TrekJapan

Totally my fault. Shook me up and I'll never do it again.

I usually have a purpose or mission on my weekend rides, but today I just decided to pack a camera and stay close to home and ride slowly up and down every new street I'd never been on before. Lot of pure urban, residential riding.

I behave pretty much for stop signs and crosswalks but at some point I started cutting on sidewalks to make turns and easing back into the street. I cheat where I can just to keep moving. Way out of character for me.

Anyway (and realize I'm in Japan and they drive on the left here) I'm on the right hand sidewalk needing to get off the sidewalk and onto the road but of course I have to cross a lane of opposing traffic.

The obvious solution is to wait at the crosswalk like a good boy for the light to change. But I keep going. There are parked cars and I can't really see the oncoming lane but it's early in the morning, very residential, and very quiet. So I trust my sense of hearing and dart out into the street.

I came VERY close to getting run over by what I think must have been an electric car because it sure wasn't making any noise.

It scared me so bad I got that major fear paralysis a split second after I realized I wasn't going to die. That passed as quick as it came but for the next 15 minutes I couldn't do a single thing right on the bike and didn't trust any move I was making. Finally hopped off the bike and started walking with the camera until I calmed down.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Thought I was king of the town or something and was breaking all the rules and just about paid dearly for it.

I am reformed. Next time I'll be the guy waiting patiently at the stoplight.

John

edwong3

Well now you can take the expression, "live and learn" very literally. Or maybe in your case, "learn and live". I don't know!

I'm glad you're OK.

Edward Wong III
Qile Duo 5 Speed 20" Folder

OldiesONfoldies

Let that scary experience not discourage you to continue enjoy cycling. We try our best to stay safe, and be safe and sometimes, that is all that we can do. Making mistakes is not the main problem, not learning from them is!

Take care.

Niked

Glad you're okay. The bad experience can only make you a better/stronger rider.

badmother

I suspect some day in the future they are going to have to add some type of sound warning about the electric cars, especially as they get stronger and faster. Imagine blind peopel trying to share the road with them

Glad you are ok.

mjw

That's been in the news lately https://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...1634-24784439/

Halloween

I honestly don't get this worry over the new "quiet" cars.

Like nobody ever got run over by a noisy bus or garbage truck... or a train.


Imean, doesn't anyone ever think of the deaf people ?


A high-tech noise generator that says, " I'MACAR. I'MACAR. " isn't going to help anybody who can't hear anyway...
and that includes all those geeks wearing ipods.

( But I had the 'car noise' function turned on! He didn't even jump when I tootled my tootler ! )


Gonna cross the street ?
Look both ways, like your momma taught you.


Anyway, here in Japan, it's the driver's responsibility to always be in total control of their vehicle,
so, TrekJapan, if you had been creamed by that stealthmobile, rest assured that the law would have been totally on your side, liability-wise.




Drive defensively. Drive a tank.

Folder4life

That is the common complaint about them all over Japan. Kids do that all the time in Japan.