I hit a child on the bike trail

[RolliePollie]

I still can't believe this happened. I hit a little girl on the bike trail and knocked her down. She and her dad were walking with their backs to me and right as I got to them, she ran out in front of me. It happened so fast! I yelled LOOK OUT and braked hard, but I couldn't avoid her. There was oncoming bike traffic and other pedestrians on the other side of the trail, so I could only swerve so far over. My front tire and right leg hit her and knocked her down. I can't believe I didn't go down too.

I stopped and the dad had already picked her up off the ground. She was sobbing but there was no blood and the dad was saying "see, this is why you have to follow the rules! this is why you have to look both ways!". I was shaking and fighting back tears. I apologized over and over and the dad kept saying she's fine and he seemed pretty ok with it. So after a couple minutes I got back on the bike and rode off. I feel so guilty. I feel like I should've given them my name and number or something. Honestly, I don't think it was my fault, but I still feel just awful. Poor little kid...she was only about 5. How traumatic for her!

[channlluv]

How frightening for both of you.

If you were following the speed limit, and I imagine you were with all that traffic on the path, I can't think of anything you might have done to avoid it except to maybe call out "On your left!" way in advance of getting to them so the father could have pulled her over, too, out of your way. It's hard to second-guess a situation like that, though. My DH refuses to call out to walkers on the path because, he says, half the time they wander to the left into his path.

Incidents like this make me want to get a bell, though.

I'm glad she wasn't hurt too badly, and I'm glad you didn't fall, too.

Roxy

[dinabean]

As the mother of a 5 year old and a 7 year old, I say...serves the kid right. Of course, I would only say that if no one was seriously hurt, because no one deserves to be seriously hurt. But it sounds like no one was seriously hurt, and I am truly glad both you and the girl (and your bike!) are OK. And since you are all OK, let's just hope that she learned a valuable lesson and will follow the rules better in the future.

I am by no means poo pooing your distress. I would be freaked out too -- particularly by the what ifs. But it sounds like this kiddo will not be worse for wear, so try not to dwell.

[Zen]

When i see kids on a path I slow waaaay down.
You never know what those little.....darlings are going to do.

She's fine and has probably learned a valuable lesson.

[RolliePollie]

As the mother of a 5 year old and a 7 year old, I say...serves the kid right.

I think this is what the dad was thinking too! Thank heavens she seemed to be ok. When I stopped, I was almost afraid to turn around and look because I was expecting blood and knocked out teeth or something. Considering all the sharp chainring teeth and stuff on the right side of the bike, it's very lucky she hit my leg and didn't get all cut up by bike parts. By the time I hit her, I'm sure I was going well under 10 mph.

This particular trail has very heavy bike traffic and most pedestrians are pretty good about staying out of the way or at least looking before they cross. But little kids are always worrisome to me. It's too bad the dad didn't have her on the other side of him away from the paved part of the trail.

[channlluv]

Aha. Good lesson for him, too, no doubt.

Roxy

[PamNY]

It does sound like a scary experience for all concerned. I bike in very crowded conditions and I'm surprised I don't see more collisions.

Little children are unpredictable, and slowing down when you see them is all you can do. This doesn't sound like it was your fault at all -- but still it's a bad experience.

I'm glad she is okay, and hope she learned to be more careful.

[marni]

I am glad that you are both ok, and sorry that that happened however, I think in the case of young children, people walking dogs on leashes and squirrels, any encounter can very likely one with no guarantees.

As the sort of mother who would let my child crawl too close to the fire because I knew he/she would only do it once, all I can say is that the experience was probably a very good learning experience for all three of you.

Glad you are ok.

[Maxxxie]

There was oncoming bike traffic and other pedestrians on the other side of the trail, so I could only swerve so far over.

I completely sympathise with your feelings on what's happened here.. but I am curious. You knew there was oncoming bike traffic and pedestrians on the other side of the trail, making it unsafe to pass. Why didn't you just slow down/stop behind dad and daughter until it was safe to pass?

Max

[RolliePollie]

I completely sympathise with your feelings on what's happened here.. but I am curious. You knew there was oncoming bike traffic and pedestrians on the other side of the trail, making it unsafe to pass. Why didn't you just slow down/stop behind dad and daughter until it was safe to pass?

Max

I didn't feel like it was unsafe to pass. The pedestrians on both sides were off the pavement in the dirt, and the paved part of the bike trail is at least 8 feet wide with a center line. I had my entire lane to myself until the little girl ran out, so stopping never ocurred to me. This is a heavily travelled trail too...if you stopped every time there was a pedestrian or another bike around, you would never actually get in any ride time!!! But believe me, I will be more cautious next time.

[tulip]

Do you have a bell or a horn (or a very loud voice)? I find the bell usually works, but sometimes it takes a healthy yell, too. Often riders don't yell out. Really YELL! Softly spoken "On your left" doesn't work.

I think a horn would be great, but I didn't have one when I lived in the Land Of Crowded MUPs. Now I don't need one.

[PamNY]

I agree that some form of noise-making is good, but children sometimes don't know how to react in a way that's helpful.

If it's really crowded, slowing down is the only thing that will help.