Sorry...mini vent

[Medianox]

For the second time in as many days I nearly was squished by a motorist...
Yesterday I just narrowly avoided getting "doored" by a woman as she opened her door into my lane-I try to ride at a safe distance from cars parked at the side but I had just been passed by a car and had moved over to the right when it happened. Thankfully, there was not another vehicle behind me as I swerved to miss hitting her door.
Today I got up a little late so I didn't go riding until 10 am and there are more cars around. I was on the bike trail, at an intersection of a busy 4 lane street...I unclipped one side, pushed the button to cross...waited until the light changed and started to ride across. I was going pretty fast because I know that signal doesn't last long and I had 4 lanes to cross...when I see a car coming in the last lane ahead of me...she did not slow down and I tried to hit the brakes and turn away and somehow we managed to not hit each other by a matter of inches. I nearly went over the handlebars and onto her hood! I got a very close look at her and made eye contact as she had her window down and she shouted, "SORRY!" at me...I yelled, "You idiot!" back at her (ok, ok, not one of my finest moments-but hey, I had just missed being splattered on her windshield).
I understand the risks entailed in cycling. I wear as much protective gear as I can and I know that I have to be more alert and make sure I am visible at all times but it is frustrating when you are doing all the right things (crossing with the proper signal, in the crosswalk) and someone runs the red light and almost nails you.
Sorry for the venting but thanks for listening!
Hope your miles are safe ones!

[lph]

what a bizarre thing for her to yell! :eek: Like "sorry, my brakes weren't working" or "sorry, I have a life and death emergency here"? :confused:

Maybe it was "sorry, I'm too stupid to drive a car but no-one's stopped me yet" ;)

[Tri Girl]

wow- so glad that she didn't nail you! I'm glad you were alert and avoided something much more serious.
Sorry? Yeah, I usually just drive off and say sorry when I almost kill someone, but whatever... grrr:mad:

[Becky]

Must be something in the air today. DH and I had several close calls today too. I don't understand it :confused:

[solobiker]

Wow, that was a close call. I am glad you did not get hurt. Yes, "sorry" seems kind of strange but, I guess it is better then her shouting " get off the road" or flipping you off thinking it was your fault. I am not trying to discount what happened by any means. People in cars really need to pay more attention to their surroundings. Once again I am glad you did not get hurt.

[tctrek]

I think as it gets closer to the holidays, drivers will be more distracted and all we can do is ride very defensively. But the near misses show you ARE riding defensively, so I think calling her an idiot was entirely suitable. Around here we say they got their license at "Piggly Wiggly" for a nickel, which is a countrified grocery store in the south. We also say that their family tree don't fork. Just some fun insults for the next time you run into a moron behind the wheel.

[Medianox]

Sorry? Yeah, I usually just drive off and say sorry when I almost kill someone, but whatever... grrr:mad:


I have never been so scared! I saw her coming and thought, "wow that car is still moving...it will stop, its going to stop....HEY its NOT STOPPING!!!". I was moving fast myself and tried to not hit the brakes too hard and I turned sharp to the right just as she passed me (so that the front of my bike was parallel to the side of her car when I stopped). I was very fortunate when I was able to stop that the momentum didn't throw me in her path. We were so close (literally a couple of inches apart)I could have reached in the car, that's when she said "sorry" and drove off (actually she never did come to a full stop). I got a really good look at her, she was young, maybe 18-20ish and had someone with her in the passenger seat-didn't see a cell phone or anything so maybe she had been talking to the other person when she ran through the intersection. I guess saying "sorry" IS better than some things she could of said but she was totally in the wrong, having run the red light so she had no excuse.
Live and learn...thanks for the warm feelings. Hope everyone had a safe ride today!

[Owlie]

I didn't get out until 10:30 or so, when there are actually people on the roads. Clearly, where ever Mr. BMW was going was more important than, I don't know, driving safely.:mad:

[Maxxxie]

Glad to hear you're OK!! :)

I note that some people are bothered by her saying sorry.. it's made me wonder, though, what exactly would be an appropriate thing to say when you've just narrowly missed killing someone. It's a serious question - what would you have liked her to say?

Max

[Medianox]

"Sorry" is just about as appropriate and as human a response as any-probably the first thing any of us might say off the top of our heads. Personally, I just wish it hadn't happened. I'm getting a complex about crossing the street-this is the second time since September that someone running a stop light has come close to hitting me.

It as much wasn't what she said, but what she did...she never fully stopped and just drove off-that made me more upset than her "sorry". I honestly don't think she realized how close she came to seriously injuring another person.

[lph]

well, under the circumstances "sorry" may have been a rational thing to say and certainlt better than a lot of other things. it just sounded a bit strange. I wonder how she had the time to think about it and say something, but not actually do anything like hit her brakes.

I think if I were almost hit by someone I'd prefer a shocked look and a gasp aka "where did YOU come from OMG I almost hit you!!"...

[Tri Girl]

you're right- sorry was a nice thing to say in comparison to other things she could have said. Knowing how young she was, it probably scared her. She'd probably never encountered that before while driving. Hopefully it'll make her think twice and be a little more cautious and aware.

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, I think as the OP described it, it was the breeziness of the "Sorry" with the clear indication that she really wasn't.

Stopping, "Are you okay? I am so sorry," some indication that the driver was nearly as shaken as the rider, that's what would have been appropriate IMO.

And whether she "could have said something worse," as I've said before, it's the oblivious ones who scare me much more than the nasty ones. There are a very small few who will literally try to kill you - that doctor in LA comes to mind - but most of the ones who do something intentional are "just" trying to scare you and thus, exercising some control over their vehicle and muscles that make it likely that they won't actually hurt you. It's the oblivious ones like this - I have to say it, because her immaturity deserves it - girl, that scare me much more.

[Tri Girl]

agreed, Oakleaf! I'm more afraid of distracted/oblivious young people who think they're being funny or are just not paying attention that scare me. They think they are invincible and think others are, too...

[Dogmama]

I'm surprised that the only thing YOU called her was an "idiot." Wow - what self restraint!

The holidays will be distracting. People will be driving places they normally don't go - like to stores with sales, etc. Also, if you're in a college town, finals are the beginning of December, so normally invincible students will be busy studying on the road - or worse - driving while sleep deprived from all-nighters.

Around here, we have the added bonus of snow birds. If it looks like Q-tip is driving, beware.

[Eden]

People do not like to admit they just did something very dangerous...

I've noticed that a lot of people (especially those yakking on phones) who pull out in front of you, nearly run you over in the crosswalk etc tend to just give you this goofy grin as an "apology" for nearly running you down.... either that or they try to blame it on you....

I was crossing the street (on foot) just the other night. There was a large parked vehicle that I was coming out from behind, but it was nearly dark and I should have been able to see the lights from any approaching cars..... I still looked both ways mind you, but as I started to cross, you can imagine my surprise that there was a car there I with no lights on that I hadn't seen. He wasn't so close that either of us had to do anything rash (I didn't have to jump and he didn't have to slam on the brakes) but he sure did startle me. He had the nerve to roll down his window to say something to me. Shut him right up to tell him he didn't have his headlights on.....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yesterday I just narrowly avoided getting "doored" by a woman as she opened her door into my lane-I try to ride at a safe distance from cars parked at the side but I had just been passed by a car and had moved over to the right when it happened. Thankfully, there was not another vehicle behind me as I swerved to miss hitting her door.

Hi,
That sounds very scary, I'm sorry.
But if you are having frequent close calls with cars, you might want to reexamine your traffic riding methods.

yes, it's always 'wrong' for people in parked cars to fling their doors open without looking carefully....but they do it (especially old folks who can't turn their necks well- to my horror, my elderly mother used to do that as a passenger when I was taking her somewhere) and people will keep doing as long as there are cars in this world.
You were in danger only because you were at that moment riding in "the Door Zone". Doesn't really matter why you were riding there, but if you are, then expect someone to fling their door open unexpectedly. The question is, why did you move over into the door zone to let a car pass you? I'm sure you were trying to be safe or courteous in some way, but I would never move into riding in the door zone even for a minute, regardless of any car passing me or trying to pass me. You mustn't put your life in danger so that some car can pass you. Did you know that cyclists regularly get KILLED when impacting with flung open doors and flying off their bikes over the door and then landing in the path of another moving car? Don't let a car wanting to pass intimidate you into a dangerous place:
http://www.riinsrants.info/bikes/doorzone.htm
http://bicyclesafe.com/doorprize.html
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/08/13/door-zone-video/
In the end, it doesn't really matter what your reasons were for moving into the door zone for a moment....when you do move into the door zone you are doing something that will risk your life. In situations like that I take the lane. If that causes a bunch of cars to accumulate behind me, I pull over for a sec once in a while as a matter of courtesy to let them pass.

As for the busy 4 lane street intersection crosswalk on the bike trail, I know for sure that I would get off my bike in a situation like that and walk it across the intersection as a pedestrian. It only takes a sec. Believe it or not, that makes you much safer when crossing. I read somewhere that the majority of bike/car accidents occur at bike path/street intersection/crosswalks. A 4-lane one is especially hazardous.
At extra dangerous intersections I routinely hop off my bike and become a big ol' in-yer-face PEDESTRIAN for a moment.

Just because you have right of way in certain traffic situations never means someone is going to give it to you. When I started riding in traffic I did a lot of things to try to stay out of cars' ways, thinking that would make me safer, like hugging the curb and creeping along the right side of a line of moving cars instead of riding right in the lane along with them. I now realize I was putting myself into dangerous situations, into drivers' blind spots, and leaving myself no escape route.
Always always assume a car is going to do the wrong thing.
And always assume the driver does not see you.
Here's a great webpage that briefly gives some very good defensive biking safety tips:
http://bicyclesafe.com/ :)

Ride safe, i really hope you don't have more of these frightening close calls.

[Dogmama]

I ride like I'm invisible. Heck - they drive like I'm invisible so I might as well play the part!

[Medianox]

BleekerSt_Girl:
The only reason I think I was in the "zone" in the door incident was that I unconsciously moved over a bit to the right when I heard the vehicle behind me, and stayed in that area of the lane after he passed. I don't believe I was trying to be any safer or more courteous than usual. The sound of a truck coming up behind me can still make me nervous and I moved over slightly-an act of inexperiance, and now I know first hand, a dangerous one at that.
Please let me state that, yes, I am pretty new to riding in traffic (only having been on the road on my bike for 6 months now) but I am cautious and alert. I ride an average of at least 4 days a week 8-20 miles each time so I am out there on the road. I am an ICU RN and have seen the effects of bike vs car accidents many times and have no desire to become a statistic. In my town (Manteca,pop. 60,000 near Modesto, CA.-good size but not particularly bike friendly) drivers are not used to people riding bikes in the street-they would much prefer to have them on the sidewalk-so it is a matter of education for everyone. I use hand signals, wear a helmet and gloves and have lights on my bike and helmet. Dismounting and walking through intersections-I do that too, though not this specific time. Why? Not sure, but the signal is short there and I wanted to get all the way across since there was more traffic than usual there and I didnt want to be partway across when it changed. I try to be visible at all times wear bright clothing and I *do* expect cars to do the wrong thing...I just didn't expect to have close calls two days in a row.
Thanks for the links and the words of wisdom. There is always something to be learned from situations like this, by being alert, avoiding accidents and educating others one small part of the world can become a safer place for everyone.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Medianox,
I'm glad you are alert to such safety issues.
Here's to us all getting better and better at keeping ourselves safe!
Even if you knew the defensive biking techniques already, hopefully someone else who doesn't yet might learn something from reading this thread too.
Thanks for letting me put it out here. :)

[salsabike]

BleekerSt_Girl:
The only reason I think I was in the "zone" in the door incident was that I unconsciously moved over a bit to the right when I heard the vehicle behind me, and stayed in that area of the lane after he passed. I don't believe I was trying to be any safer or more courteous than usual. The sound of a truck coming up behind me can still make me nervous and I moved over slightly-an act of inexperiance, and now I know first hand, a dangerous one at that.
Please let me state that, yes, I am pretty new to riding in traffic (only having been on the road on my bike for 6 months now) but I am cautious and alert. I ride an average of at least 4 days a week 8-20 miles each time so I am out there on the road. I am an ICU RN and have seen the effects of bike vs car accidents many times and have no desire to become a statistic. In my town (Manteca,pop. 60,000 near Modesto, CA.-good size but not particularly bike friendly) drivers are not used to people riding bikes in the street-they would much prefer to have them on the sidewalk-so it is a matter of education for everyone. I use hand signals, wear a helmet and gloves and have lights on my bike and helmet. Dismounting and walking through intersections-I do that too, though not this specific time. Why? Not sure, but the signal is short there and I wanted to get all the way across since there was more traffic than usual there and I didnt want to be partway across when it changed. I try to be visible at all times wear bright clothing and I *do* expect cars to do the wrong thing...I just didn't expect to have close calls two days in a row.
Thanks for the links and the words of wisdom. There is always something to be learned from situations like this, by being alert, avoiding accidents and educating others one small part of the world can become a safer place for everyone.

What a nicely said post, Medianox.