*sigh* so I crashed again. No real harm done, except to my psyche. It's hard having to accept that biking in traffic is dangerous, no matter how well you follow the rules.

The gory details: I came down a steep hill in the empty bus lane, with a line of cars waiting in the car lane on my left. It's a right of way street, but I always hang back and keep my hands on the brakes just in case somebody feels like jumping out and using the bus lane to sneak in line.

I hadn't counted on somebody suddenly crossing from my left, to get to the small street up on my right. Apparently somebody in the car lane gave him a "friendly" gap, he couldn't see any buses and presumed the bus lane was empty.

He noticed me pretty fast when I barreled into the side of his car, though. I went up on his hood and down again the same side. Checked my bike first, of course my main concern was that she'd have a flat or be otherwise unfit to complete my commute! Bike is ok, I'm ok, poor driver is about to implode with guilt and the black stares the passers-by were giving him, so I capitulated and told him everything was fine, and that things just happen. He was completely in shock, tried to hug me and then I just rode off.

But man - it bugs me that I can do everything "right" - and still get into stuff like this! The only way I could have avoided this was by riding on the sidewalk, and when there's a completely empty bus lane that I'm allowed to use that's not a good option. I'm allowed to be in the road - at the speed I'm going I'm SUPPOSED to be in the road. But then I will get hit from time to time. We all make mistakes sometime, but "small" mistakes by a driver can mean big crashes for us. I hate having to admit that.