Originally Posted by
bike2math
Lessons learned:
1. As soon as he moved left the first time I should have yelled something. At that point it might have become clear to me he was an idiot.
2. My initial speed was fine for this area provided that no one is around which usually no one is. However given the outcome I'd have to say I was going to fast.
3. I NEED a FULL FACE HELMET!!! Who here uses one? What do you reccommend. I looked at the Downhill ones but they don't appear to always have meaningful face protection. What about a Dirt bike helmet? I'm worried that a Motorcycle helmet would be to heavy, but aren't the Dirt bike ones lighter?
You have failed to learn the most important lesson relevant to your situation -- as a group, students are the worst cyclists on the planet and you must adjust your riding style. I hate riding anywhere near campuses because there are always college kids on bikes flying every which way without paying the least amount of attention to what they are doing.
You should drastically reduce speed, be especially alert for being t-boned where ever any kind of path meets the street, watch out for wrong way riders, and don't even think those lights or signs will impact anyone's behavior but yours. If you find yourself on a collision course with some knucklehead (going the wrong way, about to hop off a sidewalk, going to turn into you, etc), take evasive action immediately and get off the bike if necessary. I've seen plenty of head on collisions.
You do not need a full face helmet. Just slow down, assume the nincompoops are out to get you, and be careful and you'll be fine.