CptjohnC

So a couple of nights ago, as I was driving home from my intermediate location with the bike on the back of the car, I was hit by an errant motorist. She apparently didn't understand that green lights do not give unqualified right of way -- I too had a green light, and was proceeding straight through the intersection -- she was turning left. No injuries, but I've been advised that the car is a total loss.

Is it wrong of me to be mostly unconcerned, because both my bike and I came out unscathed?

itsthewoo

You know you bike too much when...

MijnWraak

If you were uninsured and didn't care you'd be crazy. But now you get a new car

GriddleCakes

Nope, seems like your priorities are right on. Whenever I've got my bike on the car rack, my biggest worry is someone rear-ending me and demolishing my bike. Insurance will pay me for the car (mostly), but I'm not so sure about the bike. And I like the bike a whole lot more than the car.

B. Carfree

Some careless motorist hit you and you walked away? Life is good and I love a happy ending. I wouldn't be any more concerned about the totaled car than I would be about a pair of worn out socks. It served your needs but its service is at an end. Time for a new tool.

Chris516

No, Because you have your environmental priorities straight.

itsthewoo

Florida requires personal property damage liability insurance of $10,000, which would cover things such as bikes, or even a house if they crash into it. I'm sure most other states also have laws similar to this.

CptjohnC

True, I suppose. The worst part is that it leaves me driving my 'spare' car until I get a replacement.

RIP stupid little Prius.

Artkansas 

It's a great time to become car free.

kegoguinness

That really cracks me up. If anyone watched King of the Hill, it reminds me of an episode where Hank Hill was being investigated by child services for treatment of his son, Bobby (he treats him fine, BTW). So the caseworker guy is a total new-age , softie type that Hank can't stand, of course. Well, they get in an argument, and Hank kicks the guy's car. Later, in character testament, the caseworker says of Hank "He dented my Geo!"

Your comment reminded me of that. And also that I have to be ever vigilant for the silent Priuses that prowl my neighborhood streets. There are lots of them suckers! We as cyclists need more 16 y/o Hondas like mine, that you can hear coming a mile away.

nahh

nope. your car is almost certainly insured. that insurance wouldn't have covered the bike, probably. you're right on.

Phil_gretz

(1) Worship Your God
(2) Cherish Your Wife
(3) Nurture Your Children
(4) Love Your Bike
(5) Like Your Car

Between 4 and 5, you seem to have it right... PG

CptjohnC

As a dad of 4, and as someone who needs to be in another city for work on a fairly regular basis, car freedom is not really an option for me. Car lite is probably the best I can hope for in the immediate future. It is worth noting that I generally drive a part of my daily commute before I get on the bike.

I have seen the show on occasion... though not that episode. It is worth noting that I've never ~liked~ my Prius, while recognizing that it had been a pretty decent little car. No fun to drive, very expensive to repair (fortunately didn't need too much repair work...) I loved the fuel economy, esp. while gas was $4/ gallon a couple of years ago. But I'd never strongly encourage others to buy them. They lack 'soul'.

CptjohnC

I like this list :-)

exile

I was under the assumption that bikes should be ridden. So when people say "how was the commute today" they were speaking about the car ride with the bike strapped to the back. :-)

CptjohnC

I haven't yet figured out how to stuff my 16 year old into my panniers - - she's small, but not that small. I know, I know, a tandem would solve this, but I'm just too much of a weight weenie to tolerate all that extra drivetrain. I suppose a trailer is an option, but I don't have the money for a custom build...

Yes -- it is true -- some of us drive as well as bike. I drive about 10 miles each way, and bike about 11-12 miles each way. I guess I should just give up the bike and drive the whole way, right?

monsterpile

I had to chuckle at the original post. I would rather my car to get totaled in an accident than my bike and i do like me car. Insurance would give me 3-4 times what I paid for it and easily replaced while putting a big chunk of cash in the bank. My bikes probably wouln't do that and its not like some of them are replaceable like my Diamondback Vertex WCF (what would they be wiling to give me for 15 year old MTB?) and I would hate to have to figure out what they should give me to replace my Lemond road bike with a Ti frame.

A couple years ago, after our Ford Focus met a deer we had dreams of finding the right deal on a used Prius, but I am glad we ended up not going that route. They are a great car, but it just wasn't for us. The worst thing for me was the visability out the back of the thing. It was terrible. Hopefully your search for a replacement car isn't too painful.

I drive a car to work sometimes. Today it was being lazy, but other days I have to drive for work. A car is a tool and at this point having a commuter car is a tool I need. It comes in handy for other errands as well.

CptjohnC

I had the older prius -- the sedan -- without the weird hatchback/ half window. However, I expect the replacement to be the newer model prius (2006) when my in-laws replace theirs with a 2010/2011 sometime soon. That's how I wound up with the first Prius. At least I know the history of the car.

I'll probably do mass transit the next couple of days, if the forecast is right -- I'm not really into rain riding unless I have to.

atbman

The list is greatly simplified if your god is your bike (alt. The Bike). This removes the need for (4) as a tautology and renders (5) a mortal sin. If, like me neither (2) nor (3) are relevant, one can dedicate one's life to one's god with a clear conscience

GriddleCakes

Yup, the smug patrol is on to you. You absolutely cannot call yourself a cyclist if you own a car, nor can you call yourself a cyclocommuter unless you cycle all the way to work or school. I'm gonna have to ask you and Doohickie and all the rest of you multi-modal commuters to stop riding your bikes until you can get your priorities straight.

We're at war here, bikes vs. cars, and only the total annihilation of the automobile will suffice. There is no "every little bit helps" mentality allowed, you dirty double agents. You're either with us, or you're against us.

CB HI

The real reason CptjohnC is not upset.

Pedaleur

Hahaha!

Ooh. I know someone who is looking to replace the batteries on her Prius.

gerv 

Any chance your bike could sue for a whiplash injury?

CptjohnC

Don't I wish? Hmm... maybe this is why I should name my bike - perhaps I could claim the bike as a dependent, too...?

There is truth to that ;-)

I still haven't settled on my car, so I have the option to keep the hulk, I think... depending on where she is, and which generation her car is, we could maybe work something out. Full disclosure though -- my batteries are original, 140,000 miles almost, so I cannot say how long they will last. Esp. after the impact (not that it was very hard, really).

tweed_gypsy

I had a driver run a red light and total my car. I walked away with no injuries to speak of (besides being sore for about two weeks). This forced me to begin commuting regularly by bike. The accident has reminded me to be extra vigilant on my commutes. I am thankful that I was in a car that morning, and that just the car was damaged.