Advocacy & Safety - Lesson

I was riding home from work today. There was the usual congestion on a "convenient" artery that I have loved to breeze past while they would sit in line, patiently waiting for the light to change again so they can move a few spaces up. I could have taken an alternate route, but I wanted to show, once again, that cycling is sometimes faster than the gridlock of motoring.

I abandoned an important safety principle: pass on the right at your own risk.

I was only two miles from home on this familiar route. The traffic was waiting for the light to change. I breezed ahead, in the very narrow margin on the right.

Some pedestrians were walking against traffic on my side of the road. They reluctantly started moving over until they were all out of my way. They were doing the right thing, no?

Suddenly, one of them did an evil maneuver. He stuck out his outstreached arm, fist balled, as if to "clothesline" me. He may have succeeded if I had not reacted. I held up my right arm as if to block (a gut reaction, since I had no time to think.)

I immediately found myself on the pavement. Apparently, the force of my arm striking his caused me to go over the handlebars. I remember my front wheel turning suddenly and sharply right, as if pulled by an invisible force. I don't remember anything else until I found myself standing, speaking with four wonderful ladies who had each seen what happened and had stopped. Before long, the police, fire truck, and ambulance had arrived. I was dazed, not realizing how badly I had been cut and scraped. You see, I could not see myself.

By the time the ambulance got halfway to the hospital emergency room, I was feeling the pain in my face. I never looked at myself,
but the pain told me volumes. I had landed on my face (and
Mr. Helmet, one of the heros of this story.)

A plastic surgeon had to remove some flesh from one part of my face to "fill in" a part above my upper lip. As I write this, I am still in pain. A few other areas of my arms, hands and knees got some good "strawberries," as well as some gouged-out craters
where flesh used to be.

But here is my point: it's (sadly) time for a new helmet. My helmet gave it's own life to save mine.

When I look at my former helmet, I can imagine what my forehead and skull would have looked like, had I allowed the road to chew up even more of my face, instead of my helmet.
All the professionals agree, my helmet saved my life.

Now if I can graduate from ruining helmets (and faces) to cycling intelligently in traffic. Of course, this was a malicious intention by the man who clotheslined me. But, if I had been in my proper place on the road, flowing behind traffic instead of squeezing past it, I would have swerved out of harm's way instead of allowing myself to be boxed in.

This fist could have been any other obstacle. I have learned something, here.

I thank God for his mercy.

Don't blame yourself, Pete. This sounds like an unprovoked and malicious attack that had very little to do with where you were riding on the road. I hope the culprit didn't get away.

This is probably a bit late, but it's something for everyone to keep in mind if they ever encounter this situation. When someone does do this, your best bet, if you can't possibly avoid it, is to aim AT them. That way at least the dickhead gets to absorb some of the blow, and you can mitigate some of your own injuries. If you have time, push your weight back, put your head down, and keep both hands on the handlebars. They might even get out of the way.

I formulated this plan after a similar confrontation with a truckie weilding a crowbar (fortunately he only whacked my headtube - didn't even slow me down, but it could have been a lot worse had he been slightly more unhinged)

I'm with Allister on this one. I pass the "car queues" on the left (the Australian equivalent of passing on the right) all the time. I must say this has never happened to me. If the guy was annoyed that he was stuck in traffic, he should get a bike, too. I mean, let's face it, the smog-boxes are the major cause of traffic congestion anyway. If it wasn't for them this sort of problem wouldn't exist.

I'll reiterate what I said before, the bastard deserves to be up on assault charges.

Chris

Pete glad things are somewhat OK. I hope you get better soon.

What did the police say? Any chance of getting this guy?

I'm with the others, you did nothing wrong. Assault, pure and simple.

Hope you get better soon Pete.

I've seen this kind of pedestrian attack on cyclists before. Your best bet is to duck right down and let the fist go over your back. You can take a blow with both hands on the bars, but with one hand off, you go down.

I once ran into the back of someones hand as they stretched out their arms (like a fisherman saying This big!!) I tucked my face in and the hand hit the rim of my helmet. No permanant damage.

I was heavily bumped in the shoulder by a drunk on a bike path, but managed to keep upright. I have also collided with a young guy sprinting backwards along the bke lane. I stopped, and he ran into me and fell over.

If the attack is serious (eg a crowbar), it might come down on your back as you pass. This is a worrying one; its probably best to give plenty of room, or tun and cycle away.

We need to give some though to self defense on a bike, against accidental and deliberate strikes. The bike is a lousy platform from which to mount a defense or counter attack, so the best option is observation and avoidance. Use your manouverability and speed and keep your distance from danger.

A pedestrian stepping off a pavement is just as dangerous as one holding a fist out.

Pete;
Absolutely incredible, appalling and at the same time - wonderful that your helmet was there for you. I too hope that the a**hole who took you down pays for his maliciousness. I gotta ask...was this a guy in a pickup with a fuel tank in the back? Sure sounds like a redneck logger! (actually, "redneck" is redundant as loggers are redneck by default - no apologies to anyone).

Cheers and raves for your helmet, may it rest in peace. What brand and model?

Is your bike okay?

Going riding today?

You are in my thoughts today as I hammer away at my 36lb knobby tired hardware store mtb along the highways.

This was actually a pedestrian walking against traffic who attacked me.

I really appreciate your support, guys!

Michael W., thanks for the advice about keeping both hands on the bars and ducking. I was thinking the same thing, that maybe it was "my fault" for taking on hand off the bars. Michael, your posts are always valuable advice in my opinion.

You are right, I think, we need to learn self-protection, because it was definitely deliberate, and the attacker seemed to know exactly how to mount his assault, as if he had done it before.

Then again, I will also be leery of boxing myself in, leaving myself no escape in an emergency. This is what I learned as a car driver and I apply it by driving "in formation." If there are two or more lanes going the my direction, I position myself so that there is a clear space next to me.

For you who haven't seen it, here's a very similar story:

www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/helmtrd1.htm

Sorry to hear about your mishap, Pete. Yes, the pedestrian obviously should not have stuck out his arm across your path. I assume from your account that there was no sidewalk, but there was sufficient space for a column of pedestrians and a cyclist to share the shoulder. Was the shoulder so narrow, and your speed so high, that this pedestrian felt you were trying to run him off the road? (I speak from my vantage point as a 25mi/40km per week walker/runner and a 40mi/65km per week cyclist.)

I occasionally encounter groups of joggers obstructing the entire width of the bicycle lane. If they are facing me, I slow down and hold a consistent position near the inside (adjacent to motor vehicle traffic) edge of the bike lane, to signal that I expect them to pass single-file between me and the curb. If any are slow to move over, I say something like, "Share the road, please." If I am coming up behind them, I take the same position, slow down, and yell, "on your left" as I near them.

Under California law, pedestrians are supposed to stay out of the bicycle lane, except where there is no adjacent sidewalk or footpath. However, many understandly prefer to jog on the softer asphalt than on the harder concrete.

Originally posted by John E
Was the shoulder so narrow, and your speed so high, that this pedestrian felt you were trying to run him off the road? (I speak from my vantage point as a 25mi/40km per week walker/runner and a 40mi/65km per week cyclist.)
No. Absolutely not. I bear no responsibility for provoking this attack.

This attack was unjustified and deliberate. This behavior can never be justified.

I hope I will have an opportunity to speak with the offender face to face. I would tell him I love him and forgive him, but I would tell him also that if he doesn't change his ways, things will go badly for him in life. :fight:

That is not my wish for him. My hope is for him to correct his path.

Just send him to jail. That was assault, pure and simple. If he is capable of seeing the error of his ways, then jail is the best place to reflect on his deeds. In this day and age, forgiving somebody is just giving them license to go out and do it again. Personal responsibility is something which is no longer taught.
I beg you, for the sake of all the other people this goon has YET to assault, PROSECUTE!
At the very least, it will get him out of circulation for a while. He might even like it there.

Originally posted by D*Alex
In this day and age, forgiving somebody is just giving them license to go out and do it again.
Don't misunderstand me.

I said I would forgive him. I didn't say I wouldn't allow him to experience the consequences of his actions.

I'm with Alex on this one. Forgiveness is good, but from what you were telling us, it appears as though he's done this sort of thing before. In that case, there is clearly no remorse from him, so some kind of correction therapy is in order. Some time in prison would do him more good than harm at this point.

Chris

This pedestrian clearly needs an education. Forgiveness is great, but it should come AFTER you press criminal assault charges, if you ever locate this idiot.

I had another pedestrian run-in this morning, with three female joggers approaching me and occupying the entire width of the bike lane. I held my customary line next to the lane stripe, slowed, and loudly asked the one in my trajectory to "move over and share the road, please." Had she not moved over at the last minute, I might have abruptly stopped my mountain bike and allowed her to run into one of my handlebar extensions, but another cyclist was rapidly closing in on me from behind. On crowded roads without sidewalks, many pedestrians seem to resent our presence as much as motorists do.

Originally posted by John E
I had another pedestrian run-in this morning, with three female joggers approaching me and occupying the entire width of the bike lane.
I have had female high school track team members try to body-block me off the sidewalk. :confused: I was walking at the time, of course.

It is so sad that our race (the human race), while capable of so much in the way of wonderful, beautiful, creative, courageous actions also sinks to such sad depths. I wonder when we will overcome this contradiction of character?

This is why I am truly grieved. We must someday rise above this
base level of existence into what we, as creatures, are capable of achieving.

End of sermon.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
I hope I will have an opportunity to speak with the offender face to face. I would tell him I love him and forgive him,

You are so cool, In my opinion, you are truly a man of God. Bless you Pete.

cheers :beer:
Snoop

Originally posted by Pete Clark
It is so sad that our race (the human race), while capable of so much in the way of wonderful, beautiful, creative, courageous actions also sinks to such sad depths. I wonder when we will overcome this contradiction of character?


Chris L has one question, is there any other species in the entire animal kingdom that treats it's own kind as badly as ours does? It seems to Chris L that if there were, our species would probably be trying to cull them out, or at least be bemused as to their behaviour.

Chris L wonders if anyone else has noticed this.

Chris

Pete,

Nice mug shot posted by your wife. I go away for a few days and miss everything! Lets have a picture of your helmet (the cycling one of course)! Maybe we can put it with others in a hall of fame or something.:D

ChrisL,
I think some humans have obviously not evolved at the same speed as the rest of the race. Hence what happened to Pete.:(

Pete,
Sorry to hear about your "accident/incident". I just found out about it. I've been off the computer pretty much this weekend. I hope you are in better shape than the picture reveils and you're on the mend. :( :(
Keep us updated of your progress.

originally posted by Chris L
Forgiveness is good, but from what you were telling us, it appears as though he's done this sort of thing before.
Pete,
I just re-read all the posts and have to agree with Chris.
It sounds like he has done this sort of thing before and will continue until someone teaches him a lesson in "brotherly love", either by force or through the courts. :mad:

How long will you be off the bike and walking for exercise?

Don't let your appearance go to "pot". ;)


Your incident reminded me of an experience I had. I had one hand knocked off the handlebars and nearly lost control of the bike.
I was passed by a van as I approached a stop light. It was so close that the mirror on the right side hit my left arm just hard enough to knock my hand off the handlebar. The force made my bike swerve. I grabbed the handlebar and did some maneuvering (sp??) and didn't go down.
I learned in a split second to hold on a little tighter when riding. You never know when someone or something will hit you either accidently or intentionally.

I hope you have a speedy recovery. And keep posting your words of wisdom. We all enjoy your observations and wit. ;)

I have also collided with a young guy sprinting backwards along

The other day I saw a guy rollerblading backwards up a hill, not only toward me, but toward most of the bike and running traffic in Central Park. I was about to shout hey idiot but he finally realized a swarm of runners, bikers and bladers were heading over the crest of the hill in his direction, and he turned around.

What's up with that, some new fad?

Originally posted by Palafo


The other day I saw a guy rollerblading backwards up a hill, not only toward me, but toward most of the bike and running traffic in Central Park. I was about to shout hey idiot but he finally realized a swarm of runners, bikers and bladers were heading over the crest of the hill in his direction, and he turned around.

What's up with that, some new fad?

Darwin would be pleased.

This is scary!
That there are people out THERE! prepared to harm others for no apparent reason
GOD FORGIVE THEM.
willic

It really saddens me to think there are people out there that would commit an act like this.

Complete sub human trash.

Good to see you're on the mend Pete.