T-boned
 

1st- no injuries, little bike damage



I was riding the Kona thru a large retail area; middle of a sunny day. Road was straight & flat. I came across what I would call a business driveway- just a one lane path exiting parking lot & entering roadway. I dont think there was a real stop sign, but an apparent one. Im cruising along > I get about 20' before the driveway > a car is coming out, onto the street > I thought driver will stop and certainly will see me (Im wearing bright yellow/red jersey, screaming yellow tall socks & even have wide orange tape across several spokes of front wheel) > I get directly in front of car, but the car is there too, hitting my bike behind my feet. Driver stopped before causing serious damage (although the chain came off & broke a spoke in rear wheel, causing small wobble). I was so upset/mad I couldnt think straight- didnt think to get the license or call 911 (I dont carry cell). Driver apologized several times; said he didnt see me. Car left; I was able to continue my ride.


What should I have done? I guess driver couldnt be cited since no injuries & little damage. However, he did not stop. How could it have been prevented? I dont think I was in the wrong. :notamused:

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
The law is to stop the licensed vehicle before entering a public throughfare. That means before crossing the sidewalk. Drivers frequently disregard this because of ignorance, improper training, or simple negligence.

I once nearly ended up in a fist fight with a driver blowing straight across a protected bike lane...nearly sending me over the hood. It wasn't worth the fight.

Drivers (& indeed anyone else who is caught being wrong) will just double down on their wrong position.

Low standards of driver licensing is a cultural phenomenon.
Ride where drivers are looking.

What I do in situations like that is to wave violently and if they wave back, I am fine to keep going; otherwise, I stop. Mostly, I don't ride in places like that as preventative.

Get a Very Bright Strobe Light for The Front of your Bike.

Rule #1 - you are invisible. ALWAYS assume the driver does not see you.

Don't be this guy:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...231e520566.jpg

I T-boned a small pickup once, but it was totally his fault and I did dent his truck:thumb: I was pissed, he was apologetic, since he's the one that pulled out in front of me from a stop sign; I was clearly in the middle of the road easily seen, but I don't think some drivers understand how fast some of us cyclists ride. There was nothing he could do about the dent, since it was totally his fault.

:)

You should have called the cops and asked them to cite the motorist for failure to yield.

this is the situation I have the most problems with not being so I always assume they don't. whats worse is when they are stopped then go. I got my bike knocked out from under me when the driver was stopped but accidentally went.

got a photo of the intersection taken from your point of view approaching the intersection?

here's hoping you weren't on a sidewalk or going the opposite direction of the road traffic. too may unknowns for me to have a suggestion, right now

related? I often ride paved bike trails that have road crossings. I've resigned myself to stopping (as I'm supposed to) at most of them. even tho I often think the drivers traveling perpendicular to me will stop & they mostly do. meaning I often stop when I didn't have to. legally? yes, but physically no

Always ride like they see you and intend to hit you, because sometimes they do.

I was T boned once and it was intentional. I was in Germany and an American lieutenant ran a traffic light and picked me out of a group of other riders. I slid up the hood and managed to roll off. There was a camera at that light in 1981 and he was picked up by the German police.

It also helps if said driveways are built in a way that the driver can see the road *before* pulling across the sidewalk. Unfortunately, cities don't always consider this when it comes to buildings, trees, signs, etc.

This story sounds like so many others... "I didn't see him." Probably because most drivers have become conditioned to look for other motor vehicles and aren't expecting so see bicycles, so they don't. That's why we become invisible to them.

My suggestion would be to get a front light preferably one that flashes. One of my bikes has the Cateye reflex front safety light. Also, did you bring your bike to a bike shop to check over?

Initially, I 'll get mad and explain to him his mistakes. Though, I admire that he apologized but, when it comes to life and death, apology is not enough.
Anyway, just be more careful next time.

Driveways on the right are a nightmare. I ride rural roads, and try to skirt the driveways as wide as possible, so 1) a driver exiting driveway will see me, and 2) so I can take evasive maneuvers if driver starts to pull out in front of me. Always seems there's a car coming from behind to complicate things and force me to the right.

There's no good solution to this, but I scan every driveway as I'm approaching and brake if I see a hint of movement in direction of road. Usually there's vegetation partially blocking my view. Nightmare, as I said.