Commuting - Cyclist 1: Range Rover: 0

Had to happen sooner or later, too many near misses up until now.

Coming into work, road is 2 lane with a cycle lane between the 2 lanes and curb parking. There's a Starbucks that I knew sooner or later would be my demise, because the morning cagers are clueless.

I look ahead and there's a car parked in the cycle lane, so I take the right lane - dead center of the lane. PB Blaze flashing on the front and a PB Superflash on my rear. I come past the car parked in the bike lane and a Range Rover pulls out from the curb in front of him dead into my lane. I'm doing like 15mph. I'm not about to take my eyes off him to check the traffic on my left, so I start to reach out to smack the side of the Rover, and instead hit the drivers mirror full force. Ripping it off the door. He stops, I stop, and no sooner do we stop then there's a cop on scene, since FDIC is right across the street. Cop said he watched th whole thing. Guy said I couldn't be seen, cop said he saw me two blocks back.

He gets a ticket for "Failure to yield". I get his insurance info in case I need to file a claim. Hats off to the local PD for taking a cyclists side :thumb:. Wonder what a fancy Range Rover door mirror costs?

Still consider myself lucky...

You are lucky. The cop could've gone the other way and accused you of intentionally ripping off the guy's mirror. Glad you're safe though.

That is very lucky. I think if it had happened to me I would've been charged.

Glad to hear you weren't hurt and things worked out in you favor. Good think that cop was there too. I can imagine that mirror is pretty expensive.

Glad you're not hurt. I hate when people pull out because they're horrible at judging cyclist's speed.


BTW, if it's the power folding model of the mirror, the part alone is about $300. Labour included, it's probably a $500 repair job. :eek:

Awesome! Thank God for that!

nice :D

still it would have been better if you hadn't been put in that situation, but at least justice was served...twice!

The report would, of course, say you reached out to push off the auto to avoid an injury accident as it was the most practical available maneuver fearing you'd be under the wheels otherwise.:D

was there a person in the car that stuck itself in the bike lane?

The report would, of course, say you reached out to push off the auto to avoid an injury accident as it was the most practical available maneuver fearing you'd be under the wheels otherwise.:D

The owner tried arguing along similar lines. The cop told him he wasn't faulting me for a "defensive action".

And it was the high zoot power folding version of mirror :)

And it was the high zoot power folding version of mirror

Did you get to keep it as a trophy?

I had to go out into a 40mph lane last night when somebody pulled into the bike lane to yak on her cell (rather than go another 20 yards into a ginormous parking lot), but fortunately there was no surprise in front of her like you had.

Glad you're not hurt. I hate when people pull out because they're horrible at judging cyclist's speed.


BTW, if it's the power folding model of the mirror, the part alone is about $300. Labour included, it's probably a $500 repair job. :eek:

It's a Range Rover -- you can probably double (or triple) those figures.

Common sense isn't as rare among cops as some here would believe. Cops don't like trouble, they don't like stopping the bleeding while waiting for the ambulance, and they don't like filling out a lot of forms. The cop's action isn't surprising to me.

It's a Range Rover -- you can probably double (or triple) those figures.

Yikes! Well, I did look up that price at the cheapest online discounter, so I bet the garages will charge $500 for the mirror.

This is what I love about my Jeep. If I break something I can usually fix it for under $50 with some pop rivets and JB Weld.

Only thing I couldn't figure out from the discription was this: was the guy in the RR unable to see you because his sightline was blocked by the parked car in the bike lane? If so, were I in his position, I'd argue that idiot should eat the blame too.

In any event, nice work and glad you're still among us. ;)

Only thing I couldn't figure out from the discription was this: was the guy in the RR unable to see you because his sightline was blocked by the parked car in the bike lane? If so, were I in his position, I'd argue that idiot should eat the blame too.


Dunno. .. Arlington bike lanes are close to a car lane wide in that area. So much so that the biggest issue is usually dodging right hooks since cars use it as a turn lane. When I took the right lane, the double parked car wasn't in mine. the RR drivers mindset: Dunno, but you're right, may have looked in the rearview and figured that that double parked car was screening him from oncoming traffic.

Only thing I couldn't figure out from the discription was this: was the guy in the RR unable to see you because his sightline was blocked by the parked car in the bike lane? If so, were I in his position, I'd argue that idiot should eat the blame too.

I don't think they would have been able to see a car either if that were the case

Glad you're okay.

Guy said I couldn't be seen, cop said he saw me two blocks back.
Heh. Ownage.
:thumb:

Only thing I couldn't figure out from the discription was this: was the guy in the RR unable to see you because his sightline was blocked by the parked car in the bike lane? If so, were I in his position, I'd argue that idiot should eat the blame too.


If you can't see whether the lane is clear of traffic, do not merge into it! Motorist is at fault here, even if his sightline was blocked by the parked car.

If you can't see whether the lane is clear of traffic, do not merge into it! Motorist is at fault here, even if his sightline was blocked by the parked car.

I'm not questioning whether the cyclist was at fault - clearly he wasn't, and I never suggested otherwise. I'm suggesting that the illegally parked car should be cited and share blame for the accident by creating a dangerous condition.

I'm not questioning whether the cyclist was at fault - clearly he wasn't, and I never suggested otherwise. I'm suggesting that the illegally parked car should be cited and share blame for the accident by creating a dangerous condition.

Ah, I see. I misread you.

Way to go man! glad it turned out okay, that could have ended bad.

way to go man! Glad it turned out okay, that could have ended bad.

+1

I know that exact starbucks in between near the Virginia Square metro. I've had to go around a double-parked car myself in that very location.

Well done, and I'm also shocked the cop took your side. He must be a bicycle cop some times too...

Glad you are not hurt.
Glad the cop was reasonable.
I bet the bill to fix the mirror stings.

"Couldn't be seen" - what a load!

Jeff, still fat

I think some of the credit goes to those blinky lights from Planet Bike! I have people tell me all of the time that they can see me flashing from a good distance...

I know that exact starbucks in between near the Virginia Square metro. I've had to go around a double-parked car myself in that very location.

Well done, and I'm also shocked the cop took your side. He must be a bicycle cop some times too...

Yeah, between that one and the one across from Whole Foods on Clarendon, I've always told my wife that's where I'd have an accident if I had one. I hate being right :(

Does your wrist hurt yet? Might want to contact his insurance just in case...

CCREW - !!AWESOME!!

Reminds me of when a cager passed me at an accelerated speed and crossed the double yellow lines unnecessarily, this was right in front of a cop who pulled him over and waved to me. I think if we show due diligence with respect to signaling and visibility and the cager does the opposite, like not use the mirror they lost, then we get the kudos.

But you were also lucky and you might want to slow down and add a hi vis vest or shirt to your setup.

:thumb:

A good thing about modern outside rearview mirrors is that they are designed to break off fairly readily.

Only thing I couldn't figure out from the discription was this: was the guy in the RR unable to see you because his sightline was blocked by the parked car in the bike lane? If so, were I in his position, I'd argue that idiot should eat the blame too.

It seems clear his sightline was blocked, but equally clear that he wasn't looking out for any vehicles smaller than a car. He didn't see a car, so he thought he could go.

This constantly bugs me when I'm riding, especially when I'm riding in a bike lane like you were. There's a certain class of cager (sadly, the vast majority) who just have a total blind spot for bicycles. It's just not in their brain to look out for us. You could be the most reflective, blinkiest uber-fred riding a straight, predictable line in the bike lane and some drivers still won't see you. Call it cognitive blindness.

You are the man

I'd be shocked to find out that his mirror cost any less than $500 to replace, probably more like $750-$1000. Remember folks, this is a Range Rover so that Mirror is adjustable and heated. There are wiring connections to be made, anti-fog systems, possibly even a light for turn signals (I've seen Lexus SUVs with these) Hopefully they'll make a claim on their insurance so their rates go up)

Your story gives me an image of angry cyclist (rightfully so, mind you) which most LEO's would not react well to. I'm betting that cop is a cyclist or, at the very least, doesn't like rich Range Rover Starbucksians who don't pay attention to the road. (I ride in Bellevue, a wealthy suburb of Seattle, so I know the type. Although here they are pretty attentive for the most part. Maybe they don't like getting blood on their cars)

Glad to hear it worked out for you.

Have you ever thought of mounting a light on your helmet?

For commuting, I have a DiNotte 400L mounted on my helmet that I run when visibility is limited, or I'm in heavy traffic. With the helmet-mount, the light is a lot higher than on the handlebars, and it can be aimed right at drivers coming in from side streets, driveways, etc.

That said, I nearly got T-boned one morning at a 4-way stop sign when I was taking my proper right-of-way and a woman in an SUV didn't "see" me - despite 600L headlight, 400L helmet light, and ANSI Class II fluourescent lime green vest with reflective stripes.