turning a blind eye

[badger]

I was thinking this morning how when I crashed on my bike some time ago on a bike path, nobody bothered to stop. Nobody even asked me if I was ok, even though there were people riding past me in both directions (I had an audience when it happened).

I wasn't badly hurt, but I did have a bloody knee and thought I may have busted it. My bike was scratched up a bit, and my handlebar was twisted.

If you see someone who's crashed, would you not at the very least stop to inquire they're ok, rather than turning a blind eye and just going about your business?

[beccaB]

Yes, I would stop. I can't imagine people just going about their business. That is surreal. Like you're not even there. Weird.

[artifactos]

I've even stopped during the bike leg on a triathlon to ask someone if they need help with a flat tire or something. I can't imagine not stopping to see if you're okay and/or if you need help getting moving again.

The bystander effect just sucks.

[Chile Pepper]

Totally would stop. When I crashed, a couple of cars stopped to ask if I needed a lift. I didn't need help (I had called my husband--thank goodness for cell phones, I say), but it was nice of people to stop and ask.

[Lesley_x]

It hasn't happened but I like to think I would stop and help.

[PamNY]

I always check on anybody who goes down, unless there's already a crowd around them. I've never seen anybody fall without someone offering help.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. What sort of situation were you in?

[badger]

yeah, I though it was sad, too. That not one single rider stopped to see if I was ok or needed help. I guess it's unusual to see anyone helping, because I once saw a cyclist on the side of the road, bent over. I stopped to see if he was ok; his chain broke. CAA (Canadian version of AA) now has bicycle help so I offered him mine, to which he was so grateful but declined. He thanked me profusely, though. Another time, I saw a guy on a skateboard wipe out. I asked if he was ok, and he seemed stunned I asked; he thanked me.

Pam: It was actually a shared pathway (not-so-busy side street that's designated as a bike route). It zig-zags at one point as the road kind of breaks. I was sticking my left arm out to indicate I'm turning, and then there was a narrow pothole that my front tire went into. Obviously with my one arm I couldn't control my bike so I went over the handlebar. Thankfully I wasn't going too fast as I was turning, so damage wasn't too bad.

[pll]

If you see someone who's crashed, would you not at the very least stop to inquire they're ok, rather than turning a blind eye and just going about your business?

Yes, I would and I have. But when I first started riding, I fell on a road and a car that was behind me pulled next to me, the guy looked at me (I was trying to clean the road rash in my knee and lower leg with water) and sped away without saying anything. That bothered me...

[loopybunny]

I was thinking this morning how when I crashed on my bike some time ago on a bike path, nobody bothered to stop. Nobody even asked me if I was ok, even though there were people riding past me in both directions (I had an audience when it happened).

I wasn't badly hurt, but I did have a bloody knee and thought I may have busted it. My bike was scratched up a bit, and my handlebar was twisted.

If you see someone who's crashed, would you not at the very least stop to inquire they're ok, rather than turning a blind eye and just going about your business?

Sorry to hear that! Regardless if you were badly hurt, you'd think someone would ask. Heck, I've stopped to take a picture of something or remove arm warmers and had people ask if I was okay or needed help.

That being said, I always ask if a person needs help when I see them on the side of the road. Crash or no crash. I've even been known to do this while driving my car. It just seems like the right thing to do.

[smilingcat]

Even if you can't give actual assistance to fix mechanical problem, flats, or first aid, it would be a very nice to stop and ask. If you carry a cell phone, you could call the distressed rider's SO... And I'm always grateful when people stop to ask.

My first major crash where I shattered my right collar bone (Clavicle to you doctor types), crushed and shattered my helmet, I really appreciated all those who went and called the paramedics, and those who helped me get my bottle of water. It was a blistering hot day. And with shattered collar bone I really couldn't move around without the blinding pain and those who got my bottle of water and poured water into my mouth I am ever so grateful.

And I have vivid memories of EMTs grousing about how the drivers were not slowing down when they drove by the ambulance. I was afraid for the EMT's and me to get hit by one of the cars whizzing by us. It would be very nice if cars would slow down around an ambulance.

So thank you to all those who regularly stop and ask.

damsel in distress (not now )

[Aggie_Ama]

Yes, in a heart beat and I ask if I see someone with a flat if they have everything they need. One day I had three flats, another cyclist gave me a CO2 AND a tube. I consider any help I provide paying it forward.

Some make you feel better stories locally:

1. Just last week the former president of the local road cycling club collapsed on a ride with a heart attack. A motorist stopped and administered CPR, the cyclist is recovering the hospital not in a coffin. He has a long way to go (I think he was in a coma) but he is alive because someone stopped.

2. One of my husband's teammates wrecked hard last year racing in the Cat 1/Pro Category. Another cyclist gave up his race because the guy who wrecked was bleeding and injured. He checked on the racer, helped him out of a trail then rode to alert a course marshal. Turned out he had broke a bone (I think) and had a concussion. Sorry no race is worth the possibility that a rider is seriously injured.

3. Years back (2004?) my husband wrecked commuting home from school. He was really out of it and some girl walking by asked if he needed her to call anyone. Campus medics were already on the way but she called me so I could meet him at the hospital. She was late to class but the really sweet thing, she called me that night to check on him. Nice, genuine person.

No matter what I am riding for (commuting, racing, pleasure) I would check on someone. They don't have to be bleeding, if they are down it takes 5 seconds to ask "are you okay?" I think it really stinks that people passed you by. Glad to see it is not regional, I believe most people would ask.