Advocacy & Safety - Closest Call and Escape

Hello There,

What has been your narrowest escape from collision or accident, or harm?

For me, common sense is to go slow into a steep hill on a path, that part of your vision is occluded because of trees and undergrowth. Some moron decides it is okay to rush down full speed, no braking, and with no concern for anyone harmed. He bombs at me, and because of a sharp turn down the hill, he races right at me (I am going up the hill on the right side of the lane-opposing traffic), the idiot is rushing downhill in MY lane. I have no option but to rush off the path into the trees. I was unharmed, and pissed off that some idiot would risk my safety like that. Really sad and upset.

You should have jumped off your bike, rolled into the trees and watched your ghost-riding bike prevent the guy from harming anyone from himself.

Or, as he passed by you could jump off your bike and clench your knee in fake pain, like almost every player at Euro. He gets a red card, nobody gets hurt!

You should have jumped off your bike, rolled into the trees and watched your ghost-riding bike prevent the guy from harming anyone from himself.

Or, as he passed by you could jump off your bike and clench your knee in fake pain, like almost every player at Euro. He gets a red card, nobody gets hurt!

too much soccer talk

go away

*whistle blows

you one of them flag wavers going around tooting other countries in Canada? :twitchy:

Assuming you were on the trail...anyone who runs me off the trail will receive a well-placed kick to the back wheel.

Now, also assuming we are sharing stories, I have TWO:

1.) Riding to work the week after X-Mas (NE Indiana, cold/snowy)on a Sunday morning, I was going fairly slowly, and was SLOWLY PASSED by who turned out to be my neighbor across the street. Nowhere to go due to parked cars, unable to brake due to slick conditions; all I could do was stay steady while he eased by, his mirror three inches from my bar! He kept face forward the whole time, and never acknowledged my existence beyong not just plowing me over.

2.) Riding home from work, middle of summer, and I was approached from behind on a residential street, furious honking, and then the front end of a 10-year-old Buick less than six inches from my left leg! The SOB forced me onto the sidewalk, and followed up with two blocks of pacing me, cursing constantly, throwing trash and bottles at me -- he didn't get yanked out of the car by the throat because he was the evil twin of the convict in Green Mile.

Two other people in three years have hollered at me, two have buzzed me, and one cut me off in a left turn. Tis one -- a woman -- got a good earful, and tried without success to give it back.

(I am going up the hill on the right side of the lane-opposing traffic)

You are on the right edge of the lane, facing traffic then, I take it?

If so, it is the fellow who "rushed down" at you with "no concern" who should be "some idiot would risk my safety like that."

-Kurt

Riding home from work, middle of summer, and I was approached from behind on a residential street, furious honking, and then the front end of a 10-year-old Buick less than six inches from my left leg! The SOB forced me onto the sidewalk, and followed up with two blocks of pacing me, cursing constantly, throwing trash and bottles at me -- he didn't get yanked out of the car by the throat because he was the evil twin of the convict in Green Mile.That's what firearms are for.

I was riding to a memorial ride for a young woman who was right hooked and killed. On the way there, a car begins to pull even with me, just as we're approaching a mall driveway, and then she turns right, into the driveway. Never mind that I'm wearing fluorescent orange and have a blinkie going in broad daylight-- she right hooks me anyway. Unbelievable.

Well, I saw it coming, so I turned with her, and yelled "What are you doing?" She slammed on her brakes, I rode back out onto the road, yelling over my shoulder "Stupid ***k."

I'm not proud of that last part, because I don't think it did anything positive for cycling, and it goes against what I'm trying to practice ("Right Speech"), but it was the adrenaline talking.

That's what firearms are for.

A squirtgun full of half water/half household ammonia is every bit as effective, and just a little less lethal.

A squirtgun full of half water/half household ammonia is every bit as effective, and just a little less lethal.

And hope they have their windows rolled down...:rolleyes:

A squirtgun full of half water/half household ammonia is every bit as effective, and just a little less lethal.If somebody the size of the convict in The Green Mile uses his vehicle to run you off the road, then stalks you for two blocks. all the while throwing trash and bottles and yelling threats, and all because you were (legally) riding your bike, what are you going to do?

1) Continue to accept his threats and abuse?
2) Reach for your squirt gun?
3) Make it clear to him that he is outmatched and that it's time for him to move on, while he can?

Note that I think it's ludicrous for me to carry a firearm while I ride in town, and so wouldn't actually have a firearm on me. But this is still what firearms are for.

If somebody the size of the convict in The Green Mile uses his vehicle to run you off the road, then stalks you for two blocks. all the while throwing trash and bottles and yelling threats, and all because you were (legally) riding your bike, what are you going to do?

1) Continue to accept his threats and abuse?
2) Reach for your squirt gun?
3) Make it clear to him that he is outmatched and that it's time for him to move on, while he can?

Note that I think it's ludicrous for me to carry a firearm while I ride in town, and so wouldn't actually have a firearm on me. But this is still what firearms are for.

To quote the Baron (The Great Race): "He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day. So, until another day, Mr. Leslie."

If someone is that intent on harassing me, simply stopping and letting him continue on his merry way is a fairly effective method of disengagement.

To quote the Baron (The Great Race): "He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day. So, until another day, Mr. Leslie."

If someone is that intent on harassing me, simply stopping and letting him continue on his merry way is a fairly effective method of disengagement.Yep, you're right.

Don't know why you folks are educating this fellow until you find out whether he was riding wrong-way or not.

-Kurt

And hope they have their windows rolled down...:rolleyes:

Yeah, I was making an assumption there, since the guy was yelling at him. Otherwise you could grab a rag, wipe his window, and ask for a dollar!

Don't know why you folks are educating this fellow until you find out whether he was riding wrong-way or not.

-KurtYeah, he sounds confussed. It does sound like he might have been riding the wrong way - which would make him the idiot.

Yeah, he sounds confussed. It does sound like he might have been riding the wrong way - which would make him the idiot.

Ding, ding, ding...we have at least one person who actually reads the contents of a thread before posting here at A&S. Bravo!

-Kurt

You are on the right edge of the lane, facing traffic then, I take it?

If so, it is the fellow who "rushed down" at you with "no concern" who should be "some idiot would risk my safety like that."

-Kurt

Re-read the post again. It was a path and not a road. I am his opposing traffic, not that I was opposing traffic, cause it was a path - no cars. Just a bike path, with two lanes opposing bike traffic. Right side of the path goes forward, left side, cyclists come towards you. The idiot decides to rush down the hill on the path on the wrong side.

Yeah, he sounds confussed. It does sound like he might have been riding the wrong way - which would make him the idiot.

First off, confussed is not a word.

Secondly, re-read my post, and realize the importance of punctuation and grammar.

dash plus a phrase (-opposing traffic) does not mean the same as comma plus a phrase (,opposing traffic).

I was his opposing traffic. I was not opposing traffic, since I was not on the road. I was on a path. A path and road are not the same thing. There are no cars and trucks on bike paths.

Attention to detail seems lost among you who seem so quick to attack other bikeforum members instead of those who try to hurt them.

Yeah, he sounds confussed. It does sound like he might have been riding the wrong way - which would make him the idiot.

Sounds like you like bombing down a bike path on the wrong side into opposing traffic.

Confussed. HAHAHHAHAHA! Confussed. Crash into other cyclists much without a helmet? You and your tard friend Kurt there who can't tell the difference between a bike path and a road with cars. :roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

(I am going up the hill on the right side of the lane-opposing traffic)This makes your post unclear. How can you not understand that?

You are on the right edge of the lane, facing traffic then, I take it?

If so, it is the fellow who "rushed down" at you with "no concern" who should be "some idiot would risk my safety like that."

-Kurt

There aren't exactly cars and such on bike paths. Ride sidewalks much? Eat too much lead paint when you were a kid? No, really, you can type it here. I won't tell anyone. Honest.

Get a life, then learn to read, but for comprehension. The idiot was the one rushing down the hill, first as the OP mentioned, without braking, (for your information, breaking is not the right spelling here, but you knew that right, paint chip eater?). In NA, the right side going forward is the correct way of traffic, on bike paths or otherwise, and since the OP was going on the right side going up, he was on the correct portion of the path. Not sure, how you do things in FL.

For one thing, lay off the paint chips, and next, have a little more support for your fellow forum members, and not try to fly off the handle trying to attack them. That is uncalled for. :rolleyes:

The OP intended likely for others to share near misses, in hopes that some other forum member can benefit, and maybe react in the same way to avoid severe harm, which is intended in good will. Now you come and stomp all over the thread attacking the OP is counteractive to that, meaning you are on the same page as the idiot crashing down the hill on the wrong lane. Stop bombing down hills Kurt without using your brakes, and quit riding into other cyclists lanes putting their safety at risk. And lastly, will you please lay off the damned paint chips, they ain't good for you, and neither is running a red light, stop sign, or cycling without a helmet on, on in the night without proper bike lighting. :innocent:

Sounds like you like bombing down a bike path on the wrong side into opposing traffic.

Confussed. HAHAHHAHAHA! Confussed. Crash into other cyclists much without a helmet? You and your tard friend Kurt there who can't tell the difference between a bike path and a road with cars. :roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:
So you do not like the "confussed" joke, whatever.
You sound like the typical road forum ranter!:rolleyes:

This makes your post unclear. How can you not understand that?

It works out to something along the lines of:

"I am going up the hill on the right side, and I am [the] opposing traffic."

It is tricky how those hyphenations and dashes work.

That is probably what the OP meant. Unless he was also eating paint chips with Kurt cudak888 over there. ;)

So you do not like the "confussed" joke, whatever.
You sound like the typical road forum ranter!:rolleyes:

It's all in good humor. :roflmao2:

My closest call was over 35 years ago. A car ran a red light just as I entered the intersection. I stopped, he swerved around me. I managed to get the chain I used to lock my bike from around my shoulders...wore it like a bandelero...and bang the trunk of his car. He stopped, but I was gone before anything happened. I was a bit more hot headed then and more reactive. Now, I'd just go on, maybe after some sign language and a few choice words.

I've had other close calls, unavoidable when riding in traffic, but few like that one. There was a little adventure of a driver a couple of days ago when I took the center of the lane at a stop sign to prevent cars from turning right on top of me and more than a few get angry when I turn left from the left hand lane rather than walking my bike through the intersection at the cross walk. Oh well.

There aren't exactly cars and such on bike paths.Too often, posters will call "bike lanes" "paths". What is wrong with clarifying?

It works out to something along the lines of:

"I am going up the hill on the right side, and I am [the] opposing traffic."

It is tricky how those hyphenations and dashes work.

That is probably what the OP meant. Unless he was also eating paint chips with Kurt cudak888 over there. ;)

^^^More or less that was my intent. It's the internet, saves times and typing using dashes, but ambiguity often plagues those who don't read into the whole picture, and force the pieces together. And no, I don't eat paint chips. Thanks, but I will pass.


My closest call was over 35 years ago. A car ran a red light just as I entered the intersection. I stopped, he swerved around me. I managed to get the chain I used to lock my bike from around my shoulders...wore it like a bandelero...and bang the trunk of his car. He stopped, but I was gone before anything happened. I was a bit more hot headed then and more reactive. Now, I'd just go on, maybe after some sign language and a few choice words.

^^^Thanks for staying on topic. Glad you were unharmed. Clear point here is to keep eyes open and be aware of surroundings and nearby hazards from all directions, and expect unexpected things to happen, that deviate from norms-majority of cars obey traffic regulations, and traffic lights, but even still, some may run reds. Watch for it, and be prepared to take evasive maneuvers to minimize harm.

Too often, posters will call "bike lanes" "paths". What is wrong with clarifying?

No, it was meant as path, like a bike path, or forest path.

If it was a bike lane, I will mention bike lane, or bike lane on road, or right side of the road. Either way, I am in North America like you, and the right side is where traffic goes. Riding on the right side going forward, the left side will have traffic coming in your direction.

^^^ It's the internet, saves times and typing using dashes, but ambiguity often plagues those who don't read into the whole picture, and force the pieces together. And no, I don't eat paint chips. Thanks, but I will pass.
So you write an ambiguous post and then expect everyone to mind read into your post for a clear understanding. And you think that saves time?

You turned your own thread into a waste of time. Goodluck with it and goodbye.

No, it was meant as path, like a bike path, or forest path.

If it was a bike lane, I will mention bike lane, or bike lane on road, or right side of the road. Either way, I am in North America like you, and the right side is where traffic goes. Riding on the right side going forward, the left side will have traffic coming in your direction.

Potatoes-- Potaughtoes.

At any rate, seriously, good thing you cleared safely. Some people are just ignorant or careless about others, and think that they can have fun rushing downhill. But having oncoming traffic being unseen because of trees or plants, and still rushing down, without using brakes, and going on the wrong side - that is just wrong and disgusting. It is sad that there are many more people like them, and some of them drive must more harmful and damaging vehicles, and have an even bigger chip on their shoulders. Keep your eyes peeled.

So you write an ambiguous post and then expect everyone to mind read into your post for a clear understanding. And you think that saves time?

You turned your own thread into a waste of time. Goodluck with it and goodbye.

It really didn't come off that ambiguous. You should read it again.

Sydney, the streets were soaked after a three day rain storm. I was in dense city traffic, taking the lane and moving at the same speed as the motored things on a moderate downhill. Huge truck with a rubbish skip much too close behind me. Came to a sharp corner with awkward camber, still descending - and it was slick with diesel. Ouchy. Both wheels became skis. I heard the peds gasp - the bike went through a very weird angle and it was obvious that if I fell the truck would run over me - but the wheels stayed under me and lined up again. For which I credit my superb skills, a great bike (Shogun GT with a Tange frame - I think they were sold as GT Krakatoa's in most of the world, 26 inch wheels but a flat top tube and frame like a slightly overbuilt racing bike) and toe clips. Otherwise I'd have been jam under that trucks wheels.

ambiguity often plagues those who don't read into the whole picture
So you write an ambiguous post and then expect everyone to mind read into your post for a clear understanding. And you think that saves time?

You turned your own thread into a waste of time. Goodluck with it and goodbye.

The OP was misleading rather than ambiguous, and "pictures" aren't "read"...

The OP was misleading rather than ambiguous, and "pictures" aren't "read"...

Really, it wasn't misleading. And even if it was, why try attacking and destroying the situation or making it worse by jumping on the group wagon attacking the OP? That goes against "Advocacy and Safety." It is a matter of helping and improving behaviour in others to help prevent harm, and risk to safety.

Furthermore, he is a fellow member of this forum, and not the idiot who rushed down a steep hill at full speed, on a path that is shared by other cyclists, and amidst this warm weather, there may have been families with children on the path. Usually, bike paths have families riding, avoiding the traffic of roads to bike more safely.

What you are doing goes against the spirit of this forum. Why be so finnicky and anal about words? It's the use of imagery and metaphor. Maybe you have used them once or twice in a post on a forum? Maybe? How about helping and not belittling and destroying? Much the same as below, what you posted...It's not hard to pidgeon hole everything, to criticize and attack now is it? That is not what advocacy and safety is about.


Came to a sharp corner with awkward camber, still
"Cambers" cannot be "awkward" :twitchy:


Both wheels became skis.
"Wheels" cannot become "skis," unless undergoing some insane physical and molecular rearrangement and modification. You got vids? :rolleyes:


bike went through a very weird angle
"Angles" cannot be "weird," idk, maybe obtuse or acute, or right. :innocent:


For which I credit my superb skills,
"Skills" cannot be "credited." Are your skills really that superb? Are they animate entities? :innocent:


frame like a slightly overbuilt racing bike
How exactly do you overbuild a racing bike? :innocent: What does such look like compared to an underbuilt racing bike? Will it still race? :innocent: