DX Rider

That's not a southern thing though.

I was stationed at a military base 30 miles outside of Memphis for nine months. While not every person I encountered was an angel, I've never lived in a place where the people were nicer, maybe the Phillipines.

I used to work in a national call center. I'm not telling you which state was the worst as far as the number of jerks I spoke with, but I will say that it's located on the east coast, north of the mason dixon line.

canyoneagle

Good thing you were able to react and at least get *mostly* out of the way.

FWIW, drivers tend to notice flashing lights more than steady-burn lights.

I use a front (white) blinkie (aimed slightly upwards) in the summer months and ADD a headlight for darker months.

I encounter a minimum of 3-4 motorists A DAY who double take at me before deciding to pull out, then stop when the realize that I'm there on the second look. It is a pretty solid reminder to me that their first glance I'm still part of the periphery, but the blinking light makes them do the doble take.
That blinkie has probably saved my ass more times than I even know.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Pinyon

Yeah...I've ridden lots of places as well. The worst places tend to be in or near a town or city. People in rural areas may laugh at you, and think that you are silly for "being a grownup playing with children's toys", but they tend to value your life more than people in small cities or large towns, and they are much more likely to stop if you are broken-down on the side of the road too.

wharfrat

I have no confidence in the legal system. Cops suck...yadda, yadda. Hopefully the OP won't give up. I came from a better place where the commutes were great...then moved to a **** hole in the midwest and it all went downhill. I still do it...and I'm moving back to where I came from which is all good. Too many bubbas in trucks in my current residence and similar encounters.

crhilton

+1


Do I understand the accident right. She came from your right, crossed into the oncoming traffic lane as she turned left and hit you? Wouldn't matter if you did run the stop sign. She's still driving on the wrong side of the road!

Exit.

Pfffft. This is such typical hick garbage. Most of the best places in the world to cycle are in dense urban areas. Have you ever been to Amsterdam? Portland? Even Vancouver? Progressive cities, with good cycling infrastructure, are great to ride in.

anthegreat1

i def. felt safer biking in CHicago vs. here in Alabama. Most drivers there expect u to be on the road and know to watch for cyclist.

When riding here many times people give me to much room which bugs me because they see me as in the way not part of normal traffic.

Totaled108

I realize not everyone in anyplace are one way. I have a bad taste from my upbringing in West Virginia a very southern state at heart. The highschool I went to had 3,700 student with less then 20 of them not white. I was friends with all the black and indian kids and was disgusted my the hate thrown their way. By rednecks (some of which were in the KKK) and made clear their hatered.

The south is known for its inability to move forward and except new and better ways of living in a forward moving world. This I know is a BIG stereotype and realize its changed alot.

I have friends in Texas and they're great families.

People acting like the lady (and officer) that hit the OP, remind me of the kids (and their perants) in that school, city, and state I grew up in. I guess I go alittle over the top, but thats were its coming from.

Vote 4 Bush!!!

seenoweevil

If you give up- they win, you lose, period. Very sorry to hear about the accident and loss of your bike though.

GraysonPeddie

Yeah. Don't let the motorist win and don't you ever give up.

I am sorry for what happened to you.

lambo_vt

If you know it's a stereotype and "its changed alot" then why continue to make yourself look uneducated and foolish?

TheDL

+1 ...it's too bad.

SingingSabre 

My experience in AZ has been quite the opposite. I was once forced into traffic while riding in a bike lane by pro-war demonstrators. Never had a problem like that from the anti-war ones. Also, I feel there's a difference between a Republican and a conservative, especially these days. That's a story for a different day and forum, though.

OP, I'm terribly sorry to hear about the collision you were in. That's horrible. As one cycling US citizen to another, I hope you end up back on the bike.

Mr IGH

Sheesh, poor guy gets hit a second time and we lecture him and start a political arguement.

If I get hit once, I'll be rethinking my fitness routine....

cooker

I would like to know if this is what happened (see sketch). You were proceeding from the set back stop sign and turning right, and were crowded to the curb as she, cutting the corner on a fast left turn grazed you. If that is what happened, surely the cop could see she was way out of her line and hit you on the wrong side of the street. Or do I have it wrong?

dougmc

Austin isn't so bad. (Don't really know about the rest of the state.)

Of course, Travis County is an island of blue in an ocean of red, so that could have something to do with it, or at least share the same root causes.

brad3104

At Op. How do u have time to yell...and then wait for a reaction from the driver? but not time enough to use your brakes. That makes no sense. Also stop running stop signs like you said you have done in the past.

wgaynor

That is what happened, except when she made her turn, she had already crossed over and was in the oncoming lane. When she hit me, she had about 1 foot of space between her tire and the curb. I opted to try and squeeze in that space. That is how I took out her mirror and left a 3 foot long dent in her new buik seabree.

I got the police report today. It stated that the 72 year old driver claimed to have not seen me until she hit me. It also stated that she thinks I was going to fast and therefore must not have stopped at the stop sign. The officer left his opinion out and stuck to the facts. He stated that it was obvious that she cut the corner too soon and hit me beyond the stop sign. The witness stated that she hit me because she took the corner too soon and was in the opposite lane.

I think it will justify me getting her insurance to fix the bike. Still not sure about riding again. Someone mentioned in a previous reply to this post that I should suck it up and how I might have been a desk jockey in the army or something to that effect.

Let me respond in kind. I was and still willing to lay down my life to protect the constitution, the country, and its citizens. Do not doubt my courage, honor, or integrity for that. If you have served, then you have earned the right to accuse me of that, but according to the tone that was reflected in those remarks, you either did not serve, or was a "blue falcon".

I love commuting by bike. This is not a bike friendly town. Is it safe to put my life at risk regardless of my desire and right to be on the road? That is the ultimate question.

As for the South being unfriendly, you are wrong. This whole country has moments when it is unfriendly in one shape or form. Don't judge the South for one situation, and I won't judge the North based on one situation.

As for the stereotyping of Republicans and Democrats and what not. While my tag is admittedly to the extreme, it reflect my basic constitutional rights. Since when is exercising and advertising your constitutional rights a bad thing? If I said I was a left wing, gun hating, atheist, would I get the same response? Don't judge me and i won't judge you.

For the record, it is usually the more "liberal" (for a lack of better words with no intention of stereotyping) idealistic people that cause the most violence in the United States.

wgaynor

If you are attentive enough, you can usually see the cars coming. I did. I yelled. What are you implying? As for using the brakes. Believe me I did. Using my brakes is probably what slowed me down enough to give me time to swerve to the right. I have not been riding as long as most of you have, but I do ride everyday. If this had happened during my first month of riding, I probably would have went through her windshield due to not having learned how to look ahead of me for potential problems and developing quick thinking reflexes.

One of the best things I learned on this forum is to always look for your way out of potential situations. That is what led me to see a chance to avoid collision by hitting the brakes and swerving to the right.

I am going to ignore your comment about stopping at the stop sign. To reply to it will be beating a dead horse and I really don't want to waste everybody's time on it. A stop sign did not have any bearing on the situation.

alhedges

Cite?

CB HI

Consider if it really would have been safer in a car.
On the bike, you had a decent escape route.
With this 72 year old that seems to be blind and deaf, in a car, it would have been a head on collision.

Choccy

If you're going to stick to the rules and be safe, then do it all of the time. We all take risks but we are also all accountable for our own mistakes.

Choccy...

dobber

That is such a hollow argument. Do you really believe that the populace holds an antagonistic view towards bicycles?

HealthJunkie

Get a lawyer immediately and sue her for damages and injury. This is why we have insurance.

sumguy

I love it when people say they didn't see you and yet claim you were speeding. Similar situation happened with an automobile accident I was in a long time ago. Good luck getting some money from her insurance. Considering the where and how she hit you, hopefully they will take her DL away.