Run-in with a car today
 

My wife and I were on a leisurely ride this morning with a cousin of mine who's visiting, on our way to the Carmel farmers' market. I was leading the group, which had spread out a bit - my wife about 100 yards behind me, my cousin even farther back.

As I passed the entrance to an apartment/condo complex, a sedan came out to make a right turn onto the road I was on. I thought the car was going a little fast as it approached the stop, and was flabbergasted when they just continued on with their right turn without stopping at all, while I was right in front of them! They hit my bike with the portion of the driver's side front fender, right in front of their wheel.

A couple of thoughts went through my mind immediately - one was that I was going to end up either under the front end of the car, or on its hood, the other was that I was going to get taken out like Juan Antonio Fletcha. How I managed to stay upright is completely beyond me. My wife, who saw it all from behind me, said the car knocked the rear end of the bike several feet to the left, and I must have steered accordingly. The car pulled on ahead, I headed for the curb to dismount and see what damage there was. The car stopped 30 or 40 feet ahead, and the young woman driver yelled "Sorry!" I was alright, though pretty badly shaken, and I didn't see any damage to the bike - no bent frame or stays, no taco'd wheel - the point of contact must have been my right pedal. The car no doubt had more damage than the bike. I yelled at her that I was OK, but before I could shout anything else, or communicate with her in any other way, she took off.

I thought I got the plate, but I must not have, because when my cousin insisted on calling the police, the number I gave them didn't check out. They were still going to look in the area for a car and driver matching our descriptions, but I doubt they'll find her.

All I can figure is she approached her stop while looking to her left, and not straight ahead in front of her. She saw my wife approaching on her bike, and decided she'd get right out on the road immediately rather than wait for an approaching cyclist to go by, and so just plowed right ahead.

All day long I've been thinking how lucky I was that it didn't take any of several possible turns for the worse. She could have been going faster. I could have reacted badly. An overtaking car could have been coming up in the left-hand lane where she had driven me. My god.

I'm glad the bike's alright.

No injury? Great!
Hit and run? Crummy!
Hope when you take a closer look at your bike you still don't find any damage.
Maybe a trip back to the apt. complex would find the car parked there........

I'm surprised the driver stopped at all.

Glad you're okay.

That is called hit and run, I don't understand why people think they can run over you and then drive off? You should not have told her you were OK. At that time there is no way you could have been sure you were OK or your bike. When you are struck by a car and the driver stops--DO NOT tell them you are OK. You may or may not be OK. When you tell them that you are OK they may take this to mean that you are releasing them and of course then they drive off and don't think about they fact they nearly killed you.

Tell them that you are NOT OK, call the police and make a report, they should come to the scene. This is not lying, the fact is you have been hit by a 5,000 pound vehicle by a careless person and there is no way for you to know your actual condition on the roadside 30 seconds after being hit. Many people have discovered after the adrenaline clears the system that they in fact have broken bones, torn ligaments, injured necks not to mention the bike needs to be checked out at a minimum at their expense, gezzzzzzzz.

Scream bloody freaking murder next time. If in fact, it turns out you are OK then of course you would not want to pursue any grievance on you part, their getting a ticket however for running a stop etc is not your grievance, that is the law.

LC

+1.

And thank God you are OK.

Glad you and the bike are OK. I hope they find her soon.

Me too. I'm glad it was the Fisher - it's got considerably more mass, and I'm sure was less likely to suffer damage from that kind of hit. Besides, the Synapse is still so new! ;)

BTW, no broken, strained or sprained anything this morning, no aches or pains of any kind. I may just "happen" back to the apartment complex on this morning's ride to have a look around.

A few feet the other way and...
Glad you're still with us and riding!

First, I'm glad you're okay. Second, I'm glad your bike is undamaged. Third, I hope the cops find the woman.....in that order.

Are you sure you're 57 and not 27 ? I feel lucky not having new aches and pains.

Glad you are OK. I don't think the police would call that a hit and run. The woman stopped, you looked at your bike and shouted "I'm alright," and she then drove on. I would have been falling all over my self apologizing and insuring that your bike wasn't damaged but that's me (and probably most drivers). Her actions could be construed as a response to the communication from you so, legally, she checked with the victim - no harm no foul.

This is going to be construed as a sexist remark but it has been my personal experience that currently young women and soccer moms can be the most dangerous creatures on the road; always in a hurry, rarely paying attention, and simply irresponsible as drivers. This is not the same as the old negative remark about "women drivers". These women know how to drive. It's just that they seem totally self absorbed and therefore dangerous. This remark is made only from my personal experience based on the number of "near misses" I have had and not on any solid statistics. Also, it should be known that I think women are delightful creatures otherwise and I love sharing the planet with them, especially when they are on bicycles.

Clad you are okay Craig, and a pox on her house!

This was sort of how I viewed the whole incident. It was my cousin who insisted on calling the police, which, I agree, was probably the right thing to do. And if I had been knocked down or obviously injured in any way, or if the bike had been damaged, I never, ever would have told her I was alright.

Every morning I wake up wondering what I hurt while sleeping. Some days I am lucky, other days I am not.

Glad you're okay, Craig, and your bike too. These are scary situations. It'd doubtful much can be done with or to the lady now. She probably had a fright too once she realized what she did, and will probably be a safer driver...at least for a week or so.

I'm confused, how is this a hit and run. The girl hit him, then stopped and asked if he was ok??? He said yes, and she drove off.

Not illegal if no damage, no injuries.

The only legal issues, as far as I can see, are her running a stop sign and failure to yield the right-of-way. I think the police were more interested in just "having a talk with her" if they found her, which they obviously haven't done.

You shoulda kicked her arse!! :fight: