Advocacy & Safety - How do you protect against this? Rearend tag

I received this from somebody we do business with. Being rearended by a car has to be one of the toughest bike accidents to avoid.

We were in C**** Park (where the bike lane is adjacent to the car lane, and the speed limit is 20 mph) that goes along the K**** side of river. He was going pretty fast and did not stop until she hit the windshield. She hit the top of his car, then went into the windshield (made a huge bowl like dent, but did not go through it), flipped on to the hood of the car and finally landed on her side on the road. She has been released from the hospital, but has some broken ribs is severely battered, bruised and scraped. She had some initial bleeding above her head, but the second CT scan showed that it had sealed up and was healing properly. She was wearing a brand new pink helmet to match her shirt.... it saved her life. I was behind her about 10 feet and slightly to the right of her and saw the whole thing. He barely missed me and hit her directly from behind. She doesn't remember anything about it, but she wouldn't as she did not know what hit her. The police are speculating he was actually asleep - coming off a "meth crash", regardless he never even saw her. She is not yet up and moving, but resting and sleeping at home. We are hoping for a full recovery and it looks like that will happen. I think she is so sore that she can't even move, but besides the ribs there appear to be no broken bones or permanent damage.

You can't prevent it, but you can better your odds by using rear lights in the daytime and wearing a helmet,
no matter how many fools on this forum tell you otherwise. Glad she's going to make it. Prosecute that driver!

Although very scary, fortunately being hit from behind is a relatively rare type of crash.

Prayers are with your friend's wife...

I contend that many of these "accidents" can be prevented. Simply lock-up the meth heads and drunk drivers for a very, very long time and many such "accidents" WILL be PREVENTED.

Simply lock-up the meth heads and drunk drivers for a very, very long time and many such "accidents" WILL be PREVENTED.

It will not stop motorists from sticking their heads under the seat to dig for a week-old Tootsie Roll.

-Kurt

Accidents happen, the guy could've easily hit another car. The result is just much worse when car hits bike....obviously....

It will not stop motorists from sticking their heads under the seat to dig for a week-old Tootsie Roll.

-Kurtor from dropping burning things in their laps.

Another sad reason why I hate bike lanes. You can only "hope" cars see you.

She was bleeding from above her head? How exactly does that work?

or from dropping burning things in their laps.

So you saw the Odd Couple II too?

-Kurt

Another sad reason why I hate bike lanes. You can only "hope" cars see you.

Yup. That driver would not have fallen asleep if she'd been right in front of him.


Seize the guy's license and vehicle, sell the vehicle, and lock him up.

Accidents happen,

Negligence is not accidental.

Yup. That driver would not have fallen asleep if she'd been right in front of him.


I don't know the details of what happened, but if you take the lane a driver is forced to pass you like a vehicle. If it were me, I would've seen them coming in my mirror and not slowing down. Then I know this guy is indeed asleep or crazy and I would take some evasive action. When you're in the bike lane you have no idea whether cars see you or not.

I don't know the details of what happened, but if you take the lane a driver is forced to pass you like a vehicle. If it were me, I would've seen them coming in my mirror and not slowing down. Then I know this guy is indeed asleep or crazy and I would take some evasive action. When you're in the bike lane you have no idea whether cars see you or not.

My guess is, if you look in your mirror and see someone driving in the bike lane, that's a pretty good indication something bad is gonna happen.

If it were me, I would've seen them coming in my mirror and not slowing down. Then I know this guy is indeed asleep or crazy and I would take some evasive action.

Well then, it's too bad I don't have the reflexes of a superhero.

At the speed most cars overtake me, I would need such split-second reactions to "take evasive action", given that probably 30-40% of cars that come up behind me wait until the last 1-2 seconds to snap over into the passing lane.

Not that I'd even know what evasive action to take. I guess I could grind along the curb and assume the rear view mirror will hurt less than the bumper.

My guess is, if you look in your mirror and see someone driving in the bike lane, that's a pretty good indication something bad is gonna happen.

my understanding is that the car drifted into the bike lane. This is the situation where having a mirror would be of no help at all

At the speed most cars overtake me, I would need such split-second reactions to "take evasive action", given that probably 30-40% of cars that come up behind me wait until the last 1-2 seconds to snap over into the passing lane.


this happens when you're not taking enough of the lane. From a distance cars think they can share the lane with you so they don't slow there speed down. It's only when they come up close to you that they realize they have to change lanes to pass you safely.

Another sad reason why I hate bike lanes. You can only "hope" cars see you.

Because cars never get rear ended unless they're in bike lanes.

Oh wait.

Because cars never get rear ended unless they're in bike lanes.

Oh wait.

Exactly. People have been known to drive smack into cars, motorcycles, and even bicycles that are right in front of their face.

There is no evidence whatsoever that 'taking the lane' decreases the likelihood of this happening to any particular bicyclist.

Looking toward your back areas physically, in fact always looking about helps. Those ahead for some reason seem to believe the rest of the planet syncs.

Your folks said look both ways and add all and often to it.

Oh, I see now...BOISE. The Statesman must've reported this the other day (or not yet, knowing them).

Is this park trickier than Ann Morrison or Julia Davis?

this happens when you're not taking enough of the lane. From a distance cars think they can share the lane with you so they don't slow there speed down. It's only when they come up close to you that they realize they have to change lanes to pass you safely.

False.

It happens because these motorists are attempting to pass as many other cars (on the right) as possible before their forced lane change behind me.

But it's great that you have so much confidence in your one-size-fits-all safety strategy. You're certainly not the first BF advocate to to fall into that trap, and I doubt you'll be the last.

False.

It happens because these motorists are attempting to pass as many other cars (on the right) as possible before their forced lane change behind me.

But it's great that you have so much confidence in your one-size-fits-all safety strategy. You're certainly not the first BF advocate to to fall into that trap, and I doubt you'll be the last.

That's why you need to have situational awareness. If there is no space for a car to merge into, and their speed is not reducing, then you get ready for some evasive action.

Exactly. People have been known to drive smack into cars, motorcycles, and even bicycles that are right in front of their face.

My brother is a fireman. 2 years ago, their department had a call on the expressway, car on fire. Afterwards when they were clearing things, they still had a full size truck in the right lane, all lights on, brakes locked. There were about a dozen emergency vehicles around. This is a very low traffic rural expressway so there wasn't a lot of traffic. They had cones and flares directing people into the left lane to go around, and all the emergency vehicles had their lights on.

A guy in a pickup slammed into the back of that fire truck hard enough to push it forwards 10-12 feet. I guess he "didn't see" the dozen police cars, cones and flares, all visible from more than a mile away. There were no skid marks. He's not seeing anything anymore, since he turned himself into a paste.

My brother is a fireman. 2 years ago, their department had a call on the expressway, car on fire. Afterwards when they were clearing things, they still had a full size truck in the right lane, all lights on, brakes locked. There were about a dozen emergency vehicles around. This is a very low traffic rural expressway so there wasn't a lot of traffic. They had cones and flares directing people into the left lane to go around, and all the emergency vehicles had their lights on.

A guy in a pickup slammed into the back of that fire truck hard enough to push it forwards 10-12 feet. I guess he "didn't see" the dozen police cars, cones and flares, all visible from more than a mile away. There were no skid marks. He's not seeing anything anymore, since he turned himself into a paste.

I am not sure the point of this story? I would have seen this car in my mirror coming at me at high speed with no indication to overtake despite low traffic. Yes people drive smack into things in the lane, just as easily as they drift into bicycle lanes. The lesser of two evils is taking the lane and using your mirror to have full situational awareness.

That's why you need to have situational awareness. If there is no space for a car to merge into, and their speed is not reducing, then you get ready for some evasive action.

You haven't characterized how you distinguish a car that is just trying to pass one more guy on the right before changing lanes and passing you from a spaced-out driver about to hit you from behind.

You also haven't said what "evasive action" you take in a narrow curb lane when an overtaking motorist fails to observe you.

Previous BF advocates of "always take the lane" cycling struggled on these issues, perhaps you will shed new insights.

Oh, I see now...BOISE. The Statesman must've reported this the other day (or not yet, knowing them).

Is this park trickier than Ann Morrison or Julia Davis?

It did not happen in Boise area.

I just posted up her rendition of the story, but the police did suspect driver impairment- meth. The best practice is to be AWARE and it is very hard to protect against the unusual.

You haven't characterized how you distinguish a car that is just trying to pass one more guy on the right before changing lanes and passing you from a spaced-out driver about to hit you from behind.

Both these types would deserve my full attention, so there is nothing to distinguish. I would keep a full eye on both of them. As far as evasive action, I would just move over as far right as possible.

Both these types would deserve my full attention, so there is nothing to distinguish. I would keep a full eye on both of them. As far as evasive action, I would just move over as far right as possible.

Would you leave the roadway (i.e. mount the curb) every time a car waits until the last 50-75 feet to change lanes?

Would you leave the roadway (i.e. mount the curb) every time a car waits until the last 50-75 feet to change lanes?

I have never had to do that in my 6000 miles of vehicle cycling. I would wait for a car to get really close before I felt I had to move out. One thing I also check for is indicator lights. Most cars do use them so reduces who I have to focus on.

I have never had to do that in my 6000 miles of vehicle cycling. I would wait for a car to get really close before I felt I had to move out.

Interesting... I've done it several times in the last few years. I've also been hit by an overtaking car when I was unable to move over far enough right from a VC road position due to a snowbank. I suspect if the curb was more than a few inches high, as they often are, that could have the same effect.

How close is "really close"? Generally I have overtaking speed differentials of around 25-30mph. This seems to allow little time for decision making using all the variables that you consider.

Interesting... I've done it several times in the last few years. I've also been hit by an overtaking car when I was unable to move over far enough right from a VC road position due to a snowbank. I suspect if the curb was more than a few inches high, as they often are, that could have the same effect.

How close is "really close"? Generally I have overtaking speed differentials of around 25-30mph. This seems to allow little time for decision making using all the variables that you consider.

It sound like you are riding on roads with heavy and fast traffic with no shoulder? So where would you propose riding that would be safer than VC, right along the snowbank/curb.

I'd like to write a letter to the District Attorney to ask that this driver be prosecuted. I don't care if he was high on methamphetamine, that's no excuse.

In what jurisdiction did this crash occur?

It sound like you are riding on roads with heavy and fast traffic with no shoulder? So where would you propose riding that would be safer than VC, right along the snowbank/curb.

I ride on the road in a VC position for improved speed and flat tire avoidance, and to make myself more apparent to cross-traffic when approaching intersections at speed.

The downfall of this strategy is that it makes me more at risk from contact with overtaking vehicles. I was physically pushed over a few inches today from a VC position to a FRAP position by the side of an overtaking city bus. So what? If I wanted a zero-risk commute I'd be ON the bus. That's not gonna happen.

I don't incorrectly advertise a mirror and a VC lane position as a comprehensive safety strategy.

I hadn't published all the info for privacy sake but now I just found the article. It happened in the TriCities area of Washington.

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/574150.html
Bicyclist Cindy Goulet, 41, of West Richland, was listed in stable condition at Kennewick General Hospital on Saturday after being struck by a car while riding westbound with a group on Columbia Park Trail at Edison Street in Kennewick's Columbia Park.

Kennewick police said a 1990s vintage Pontiac driven westbound by Troy Trusley, 31, came upon the bicyclists and struck Goulet.

Trusley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and Goulet, who was wearing a helmet, was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Was he using his cell phone?

Looking toward your back areas physically, in fact always looking about helps. Those ahead for some reason seem to believe the rest of the planet syncs.

Your folks said look both ways and add all and often to it.

Actually that is pretty much it, situational awareness, always look for idiots not paying attention and be ready to haul ass if need be.

Trusley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and Goulet, who was wearing a helmet, was taken by ambulance to the hospital. [/COLOR]

Thank you, Tri-City Staff Writer. You have single-handedly accomplished nothing (other then bringing up their article's word count and proved the uselessness of "wearing helmet, y/n" statements) by including this fact.

-Kurt

I received this from somebody we do business with. Being rearended by a car has to be one of the toughest bike accidents to avoid.

We were in C**** Park. . .

I would not give any credence to a report that will not even disclose the name of a public park.

Actually that is pretty much it, situational awareness, always look for idiots not paying attention and be ready to haul ass if need be.

That's wishful thinking. Cars move fast enough that by the time you're sure something is wrong it's too late to get out of the way.

That's wishful thinking. Cars move fast enough that by the time you're sure something is wrong it's too late to get out of the way.

It's really the only thing you can do (other than stay indoors), not saying it will be 100% good, but has saved lives before. Typically just watching people's driving styles can give you major clues as to how much they're paying attention and how weird they can get.

At the end of the day you are still up to the mercy of other people, but that is a fact of reality.