Southern California - Got hit today on Foothill Blvd...

Bought my bro a road bike and decided to take it out for an easy spin in the area. Went up Santa Anita to Chantry and back down and made a right on Foothill. The road is pretty narrow but most cars were passing us on the other lane. About 1/4 mile before Fuddruckers, all of a sudden I feel a pain in my hand and realize some old lady just sideswiped both of us with her passenger side mirror. Luckily we're both ok but she was going about 35. She keeps going but is forced to stop at the light.

We catch up to her and she rolls down her window and asks if we're okay. I tell her to be more careful and she says, "you guys shouldn't be riding on the road". She drives off and that's that.

Now this was in the middle of an overcast day and I have my 1 watt PDW Radboot 1000 on the seizure flashing mode. Maybe she did it on purpose to teach us a lesson?

In my 4 years of riding, I've never been hit. I've also never ridden in this area before but I was born and raised in Alhambra for 18 years and I'm very familiar with the streets. I find it funny the first time I ride here I get hit for the first time as well.

Do you guys avoid Foothill Blvd? Isn't there a club called Foothill something? Riding on Huntington Drive was pretty fun. I think next time I'll just drive to the SGRT or something and just ride on there. Also, does the GoPro HD show license plates very well?

I can never understand why people take this so lightly. I would have either a) lost it and at minimum smashed her window in... or hopefully b.) got her license plate and called the police.

I dont know.. I have a short temper for people that think this way or just go "oh well, I'm gonna drive off now."

Glad you are ok. Next time call the cops, that's a hit and run ? (clarification someone?)

Huntington drive is fine but the traffic can speed can be high. I usually ride really early in the morning to avoid the traffic, or pick small streets if I am running errands. Or like you said, drive to SGRT.

I agree that's hit and run. I would have definitely gotten her plate and called the police. Sorry that happened.

That sucks! I'm glad you are both OK.

"Shouldn't be riding on the road," huh? Lady shouldn't have a license. It's critical to get plate numbers when stuff like this happens.

She could have killed you guys like so many other idiots like her have done to cyclist. Hit and run charges should have been filed. Had I caught her, I guarantee she would have her hands full.
We were on a charity ride in Quartz Hill (Lancaster) yesterday and five thugs in a car drove by three different riders and hit the riders with their hand or some object they were holding...when they came by my wife and I moments later they threw a beer can at us.....they sped away before any of us could get a license number.
.......all I can say is, it is a good thing a don't carry!

Over the years I've been knocked down, had other stuff thrown at us and had more cars/trucks intentionally buzz us than I care to mention......if I ever get to one them they will pay...

Bill J.

i agree i would have reported her . that said , i often ride to chantry and around the area , and i always avoid foothill . take any other street .... grandview , sierra madre , orange grove , huntington , duarte , longden .... etc ... foothill is the worst .

Glad to hear you guys are okay.

I have two GoPro cameras, one mounted on the front and one on the rear of my road bike. I bought them after some ***** POS in northern california, driving a full-size dodge ram pickup, threatened to kill me. They do a surprisingly good job of picking up license plates, despite the wide angle lens. Though I live in west LA with its crazy traffic, I have not had any bad encounters (even verbal) with motorists. The cameras do give some sense of security, but they ain't gonna stop some bastard from hitting me.

I agree that's hit and run. I would have definitely gotten her plate and called the police.

+1 Yes, "hit and run". They put people in jail for stuff like that. At the least, she'd get a hefty fine and think twice before pulling a stunt like that again. Glad the "damage" is minimal. If you feel any pain the next few days, get it checked out by your doctor.

Glad you're ok. Your username threw me off for a sec at first. =)

Foothill is a bit sheisty at times - I've had cars buzz by pretty close - now I just head all the way down to Santa Clara/Huntington or if I'm more north I take Orange Grove -

Use it everyday to and from school. The road is kinda narrow and speeds are high so I try to avoid it.

I'd avoid Foothill if possible. Too narrow and cars always buzz by too close. Huntington is awesome regardless of traffic. It's wide enough for the most part. It's the right turns in front of you that you have to watch for. BTW, I've been clipped in Alhambra before crossing Valley Blvd. In a near t-bone, an Asian man took the red light and clipped my front tire. The funny thing was that I was crossing Valley Blvd so I could take the smaller streets to avoid Valley altogether! That was years ago though..

This makes me sad. I used to go real fast on Foothill heading eastbound. It can get scary during rush hour and I know many who won't even go on it.

That lady make me real upset because most in the area respect cyclist. IF you come down off of Chantry and need to head west, take Orange Grove or Sierra Madre.

IF you come down off of Chantry and need to head west, take Orange Grove or Sierra Madre.

...or Grandview to Sierra Madre.