my life.

4) Started riding at 255 lbs. Women wouldn't give me the time of day. After two years of riding 2.5K miles per year and a year of weight lifting three times a week I was down to 195. I starting getting cat calls of "nice butt" every few weeks. I loved it. Makes all that work worth it.

5) At above stated 195 lbs I had three beautiful teenage girls flash their... err... parts... at me. I'll be 90 years old with a far away look in my eye and a smile on my face and now you know what memory I'll be thinking about ;)

The list goes on and on. Overall it's just as long as my "near death list" only it's got way better scenery!

All things considered I'd say it's worth it.

cigarettes

Did they at least throw a whole pack? That'd be pretty nice of them.

Had a whole Burger King whopper thrown at me..... I caught the D!c* head In his El Camino at the next light and threw it back..... Damn Read neck didn't like that..

Had a whole Burger King whopper thrown at me..... I caught the D!c* head In his El Camino at the next light and threw it back..... Damn Read neck didn't like that..who the hell buys a whopper and then throws it at somebody?

where you sleeping with his goat or something?

was it free whopper day?

I'm incredulous...

who the hell buys a whopper and then throws it at somebody?

where you sleeping with his goat or something?

was it free whopper day?

I'm incredulous...

It is the latest dieting trend. Instead of eating your fast food you throw out your car window. There is a point system that depends on what you hit with what sort of fast food. For example:

Whopper at biker... 10pts
Milkshake at old lady ... 20pts
Happy meal at school children 20pts
Doughnuts at cop .... 50pts
Family size bucket of KFC at jogger 100pts

Once you get 200pts you are allowed to eat one fast food item. It has worked wonders for me.

It is the latest dieting trend. Instead of eating your fast food you throw out your car window. There is a point system that depends on what you hit with what sort of fast food. For example:

Whopper at biker... 10pts
Milkshake at old lady ... 20pts
Happy meal at school children 20pts
Doughnuts at cop .... 50pts
Family size bucket of KFC at jogger 100pts

Once you get 200pts you are allowed to eat one fast food item. It has worked wonders for me.

Bwahahahahaha!

Someone want to throw me a Popeye's chicken bucket?http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/b_ezee/smilies/FatGuy03.gif

Seems crazy to throw food at cyclists? I've been hit with a hot dog and a coke (they tossed the dog then turned around and came back and tossed the coke). Seems crazy but I know other's who have had similar things happen.

How fast was the motorist going? I got knocked in the noggin' this afternoon by a Kitsap Transit bus, he undershot when he changed lanes & got me in the head with his mirror while slowing to a stop. He apologized right there, it was an honest mistake.

It wasn't a mistake, if he was close enough to get you with the mirror, he was too close. Was he going to give you 6" or so with his mirror and mis-judged? Bus drivers should know better. I get the most respect on the road from commercial vehicles, they always give a wide berth.

You know, I've been fortunate. Here in Oklahoma, both in town and out in the country, cars will go 5' or so around me. The only close call I've ever had was when that truck threw an empty coke can at me... cop behind him was really impressed with that... so was the judge...

i haven't had the misfortune of being hit by a car or anything. my partner and i were about 6 inches away from getting sideswiped by a 60 mph semi. that was the second scariest moment in my cycling career.

I had a mini van go ass over teakettle and roll right at me in downtown Mesa, AZ. Kinda scary looking up and seeing a rolling van coming at you. Fortuately for me it was still a good distance away when it came to a halt. Fortunately for the people in the van they all had seatbelts on as they ended up upside down. I didn't hang around to see if there were major injuries as there were cops there instantly.

i haven't had the misfortune of being hit by a car or anything. my partner and i were about 6 inches away from getting sideswiped by a 60 mph semi. that was the second scariest moment in my cycling career.

Its a miracle the vacuum didn't suck you under the vehicle, or blow you off the road:eek:

I had a mini van go ass over teakettle and roll right at me in downtown Mesa, AZ. Kinda scary looking up and seeing a rolling van coming at you. Fortuately for me it was still a good distance away when it came to a halt. Fortunately for the people in the van they all had seatbelts on as they ended up upside down. I didn't hang around to see if there were major injuries as there were cops there instantly.But if none of them had been wearing seatbelts maybe the accident wouldn't have happened. Maybe they would have driven safer and protected the van from rolling... Oh wait, that is a different arguement.;)

It's a Felony in Oklahoma for people to throw things at bikers, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Way to go Oklahoma!!! I had this happen to me, but it was a half full fast food drink. I caugh up to the car, but the owners were inside a store. They got a half awater bottle on the drivers seat. Yeah, cloth upholstery, hehe.,,,,BD

If I'd caught the guy, I might have popped his valve stems. No damage to the tire, but all four would've been flat. But the police got him first...darn...;)

I was about 5 miles in to my morning ride when I noticed a vehicle in my mirror. I merged to the right side of the bike lane. A few moments later all I saw was a flash of headlights and then the rear-view mirror hit my arm and leg. I was able to stay on the bike and there was no damage. The car tapped its brakes a few times, indicating that he knew he hit me, but kept on going. :mad:

My attire: red shorts, red shirt, red gloves, and all lights operational. Did I mention I was in the Bike Lane?
I hope you got the plate and reported it.

I have never had the luck of a Police officer around when anything happened to me. I was riding along Jordan road when some redneck in a truck comes along and starts yelling obscenities at me. Mostly how bicycles shouldn't be allowed on the road, that sort of thing. At the time, Jordan road was undergoing some major renovations so things were even tighter than usuall. This clown pulls ahead of me and stops. I'm thinking, "Oh ****, going to get into a fight". He waits until I am within about 20 feet, then stomps on the gas, trying to shower me with debris. He missed! I dodged onto the new sidewalk that he didn't see he had pulled up next to. I headed into the nearest parking lot to call the cops, and the RDA follows me into the lot and tosses a beer bottle at me. Misses again. I get off the bike, write down his tag and call the cops. I don't know if they ever got him,. The cops never called me back. I have been hit by three cars, Once in Korea, when I was stationed there, and twice here in Aurora. I have been blown off the side of the road by 1 semi (That wasn't pleasant) and just last week had some numbskull blow through a stop sign while on the phone and almost hit me.

On the good side of things, had some girls in a VW convertable whistle at me and tell me if I can catch up to them they'll show me a good time (and NO I didn't) Had another girl pull up to the stop sign I was stopped at and hand me her card. On the back was written "Call me, you're HOT" (again, No, my wife didn't think it was to funny). Got to see 3 Nudy Judy's in their hot tub. I almost rode off the trail.

I hope you got the plate and reported it.

Nope. It was still dark (early AM) and my only concern was keeping the bike upright and on the road.

I have since begun to bail onto the sidewalk when a car is approaching. people here complain that you shouldn't do that, train the cagers, hold your lane, etc. But when it comes down to it, my 30 pound bike (and 300 pound ass) is not going to win the war with a 3,000 pound Oldsmobuick. Too many drivers are distracted these days with phones, PDAs, etc. I am taking responsibility for my life.

Even after Florida passed the 3' law a month ago, drivers are still pushing the bike lane even when there is no oncoming traffic. I had a SUV pulling a boat whiz right by me today even though he had room to get over.:mad: