Advocacy & Safety - Pedestrian - not a car - not looking good

Some of you may have noticed I haven't been on here since Wednesday. That evening I left work and was in the cycle lane leading up to a crossroads when a girl stepped off the pavement immediately in front of me. Because it was a bike lane I was immediately next to the kerb not my normal two feet. I was doing about 15mph and hit her full on. I was helped up and thought I'd badly bruised my arm but could still move it. I managed to get back to work wheeling the bike (I think it's okay). A colleague immediately ran me to hospital. Xrays weren't good. They've plastered my arm and are doing a CT scan on Monday but my elbow has multiple fractures as does my upper humerus. I'm under the top consultant and he'll have to perform the surgery and he won't commit himself on what movement I'll have left or whether cycling will be possible. They've let me come home for the weekend with pain killers although I had to leave the morphine behind, It was worth it to get out of the place for two days. I'm back in on Monday. No I didn't get the girls name and she walked way with a friend. I was in too much shock to care and i don't know that it matters.

I'll post again when I can.

Richard

I wish you well.

Hope the surgeon can do a good job and get you fully back together.

Keep up your spirit.

Good luck.

Good luck, Richard, hope everything works out for you.

Wow, please keep us updated Richard. You will be in my thoughts.

Richard, good luck with your surgery, and rehab. We will all be thinking about your situation, and we know that you'll be back in the saddle! Think good thoughts, and put your faith in yourself and your doctors.

Please let us know how you progress!!!!

Boy that sounds like it hurts. Hope all turns out well and the surgeon can put humpty-dumpty back together again.

roughstuff

I've had many close calls of a similar nature.

Part of my ride home has a bike lane where there are also bus stops. The bus drops off passengers ahead of me and then several people walk in the bike lane and some want to cross the road and are waiting for traffic. None seem to watch for bikes (even though they are standing in a bike lane) or are even aware that I'm coming at them at 30 to 40 kmh in a 3 or 4 foot lane with heavy traffic brushing my left shoulder that would prevent me from swerving out of their way.

Many a time I've missed these bozo's by a hair.

Bad luck, Richard. My wish is for a quick and complete recovery. You're a vital part of these forums and hope you'll be able to post and keep us up dated during recovery. Be good to yourself.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

So what happened? Did she just step out blindly in front of you?

One point worth making regarding this - even if you're riding in a bike lane, it's not a good idea to hug the kerb. I usually ride within a foot or so of the line. It's puts you in a much more visible position.

Tarnation, Richard, that blows. You have my sympathy; my only serious cycling injury -- also a broken elbow, but not nearly as complicated as yours -- also came from a collision with a ped in a bike lane. Pedestrians and bike lanes are two of the greatest hazards to cyclists, IMO, and in combination they are best avoided.

I suppose you could just have them set the joint to the correct angle to match your handlebar position, eh? ;)

You'll be back, have no fear.

RichC

I've had many close calls of a similar nature.

I've had a few around here, too. It amazes me just how many pedestrians will step out blindly onto a road without looking for traffic in pretty much any area that isn't a marked pedestrian crossing. It's a good idea to put yourself well wide of the kerb to at least give yourself a couple of seconds longer to see them.

Either way, I hope you have a quick recovery.

I hope you have a speedy recovery Richard. Let us know what the doctors find after the CT. Nothing bad I hope.

That one really shocked me Richard. I can almost feel the pain. I'll be praying for a quick recovery for you.

We are with you Richard! God speed. Keep us updated as thing progress. I'm sure the many great folks on bikeforums will be a wonderful aid in your recovery.

Hope you recover quickly Richard. keep us up to date.

Richard! Bless you! I understand, I've been there, too. Here's to a quick recovery. My heart goes out to you--get well quickly, and keep your spirits up!

Peter

Thats a bummer Richard! Get well soon. We will miss your regular commute updates in your locality, hope you return to them quickly, in the meantime how do you propose to travel to work when you return. I believe you have mentioned on other posts you are carless...
Regards Willic....

Sorry to hear about your accident Richard. I wish you all the best for a rapid recovery.

Regards,

Ed

Doctors are always negative. They teach it to them in school. That way the patients are not angry or disappointed. You'll do well.

In my experence human pedestrians are pretty oblivious. They are sort of like armadillos only they are more unpredictable. Foxes are a lot better then people. They generally look both ways before crossing the street.

hi Richard,

i hope all goes well and you can soon ride again...

as to the type of accident, i too have experienced it. just last spring i was in the bike lane her in munich (which is even more dangerous as DIRECTLY adjacent to the pedestrain sidewalk) and a kid was behind his mother (who i think knew he "wanted" to run in the bike lane) and he suddenly darted directly in front of me. i braked full forced, and had the choice of ramming the kid's head with my handlebar or going over the bars... i went over the bars and landed with my left arm on a pole and my face up against a glass wall of a bus stop - but i was luck and only injured my wrist...


Part of my ride home has a bike lane where there are also bus stops. The bus drops off passengers ahead of me and then several people walk in the bike lane and some want to cross the road and are waiting for traffic. None seem to watch for bikes (even though they are standing in a bike lane) or are even aware that I'm coming at them at 30 to 40 kmh in a 3 or 4 foot lane with heavy traffic brushing my left shoulder that would prevent me from swerving out of their way.
yep. bus stops are horrible as people do not even seem to consider bikes as they stand around in the bike lane --- i had my "bike/bus stop" accident about 12 years ago (woman JUMPED from the bus, over a divider and other the bike-lane (stupid 2-way bike lane on one side of the street) and landed DIRECTLY in my path as i was riding 30+kph) and have been cautious/lucky ever since.

I hope you recover well, and that the pain killers are at least pleasant. :)

No I didn't get the girls name and she walked way with a friend. I was in too much shock to care and i don't know that it matters.

I'll post again when I can.

Richard


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Ok just chill out.
It does not matter that you ran into somebody(female) who left you lying on the ground w/ broken bone.

Jacob

Sorry! Good luck wih the recovery!

Joe

Get better soon!

Best wishes for a full recovery, Richard

That sounds like a nasty crash! I hope that both you and that girl fully recover. Having had a bad crash with multiple fractures, I can only recommend that you get lots of rest, drink milk and take your time before getting back on the bike.
Best regards,
Gordon

Around 1970, a child darted in front of me on a residential street; I was going about 15mph/25kph. He was essentially uninjured; fortunately, I was able to pull my feet out of the clips and to roll down the street, suffering only bruises and road rash on both elbows and both knees. Although that was my only collision with a pedestrian, I have had numerous close encounters over the years.