First long ride of the season - Knocked off the road by a Semi
04-25-06, 09:05 PM
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First long ride of the season - Knocked off the road by a Semi
so i finally wrapped-up the course work of **** semester at 1am last night, meaning tonight it was time to put the new bike into use.
about 15kms in, i came to the "v" of my usual ride, the quick decent, then straight back up (over about 2kms).
luckily, i had finished the steep decent, when i could hear a semi coming from behind (typical) when i wsa about half way up the climb. saw another one comeing from the 4 way stop about a 1/4kms ahead who was not moving over, i assumed that meant the semi behind me was yeilding.
the i saw the shadow of the truck over take mine - he was still coming straight-on in the lane. i was hugging the last inch of the ashphalt as he wsa trying to get past me, the cab past, then WACK, his 'Wide Load' trailor clipped me in the elbow, then the shoulder/back knocking me right off the road.
i managed to unclip and plant myself in the ditch as the shallow ditch falls off straight down to a barbwire fence.
he stopped and got out asking if i was alright...luckily i was save for the severe pain in my elbow from, well, getting hit with a truck.
he said "i saw that other guy not movin' over! i couldn't get over"!
i asked "then why didn't you stop"?!?!
he just looked at me blankly...like huh, didn't consider that one.
close call, luckily it was going up hill, not down, but what a ****ty start to the first ride...
a lot has changed in the year and a half i was away from cycling, my back country roads are being taken over by trucks and big box stores...a wal-mart strip mall, a new home depot, etc have all popped-up...dessemating good taste and my bike route...
about 15kms in, i came to the "v" of my usual ride, the quick decent, then straight back up (over about 2kms).
luckily, i had finished the steep decent, when i could hear a semi coming from behind (typical) when i wsa about half way up the climb. saw another one comeing from the 4 way stop about a 1/4kms ahead who was not moving over, i assumed that meant the semi behind me was yeilding.
the i saw the shadow of the truck over take mine - he was still coming straight-on in the lane. i was hugging the last inch of the ashphalt as he wsa trying to get past me, the cab past, then WACK, his 'Wide Load' trailor clipped me in the elbow, then the shoulder/back knocking me right off the road.
i managed to unclip and plant myself in the ditch as the shallow ditch falls off straight down to a barbwire fence.
he stopped and got out asking if i was alright...luckily i was save for the severe pain in my elbow from, well, getting hit with a truck.
he said "i saw that other guy not movin' over! i couldn't get over"!
i asked "then why didn't you stop"?!?!
he just looked at me blankly...like huh, didn't consider that one.
close call, luckily it was going up hill, not down, but what a ****ty start to the first ride...
a lot has changed in the year and a half i was away from cycling, my back country roads are being taken over by trucks and big box stores...a wal-mart strip mall, a new home depot, etc have all popped-up...dessemating good taste and my bike route...
04-25-06, 09:09 PM
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Well, duh, Mr Obvious.
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1. Glad you're OK
2. I hope you called the police and filed an accident report.
3. I hope you contacted his employer to report his
failure to yield the right of way to another vehicle(you)
4. Glad you're OK
2. I hope you called the police and filed an accident report.
3. I hope you contacted his employer to report his
failure to yield the right of way to another vehicle(you)
4. Glad you're OK
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04-25-06, 09:12 PM
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didn't think to get his license...it was one of those situations where the other person seems more shaken then yourself and the roles reverse...where you are almost ready to apologize to them...
then it strikes you afterwards, of how severe the situation could have been....
then it strikes you afterwards, of how severe the situation could have been....
04-25-06, 09:13 PM
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It sounds like your speed differential wasn't very high. Otherwise. you'd be a lot worse off. Glad to hear you're basically ok.
I had a guy nearly cause a head on collision Sunday when he crossed the yellow line to pass me with oncoming traffic. It was clear that had not even considered slowing down and this is a residential area.
You should report it. Semi drivers are held to a higher standard, and wide load drivers even higher still. That was a stupid mistake on his part.
Az
I had a guy nearly cause a head on collision Sunday when he crossed the yellow line to pass me with oncoming traffic. It was clear that had not even considered slowing down and this is a residential area.
You should report it. Semi drivers are held to a higher standard, and wide load drivers even higher still. That was a stupid mistake on his part.
Az
04-25-06, 09:47 PM
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Good to hear you are ok. I've had some close calls with semis before and they ain't any fun. Your case sounds like a stupid mistake by the semi-driver. At least he stopped. He probably learned a lesson.
They are supposed to be held to a higher standard than auto drivers, but sometimes I wonder how serious some of these semi drivers are about keeping their licenses, but I live in Illinois and if you know anything about recent Illinois history, you will know that a bunch of truckers bought their licenses without much training associated with them.
They are supposed to be held to a higher standard than auto drivers, but sometimes I wonder how serious some of these semi drivers are about keeping their licenses, but I live in Illinois and if you know anything about recent Illinois history, you will know that a bunch of truckers bought their licenses without much training associated with them.
