After an accident
 

I am a 69 year old cyclist in San Jose Ca. On April 30 2015 I was involved in a bicycle accident. I am usually very careful in busy aterial streets but paid the price for a few seconds of daydreaming. I live in west San Jose, vta the local transportation systems lists all three roads out of my neighborhood dangerous. Saratoga ave, Stevens Creek blvd. and Kiely blvd. are high speed arterials with no bike lanes. I left my favorite bicycle shop,late in the afternoon about 4pm. Next thing I remember is waking up in Santa Clara Valley Medical center on a gurney.Asked the nurse how I got there she said you were involved in a bicycle accident. I don't remember a thing I was knocked unconscious. Ended up staying overnight undergoing a bunch of tests. Sore as hell all over with a few cracked ribs but otherwise ok.
Went to a bicycle attorney and found out what happened. I was doored by a guy who suddenly opened his drivers side door without looking. Getting back to riding but a lot more cautious in traffic. My wife wants me to stop riding but I enjoy it too much. More than one person has told me I am an old fool for urban cycling but I won't stop riding out of fear.
My main complaint about cycling in the Santa Clara County is bicycle lanes are hit or miss. You can ride on bicycle lanes away from cars in some areas then they abruptly end dumping the bicyclist on high speed aterials with cars whizzing buy at high speeds way too close. I'm sure other urban cyclists around the country face the same problem.

I hope you get well soon. Oh, it has been a year, so hopefully you're fully recovered.

That is pretty common everywhere. Many cities are working on it.

I hit a few places where the bike path will be going along a road, then suddenly the white line marking the path directs into the curb, one goes through an intersection with no path, then it picks up on the other side, like the engineers somehow expect a person to magically hop or teleport from one side of the intersection to the other side. Or, I have a busy overpass, bike lane on both sides, but it just ends for the overpass.

One thing to do is look up bike routes and maps in your city. They may have suggestions that you hadn't considered.

I have a place where I would ordinarily do a hop of a bout 2 or 3 blocks down a very busy 3x1 lane road. I've found that I can just make my turn a few blocks early which takes me down a very battered secondary road, but I miss that main arterial. Anyway, keep your eyes open for alternatives.

As far as safety of riding. I am now at an age where I believe the risk of inactivity is much higher than the risk of riding my bicycle.

I don't know about bicycle lanes, but I do not ride on roads without shoulders. I'll use the sidewalk if one exists or take an alternate route.

It may not be helpful depending on your particular area, but I too live in an urban'ish area, Nassau County, NY and have learned to cope reasonably well by searching out roads that have shoulders, less traffic, etc.. I really don't care, even when bike commuting to Brooklyn, if I go a bit out of my way to avoid congested streets that are dangerous for cycling.

As well, learn to ride a safe distance to the left of parked cars. Take the lane if needed but assume that every parked car has a door about to open.

I'm sorry that you were injured, and hope you have made a full recovery, SR46. I don't blame you for not giving up riding, I wouldn't either.

Be careful with that "a lot more cautious" thing, it could cause you to allow yourself to be in a more dangerous situation.

My experience is it's safer to be more assertive... Force drivers to take you into account, and never ride in the door zone. I assume you're already wise enough to don the high vis gear and blinking lights. Don't be afraid to take your place in traffic when necessary, it's much safer.

I hope you're recovering and are able to resolve this satisfactorily. One way to motivate better public education is to get insurance companies involved. If they decide liability payouts are too expensive they'll add bicycle awareness to their occasional safety oriented TV ads.

Ditto the advice to avoid the door zone. Vehicles behind us can wait a moment or pull over to pass. The only time I was doored was in Washington DC by a limo with suicide doors, which I scraped with my pedal as the door bumped shut. The passenger jumped out and fussed at me in some language I didn't recognize. Presumably an ambassador or diplomat. I was an enlisted guy in the Navy and figured this was a no-win situation against a guy with diplomatic immunity, so I just waved him off and kept going.

My city, Fort Worth, has bike lanes around downtown but some are in door zones, so I'll use the car lane when appropriate. Fortunately most of downtown has signs explaining that bicycles may take the entire lane in most places. So far, so good. Fort Worth has done well in making the city more bike friendly.

And ditto the advice to be as visible as possible. I know the steady light vs blinky debate will rage on, but until it's made illegal I will use flashers whenever and wherever I believe it will protect me without endangering anyone else. I always use blinkies around downtown and any high traffic area, day and night. The only exception is in group bicycle rides. When I'm away from traffic I turn 'em to low steady.

My helmet mounted to-be-seen lights range from 25 to 300 lumens, tops, not nearly bright enough to blind anyone even at night. Car headlights range from 700-1500 lumens, some aftermarket lights up to 3,000. Yet we cope. I'm not going to worry about my dinky blinkies blinding anyone. If I add the brighter B&M Ixon lights I'm planning to buy next I'll keep them on steady, aimed carefully at the road, since they're already designed to comply with Germany's strict regulations.

After watching other cyclists around downtown, especially at night, I realized many frame-mounted lights couldn't be seen at times in traffic, as vehicles blocked the view. But their heads were visible. Seems logical to mount lights where they can always be seen. That's where my lightweight, compact lights go now. And there's another red blinky on the rear rack.

And I'm adding more reflective doodads as I find them. A nearby dollar store was carrying some nifty spring-loaded reflector bands for wrapping around arms or ankles, and I keep them wrapped around my bike frame where I can reach them and snap 'em around my ankles and forearms as it gets dark.

I don't necessarily look good in red, but most of my riding jerseys and t-shirts are bright stinkin' red. Years ago I wore green, which probably didn't pop out as readily. I don't want to wear tight bike-racer looking duds, but did get a windbreaker with hi-vis yellow sleeves. I suppose bicycling clothes evolved this way for a good reason.

Stick with it. Accidents happen in all sorts of circumstances. Dropping the bike won't change that.

Maybe time to get a new bike, a different bike that lets you go off road, a gravel bike. Explain to Wife that it will be for the trails instead of the roads. But still get two wheelsets.

Then the two of you visit all 58 counties of California on that new bike stored in the back of the SUV. A combination of biking, hiking, and visiting. Something like Huell Howser.

Spot on. It is better to be honked or yelled at because you were seen than to be sideswiped, right hooked, left crossed (been there, done that once), or doored (been there, done that once) because you were not seen. I could have avoided both of my contacts with motor vehicles by riding closer to the center of the traffic lane.

After an accident

Dittoes to all the above good wishes, like this one.

Well said, [mention=392454]ClifordK[/mention]. Occasionally I have to defend my cycle commuting lifestyle, and I’ll add that proposition to my argument


I have a few aphorisms in my head for various circumstances as mentioned above.

Finally about the aftermath of my accident:

Number of people in the USA that die of Heart Disease: 610,000 Coronary Heart Disease: 370,000
Number of people in the USA that die of a bicycle accidents each year: 720

Fatality Facts
Heart Disease Facts & Statistics | cdc.gov

Glad you are still on the green side of the grass.
Hope you heal completely and sooner, not later.

I had a near death crash on my bike while commuting, back in 2007
Speeding jerk in the black 911 turned left in front of me.

4 hours at Stanford hospital ER. ($10,500 + $1500 ambulance ride)
While waiting for my wife to arrive I composed my response to what I was sure would be her argument that I must stop riding.

I told her in no particular order that things must change...
no more sharp chef's knife in the kitchen
no more high fructose corn syrup soft drinks
no more driving the car - must take the bus
no more french fries
no more fried chicken

You get the idea.

I still ride my bike.

be well,
Jeff

You need to delete your post or edit it, as it contains things that could be used against you in a court case.

GH

^^^, +1, the late Tom Stormcrowe had a sticky post about not putting in any accident details, especially if there was going to be a court case. Because a litigator will pick up each and every post you have made about any accident, and they will happily use it against you. Don't think that a screen name will shield you, or that a law firm won't bother with looking for your internet activity, in depth.

Sorry about your accident, I hope that you recover completely and that you are able to return to cycling. Just don't jeopardize any possible litigation with something as small as a forum post.

Bill

Sorry to hear about your accident. That's one of the main reasons I moved out of Atlanta and retired in a semi-rural area of Florida.

As noted above, with the link:

I never liked driving on Stevens Creek Blvd in a car. I' m not sure I'd do it on a bike! Glad you're healed.

I am not sure we face the same problems. But we all face a certain amount of risk.

For the most part... when practiced with caution... sport cycling is relatively safe. But cycling will always be a blood sport. There will always be crashes and injuries. The risks from routine injuries does increase with age.

Cycling on dangerous roads for "fun" isn't clever. You can have a lot more fun cycling... when you're not recovering from injuries. Maybe you should consider your wife's concerns and transport your bike to safer riding areas.

I am glad your OK.... how's the bike?

I've been cycling for over 30 years with no big problems until recently. I left my house for a Sunday morning ride and work up in an ambulance. I came across this thread because I was looking for a bicycle attorney to consult with.

I'm younger than the OP but I've decided that for my wife's peace of mind I'm going to stop road riding, and ride bicycle trails only. Well that's the plan for now anyway.

I've been a road rider for over 30 years in and around the big city. I always tried to be safe. I picked roads, routes and times where there was minimal traffic. I always wore visible clothing. I didn't do stupid things like run through stop signs and traffic lights. That helps up to a point.

Not having a wife, nor a mate, to support -- will make getting another bike more affordable.
Living single -- may end up being more in peace.
My bikes are my family.

I hate it, everytime I hear of those like you who are veterans within their hobby.
Later-in-life --- ending that hobby enjoyed so much, just to make another one happy.
In this case, it be your wife; allowing the female to overpower his mindset; as his other enjoyment (hobby) is disposed.
This be one of the reasons why I remain a single person with My Bikes. Never will get married.

Is someone jealous of your bike?

Add: when 'wife' be along, the male mate is much less likely to get cut-off, sideswiped, etc. by a car. Because the 'wife' (female) being a lure to (mindset of) the male car-drivers. I say this in a way of non-tactic. Only meaning it that human males behave this way.

Hi sleaze, I'm glad you are all right (relatively). I'd move if I was you, cause you are not going to back down (good) and ribs take a long time to heal, sometimes a couple years. You don't want to go down on already-broken ribs.
Those roads sound like hell, man. Do yourself a favor.

+1