Road Cycling - Jeez! I Almost Got Hit!

so im riding along minding my own business...im passing a side road when i see a truck approach me. now, this is like a parking lot where this company is and its one of their trucks. so im right in front of the truck (which is on my right) and pretty much get in the middle of the lane to aviod him...he does not stop at all! he doesnt look and hes turning LEFT! as im right in front of him, he like floors it. he was inches from smacking right into my back tire. my god it was scary. i went back to the place where the truck was from and yelled at the manager. im a 15 year old kid, i dont need some trucker to mess up my life. im so scared to ride again. ive decided no more headphones and every time someone is pulling out of a sidestreet, i check to see that they see me. things can happen so fast on the road. thank god i hadnt been about a foot behind schedule :o

Welcome to the club :D

I wouldn't be scared to ride necessarily, its a pretty isolated incident, but parking lots are by far the most dangerous place to ride IMHO... I would rather ride down a one way the wrong way than cut through the grocery parking lot near my house here. People just don't look and are in too much of a hurry. Even if you make eye contact the drivers will still pull right in front of you half the time... its amazing.

I lamost got hit this morning...wearing my bright, crazy colored shirt. I was rolling along on Main St., he was preparing to turn left (his left) and he started to some across and almost wiped into me. Fortunately (or maybe not) I've been hit once before so I'm VERY observant and had already realized he was going to do it. I was on the brakes and had almost completely stopped before he even noticed me.

Welcome to the club, be alert (the world needs more lerts).

PJ

Happens to me too much with those cell phone users. A good yell seems to wake people up, and the adrenaline seems to make me yell better.

Been hit before. It sucks.

ive decided no more headphones

I think you have made a sensible decision. Anyone who wears headphones when they skate, jog, or ride is asking to become an organ donor. You need all your senses working in order to avoid becoming roadkill. I carry a referee's whistle when I ride; I used to have a bell, but people usually ignored it, especially those with "ears" on. The whistle wakes 'em up. I don't use it to scare anyone, just to let people know I am coming well before I get there.

I carry a referee's whistle when I ride; The whistle wakes 'em up.

How 'bout a yellow flag in the jersey pocket so you can call a foul. :D

Remember the movie "Quicksilver" when he used a whistle during the BIG race?

PJ

Remember the movie "Quicksilver" when he used a whistle during the BIG race?

PJ

Heh I was just thinkin about that

Ride like you are invisible. Assume that no one sees you.

Ride, but ride safe.

Ride like you are invisible. Assume that no one sees you.

Ride, but ride safe.I try to never go in front of them unless I make eye contact with the driver first.

Close only counts with horseshoes and hand gernades.

You did the right thing talking to the manager, even if your only 15. I've found complaints given tactfully but firm yield the best results.

I never worry all that much about traffic behind. It's the traffic emerging from the sides (as in the situation described in the first post) that poses the greater threat. I recall reading in another thread that this is born out statistically. I'd wager that motorists intending to turn left from side streets are the likelier risks, as they seem to be more willing to dash out rather than idle patiently for a safe interval in the flow. This is why I strive to avoid following buses; the stops are always at corners, and in passing a bus at a stop I'm approaching the right-hand side street virtually blind. Not a comfy feeling.

I never worry all that much about traffic behind. It's the traffic emerging from the sides (as in the situation described in the first post) that poses the greater threat. I recall reading in another thread that this is born out statistically. I'd wager that motorists intending to turn left from side streets are the likelier risks, as they seem to be more willing to dash out rather than idle patiently for a safe interval in the flow. This is why I strive to avoid following buses; the stops are always at corners, and in passing a bus at a stop I'm approaching the right-hand side street virtually blind. Not a comfy feeling.

This is true. I'm always amazed that these drivers seem to think that because you are on a bicycle, you can't possibly be doing more than 5 mph and they have a good half an hour in which to pull out and make their turn before you slam into the side of their car :mad: