I think this and the 'hit by car today' threads should probably just be eternal stickys.

But, as today was my first ever 'car vs bike' incident - I thought I'd post in.

Same commute I've done for almost four months for the job I'm on right now.

Two lane busy road, all the cars in the right hand lane stopped for red light, inside lane (I'm in the UK) completely clear - there's the handy little green cycle stop bits at the front of the road, so though I'm actually turning right at the lights, I just continue down the inside doing about 20mph.

There's a junction on the left which opens into the road I'm on. I see a green Honda - he's sitting there. I continue. About 10 meters away, he decides to barrell out - I brake, but of course, nowhere near enough time to stop.

I slam into the wheel arch of his car, do a head slide across hit bonnet (leaving a pretty 12 inch gash from my helmet) land headfirst on the road - slide on my face a bit more - protected only by the 'visor' section of my helmet) and then land.

That was fun!!

Nice people around though, everyone who saw it stopped and asked if I was ok - which I am, apart from a cut nose and a hell of a bruised leg. The guy in car got out and asked if I was ok - which was nice. But we parted ways before anything was said/done. I figured I've screwed his car, he's mangled the handlebars on my bike - we're even.

So, what did I learn?

1) never assume they've seen you - always expect them to pull out - and maybe 20 down the inside is ok when you're a car, but maybe not if you're on a bike?

2) ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET. I think I'd be in a hell of a mess right now without it. When I got to the gym for a shower, I kissed the bike helmet with gratitude - the guy next to me was a bit freaked out.

3) Always straighten the handlebars, and keep going. It happened, I'm sure it'll happen again, but it ain't going to stop me doing the second most fun thing in the world.

4) Face planting across a bonnet, and landing headfirst on the road is not as fun as you'd think it is.

Oh well.

Have a nice day everyone - and be safe!

John.