Almost got hit by a car

[RolliePollie]

I've been trying to get myself to post less here on TE because I think I'm getting addicted or something. But then things happen or I have more questions and I just can't control myself!

Anyway, tonight I almost got hit by a car. This is the closest encounter I've had with a car so far. I was going about 30 mph and this lady in an SUV decided to turn left into her gravel driveway right in front of me. I couldn't believe she was actually turning...then I realized she WAS turning...then I screamed NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! at the top of my lungs as I slammed on the brakes...I can't believe I didn't go into a skid and crash. I don't know if she saw the look on my face or heard me screaming or what, but thank goodness, she finally stopped. Her front bumper was nearly on the white line (on my side of the road) and I think there might have been 18" between me and her right fender as I went by. Then I instinctively turned back towards her and yelled "YOU BLEEPING B****!!!!"

Afterwards, I got that nice adrenaline rush where your body feels like it weighs 500 pounds and you're shaking like a leaf. I also had kind of an amusing thought...I wonder if anyone was out BBQ-ing in their yard and suddenly heard a woman screaming bloody murder...and then that same woman yelling obscenities! I hope the driver was scared as bad as I was. I guess there's a chance she didn't see me, but I was wearing fluorescent orange and she was driving away from the sun, so I don't see how she could've missed me. Because of the speed involved, I think if she hadn't stopped, I could've been killed. So I'm very glad to be alive tonight!

[Starfish]

Oh, Sara, I'm so glad you ARE alive tonight! I had a close call about a month ago, and I know how very scary that is. I also know from experience that a variety of things can come out of our mouths under adrenaline stress! Really glad you're OK.

And, um, only you can know if you're posting "too much." Let your conscience be your guide!

[KnottedYet]

187 posts vs. 5,000 something.

Umm.... I don't think YOU'RE posting too much...

[sbctwin]

I am glad you survived your encounter. I had a very close call about a month ago. I was coming down a hill and had a green light and was in the intersection when a woman decided to make a right hand turn. She came to the intersection and I knew right away that she wasn't really looking and made the turn. I screamed (as you did, probably using the same explitives ) and she stopped after her turn. Of course I had to brake hard and when she stopped, I almost ended up on her trunk over my handlebars. It took my breath away. I really had a hard time breathing and just started pedaling to move forward. Not half a mile from there, some jerk decided I was going slow enough that he could make a left had turn in front of me I got home and I swear for a week, I had difficulty breathing deep. I wondered out loud if I was wearing a sign that said "HIT ME".

I think these types of situations make us aware, even more, of our vulnerability on a bike and I ride much more defensively. Because I commute to work, I am very aware of cars and ride defensively...this just brings the need to not slip into complacency because you haven't had a 'close encounter' for a bit

[mimitabby]

Just because a speed limit is 30mph doesn't mean 30mph is safe for a bike too.
Know your own limits, how fast can you stop? because you have to assume they can't see you.
I have to have really good clearance and visibility to let my bike go past 20mph in the city.

Glad no one is hurt!

[coyote]

Glad you're OK. I've had a couple of really close encounters. Believe it or not I've almost been side swiped twice. I think that sometimes motorist do not pay attention. I'm sure the advent of the cell phone has not helped. Good thing you were paying attention.

[rij73]

Wow... a close one! Glad you are okay. Let's all be careful out there.

I can't judge your particular situation not having been there, but I don't think I'll ever go 30mph on a street with traffic. Cars just can't *ever* be trusted. I'm sort of a speed weenie anyway so my fastest speed has been 25mph in a car-free park.

[HeatherErin]

Yikes - scary!! No close calls for me yet (because I haven't been riding very long). I ride a motorcycle, though, so I'm used to eyeballing all the cars and assuming they're all out to squash me.

Glad you're OK!

[li10up]

I think that most drivers don't realize we are going as fast as we are. They remember crusing around on their bikes as kids going 8 mph....not 20 mph. I kind of enjoy the looks on their faces when they pull out in front of you and then watch in their rear view mirror as you stay on their bumper (but not too close) all the way to the next traffic light and then pull up beside them.

[northstar]

Wow, Sara, I'm glad you're ok! Scary!

[Tri Girl]

I'm so glad you're OK! Scary as it was- you escaped injury-free (whew! ).

I, too, have been known to scream some unrepeatable expletives when drivers do stupid things. I get caught in the moment and it's the first thing that escapes from my mouth (although the reasonable and calm side of me wishes it wouldn't).

[RolliePollie]

Wow... a close one! Glad you are okay. Let's all be careful out there.

I can't judge your particular situation not having been there, but I don't think I'll ever go 30mph on a street with traffic. Cars just can't *ever* be trusted. I'm sort of a speed weenie anyway so my fastest speed has been 25mph in a car-free park.

I was also contemplating my speed and wondering if I need to slow down in general. But this was a rural road...virtually no traffic, no stop signs for miles, no signals at all. This lady just decided to turn in front of me. So really, although 30 mph is kind of fast, it was just my coasting speed. Where I ride, it's usually 4-8 mph up the hills and 25-35 down. I don't want to ride my brakes all the time, but there usually aren't any cars. The light traffic is one of the things I love about riding around here. I counted the other day and on a 20+ mile ride, I was passed by only 9 cars! The problem is, even with only 9 cars, you can never trust what a driver might do! I'm not brave enough to ride anywhere with heavy traffic, signals, etc. I want to ride to work, but the 1 mile or so on an actual street with traffic is too scary for me right now. I think my top speed there would be about 5 mph!

If anything, since this was really my first close call, it's a good dose of reality for me. I'll definitely be more aware. And I'll continue to wear my bright colored clothing!!!

[Grog]

I'm really glad you're okay. I had a close call with a bus recently in similar circumstances and that's really scary.

If the roads you ride on are quiet, I might suggest, based on no documented evidence except my own experience, riding on the car lane rather than on the shoulder if you're riding at that speed, especially going downhill. It will protect you from cars coming out of driveways. There are also a lot more chances that you will be where the drivers of incoming cars are actually looking for traffic (fast traffic is not expected on the road side), and seeing you in the lane might impress in their minds the idea that you're going faster. Riding in the lane and being seen (coupled with wearing bright clothes) allows you, among other things, to send a STOP signal to the drivers (by extending your arm forward with your hand perpendicular to the ground, like a traffic cop). Most drivers react quite well to that and will usually stop, if only because that signal is quite universally understood to mean STOP. By the time they have thought about it, you're long gone. I think they'll be thankful that you took the decision for them when they see you flying by.

If cars are coming behind you while you're on their lane, either they have ample space to pass you on the left, or you'll be gracious enough to move to the shoulder as soon as you hear them. When I do take the lane, I follow the trick given by some wise lady from TE, namely dividing the lane in three in my mind, and riding on the imaginary line between the middle third and the right-side third.

It was also a GREAT idea to scream at the top of your lungs. Not the time to be shy!!!

Keep the rubber side down, ride safely ladies!

[Thorn]

Grog makes a good point--take the lane. I read somehwere, and I believe it was actually on the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles site, not just a defensive bicyling site, that if you are travelling "close" to the speed of traffic (and, on a small rural road 30 is pretty close to 35) you should take the full lane. The reasoning was that if you are travelling that fast, drivers need to really treat you like a car when they pass, not just as a slow moving vehicle. By taking the lane, you're telling them, "hey, I'm moving pretty close to your speed. Pass me as if I'm a car."

Oh, and the hand-wave, "STOP". Yeah, that works. I have a stretch of road where I like to go fast (OK, fast for *me* ). There is one intersection where cars turn onto the road. I watch that intersection closely and always insist on eye contact (or I hit the brakes). One guy was on his cell and didn't acknowledge me. I raised on waved my right hand--a great big, full arm wave. He looked up. He stopped. I liken it to the puffer fish--sometimes swimming along in bright colors isn't enough--a big arm wave makes me look bigger.

[Grog]

A great thought that helps (besides "I am the Queen of the road," which Eden pointed out earlier this week) is thinking: "I am a tractor, I am a tractor" (only faster in this case).

Cars go around tractors, for some reason, and don't get impatient. Behave like one and it seems to have the same effect.