I had my second "contact" with a motor vehicle today. I got right-hooked by an idiotic woman on a cell phone and not using her turn signals. I sorta sensed something was up with her vehicle as I was passing stop-and-go car traffic (in the bike lane) at about 18 mph, and she just wasn't going quite as fast as I would expect her to be going. That alone is usually a big warning sign, so I was already on the brakes when she swung the front of her minivan into the bike lane.

I ran into the side of her van, tires locked and skidding. My left arm took the worst of it, hitting her side view mirror hard enough to damage it. (Amazingly, I only have a small bruise.)

As soon as she realized what she did, she stopped, halfway in the traffic lane and blocking the bike lane, and seemed to casually finish her cell phone call. She probably talked for fifteen seconds longer while I banged on her passenger-side window. Finally, she rolled it down, and I just screamed at her to use her turn signals, stop using her cell phone while driving, and watch where she's going.

I didn't call the police, or even get the license plate number. I was just so miffed that I wanted to leave. It certainly gave me an energy boost, though! I finished my 13.6 mile trip with an average speed of over 19 mph.

Yet another reason to dislike bike lanes and cell phones. Oh, and idiots.

- Warren