Commuting - So I commuted by foot... I feel safer on my bike! (I got hit)

Over the winter and nursing some injuries I have been 100% on a treadmill or an indoor track. Just recently I decided to use the warm weather spurt as the point where I started moving my triathlon training outdoors. I recently started running downtown here, exactly where I commute, after work. One particular day this week I was running from my work to my gym (commuting :p ), about a 3 mile loop to get there. It was right after work so I was extra cautious about traffic.

I was running down the sidewalk on the left hand side when I came up on an intersection with a white (green) ped light for me to cross. I notice a truck stopped and figured he was wanting to turn right (facing me), but was waiting for me to clear the road. So I'm about halfway across the interesction jogging and I notice the truck start to move and turn my way. I look into the cockpit to see the driver completely looking over his shoulder at traffic the other way (which is stopped by red anyway). The guy never looks in front of him and just continues to drive looking backwards!

Its too late now and this guy is pushing the gas so I'm stuck like a squirrel but decide to just keep going and try to sprint out of his way. I turn a 45 degree to my left to try and get an angle away from the truck to give me a few more moments. Thats when I felt the cold steel bumper against my right leg. :rolleyes: BAM the bumper hits me and I instantly jump up off my other foot and slid across the corner of his hood. Miracle has it that I did it perfect and I think I may have even used my right leg that was hit initially to step on his bumper and help me onto his hood. It looked like this guy plowed me and I rolled over the hood. There were tons of other pedestrians around (even other runners) and some of the women started screaming when they saw me going up and over the corner of the hood. People came over to see if I was OK but I was virtually scratch free, just a little shocked. The truck didnt stop or the driver never even saw/heard me. :mad: Today my right knee is a little bruised/sore but nothing to really complain about.

Be careful out there guys, even when on foot. I think my cat like reflexes from commuting/being on a bicycle helped save me from any injury. :D

Glad you're ok, but damn, the driver didn't even stop?!? That's a hit and run if I ever saw one. Didn't anyone get his plate #? Hitting cyclists is one thing, but usually the cops take a dim view of hitting peds that have the right of way.

Glad you're ok, but damn, the driver didn't even stop?!? That's a hit and run if I ever saw one. Didn't anyone get his plate #? Hitting cyclists is one thing, but usually the cops take a dim view of hitting peds that have the right of way.

To be honest I think everyone (including me) was focused on myself. It was sort of a situation where you stand up, and touch both arms and both legs to make sure they were still attached. I was hit by his passenger side, and he was turned around looking over his shoulder, so my guess is he never saw me, never knew he hit me.

Not more than a month ago, a man in a wheelchair was killed while crossing the street here downtown as he had the white ped cross sign.

Not that I will do anything, but if the truck driver leaves his work the same time everyday and I leave my work same time everyday, I'm bound to see him again.

This is why I feel safer on a bicycle in Boston. You won't catch me walking around Birmingham. People in the South are so inconsiderate and rude.

Seriously, glad you are OK. Wish you had the plate number. This was a hit-and-run.

Wow. I'd go after him.

I'm so glad you're practically injury free...if not alive!

I got the same impression after commuting by foot for a month
Being a pedestrian is definitely more dangerous

Glad you're alright though!

There's no way he didn't notice. In a truck, he may not feel the bump, but you certainly made a fair bit of noise there. Glad you got out of it ok.

You won't catch me walking around Birmingham. People in the South are so inconsiderate and rude.


No, no, no. Not necessarily true.

I'm glad you are OK Kraut. See you at the Tuesday night worlds.

I can't believe he didn't stop! :eek: That's one thing about China, at least -- if there is any contact between two vehicles, or a vehicle and a pedestrian, everything grinds to a halt immediately. Of course, this usually means stopping in the middle of the road and backing up traffic for miles while the people involved shout at each other :rolleyes:

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=r7vmmdj35s