Auto collision on this morning's commute - Toronto
 

As I left my neighbourhood road, I saw a line of cars waiting to get out to the main through street.

Normally I would just ride on the right hand side as motorists drive past me to get to the main street. This road was wide enough so it never bothered me. Since today, the traffic wasn't going anywhere, nobody minded as I slipped through them and rode on the left side passing all of them until I reached the main street.

It must have been an SUV that got knocked all the way onto the sidewalk. I didn't see any ambulances so luckily nobody got hurt especially an pedestrians that I normally see crossing from that sidewalk.

I did feel pretty good riding all the way through and legally without this traffic jam interfering with my commute. The temperature was -5C and my co-workers think I'm crazy biking in the winter. But today I feel pretty smart.

One of the benefits of bike commuting. I don't work the right hours for it anymore but I used to leave for work right as the day started at the high school across the street. Traffic would be absolutely snarled. I'd save 10-15 minutes commuting by bike because I could slip right past all the mess.

I have seen a few collisions on my commutes, usually on the major roads. As a rule I don't tend to take main thoroughfares.

My commute was thwarted this morning when my freewheel suddenly and then intermittently not engaging. It happened the 3km mark. Fortunately I was able to get it engaged long enough to 'limp' home. I could have taken one of my other bikes, but with a light dusting of snow on the roads I didn't feel right about riding on slick tires. Oh well.

Stay safe out there.

Have you tried flushing it with some oil since? That may help protect it against freezing up again.

Haha. This happened to me just tonight! Just replaced an old freewheel and the new one is no good. 50 miles in and it's failed. When it went from "this doesn't feel or sound right" to "oh no I'm spinning" I was just a block from the LBS that replaced it. They had just closed of course but I caught the owner walking out the door as I arrived. He tried to oil it up. No dice. I'll be back in a day or two to get it replaced. I'm sure he would've done it then if I insisted but folks gotta eat dinner.

Did just that last night. But I first flushed it with WD40, then oil. I have a feeling that the freewheel will need to be replaced soon.

I also put on spiked tires last night while I had the wheels off the bike. Gonna break them in today.

How'd you get home? Bus?