Well I was trying out my sweet new Ebay bike today and was about 1/2 mile from home. This older lady in a red car starts to go around me as I hugged the edge of the road. Just as she gets beside me she swerves in towards me and I just about crashed.

I caught up with her at a stop sign and yelled "HEY" as loud as I could. She drove on. I stood on the pedals and was actually able to catch her as she pulled into her drive way.

I had a very shaky adrenaline charged voice as I explained to her that she just about hit me. She acted incredulous and claimed that she never saw me. I can actually believe this although it was 3:30 in the afternoon on a sunny day. I explained how litigation would have resulted had she hit me. She reiterated that she never saw me. I managed NOT to swear at her but as I was pulling out of her drive way I did yell WAKE UP!

I think I need a high ball.

Boozergut.

Quite hugging the edge of the road... then little old ladies (and others) might even see you.

Pop quiz: What are you going to do different next time to avoid not being seen by same direction traffic? Hint: It will help even more in getting you seen by cross and oncoming traffic.

[edit] D@mn it, Gene, and your quick responses. You're giving away answers. Ssssshhh! [edit]

I once was hit by an elderly driver's car. Mirror smacked my folder's bar ends. I stayed upright and yelled at her at the next light. She had no clue about what had happened. I felt bad about yelling, I think (probably posted about it here, heh so maybe I'm wrong and could check).

this thread is gonna get ugly...

-D

Hey I'll take all the suggestions I can get. Thanks!

Pop quiz: What are you going to do different next time to avoid not being seen by same direction traffic? Hint: It will help even more in getting you seen by cross and oncoming traffic.

[edit] D@mn it, Gene, and your quick responses. You're giving away answers. Ssssshhh! [edit]

Aw man, I'm sorry, I try in the future to refrain from giving answers before the pop quiz is even posted. I forgot that Monday was pop quiz day.

Perhaps we can do it like Jeopardy in the future: I'll post the answer, and the next response has to be in the form of a question. ;)

My grandma's head barely stuck out over the steering wheel. She actually had to drive leaning against the door in order to not have the steering wheel right in the way. There probably are people who can't see anything at all out there.

By the way, alcohol isn't the answer.

My grandma's head barely stuck out over the steering wheel. She actually had to drive leaning against the door in order to not have the steering wheel right in the way. There probably are people who can't see anything at all out there.

By the way, alcohol isn't the answer.

I decided to go for some leftover beef stew instead. Hope your not a vegetarian too.

By the way, alcohol isn't the answer.
It is if the question is, "After almost getting squashed on my way home this evening, what will I be drinking?"


A nice pint of IPA was my answer to almost getting flattened by a truck a few weeks ago

It is if the question is, "After almost getting squashed on my way home this evening, what will I be drinking?"


A nice pint of IPA was my answer to almost getting flattened by a truck a few weeks ago

Stop by some time. I'm an all grain homebrewer and I love IPA.

There probably are people who can't see anything at all out there.


Do you really think they should be driving?

A good beer is always the answer. Well, except for when driving, flying an aircraft, driving a tank (even though that would be fun), and anything else that could get you killed or kill someone else. I have yet to kill anyone will drinking a beer in my hot tub or on my couch.
I've had a few rides that required a cold one at the end to calm me down. ugh

Most likely she really didn't see you because you were too far to the right to be considered relevant to her.

Write the laws on flash cards hand them out.

Some guy buzzed me and then had red light way down yonder I get up to it and flipped him off. In a bicycle lane now, and then shouted want to see the laws? I handed him the laws.

The whole I didn't see you. Response:: It is your responsiblity to see everything in front of you.

Wear a Ansi 2 vest

Most likely she really didn't see you because you were too far to the right to be considered relevant to her.


Like the stop sign at the next intersection.

Like the stop sign at the next intersection.
I'm sick of the "i didn't see you".

I ride through residential areas routinely. At one intersection in particular I pay special attention for cars as I was hit once by a driver blowing through (his) stop sign (i'm going straight, road intersects from my right). Drivers frequently do the "slow rolling stop" through this sign.

One night I see someone approaching the sign as I near the intersection. I'm prepared to stop. Driver rolls up to sign, slowing, and suddenly decides to ignore me and try to squeak thru. I'm in the center of the intersection already. Like all motorists, he misjudges my speed, almost hits me and locks to a stop. My front tires brushes some dirt from his front bumper but no damage.

So, I'm standing there turned a bit sideways looking over their hood, blocking their forward movement. Their windows are down. Its a couple in their early 50s - nearly new jeep suv. The driver's looking a bit embarrassed. My 20w halogen headlight is blinding the crap out of the dude. He's squinting hard. I very nicely say "Hey, there's a stop sign there". 3 seconds pass, no response. I decide to have a little fun and say "I guess you didn't see me". The driver is holding up a hand to block the light. Now he's full of information - "No, I didn't see you". I grin back because this situation is simultaneously sad and entertaining. I nod my head in agreement with the drivers comment, and ride away.

Motorists use the "I didnt see them" excuse far too much. Its complete BS most of the time. I know there are actual cases of "blindness", but I think many times its simply a convenient lie. What really burns me is the fact that people successfully use this line to get way with murder, and ours laws let them do it.

Once I had a driver pass me with very little clearance, then turn left immediately into her driveway. She barely got around me before she had to turn / powerbrake into the driveway. Naturally she made this pass at 40 mph in a 25 mph zone, and initiated the pass right before a hill crest where she couldn't see oncoming traffic. Lucky for us both there was none. The absurdity of her passing manuever overcame my ability to remain silent. I stopped and calmly said to the women standing in her drive "You know, you could have just waited a couple seconds, not passed me and then you wouldn't have endangered us both" Her response was an idiotic "I didn't see you". I snapped. "What? You had to see me in order to make that slalom course manuever around me and then jam it into the driveway at the last possible moment". I realized I was now the bigger fool for even attempting communication with this jackass, and rode away, talking to myself...

I'm sick of the "i didn't see you".

I ride through residential areas routinely. At one intersection in particular I pay special attention for cars as I was hit once by a driver blowing through (his) stop sign (i'm going straight, road intersects from my right). Drivers frequently do the "slow rolling stop" through this sign.

One night I see someone approaching the sign as I near the intersection. I'm prepared to stop. Driver rolls up to sign, slowing, and suddenly decides to ignore me and try to squeak thru. I'm in the center of the intersection already. Like all motorists, he misjudges my speed, almost hits me and locks to a stop. My front tires brushes some dirt from his front bumper but no damage.

So, I'm standing there turned a bit sideways looking over their hood, blocking their forward movement. Their windows are down. Its a couple in their early 50s - nearly new jeep suv. The driver's looking a bit embarrassed. My 20w halogen headlight is blinding the crap out of the dude. He's squinting hard. I very nicely say "Hey, there's a stop sign there". 3 seconds pass, no response. I decide to have a little fun and say "I guess you didn't see me". The driver is holding up a hand to block the light. Now he's full of information - "No, I didn't see you". I grin back because this situation is simultaneously sad and entertaining. I nod my head in agreement with the drivers comment, and ride away.

Motorists use the "I didnt see them" excuse far too much. Its complete BS most of the time. I know there are actual cases of "blindness", but I think many times its simply a convenient lie. What really burns me is the fact that people successfully use this line to get way with murder, and ours laws let them do it.

Once I had a driver pass me with very little clearance, then turn left immediately into her driveway. She barely got around me before she had to turn / powerbrake into the driveway. Naturally she made this pass at 40 mph in a 25 mph zone, and initiated the pass right before a hill crest where she couldn't see oncoming traffic. Lucky for us both there was none. The absurdity of her passing manuever overcame my ability to remain silent. I stopped and calmly said to the women standing in her drive "You know, you could have just waited a couple seconds, not passed me and then you wouldn't have endangered us both" Her response was an idiotic "I didn't see you". I snapped. "What? You had to see me in order to make that slalom course manuever around me and then jam it into the driveway at the last possible moment". I realized I was now the bigger fool for even attempting communication with this jackass, and rode away, talking to myself...


+1000. Been there done that, it is too tiring to hear.

I have had at least 3 people that honestly did not see me. 1 - the guy driving while legally blind, 2- the guy picking up his CD player from the floor board, 3- the women reading a religious pamphlet.:mad: Luckily I say each of them in my mirror in time to bail off the road.

Yup, take more lane. And don't chase down cagers. Take it from me, it's never worth it. If something bad happened take down their license plate number (something I always forget to do) and report it to the cops. Don't expect anything to come of it though...