feeling guilty about this accident
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Same here, but in this case the pedestrians were not visible due to the large vehicle in the right lane. The city should have installed the the light before opening the trail extension, especially since people routinely exceed the 35 mph speed restriction, often by a lot.
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Same here, but in this case the pedestrians were not visible due to the large vehicle in the right lane. The city should have installed the the light before opening the trail extension, especially since people routinely exceed the 35 mph speed restriction, often by a lot.
The CA law states that if one vehicle stops at a crosswalk all other vehicles must stop as well.
This is intended to prevent exactly the kind of accident you describe...
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I had almost the same situation, although it was at a crossing with a crosswalk light and I had the light. A goof in an SUV wasn't looking and kept coming even though his light was red. He looked over, saw me crossing and slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching halt with his front tires in the crossway. I was almost up to him and a pickup truck came from behind slammed into his rear end pushing him well past the crossway. I gingerly made my way through the mess and kept going. I could hear him screaming at me but just ignored it.
There was no way I was going to become a party in that mess. It was clearly Mr. SUVs fault for nearly running the light and the pickup truck was at fault to for following too close. I was worried I would somehow get sued or a dumb arse cop might try to pin some liability on me - so I just kept on going. All I did was press the crossway button, wait for the white light and went when I had the right of way. I just didn't want someone with deeper pockets or connections linking me to this accident. They caused it, they could take care of it. Yeah, I am a bit calloused, but I worked long and hard to get where I am and wasn't about to have to lose a good chunk of it and have to hire a lawyer for something that was not my fault.
OP, you were right. No guilt should be wasted on this. The lady had what I call "unwarranted altruism" and decided to stop even though you were waving them on. Had you crossed anyway the dump truck might of slammed into her and her into YOU and we might not be reading your post.
There was no way I was going to become a party in that mess. It was clearly Mr. SUVs fault for nearly running the light and the pickup truck was at fault to for following too close. I was worried I would somehow get sued or a dumb arse cop might try to pin some liability on me - so I just kept on going. All I did was press the crossway button, wait for the white light and went when I had the right of way. I just didn't want someone with deeper pockets or connections linking me to this accident. They caused it, they could take care of it. Yeah, I am a bit calloused, but I worked long and hard to get where I am and wasn't about to have to lose a good chunk of it and have to hire a lawyer for something that was not my fault.
OP, you were right. No guilt should be wasted on this. The lady had what I call "unwarranted altruism" and decided to stop even though you were waving them on. Had you crossed anyway the dump truck might of slammed into her and her into YOU and we might not be reading your post.
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That is a sound law. Don't think our state or local traffic code has a such a requirement. Maybe I will check.
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It's not a lot different than if you're in a left turn lane in a car to cross multiple lanes, and someone stops in one lane to wave you through even though traffic in the other lanes isn't stopping. The person stopping for you, while trying to be courteous, isn't thnking things all the way through and creating a hazard.
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+1 Accidents also occur when divers aren't paying attention.
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Many people do a crappy job of identifying or properly naming the emotions they feel. But to see and/or be a participant in an accident and then have lingering feelings of sympathy.... is a GOOD thing. But carrying around feelings of guilt for something which you were not responsible for... would be an awful thing. As the OP would have no way to "right" the wrong for which they felt guilty.
Last edited by Dave Cutter; 09-24-15 at 07:44 AM.
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OP, I agree this was not your fault, but I admit I would be shaken up by this as well.
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Maybe I wasn't clear. I just wanted to point out the OP should be having an emotional reaction to the accident(s). But the emotion felt should be "sympathy" and that it is likely the OP is misidentifying his/her sympathy as guilt.
Many people do a crappy job of identifying or properly naming the emotions they feel. But to see and/or be a participant in an accident and then have lingering feelings of sympathy.... is a GOOD thing. But carrying around feelings of guilt for something which you were not responsible for... would be an awful thing. As the OP would have no way to "right" the wrong for which they felt guilty.
Many people do a crappy job of identifying or properly naming the emotions they feel. But to see and/or be a participant in an accident and then have lingering feelings of sympathy.... is a GOOD thing. But carrying around feelings of guilt for something which you were not responsible for... would be an awful thing. As the OP would have no way to "right" the wrong for which they felt guilty.
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I need to comment about crossing a 4-lane road without a light. A major bike corridor (Cedar Lake LRT) just West of Minneapolis has three crossings like this, none have a light. The bike route is red (Strava heat map) and I highlighted the three crossings in yellow.
I use this route all the time to get into Minneapolis. Since these roads are all busy, you need to play 'Frogger' to cross, it's always stressful.
Last edited by Hypno Toad; 09-24-15 at 09:49 AM. Reason: I suck at proofing
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I think most people have places and or things they may somewhat avoid on a bicycle. If avoiding the four lane crossing doesn't mess up your cycling pleasure.... why bother with it. But sometimes.... as cyclists (adults, people) we just have to buck-up and face our fears a few times... before the fear fades to shadows. I may never ENJOY the sound, and wind of a large truck passing me too closely at road speeds. But I have learned to quickly discard the uncomfortable feeling trucks sometimes give me. And I am a happier cyclist because of it.
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Thanks Dave, your right. But dang, be careful everyone at crossings like this!!
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