Jefferson House

So, was I over reacting? Well.........

Drivers don't see motorcycles so why would they see you? A good portion of the time they don't even see other cars.

An old bike rider said to me 40 years ago;

"Your fault, their fault, nodody's fault, whatever happens to you is your responsibility. If for no other reason than you didn't get out of the way."

It's kept me alive, even when jerks intentionally tried to hit me.

It happens, you can tell when they smile.

mr_bill

Other than people on bicycles, is there ANYONE ELSE we blame exclusively for their injuries?

Just wondering.

Waiting for current events to catch up with A&S.....

-mr. bill

Jefferson House

Other than people on bicycles, is there ANYONE ELSE we blame exclusively for their injuries?

Just wondering.

Waiting for current events to catch up with A&S.....


mr. bill; Having to explain something as simple as personal responsibility seams extremely odd to me. The last time I had to do this was years ago when my son was 5 years old.

So have you never learned to pay attention to what goes on around you or to develop you own sense of survival? Other people or things in this world will interact with you whether you like it or not. Sometimes to your own detriment.

I've lived to seniority by taking responsibility for my own safety, not going through life in my own little world expecting everyone else to look out for me. I have found it more beneficial to pay attention and get myself out of the way, than to go through life with blind self-righteousness and blame someone else when I get hurt.

Other peoples actions are their responsibility. They may be responsible for damages or injuries inflicted upon me. But I'm responsible for looking out for myself and attempting to avoid those incidents.

Now that I have explained this to you as I had my 5 year old child decades back, something I never expected to do with an adult, I hope you understand and have a long and uninjured life.

Or is it more fun being all alone in your self-righteous little world?

Maelochs

I think this thread started out because the OP felt a little upset over the whole incident (a big adrenaline dump will usually do that) and wasn't sure if he over-reacted ... or rather, if turning his shock and fear into anger aimed at the driver was just and fair.

I'd say, both were at fault, and over-reaction is to be expected in a situation like that.

It is never going to feel good ... even if the other party were 100 percent at fault, I think most pf us would look at what we might have done differently .... and rarely is anyone 100 percent at fault .... and in any case "fault" is after the fact. A close call is always going to leave bad feelings, because we are reminded of our vulnerability---our mortality. Never fun to realize how near death always is, and how inevitable.

Mark Ainsworth

Wrong side / Right side. The rider was on the sidewalk. I ride on the sidewalk when riding on busy streets because I figure it is safer, especially since I ride when drivers are in a hurry or tired. That is on my commute. It is not all one sided, though. Here is the problem riding on the sidewalk and it holds true when riding on bike paths that are separated from the street: Motorists often don't look for you. You travel much faster than pedestrians, so it can appear to them that you came out of nowhere. Also cars looking to turn from a side street onto a busy street are concentrating on vehicle traffic. Furthermore, they tend to stop at the street instead of behind the sidewalk where the stop sign is. It is wrong, but you need to be aware. Whatever the law is, you are vulnerable. If you want to make it to your destination instead of the local hospital, you need to be ready to stop at every intersection, especially when riding on the sidewalk.

I live in Michigan, and in Michigan it is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. I could care less. At 7am riding on 14 mile road, I'm on the sidewalk. I'll pay the bloody fine, though I have been doing it for years an no cop has ever given me grief about it

Mark Ainsworth

Scott S: You run in the street? Brave man.

Canuk1w1

This. Riding (when I absolutely have to) in downtown Toronto I will sometimes go wrong way on a one way street but always yield to traffic/pedestrians in those circumstances. Struth, drivers have a tough enough time checking for us where we are supposed to be, let alone popping up out of nowhere. Playing chicken with another vehicle when you are driving one is one thing, highway traffic codes, the courts and lawyers can sort out fault later. It's bloody suicide on a bike even when we should have right of way. Maybe worth taking a chance if those few seconds will get you a contract with a UCI team.

Caveat: I started replying after reading only the first 2 posts in the thread then went back to catch up. Some very good and sage advice in here - especially about being DEAD RIGHT. Safety first in skiing, rugby, cycling, everything.

My near miss: Riding back in to tToronto on Lakeshore through Long Branch I'm in the bike lane doing about 25-30 km/h (70km in to an 80km ride). Car passes me then about 3 car lengths ahead she decides to pull in to a parking spot without signalling, really quick like. One of the cars honks, i apply brakes, lock up my rear wheel and slide into her sideways, foot first to protect my legs (I'm a skier, i can unclip really quickly...). Only a slight teat to my gloves. Her boyfriend pops out the seat passenger side and says "sorry man, we didn't see you." I almost effin' pounded him but I had to get away quickly as I felt the red mist come down and I'd have been looking at aggravated assault and battery at a minimum if I had "gone red". Another bloke 9cyclist, wa carrying a wheel) was walking by on the sidewalk. First tore a strip out of me for not taking the idiots' plates and reporting it. the gave it top them for being braindead. It was there fault, 100% but that's pale shelter to me if I ended up in hospital. If it was a truck? I'd have gone under the thing and then good chance the wheels are crushing me.

Paul Barnard

I go the wrong way on certain stretches of road on my bike when I won't do it in a car. It may be just as wrong, but I am much less likely to hurt anyone on a bike if I miscalculate. I am also much less likely to be ticketed by a cop if I do it on a bike. Those differences matter.

Do you ever filter to the front at an intersection?

scott967

Running on the sidewalk, but in the salmon direction will pretty much ensure a car coming out of a driveway (typ. a parking lot exit) will pull across the sidewalk without seeing you. More so on a bike.

scott s.
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