I, like so many other bicyclists out on the road, have a sort of us verses them mentality...after all, we are the ones getting killed and/or injuried on a regular basis, not those behind the steering wheel...
As the numbers of serious injury and deaths just keep climbing among cyclists here in Portland, I knew it wouldn't be long before I experienced a car vs bike accident...it was inevitable, it happens to everyone who rides a bike in Portland for long enough, or so it seems..
Well today it happened...nothing serious, and it was totally my fault, although the lady driving the car insisted on paying for damages, which I agreed to, since she flattened my front wheel after knocking me to the ground...well I guess, now that I think about it, we where both being careless, nobody was really to blame.
I was riding my bike on the wrong side of the road for one thing; and on the sidewalk for another...she was pulling out of a driveway without really looking; and so, she grazed me. We where both going very slow, and really, I wasn't hurt other then road rash.
So I guess I'd like to caution other bicyclists to really pay attention and be careful...follow the rules of traffic, don't daydream (I was daydreaming,) and never assume a car is going to stop for you (I was assuming as well.)
Love to all ya,'
Carrot
ibanezcoop
well i hope you had your helmet on - and it was probably good to be "woken up" a bit - so you will be safer next time.
Yeah, isn't there something that deals with a bone that's broken is stronger after it heals? Maybe now you'll be more aware, Carrot. At least the lady was nice and helped you out in the end.
I've been nearly clobbered a few times too. I bike all summer (MN is too icy and I'm too wussy to bike in the winter), and people just don't see bicycles!
There's a protest here called Critical Mass that periodically clogs rush hour with hundreds of cyclists. It's to raise awareness about bike visibility and alternative transportation. There was a huge beat down by the cops in August, completely unprovoked. Now the cops ride along with the crowd. It seems all is forgiven.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Welcome to ProgressiveU! I've been keeping up with your blog a bit and I really like what I read! You seem to be an amazing lady; keep up the good work with your transgendered five-yr old charge.
Yes, unprovoked police brutality is a sad and scary thing...all I can say is that power corrupts...glad to hear that at the next ride they rode with you...
I should join one of the critial mass rides around here...we have several; including the Naked Bike-Ride each spring!
Love ya,
carrot
Welcome to ProgressiveU! I've been keeping up with your blog a bit and I really like what I read! You seem to be an amazing lady; keep up the good work with your transgendered five-yr old charge.
Yes, unprovoked police brutality is a sad and scary thing...all I can say is that power corrupts...glad to hear that at the next ride they rode with you...
I should join one of the critial mass rides around here...we have several; including the Naked Bike-Ride each spring!
Love ya,
carrot
I've got to say that I have seen a lot of bikers who seem to say 'traffic laws-pfft" and do whatever the hell they want, not wearing helmets or bright clothes or anything.
In those situations, I have no sympathy, because it pisses me off.
I think that the answer is probably more bike lanes or better bike lanes. Then responsible bikers (as you seem to be for the most part) don't have to worry about it.
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund