Commuting - Communting again

I'll be riding again starting next week after being out and off the road since the end of July. I was struck by a car then and out of work for five months. I just ordered a replacement bike and will ride another bike till I get the new one. I was wondering how many people get hit by cars that commute frequently to work? My wife is making a stink about me riding but I think she may settle down once I return home unscathed a few times in a row. I kind of have mixed feeling about riding again; I hate to see her so worried but I love to ride to work. It really helps me clear my head so when I arrive I'm not thinking of home and when I arrive back home I'm not thinking about work.

Glad to see you mount the horse again, and that your recovered. Keep your head on a swivel out there. I doubt your wife will ever been 100% at ease with you riding to work. Even though she may stop the verbal worriment.

What caused the accident, he didn't see you? As most motorists say.

I understand that your wife is reluctant to let you ride again. I am sure after the accident you've been wondering what you could to do be safer. Maybe you have a different route? This may be a way to put her at ease, if you explain to her what additional safety precautions you are taking to minimize your risk in the future.

I've been tagged twice in 5 years. Both were hit and runs. The first one ended with me off of the bike for 5 weeks with a broken arm. Most likely had a concussion after that too, since I shattered my helmet. The second one was much less severe, just a slightly out of true rear wheel. It's all about my being able to demonstrate that I can ride safely every day and that I do everything in my power to be safe. Good luck.

It's also how you plan your ride. Some roads are inherently more dangerous than others. Roads with lots of side streets, traffic lights, buses/taxis, and onstreet parking are more dangerous to cyclists than, say, country roads. There are even quite a few roads with bike lanes which are inherently dangerous for cyclists. Try to avoid these if possible. My one-way bike commute is quite a bit longer than the most direct car route because I try to avoid as many dangerous routes as possible (besides, it's more fun and relaxing when you're not dodging traffic all the time). If you can find an alternate route that minimizes interaction with traffic, your wife may feel more at ease.

I got right hooked last Tuesday by some woman in a Mini-van who thought I was going to go right onto the freeway ramp like she wanted to do. It knocked me off the bike and I got skinned up. We talked briefly and then she takes off. I told her I was going to call the cops as she left. I filed a police report But that wasn't the first time that I've had cars do that thru there. But it was the first time that we connected. I've always been vigilant riding thru there, watching them in my mirror. I was watching this woman as she came up behind me. No turn signal. So just as I start to cross over the ramp, next thing I know I'm looking at her passenger door. But I rode across again the next day. And I watch them all the way. If they even look like there going to try and go around me at that point then I just take the lane a little more. As was said before. You just have to think what you could've done different and practice safe riding.

Sometimes accidents just happen. Glad to hear you are healed up now and excited about riding again. If you can, learn what could have been differently and don't make the same mistake. Trying to convince your wife is a different matter. Like another poster mentioned she will always be worried. But given enough time hopefully she won't keep bringing it up.

Totaled108 I was riding home after work in what was when I left a light rain I don't remember anything after that for several days. Next I was in a hospital with my wife and kids telling what happened. Apparently the rain got very heavy at the time of the accident. Yes I guess he didn't see me, perhaps because of the the refracted light through the rain? I was told I took out the guys windshield. I got messed up pretty good; broken ribs, clavicle, punctured lung, shattered scapula, fractured writs, concussion, and various lacerations.

I was out of work for five months, all I thought of was riding again but from the start I knew I would have a problem convincing her. Truth be told I had to convince myself first. I thought even before I got hit that it was inevitable. I have refined my route from the start with safety in mind plus very good lights, clothing, etc. There are hazards and very little margin for error, thats just something you best realize right off, at least where I live.

I understand where you're coming from -- seven weeks off with the collarbone at the end of '08.

But it was never a question of whether to get back on the bike, but WHEN.

The worry within my family went away by summer.

Good luck. I've only been commuting for 6 months and have had one fairly close call. With luck I'll never experience what you have.

ditto ZmanKC, both on the timing and the one close call

In the last 4 years that I have been commuting 3/4 times per week(20 miles roundtrip), I was in 1 accident.
Delivery van in New York city hit me, I was wearing a white helmet and orange safety vest in the daytime.
Some scrapes, soreness, I questioned myself if I should continue riding, but after a few days I was back
riding.

Another BF poster made a great argument on another thread. Most people say they want to ride but don't,
because traffic is dangerous. On the other hand, most Americans drive to wherever they have to go and this
has contributed to the worsening of Americans' health. Most obese nation, high incidence of diabetes, etc.

So I'm a super-infrequent commuter (must be fair weather and light track practice planned) I've had many close calls, many revolving around one yield sign.

Don't expect a car to yield to you ever, even if they have a large YIELD sign and you're shouting at them "YOU BETTER F$#$ING YIELD TO ME" then when they ignore you and the sign and nearly hit you, "WHAT THE F@#!@, ENGLISH MOTHER@#%#ER DO YOU SPEAK IT?"

I don't think most americans even know what yield means :(