Had my first close call today

[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.

[Tri Girl]

holy cow, Jess! Glad you didn't get hurt, but what a nutcase! Seriously- why all the rage from her (that's a rhetorical question).
SO glad you're fine. I'd be watching out for a ginormous black SUV in the future and just hope you don't see her again. WTH is wrong with people...

[ladyicon]

Glad you are ok Jess. I have had similar situations happen to me, and it does mess up your day. Some people are just like that, they think they are always right and you are wrong, no matter what you did. Don't let it affect your day. It probably was not a personal thing, she would have done that to ANY cyclist.
Mmmmm chocolate Easter bunny
Glad to hear you are ok though.

[emily_in_nc]

One of the closest calls we ever had was back in 2004, I'd guess (since that was the year I rode the most miles) with a similar psycho driver, who got so angry that we were on the road and impeding her progress that she turned into a driveway after she passed us, and backed out quickly right as we went by. I was a bit behind my husband, but she literally tried to run him down with her car. Fortunately, he's an excellent bike handler and was able to swerve just as I started yelling that she was backing right into him! Her window was down and both she and my DH started shouting and cursing at each other at the same time. I got upset at my DH for getting verbal b/c you never know when some nut job has a gun, not to mention the lethal weapon she was driving. We were SO shaken up by this incident it totally ruined our ride.

So sorry you encountered another psycho, Jess. Glad you're okay!

[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!