Crash on my morning ride - scared now

[Selkie]

Ride defensively and make sure other trail users know you're there. Adjust your speed accordingly. If I see them wearing Ipods, I yell in my best "playground voice," "Passing on your LEFT."

I know some old gent cyclist who uses an AIR HORN around blind curves, and it works like a champ. I've been tempted to get one (be a great safety device too, for warding off dogs, perverts, etc).

I've seen a lot of unsafe behavior by other trail users, including other cyclists.

[sundial]

I know some old gent cyclist who uses an AIR HORN around blind curves, and it works like a champ.

Hubby has an air horn that is L O U D as the dickens! Almost blew Kali's ears off.

[Selkie]

Hubby has an air horn that is L O U D as the dickens! Almost blew Kali's ears off.

My goodness, it must be loud. Mz. Kali's ears are legendary!

[chicagogal]

There are other places to ride in and around the city, but for a short 30mi or so ride before work, this path has become the old standby because the city streets during rush hour are impossible and there isn't time before work to get out of the city. That is partly why this path is so popular with more people than just myself.

I don't have a bell, but shout "on your left" or "CYCLIST! On your left!" when passing pedestrians and cyclists (note that many pedestrians ignore this warning, or respond to it by moving left). The only problem on this particular path is that at almost every moment, you are passing someone, so instead of sounding like an obnoxious broken record, we usually reserve the announcement for people who don't seem to be aware of their surroundings, or who aren't holding their lines (and slow way down before passing these people so as to be able to come to a complete stop if necessary). Otherwise most people use this path the way that cars use a multi lane highway - staying to right when moving slowly, and looking to the left and over the shoulder before moving left. I know it sounds dangerous, and obviously is dangerous, but it is what you get in a big city. The only good thing is that there are almost no blind turns. The path is flat and straight so you can see what is going on a ways down.

Due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic there, I have always thought of that path as being the most dangerous place we ride, and have always been "prepared" and like I said, have successfully avoided any and all accidents myself. But having witnessed my friend's accident, I realize that no amount of being "prepared" could have prevented it - it was so fast, and so unpredictable. It now feels like the only way to safely navigate the path is with a police siren strapped to the bike.

[7rider]

I don't have a bell, but shout "on your left" or "CYCLIST! On your left!" when passing pedestrians and cyclists (note that many pedestrians ignore this warning, or respond to it by moving left).

That's one of the reasons why I gave up saying "on your left" and replaced it with "I am passing on your left." Meh...maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, but (fingers crossed, knocking furiously on wood) so far, I get a brief wave of acknowledgement (from those walkers NOT wearing ear buds), and no problems.

But having witnessed my friend's accident, I realize that no amount of being "prepared" could have prevented it - it was so fast, and so unpredictable.

That's exactly it. It was an accident - b/c I highly doubt the jogger turned to be malicious. If you could prepare for every accident, well then, accidents wouldn't happen, right?

The best you can do is ride defensively. Ride like the others are unpredictable, because they are. My sister used to have a bumper sticker when we were kids. It said "Be alert. The world needs more lerts!" I guess you just need to add another lert to the world. But please don't let an accident freak you out and off the bike.

[tulip]

I vote for the airhorn. You cannot deny hearing an airhorn, even with earbuds. And it won't get drowned out by city noises, either.

I think that alot of people (not you, necessarily) think they are shouting "on your left" but it comes out alot softer, and way too late. I've been passed by people who are quietly saying on your left as they are passing me. That doesn't do any good.

I use a bell and it's a loud one (Incredibell) and it seems to really work. With a bell or airhorn, there's no language barrier to overcome, either.

You mention that you yell out, but did your friend yell out "On your left?"

[OakLeaf]

If you could prepare for every accident, well then, accidents wouldn't happen, right?

I really, really strongly disagree with that.

Accidents happen because two (or more) people weren't paying attention. As I said, this isn't necessarily a value judgment. Some people are permanently not paying attention, and them I don't excuse; but over a ride of several hours, no one is immune to having her attention wander from time to time.

Accidents are never unavoidable (with the possible exception of meteorites falling from the sky on a trajectory behind the rider). The minute you start thinking that they are, that becomes an excuse to not pay attention, to not continually hone and maintain your skills.

I think a lot of people walk and bicycle the way they did when they were kids, not considering that they're a vehicle in traffic. Riding a motorcycle cures that, quick.

You need to be able to anticipate what's going to happen in front of you. You need to not be riding faster than your skills, reflexes and attention will allow you to respond to what's going to happen in front of you. No exceptions, no excuses. "Fault" and "right of way" are one thing, but winding up in a medflight chopper is another.

We all push those boundaries and sometimes outright exceed them - I'm no exception to that, especially on fast descents - but to say that an accident is unavoidable in those circumstances is just dodging responsibility.

[channlluv]

Where do you get an airhorn? (You mean those loud, blaster things people blow at ballgames sometimes?)

Roxy

[7rider]

I really, really strongly disagree with that.

What I mean is that you can never prepare yourself for every possible contingency in a life filled with inherent risks.

It isn't a function of responsibility or placing blame - it's a function of the universe being a big cosmic jokester with a sick sense of humor.