Had my first close call today

[bmccasland]

Glad you're OK. Did you get her vehicle description and license number? Would your local PD support you if you made a complaint?

And yes, some people are idiots, and unfortunately they breed.

[indysteel]

Jess, I'm so glad you're okay. I don't understand people like that. They apparently have an overgrown and dangerous sense of entitlement. They're, in a word, crazy.

[jessmarimba]

PD might? Not sure. But all I could tell them was that she was driving an enormous black SUV. I was too busy trying to get away to care. Hopefully she didn't notice any more about me than I did about her

Though at least - from the horror on some of the other driver's faces - I would have had help if she'd either come after me or run over me.

I'm not going to lose any weight biking to work if I have to come home and eat half of a chocolate Easter bunny to recover!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Were you in the middle of the lane right behind the other cars that were going straight through the intersection? That's where I would be. I always take the lane and 'become another car' at an intersection if i'm going straight. bikes on the side tend to be invisible to drivers at intersections.

[jessmarimba]

There is a right turn lane there, so I had to take the lane. I wasn't directly behind any vehicles as I didn't have to stop and wait for the light and can't quite keep up with cars, so there was a break in the go-straight traffic (barely long enough for the first guy to turn left). I think 30-35 mph is beyond the limits of my bike on a flat road

The news is doing a story about cyclists who ride with helmet cameras for protection as I type this. I don't have that kind of money, but I wish I had that kind of evidence!

[OakLeaf]

Wow. Glad you're okay!

[redrhodie]

That sounds absolutely horrible! (((jess)))

I once had similar left hook, and the woman was drinking coffee, and it evidently spilled all over her when she hit the brakes. So here's hoping your idiots get their divine justice. You can't be that angry with out it affecting everything in your life.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

There is a right turn lane there, so I had to take the lane. I wasn't directly behind any vehicles as I didn't have to stop and wait for the light and can't quite keep up with cars, so there was a break in the go-straight traffic (barely long enough for the first guy to turn left). I think 30-35 mph is beyond the limits of my bike on a flat road

Well it sounds like you were doing the right thing and this woman was completely manic. Maybe she was yelling because she had such a scare- though that's no excuse.
Glad you are ok!