Rode in today with a friend and co-worker who wants to get into bike commuting and wants to lose some weight. So, as I often do with newbie cyclists, I was really careful about signalling and calling out turns, obstacles, stopping at stop signs, not sprinting for lights, waiting at the top of hills, stuff like that. Last year she had done a multi-day tour with friends and this morning was telling how they frequently commented about the importance of calling out "slowing" and "stopping" when doing so - as a few times, they didn't, and the cyclist in the rear would run up the rear wheel of the biker in front, and of course, the last cyclist is the one that goes down.

So, we got to about our split point this evening on the ride home, and we're chit-chatting about my route to my house vs. her route to her place, going about 4 mph, when she says "Oh, this is the road I need to turn at." So, I say "Here?" and stop. And - D'oh! - I broke the cardinal rule -- I didn't tell her I was stopping (after two trips of non-stop hand signalling and calling out turns), and BAM! she ran right into my rear wheel and did a slow-speed topple to her right - onto the sidewalk, unable to clip out of her pedals. Bloody knee. I felt so badly! She'll live. She laughed about it, with blood trickling down her shin.

Hopefully, she'll join me again - but I'll be sure to remember to call out "Stopping!"