So my wife got out on her 1st quicky ride of the season yesterday. She was almost home and took a left to cross the road so she could cut though a parking lot (car park for some of you :) ). As she approached the entrance to the parking lot, there were pedestrians that she was watching for on the right (none on the left), when a guy on an MTB, riding fairly quickly on the sidewalk (from the left) crosses her path as she was pulling off the road. She hit her breaks but clipped the rear wheel of his bike ... over the bars ... bent rim ... couple bruises but no real bodily damage. He didn't even offer to pay for the damage though he did ask her out :rolleyes: . Now I have to see if the rim can be fixed. Wife's fine .. bike is ok other that the rim. I hate when that happens. I don't really care that he was o the side walk but maybe be a little more aware and don't ride quickly if on the sidewalk.

glad to hear she wasnt hurt badly, hope it doesnt cost much to repair everything :)

Sounds like a typical "accident" to me. Two people, not seeing the other approach, collide.

Good to hear the worst of it is a bent rim.

Make the best of it and next time try to observe what others on the road (and sidewalk) are doing to avoid collisions.
:)

I had told my wife that it wasn't totally the guys fault riding on the sidewalk ... need to be aware of your surroundings. I thought both were responsible for the accident, maybe a little more on the sidewalk rider for riding too quickly, but it's over and done with. Just waiting to see if the rim is fixable.

Glad to hear that neither your wife nor bike met with serious harm. Happening on her maiden voyage can be a bit more traumatic.

On a slightly different note, where I observe most close calls are in those active intersections where motorists can make a right turn on a red light (after a full stop). Some motorists only slow down with no intention to stop and some only stop when they meet the corner, well into the cross walk. It is here that I have witnessed close calls when pedestrians and bicyclists, crossing with the light, in the crosswalk have met with collisions and near-misses. In nearly EVERY one of them, it is the motorist who seems upset that someone crossed their path.

Once, a motorist did this on a corner where there were at least six police cars. (I am an Aux. Police Officer). Light turned red, he came to the intersection, decelerated to make the turn and never stopped. Came so close to hitting a mother and two children, all on bikes...all having waited for the green to cross.

Rob

I think it's pretty common when a motorist (or cyclist) is wanting to make a left turn, and waiting for a break in oncoming traffic to make the turn, go when there is a break but haven't looked at the crosswalk traffic and almost hit a pedestrian going through the cross walk when they get their break in oncoming traffic. Same principle, lack of observation of all users on the road.

Originally posted by Stor Mand
He didn't even offer to pay for the damage though he did ask her out :rolleyes: .

Talk about adding insult to injury!!! I'm glad to hear that your wife go through the deal unhurt, though. :)

uhhh...wow...glad she's ok..but i woulda went and found that guy and rammed the bent rim up his ass for asking your WIFE out

There we go. . . leave it to a BMXer to identify the real problem here! :)

Actually, riding on the sidewalk is risky for this reason...

Actually, it's the sidewalk rider's fault. He shouldn't be "riding fairly quickly on the sidewalk". This is one of the leading causes of bicycle accidents.

Just discovered that my wife got his name and doesn't live too far from us either. I'm debating on calling him to see if he'd like to contribute to the new wheel. What are anyone's thoughts on that?

Originally posted by Stor Mand
Just discovered that my wife got his name and doesn't live too far from us either. I'm debating on calling him to see if he'd like to contribute to the new wheel. What are anyone's thoughts on that?

I think it's worth trying. What do you have to lose at this point ?

You may have more luck with your wife calling as she was the one involved and may garner more sympathy and beter response.

Justen

Originally posted by Justen
I think it's worth trying. What do you have to lose at this point ?

You may have more luck with your wife calling as she was the one involved and may garner more sympathy and beter response.

Justen

I was thinking the same after I posted. I may have her do that. Even if he goes half (or something) would be nice.

Originally posted by Stor Mand
I was thinking the same after I posted. I may have her do that. Even if he goes half (or something) would be nice.
Especially since he could be legally responsible for the entire cost.

I like your approach, Stor Mand. You aren't out for a pound of flesh.

Stor Mand,

I think you are being VERY reasonable. Actually, more reasonable than alot of people would be. I would suggest that your wife initially informs him that there was damage done to the bike and would appreciate reasonable compensation to repair it.

Before you have her do this though - have you got an assessment of damages and repair costs from a bike shop ? I think this would be important to have. Maybe even take the time to get assessments from two different stores which would show that you are being reasonable in this and are not trying to stick him with the highest price. Then your wife can say "look we got the bike damage assessed at two different stores and would really appreciate some compensation to pay for the repair to the bike". See what he says and negotiate from there. It would show them that are not out to gouge him...just to get reasonable compensation for the damage he caused.

Justen

Originally posted by Pete Clark
Especially since he could be legally responsible for the entire cost.

I like your approach, Stor Mand. You aren't out for a pound of flesh.

No pound of flesh, just responsibilty for riding where he shouldn't and causing more damage than his bike was worth. Everyone makes mistakes just own up to it. He should have offered something other that to take her out. :rolleyes: LBS is going to give her a loaner wheel while they figure out if the damaged wheel can be fixed. It's a small shop so things don't get done too quickly but that's ok.

I'm not sure a demand for compensation is worth the possible confrontation. If he's a reasonable sort, he may help with the repairs when the error of his sidewalk-riding habit is pointed out, but I wouldn't be surprised if something more surly resulted.
Well, at least no injury resulted - i.e. no "sidewalk pizza" from a motor vehicle...