Bugstomper2000

I was wondering if I'm the only one who's ever collided with a pedestrian.
A few months ago I was riding down a one lane street with oncoming traffic. The car in front of me came to a sudden stop next to a school, and all I could so was swerve to the right. There was a fat teenage girl walking across the street to the car. A fat mom lady got out and started yelling at me. I just said that I wasn't paying attention and I'm extremely sorry, didn't even bother explaining that I can't come to a complete stop within 10 feet going 25mph on a bike without disk brakes. The girl was uninjured, as I slid under her and she landed on me. I had to replace my bar tape, and one of my pedals and brake levers got torn up on the pavement. Also, my elbow and knee got torn up. I still have the scars.
p.s. the street had two lanes, just one in each direction, and the car stopped right next to the middle line.

LesterOfPuppets

funniest troll post in days!

f4rrest

Did she leave a note?

Bugstomper2000

Not a troll. This seriously happened. When I get back from vacation I'll post the scars on my bike.

Bugstomper2000

Nope.

LesterOfPuppets

C'mon.

Having a problem with fat people.

"Disk brakes."

Out-riding yer brakes in a school zone.

Texas. (nothing against TX )

How can this not be troll???

Bugstomper2000

I don't have anything against fat people, its just that the public consensus seems to be that the people with the most road rage are fat white females and buff middle aged men.

I haven't ever ridden a road bike with disk brakes, but I know they exist and I'm sure they work much better than rim brakes.

I know it's surprising but there are hills in Texas. Also, I'm 15 and I like to have some fun.

I live in Texas. My family is from Canada, but we came here because my grandfather is a professional doctor and the medical field in Texas is expanding rapidly, as is the population. Not so much in Canada.

CliffordK

Your brakes will only stop the bike as fast as you have traction on the tires. In an emergency stop, it is not uncommon to at least skid the rear wheel with rim brakes, and if not positioned properly on the bike, it is possible to fly over the handlebars from too much front braking.

There was a report about 6 month ago about a cyclist in NYC killing a pedestrian, and I think it does occur periodically. It can be a serious matter.

I'm glad in your case there apparently were no serious injuries.

f4rrest

You're my son's age. I'm glad you or the girl weren't hurt more seriously.

Passing a car stopped in the street can be dangerous (that's how I ended up with multiple fractures when they suddenly turned left without signalling). I don't do that at speed now and I hope you won't either.

colnago62

Generally, the following vehicle is at fault in a collision. You need to ride at a distance that allows you to stop safely, even if they slam on their brakes. The same goes for hitting pedestrians; usually it is considered that pedestrians have the right of way.

bakes1

Smells like a troll

indyfabz

You left out "scars on my bike".

indyfabz

One need only review your posts in this and other threads to know you are a troll. It's rather obvious, especially now that you claim to be 15 years of age.

JonathanGennick 

You were not riding in control, nor were you anticipating the possible things that could go wrong in the spot you were riding in. You are 15, right? So just be glad you didn't injure the girl, and take a lesson from this event. If riding by a school, anticipate that cars might suddenly stop and that children might run out. If riding through an intersection, anticipate that cars might turn in front of you unexpectedly. Etc. If riding down a residential street lined with cars, think about the possibility of a door opening. Be prepared to react to the likely risks. Slow down as needed. Go fast in less crowded conditions.

FWIW, you were too close to the car? Were you drafting the car? The car stopped and you could not, so you were following too closely.

PepeM

Thank god you didn't have disc brakes or the [fat] girl would probably have lost an arm.

CliffordK

Passing cars between the car and the curb takes extra caution.

There are cars that will pass a cylist, then turn right in front of them. I've had it happen a few times, usually one driveway past a major intersection. I watch for signals closely at intersections.

bikecrate

"I slid under her and she landed on me"...it's Texas, I think you're legally married now.

rpenmanparker 

He is not just a troll. I think he is a natural or unconscious troll. He isn't planning this stuff for its effect on the forum. This is how he thinks. Like Archie Bunker. This is truly a special phenomenon.

In either case the fat stuff was so deliciously repugnant. Unfortunately there is no use in telling him anything about it. If it was conscious, then he got exactly the effect he wanted. If it was unconscious, then it is so deeply rooted that my words wouldn't have any effect. I can't wait to see what's next. Oh my, I hope he doesn't grow up.

kbarch

No, you're not the only one. It happens all the time, but sometimes the situation is aggravated, like when some oblivious fat woman walks out in front of a buff middle-aged cyclist, and sometimes it's mitigated, like when a hot chick on a cruiser bumps into a young guy on a beach.

Sometimes it's the cyclist who isn't paying attention, sometimes it's the pedestrian. The only pedestrian I ever collided with on a ride was a little girl who wandered right out in front of me without looking - fortunately I was going slow and managed to fully brake and unclip, she just sort of tripped, and her parents apologized to me.

indyfabz

Only if he got a reacharound.

topflightpro

In New York City, on average, one pedestrian is hit and killed each year by a cyclist.

BillyD

Just one? There's 8 million frikkin people walking around there.

Athens80

OP was entirely at fault. Maintain safe distance. Pay attention. Be cautious in pedestrian zones. Be cautious in school zones. Don't hit pedestrians. Don't be at fault in a collision and then be rude about the person you hit. Accept the blame with grace and contrition. Getting yelled at is the least penalty earned here.

indyfabz

I just have to ask...Why do you think this incident actually happened?

indyfabz

Seems like a lot. We had someone killed here in Philly maybe 6 years ago. Husband and father leaving his job as a paralegal. Crossing the street legally while walking to the train. A cyclist blew a light and hit him. Victim fell to the ground, striking his head. Some days in a coma and then he was dead. The cyclist got up, straightened his bars and rode off. Despite a sizeable reward offered by the victim's employer, the cyclist has never been identified. Imagine having that on your conscience. Or maybe he doesn't have one.

The danger level has gone up now that we have a bike share program. Lots more idiots riding the wrong way down streets and on sidewalks, sometimes in groups. A few days ago someone took video of two people riding on the section of I-676 that runs through the center of town below grade.