storckm

Yesterday, I was riding along at about 5:00 o'clock, heading home from work. In my mind (or what passes for it), I was cataloging the times when I'd fallen off my bike--probably because I'd forgotten my helmet that day. All of a sudden, a car sideswipes me and takes off into the dusk.

This was, as you can imagine, a bit of a shock. But no injuries; my little finger is sore. Yet, while this was a fairly minor incident, I have to admit that it has disturbed my mind a bit. After all, my family probably wouldn't appreciate it if, some fine afternoon, I didn't make it home in my current, non-flattened, state.

So I'm wondering: Was I lucky it wasn't worse? Was I unlucky? Or was I just stupid? Granted, you weren't there. (I'm not sure I was all there myself.) It was a two lane road, fairly heavily traveled at that hour. Traffic starts to thin out and pick up in that area: the speed limit is 35mph. I've ridden the same stretch during the evening commute hundreds of times. I was a few feet from the right side of the lane, motorists were changing lanes to go around me. I was running two taillights and wearing a bright yellow jacket.

So give me the benefit of your advice. Should I look for an alternate route? There's a creek running perpendicular to my path that limits the options. The next road north is fairly busy at that hour. I can go further north, use a path over the creek, and avoid most of the traffic, but that probably lengthens my time by about half. Or would a mirror have helped--either by letting me see traffic behind me, or by sticking out a bit further and making my wider (or maybe by scraping up the motorist's paint a bit)?

I took the same route home today, just because I didn't feel like it.

delbiker1 

Today I came close to be sideswiped by a vehicle. I was right on the white line separating the turn lane from the north bound lane, cars in the north bound lane, and approaching a traffic light, red for my direction. As I slowed to stop for the light the driver of a car in the turn lane blew his horn right behind me and then went zooming past me, maybe a foot from me. He was cussing me as he passed me.

grayEZrider

While being rattled, you've already gotten "back on the horse". I would skip the bike mirror. If they didn't see you (phone/texting?) they won't notice or care about a small mirror sticking out. Use a helmet mounted mirror. I got hooked on mine within days and (kinda like a seat belt-) feel naked without it and never since forget the helmet!

MoAlpha

Daniel4

Posts #1 and #2 . Neither lucky nor unlucky. Lucky that these two jerks were aiming for you? Unlucky because you experienced what all other cyclists experience regularly? Unfortunately, it's part of the game. If all those other cars were able to pass you, what's wrong with the jerk that sideswiped you? Or the guy in the right-turn lane cussing? At least he saw you and was able to drive by safely in his lane unobstructed.

CliffordK

How many miles is your commute by bike path vs by road?

MoAlpha

Hoopdriver

IMO, 30 minutes before and after sundown is the worst time to ride with traffic. How long of a time are you talking about when you say "by half"? I've had many close calls and actually was hit once. These incidents have motivated me to avoid those routes, even though my commute was lengthened considerably. I live 2 miles from my work, but my commute was 5-7 miles depending on which route I took. I was adding less than 30 minutes; however I found myself enjoying the commute a heck of a lot more. I know I was fortunate to have reasonable alternate routes. Some don't.

Good luck.

Deal4Fuji

I also learned the hard way about riding into a setting (or rising) sun. I still ride in traffic when on club rides or with a friend but prefer to ride my rather isolated loop ride when riding solo and for exercise, I'm not a commuter. It was a wake up call to me to realize how vulnerable you are on the highway. I have mirrors on all bikes now and may end up with a helmet mirror someday. I read they do work better and bar mirrors can be a hassle transporting a bike. My experience: https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...up-mirror.html

Jim from Boston

? Unlucky? Or just stupid? Heebie jeebies after a very minor accident

Quote:

Originally Posted by storckm

Yesterday, I was riding along at about 5:00 o'clock, heading home from work. ...All of a sudden, a car sideswipes me and takes off into the dusk.

This was, as you can imagine, a bit of a shock...

So I'm wondering: Was I lucky it wasn't worse? Was I unlucky? Or was I just stupid? Granted, you weren't there. (I'm not sure I was all there myself.) It was a two lane road, fairly heavily traveled at that hour. Traffic starts to thin out and pick up in that area: the speed limit is 35mph.

I've ridden the same stretch during the evening commute hundreds of times. I was a few feet from the right side of the lane, motorists were changing lanes to go around me. I was running two taillights and wearing a bright yellow jacket.

So give me the benefit of your advice. Should I look for an alternate route? ...but that probably lengthens my time by about half. Or would a mirror have helped--either by letting me see traffic behind me, or by sticking out a bit further and making my wider (or maybe by scraping up the motorists paint a bit)?

I took the same route home today, just because I didn't feel like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grayEZrider

While being rattled, you've already gotten "back on the horse". I would skip the bike mirror. If they didn't see you (phone/texting?) they won't notice or care about a small mirror sticking out.

Use a helmet mounted mirror. I got hooked on mine within days and (kinda like a seat belt-) feel naked without it and never since forget the helmet!

This is the first time I have read about using a rearview mirror as an aid to visibility and direct a car away from the bike. A better suggestion would be a pool noodle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

...However to add to your list of visibility aids, see this thread, “Safety hack for bikes using a pool noodle.” It has a video and photo of a pool noodle. I recall thinking it is something I might put on my bike, and a pool store is nearby my workplace, so I’ll have to check it out.

wphamilton

I don't know regarding your questions, but I do know that anyone who swipes you in a car is either not watching, incompetent, or a self-centered sociopath.

If you're like most of us, you're going to be a little skittish on that part of that road for awhile. Eventually the confidence will return, maybe from feeling like you're consciously more alert. Whether that makes any difference I couldn't say, but I know that it feels like it does.

JoeyBike

Only YOU should be making your life and death choices. Do not put it on us or others. You got a warning. Most dead people didn't get one, or ignored it. What's next is on you 100%.

new2olbikes

Look your route over again, drive it in your car, thinking only as a driver and see where the squeeze spots or conflicts are more likely, these places are prone to be danger areas on your bike.
Bicycles as commuter vehicles are not a "routine / common" thought for most drivers, at least not in the East coast metro areas near me, (NYC, NJ & East Pa). I've been driving for over 50 yrs. have driven 18's, `NYC cabs and now I drive part time school buses and the average driver doesn't even understand how to deal w/ a 10 ton, 10' high, 30' long vehicle, never mind our bikes. Despite road markings, bike lanes and even public awareness programs most drivers are in a hurry and bikes dwell in the "out of sight, out of mind" category. Even bike riders fail to observe some common road rules, ride w/ traffic, walk your bike across signal controlled intersections, signal your intentions etc. If we chose to ride on a commuter route or any busy road it is necessary to make ourselves extra visible, blinking lights,(front & rear facing) all day every day, bright shirts and what ever else you think looks obvious will help. Remember one thing; in the battle of who wins ,(if we get hit), it's never us. Close calls are getting too frequent, too many people on cell phones, spilling coffee etc. but mostly I'm not as agile as I was yesterday. I am pretty much riding close to home, local streets or hauling the bike to a park, closed trail etc. I'm getting wary of the road on my bike.

79pmooney

My take? (As one who has been riding in traffic 50 years and a ridiculous number of miles.)

Don't forget your helmet (or go back and get it) - primarily so you mind is focused on the ride, not "what if ...". Get a mirror. Wouldn't have helped you here probably but they are a huge asset when you need to deal with situations in front of you as you know far better what your options are. Don't sweat this incident. Stuff happens. If you ride long enough, you will see it. Yes, there is stuff we can do to improve our odds, but there will always be crank drivers, drunks, kids, animals, weather, sun darkness, dust, road debris, water/oil/whatever on the pavement, potholes. cracks ...

Old school racing advice I received that has served me very well - ride with your elbows bent and slightly out to the side, hold that handlebars with a firm but not death grip. keep your wrists and arms loose so if you hit something you didn't see, you never lose your grip and if someone bumps you from the side you are still in control. (Nothing in your arms, hands or shoulders should ever be rigid.) Hold other bikes, even cars off with your elbow and forearm so nothing ever catches your handlebars. In iffy situations or visibility or when your awareness is limited, ride in the drops of the handlebars; the most secure handhold on a bike. (We were taught to set our bikes up so we could always ride the drops in any situation if called for.) I was taught these lessons 40 years ago and they have served me very well. They were brought back from Europe where they evolved over 80 years of racing.

Consider even brighter clothing. Also, 5:00 now is dusk in a lot of the US. Dust (and dawn), especially riding into the sun, are the most dangerous times for visibility. We may not be seen even lit up like Christmas trees. The dirves may well be struggling just to see where the road is. An hour after dust (properly lit) is far saver. I sometimes choose or avoid roads just because of the sun and lighting at that time of day and year.

I have learned a lot talking to fellow riders, listening to people, observing other riders and especially observing riders as the driver of a car. And I am still learning.

Edit: I'd look at a helmet or eyeglass mounted mirror. Better, steadier view and no extra width sticking into traffic. (I use on of the 3rd Eye helmet mirrors. (https://www.thirdeyemirrors.com/)

Ben

Maelochs

One more vote for Extra care around dusk. Not enough ambient light to be seen, too much for lights to be really bright ... bikes fade into the haze. Plus, drivers coming home late, hungry, tired, impatient, and not able to see well too ... as @79pmooney says, eventually you might have a few close calls if you ride enough. Don't get all panicked. It is usual to have some residual fear, and it fade, usually.

I wanted to comment on one thing: Last serious crash I had, I was not too clear-headed. I knew it, but i didn't do anything about it. As @pmooney79 says---go back for your helmet. Not because it will save you, but so you don't think about it. Park for a few minutes if you aren't focused. Ride 200-yard stretches and pull off the road. Do whatever it takes.

In my case, I wasn't focused, and i dropped my front wheel an inch off the road into some sand, and fell in the path of a car. It stopped----miraculously---but I still cracked my clavicle. I knew I was riding distracted and ignored it. It wasn't far from being my final mistake. It's not a mistake I will make again.

storckm

Well, thanks for the thoughts so far. I'm not looking to be told what to do; simply asking for advice from other experienced--in some cases, more experienced--cyclists. That seems like a reasonable course.

Of course, distraction or inattention was probably the cause. While the incident happened shortly before sunset, the sun was behind me, not ahead. And I know, at least intellectually, that motorists kill pedestrians and other motorists with some regularity. Sooner or later, somehow or other, I'll die, despite my best efforts to the contrary. The fraction of motorists who would intentionally hit you, even when angry, is small enough to disregard.

I have been thinking about routes, and may get a mirror as well. It can't hurt, and may help.

I don't know about the pool noodle. Some months back, a couple of cops gave me a hard time for "obstructing traffic" by not using the bike lane (in an area where the bike land ends in the middle of a block and there are a lot of right turning vehicles) and for riding with a framing square in my rear bag protruding out to the left. They may not have legal grounds for their attitude, but I'd rather not wrangle with them if I can help it.

trailangel

Don't day-dream while riding bike.
Chances are if you were commuting on that road, so was the driver.
Try to look for the driver and get the license number and report to police.

bakerjw

Can you identify the car and did you file a police report?
I know that it is hard to do when something like that happens, but people are creatures of habit and as mentioned, an incident like this sounds like a distracted commuter. They might avoid the road for a few days, but eventually they will be back.

Commuter19

Why not just learn how to do emergency stop on your bicycle or counterbalance. I’ve had vans brush up against my shoulder but never fallen off as I know above and those who don’t know I’m actually only 19!

Maelochs

we don't really know the full details ... it is possible that even a rider as talented and skilled as yourself might have fallen from the same impact ... but possibly not.

However ... the Point of the thread seems to be more about how the OP might avoid getting hit at all, not how he might get hit and stay up.

SHBR

Preventable or not?

This is the question that can only be answered by the OP.

For me, video has been a useful tool to help me answer this question.

Heebie jeebies are normal after a close call, I consider this to be healthy fear, it will keep you safe in the future.

bgross

JoeyBike

Stopping for those things can be dangerous.

BobbyG

I think you were lucky.

I can only share my experience, which is that my glasses mounted mirror really helps. It allows me to see ahead and behind at the same time. When I see a vehicle approaching from behind I can veer further right if possible. But if the car drifts right with me and it looks kinda close, I will wave my left hand to the side behind me like a "get away from me" motion. That seems to work pretty well, but not always.

A couple of times in the last year when I didn't want to take my left hand off the bars I honked my AirZound airhorn. It worked once, and the car backed off...the other time it didn't and really, I don't expect it to.

With my helmet cam I can usually catch the license plate of the driver. I haven't followed up on a close brush yet by calling the police with the license plate, but if I had been touched, as you have been, I would.

ridelikeaturtle

Lucky you didn't hit your head; unlucky to be hit at all.

I'd recommend two cameras, one front and one rear. I run a Cycliq Fly12 in the front and a Cycliq Fly6 in the back, all the time. I bought additional mounts for every bike I own, and switch the cameras between bikes as necessary.

Next time, you'll be able to review video and hopefully determine exactly what happened and who did it.

If it were the expectation of all road users that they were being recorded in HD at all times, they'd behave better.