Road Cycling - Close call....

My first incident with motorist, and it happened on July 5th (the first day of TDF). Can't get any better than that.

The traffic in front of me was light, and I was doing about 18mph. There was a mall to my right, so cars were coming in an out of the mall's entry-ways, nothing unsual. As I was approaching one of the entry-ways, a car came up from behind, stayed on my 10 o'clock, slowed down, and tried to make a right hand turn to enter the mall, COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS of the fact that I was right beside her. I got sandwitched between the curb and her car. No time to brake. $#%#%. Fortunately the curb ended and I was able to swerve to the right a bit. That's when the lady *saw* me and stopped, but not before my pedal hit her fender. Luckily, I didn't fall, so I just continue riding (my chain jumped from the small to the large chainring, though). I hope I scratched her car good. :mad:

I don't understand why that lady didn't see me. She was coming from behind me, for god sake. If she did see me, did she misjudge my speed? or probably she expected me to stop on a dime and yield? :confused:

:thumbup:

You were waaaaaay too kind to this driver.......

Probably a combination of things- first, she wasn't being observant from the get go. Second, she was under-estimating your speed- cars assume that bikes just plod along, and when they pull alongside you, they just assume you can't keep up, which is ridiculous, of course.

I had the same thing happen this morning- a bus came up from behind while I was riding, then pulled alongside me, and as we came up to the light, side by side, it just missed me by about 3 inches. Of course, I swore and screamed at the driver, who for some reason, didn't bother to check before starting to pull over to the curb.

Stupid. How could the bus driver not know I was there when HE came up from behind me and had to be following me at least a block before he caught up with me? :rolleyes:

I just love the "average american motorist". For a while I drove crosscountry trucks and you would think that a normal adult could spot a 70ft long, 8ft wide, 13ft high tractor trailer that was paint with bright strips and had over 50 lights on it....NOPE!!!!

firebolt and Koffee:
I'll bet if either of you would have been bicycle police decked out in full uniform with police bicycles, somehow they would have seen you.

After that incident, I scan the traffic more rigorously and ride more defensively. Getting tangled up with motorist is a loss-loss situation most of the time.

I am glad that you were not hurt. I have some commuting planned for later today. I hope I make it in one piece. I am taking the mtb today, I will be going down a stretch of gravel road about 3/4 mile. A little too rough for my road bike. best -

She was going to the mall,all she could see was $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Glad to hear you weren't hurt. Yesterday was my first ride in heavy traffic and I had a few close calls, but nothing like yours. One thing is for sure, I am going to take out some insurance on my bikes. :)

This is what scares me the most about morning rides. The drivers are simple not fully awake and thus not as observant. But morning rides are the best 'cuz it's cooler and more peaceful 'cuz there are less cars on the road.

Women drivers...

Women drivers...

You know, I'm getting REALLY sick and tired of sterotyping. It's a pretty dumb thing to do.

In the case of the bus driver, it was a MAN that almost ran me over. So I guess that would invalidate your statement, wouldn't it?

While we're on this topic, I would say about 85% of the time I've had near misses with cars, vans, trucks, buses, etc, it's been a MAN at the wheel.

If you're kidding, uses the emoticons. If you were serious, please stop. Seriously.

Koffee

kofee I'm sorry I was joking.

I have to agree with the 'women drivers' statement when it comes to cars. But with public transport, such as buses, taxis and the like.. the male drivers have no respect, whereas the women do. I have been hit by a bus travelling about 70km/h on a windy road alongside a river, and I dragged it through the courts. No-one deserves to be treated like that, just because the cyclist is seen to be a less powerful and space-consuming vehicle. Thats just rubbish.

Aggressor, that's more so how I've seen while cycling I have more problems with guys, mainly commercial vehilces. But I've been in two car accidents, both totaled my vehicles and both were caused by women so at times I see something stupid and think "women drivers" but since I've been cycling I've noticed guys are just as bad. But at times I still hold a grug tolds women drivers since both my car accidents were due to stupidity.

I dont think its the actual driving skills of women that is the problem, I think its being over cautious, and sometimes just plainly ignorant. But the drivers I have the biggest problem with, are provisional licenced 'heros' who think it is amusing to drive past a cyclist within 30cm of their handlebars at 80km/h.
A mate of mine actually knocked a kid unconscious for being a lunatic. He drove past my mate, with a car full of his mates beeping and swerving and carrying on.. so Phil (my mate) waved him down in fury and this young fella jumped out of the car expecting his heroics to impress his mates, but ended up with a broken nose and his mates going very quiet.. I always enjoy telling that story.:beer:

just from my close-calls:

female drivers: don't ever seem to see me and turn in front of me.

male drivers: see me, don't care, don't like to share the road, and turn in front of me on purpose.

Regardless...they ALL need to pay attention and share the road.

On a positive note...I have yet to be flipped off, called an obscenity, or have any type of loose change or trash thrown at me by a female driver :)