can we say FEEBLE EXCUSE?

[marni]

I ran into a woman that I ride with from time to time (usually 2 or 3 times a year) and hadn't seen for a while. She had a black eye and some random band aids on her arm. I asked her what had happened. She said she had been lightly rear ended by a slow moving auto who had stopped behind her at a stop light. Now this woman routinely rides with a day glow reflective vest, a flashing red light on the back of her helmet, another on her under seat tool back and another on her left rear fork. She was legitimately in the middle of the lane. The drivers excuse was that he didn't see her.

Sheesh!

marni

[zoom-zoom]

I really wish people like that would just lose their licenses...for a long while. And have to go to traffic school.

[7rider]

It's amazing what one doesn't see when one isnt't looking. I really wish the standard question to motorists who say "I didn't see the cyclist" after running the cyclist down was "Well, what were you looking at?" because they obviously weren't looking at the road in front of them as they are supposed to!

But this is also a prime example of how all the lights and reflective gear in the world won't make you "safe" on a bike. I absolutely bristle when I read descriptions of attire that says "reflective accents for safety!".

No! Skilled riding, adequate facilities, and (sober) attentive drivers can improve safety. Reflective gear can help make you "visible" but that is - as seen here - not the same as "safe."

Off my soap box. Glad your friend wasn't hurt too badly.

[OakLeaf]

The sad thing is that they get away with it. Hopefully this guy didn't. But these are the same people who "didn't see" the fire trucks, school buses and cop cars with lights flashing that they rear-end. It's only when the person they "didn't see" isn't in a motorized vehicle that the cops, prosecutors, judges and juries let them get away with it.

Off my soapbox. Hope your friend feels better soon.

[zoom-zoom]

The sad thing is that they get away with it. Hopefully this guy didn't. But these are the same people who "didn't see" the fire trucks, school buses and cop cars with lights flashing that they rear-end. It's only when the person they "didn't see" isn't in a motorized vehicle that the cops, prosecutors, judges and juries let them get away with it.

We have had SEVERAL incidents of cars rear-ending school busses in our area. A teenage brother and sister were killed instantly when they flew into a bus at 50mph right before Christmas. Phone records show neither was on the phone/texting...how did they not see a big, yellow bus!?!