This morning I was coming down my final stretch to work, which is along a narrow road with heavy commute traffic, lots of "blind" driveways, a narrow sidewalk but no bike path and hardly any shoulder. This is where I have to really pay attention and follow the flow, as it's hard for cars to pass. It's downhill, which helps, but I'm always on full systems alert here.

As usual there's a line of cars backed up behind the light at the intersection by the metro crossing, as usual there's chaos as a few cars try to jump the line and pass the ones waiting to turn. This morning there were police lights as well... and cars in every direction... and as I weave my way carefully across the intersection I see 2 police cars with lights flashing in the middle of it all. The cars are stopped past the intersection as well. In front of the line is a large bus, standing still. There's a small group of people on the sidewalk, bent over someone lying there. As I wheel by very slowly, expecting to be stopped by someone official, I see it's a skinny young boy, maybe 11, the same age as my son It's like being kicked in the chest.

He's alive, no blood, but is obviously in pain, and as I pull away I hear a man introducing himself as a doctor and an ambulance comes rushing in. I finish my commute bawling my eyes out.

On the net there's a short notice saying that he's 12 years old, has injuries to his ribs and one leg. The police are looking for the driver, it was a hit and run.

Just had to type this out. Traffic accidents suck.