I'm taking 65% of the fault, cause I knew it was coming. The story...
Lovely day, blue sky, moderate biking temperature for the morning ride into
campus. Typical spring day, except a great constant tailwind around 20mph.
Gives me the option to really fly down the road. I was cycling around 25-30mph
down a wide 50mph (car speed limit) roadway with very wide shoulders. (Typically,
my daily speed down the road is around 15-18mph)
Having a great time. Start to approach first intersection as the roadway narrows while
noticing a minivan come up behind me. I assessed the situation and decided they will
probably jump around me and slow up to make a right hand turn at the stop light
(I was getting ready for the "right hook" scenario). I start to slow as they do exactly
that, but the light is green, they do not signal, so I (stupidly) *hesitated* applying full
brake pressure. The light turns red, I brake more, they then (of coarse) decide to turn
at that moment because they get caught at light (people do this often at this intersection
- they are originally going straight through but the light will change and they will suddenly
turn right because either direction gets them downtown).
Does that make sense?
Here I come, braking full, but not enough room. Again, I knew it was coming, so my
hesitation is really to blame here. I ran into the back right side of the minivan probably around 18mph.
Lowered my left should, put my helmet down....--Bam-- strangely a somwhat gentle
hard stop.
I untangle from bike and minivan as they have not completed the right hand turn (cross
traffic). I step to side of road expecting to offer up a "mea culpa" to said minivan driver,
but, they proceed on as if nothing has happened.
Dumbfounded
, but noticing no damage to myself, bike, or minivan as they pull away...
I ponder a moment what to do? Another Minivan witnessing all this from behind pulls up
next to me and asked, "Hey, you okay? That looked vicious!"
assessing.... assessing.... assessing...... "Yeah, I'm fine! - Thanks!"
I proceeded on to work. Taught my class, gave the exam.
All seems okay.
Go figure.
It is still a beautiful spring day.
Dr. Joe