Collision
 

Well it finally happened. While on my road bike, on residential side streets, I just had a collision with a young kid on an electric mini bike. He was coming around a turn (couldn’t see him) ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. I hit the ground. I’m OK. Bike will need a new chainring…his front wheel hit right there and put a nice warp in it. Front wheel out of true also…but easily fixable. The kid is OK too. I chewed him out. Said if I was a car he could be badly injured.

This happened only just over five miles into my ride. Bike was barely ridable due to the chain ring warp so I headed back home. Resumed riding, in another direction, on another road bike. Two miles into that segment and I came upon a complete roadblock due to tree work — large trees and limbs hitting the road. They wouldn’t even let a bike pass. With no detour available, I returned to home and packed it in for the day. When I stopped my GPS watch, it was exactly at 13.0 miles with an average speed of 13 mph. Maybe the universe was telling me not to ride today.

Dan

Did you get the kid's info? It sounds like his parents owe you a new chainring and a wheel truing.

Always get the other person information and have the cops write a report. Portects you from lawsuits and false claims. Even if the cops won't take a report, the information will be on the data system that they were called and there were no reportable injuries.

I didn’t get the kid’s info. He probably didn’t even have “info”…he was only 10+/- years old. Wife suggesting making a police report. But I just wonder if that’s something that’s a waste of time for them. I do have a friend who is on our town’s police force. I’ll ask his opinion.

Dan

Police departments across the country are cracking down on kids recklessly using e-bikes, and it's for the exact reason described in your OP. They're injuring themselves and other people. Right now the parents of the kid who hit you think absolutely nothing is wrong, and until they're informed they can't correct his behavior.

I agree with this sentiment, but it misses part of the point. The police can try to crack down on problems in town - vagrancy, drunk driving, BB guns, graffiti, whatever. If you don't report it, they won't know about it and nothing will change.

Follow-up
So I sent an email to the town’s PD general info address, and explained the whole situation. They did call me back on the phone and asked a lot of questions. They said they’re glad I informed them, and do agree that young kids on eBikes has become a problem. So, they are aware of it. And, although I didn’t get the kid’s name or address, I was able to give them the specific area where I think the kid lives — it’s only four or five house on that street. So I think they’re going to seek him/parents out.

Dan

Sounds like reporting it is an opportunity to help make the child involved a little safer. I would take it.