Coping with the fear of getting hit
 

Just found out some bad news with a coworker of mine. He's a non bike commuter and car pool to work. However he does ride his bike on the weekend. Last Saturday sometime in the 4pm hour, he was hit and run while riding his bike. He's in critical condition and the doctor has him in an induce coma. From what I heard, the injuries was really bad and he had blood flowing out his nose.

That news left me bummed out for the day. Knowing that as a commuter, I'm out on the street everyday with the feeling that my chance of getting hit is part of reality. What more can I do beside taking as much precautionary safety measure? How do you cope with that fear that it may happen to you? One way I looked at it is that we all gone pass away one day anyway and just as well we do it while enjoying what we like to do. But yet there still that little reminder in the back of the head that reminds us of the reality of the danger. Those that has this feeling, how do you cope with it?

Sorry if I ramble here, but I just wanted to give my coworker a prayer and well wishes for his recovery.

How do you cope with it?

1. Visibility
2. Riding safely
3. Mirrors
4. Being prepared, paying attention
5. Prayer

If you need a confidence boost, why not take a LAB road safety course (assuming you haven't already done one, that is. Look on https://members.bikeleague.org/membe...?action=search for your nearest course/instructor

It is a very real fear that most of us avoid thinking about. We put our lights and reflective bits on, follow the rules, and ride with caution. The truth is no matter how prepared we are as cyclists, there's always a driver not paying attention. All you can do is find a safe route, pay attention, and take your time.

I ride in a manner than prevents a sad phone call to my wife and kids. Ride as defensively as possible without losing the joy of cycling.

Sorry to hear about your coworker, I hope he recovers soon.

and
6. Acceptance

Well i was hit by a car around a month ago. The driver took and unprotected turn and hit me. I was fine and refused an ambulance. She ended up with a citation and paid for my bike.

Aside from what some have mentioned, i would have to add that speed and route are also big. There are some routes that are more dangerous than others.. i have modified my route to use more neighborhood streets. The safer routes tend to take longer because they avoid large streets and intersections. I have modified my route 3 times in 1yr. I plan on making another change once my i start back up in 2 weeks :D

Speed is the next thing IMO. Altho you have the right to go the speed limit.. its best to go at a speed that you can stop or maneuver in easily. In my case.. although it wasnt my fault.. if i was going slower i might have been able to stop or swirve around the car. I had a green light and was going with the traffic.. slammed on my brakes as hard as i could but it wasnt enough. So when i start back my commute im going to slow it down.

Honestly im not scared at all because i dont sit and think about it. Cars, planes, sports etc.. are all dangerous. Aside from following the traffice laws.. respect the cars and put your safety before your rights on the road.. thats just my opinon. Finally.. try not to think about it. Thats all i can say.

1-4 are defined as Hyper-awareness. 5 doesn't hurt either.

Also, ride trails wherever possible, know your route(s) intimately, dress like a clown. Seriously, clash like it's 1973. I also run a blinkie or two in the back no matter the time of day.

So sorry to hear about your co-worker. I hope he makes a full recovery.

I take solace in know that, as scary as the idea of getting hit seriously is, statistically, it's extremely rare especially if you do everything you can to ride safely. I've personally known at least half a dozen people who have died in car accidents over the years (and I'm pretty young), and I'd imagine I'm fairly typical. But no one really lets this realization stop them from driving.

Hey colleen,

Very sorry to hear about your friend. Keep us updated an how he is doing. I am struggling with the same thoughts and fears.

Here's my list:

1. Ride very defensively. You know the common problems, e.g. passing (standing) vehicles from the right, intersections, dooring (reduce speed if the 3+ feet is not doable), avoid making your commute about excerise if you need to ride in city traffic (you're in San Francisco, I assume) - it takes too much focus from traffic to the speed, heart rate you want to maintain. But don't ride scared!!! (I see these people that will hug the curb, shaken by every car that passes them).
2. Wherever possible try to find the route with low traffic volume and low-speed traffic. If I had to commute on 40mph roads, I wouldn't do it by bike. I go out of my way to find segregated biking facilities or residential roads in order to minimize chances of getting hit and lower the probability of severe injuries.

Ride in a way that makes you comfortable. It's no fun, if you're scared.

Ok, I'm hearing you but I'm not feeling all you said... but first, what is an "unprotected turn?". Unsignalled? Where I live and ride there are adjustments that I make to the route to take me off a particular stretch of road for sanity. If those alterations add distance they do not become part of my commute. My commute is the most efficient route between my home and my job. Period. I run one rear blinkie, one front blinkie and one front headlight. I may wear a reflective rainjacket if it is raining, if it is not my other jackets have the odd reflective stripe or two. If 'they' don't see me after that, they wouldn't see me if I was done up like a construction flagger either. That is my firm opinion. My commute speed will never change in order to accomodate the idiots around me. At that point its time to hang up the cleats and take the bus. My advice is ride predictably, ride in as straight a line as possible, be visible (but not ostentatious) and, if you are doing it right you will be so occupied that you will not have time to be worried about being maimed or killed. It also helps to know your riding environment. If the general perception of your area among hardcore cyclists is that it is dangerous to ride because of motorist hostility maybe one shouldn't practice vehicular cycling. If otoh the general consensus is that it is a very bike friendly area then I for one wouldn't go out on a bike with slow moving vehicle triangles, multiple rear flashers, yellow fenders and highway worker safety vests all at once. I also would not ride at less than a 10mph average speed. Slower than that and I may as well take the bus.

H

Edit: I like the post that snuck in while I was composing. I agree. I see too many terrified riders and I wonder why they bother. It's not worth it. The noodling through the neighborhood is not safer, it just seems that way. Big arteries are safer and faster. It is not usually traffic in the same direction that gets you its cross traffic or traffic that is turning across you, they can't do that if there wasn't an intersection. Minimize the number of intersections in your commute and you are taking a big step forward in safety.

Years ago, I rode my motorcycle to work as did several coworkers. Heading back in after lunch one day, I came upon an accident scene. Motorcycle vs. big rig. There was no mistaking the custom paint job on my coworker's bike. I stopped and the cop on the scene told me he wasn't going to make it. This was before cell phones and I had to go track down his wife and get her to the hospital. They had two young daughters. It hit me hard.

I kept riding for a while but didn't enjoy it. Finally sold the bike. A few years ago I was thinking of getting another motorcycle when I stumbled across bicycling. Now I'm out there in heavier traffic on a 25lb. bike and don't really think much about the "what ifs?".

You need to deal with your feelings and do what feels right for you. All the safety gear and riding expertise is worth little if you don't want to be ohut there. You may need to take a bit of a break and give yourself time to figure it all out.

Hopefully your co worker will get better very soon ! =) As far as coping with it. Always be alert, and ride defensively. Stick to the same route no matter how boring it becomes. The benefit from that is that the daily driving commuters will see you and get used to the idea of sharing the road.

thanks for sharing sorry to hear about your colleague. I felt a little safer than a weekend rider cuz I was a predictable rider with fairly predictable car commuters. weekend drivers tend to be a bit wild

the thought of getting hit never crossed my mind when i started riding. i just rode. my advice for you is stay off the roads for a bit and start out like you were when you first started commuting. i.e go to the park, etc.

This is the big one for me. Statistically, it MUCH safer to commute by bike than riding a motorcycle and that's before you adjust the numbers for riders at night with no lights, going the wrong way and other risky behaviors. Cold numbers dont always help much with feelings, but I really believe cycling is pretty safe. I know a few who have died in the last couple of years and one that is in a coma now from car accidents. There are no guarantees in life no matter your mode of transportation.

Pick routes you feel comfortable with. When I first started riding, I rode mostly trails and neighborhood streets. As my comfort level increased, I ventured onto less-traveled roads more and more. I still avoid busy streets with fast-moving traffic, but I am not as timid as before. Find a safer route and give yourself time to work through what you are going through.

Very sorry to hear about your coworker, I hope he recovers fully.

Most of us just man up and realize that every human on earth has a 100% chance of dieing.

Thanks for this info. I forgot there are these courses and I will look into them. Both my partner and I can benefit from it.

I'm mostly on the other side of the bay but do travel to SF on occasion. My coworker was hit on a not so good part of town in Oakland. The part that I totally avoid and reason why I multi modal. However if my train ever does have a major breakdown, then I will have to go through that part of town if I cannot hitch a ride home. In which case, I much rather borrow a friends couche overnight than to take the chance.

Dear Colleen:

Not to trivialize your coworker's situation, but I channel my inner Klingon every day I swing a leg over a bike: "Today is a good day to die!"

Hope he recovers fully and soon.

Ride safe

SF

It sicks that drivers are so crappy to riders.

One of the members I know of the local advocacy group I am a member of got hit last week on her way into work. Hit and run and I think they still have not got the person. Not far at all from where that happened a guy was killed the week before.
I just do everything I can to stay visible and keep aware of whats going on around me.
Hope me makes a full recovery.

I like :thumb:

Just like that line from Balbosa in Pirates of the Caribeans: "Dying is a day worth living for"

Hey Collen,
Try one of these reflectors I use them and they work well at least for me.:)
http://www.adventurecycling.org/stor...y-triangle.cfm

Sorry about the accident, but it might help if you could get a police (or fire/paramedic) report on the accident. Call the local police and ask them what you need to geta report - date, time, location, etc. PRobably cost a few dollars, but might help put the focus of what happened. While you state it was a hit-&-run, the investigating cops might have found some evidence/witnesses that could shed a little light on what might have caused the accident; low angle sunlight, driver making an illegal turn, driver cutting off your friend on the bike, running a red light/stop sign, or even you friend making an illegal move on the bicycle (gotta face the fact that this is a possibility). It'll help you figure out if the area is really dangerous or if it was really an unfortunate random occurance.

I hope your co-worker will be okay, Colleen. My thoughts are with him and his family.

Lots of great advice here.

I'm very sorry to hear about the accident. I recently had a coworker pass away suddenly (freak car accident on the way to work), and it can be difficult to go on acting like things are "normal" after that. I hope you find any support you need, and that he does recover.

On the subject of fear, I personally got over it several years ago when I started motorcycling. I had taken the MSF course 6 months previously, hadn't ridden at all after that, then went to pick up my new bike and rode it home in the dark. It was one of the most nerve-wracking and exhilarating things I've ever done, but I sucked it up and got through it. After that everything seemed mild in comparison. I haven't been riding bicycles for long, but I ride on 40mph+ busy streets with the same acceptance. It's all about making reasonable concessions for safety; extra gear, hyper-awareness, always assuming that no one sees you while doing what you can to make sure they do. But don't let it compromise your fun - life is short, regardless of when you go, so you might as well enjoy the moments you have. That's why I ride (with and without the motor).