vintagerando

Hope this isn't an omen, only February and it seems my luck already ran out.
Got hit today. It seems some people make turns with their cars without using that little turn-signal-gadget thingie.
Good news; I am fine. Bad news; one of my Shimano STIs didn't fare as well.
So, if anyone has a triple/10sp/front/.STI (used) for sale, I could use it.

Reason for this post: Everyone...please be careful out there. Don't assume you know what drivers are going to do. Head-up, watch, scan.

clubman 

The fact you're already asking for replacement parts is a good omen. Glad you're OK. Drivers are out to get you, repeat before every ride.

crank_addict

Stay safe!

Bianchigirll 

merziac

Very glad you're ok. You cannot know what drivers are going to do, because they don't know what they are going to do.

I've ridden motorcycles and bicycles all my life, NEVER take anything for granted, head on a swivel, you cannot avoid much more than one imminent threat at a time so if one draws your focus and another happens at the same time, you may be hard pressed to mitigate them.

Anytime there is a vehicle close enough to strike you, you are in danger, NEVER give them the benefit of the doubt.

Always remember, fault may ultimately have no bearing if you don't survive or are permanently disabled, no amount of money will bring you back.

Again, very glad you're ok.

05 fuji

Your luck did not run out - you are ok!

Keep the luck going!

vintagerando

Wow...i hadnt thought of it that way.. You're right. Thanks

northbend 

Glad you're OK. Thank you for the reminder to always be on our guard.
Sometimes it seems like we are wearing invisibility cloaks out there on the road regardless of what color we see them to be.

rumrunn6

best wishes & thanks for the reminder!

btw I added a strobe to my left drop bar & it prevents ppl from moving right in the lane prematurely after passing me & has cut down on the close passes ass well. maybe the same would help prevent a future right hook?

non-fixie 

Glad you're OK!

I really don't understand why people don't use their indicators. It's not like it takes a lot of effort. They've kept me from hitting a cyclist at least twice ...

canklecat

Americans have conditioned each other and themselves to not use turn signals. I've driven all over the US and in most cities a turn signal means "Please speed up and cut me off so I can't turn or merge safely." Inevitably drivers won't signal.

Also, too many drivers are barely aware that they're driving a multi-ton battering ram at high speed. They wait until the last possible moment to decide to turn, change lanes to stop. One of my best friends seems to be so easily distracted that I dare not talk while she's driving. I'm even tempted to turn off her car radio. Fortunately she's never distracted by her cell phone. She doesn't trust those doggone newfangled contraptions. She used to keep in in the trunk. Now it's in the glove box.

The one thing I find some drivers are very good at operating while I'm riding my bike is their horn. They can't seem to focus at least as much on the view through the windshield as on the view through their handheld virtual unreality display. They can't seem to operate a turn signal. They can't seem to operate a steering wheel: instead of turning properly they'll cut diagonally toward oncoming traffic to make a left turn; the smaller the vehicle, the more room they need to back out of a driveway, to the point that a shoebox sized battery powered roller skate car needs the turn radius of a cargo ship. They can't seem to operate brakes. They can't seem to lift pressure off the go pedal. But they can darn sure mash that horn button.

Humans are a good argument in favor of AI controlled vehicles.

squirtdad

glad all is ok except for sti.....I assume drives are going to pull a bonehead move and watch carefully, especially when commuting.....at least then I know most of the places the are likely for someone running to get their kids to school to pull something ill advised

vintagerando

I had Dayglo coat, flashing front light, etc. The car had passed me earlier; they must have know I was pretty close.
Hopefully this doesn't offend anyone...just the facts. The couple that got out of the car were easily late 70s or early 80s. Old enough that they had to slowly amble over to me laying in the intersection. I waved them off; said i was fine. The husband keep repeating, "she told me to turn at the last minute....." etc.
So, he acknowledged he didnt use a turn signal and made a last second decision to turn. Whatever....it happen. I am alive. I should have been more vigilant.

canklecat

Clever. I do use red reflective bar end caps on my drop bar bike. And usually two or three taillights -- sometimes two on the bike and one on my helmet.

But the bar mounted lights may help aid perspective, relative approach speed, etc., just as with motorcycles.

canklecat

I don't have any problem saying that as adults age the driver competence testing needs to be stricter and more frequent. I've been the caregiver for three consecutive older family members since the early 1990s -- both grandparents, 10 years apart, and most recently my mom until her death in November. Fortunately my mom voluntarily gave up driving years earlier when she recognized that her physical and mental capacities had diminished -- she had limited mobility and flexibility due to arthritis and back injuries, and Alzheimer's. My granddad insisted on driving until he simply could no longer climb in and out of a vehicle (bad knee, and his knee replacement never healed properly because he refused to do any physical therapy). My grandmother drove until her mid-80s, by which time I took over chauffeur duties.

At 61 now, I recognize that my physical abilities are diminishing, enough that I probably won't be able to drive safely by the time I'm in my 70s. I barely passed my last drivers test because an old neck injury hindered my ability to turn my head to look behind me. I used the mirrors instead. I've worked hard on PT and can now turn my head to look over my shoulder while riding bikes, so I'm less dependent on mirrors. But it won't get better with age.

Americans are big on personal rights and liberties and not very enthusiastic about personal responsibility and liability. It shows every time we're behind the wheel of our multi-ton battering rams. It shows in the horrific death toll caused by motor vehicles, particularly affecting pedestrians.

I see nothing wrong with scrutinizing older drivers more closely with age. The problem is that alternative transportation will be necessary. And older Americans tend to resist taxes to fund public transportation. That leaves taxis, charitable organizations that provide rides to medical appointments and essential shopping, and family and friends.

crank_addict

Nice idea but I would be VERY much bothered with that strobe flashing while riding.

I've been more involved with cyclist and motorist legal with some ideas. Firstly and without doubt, right now cyclist are at a huge disadvantage in court litigation. It doesn't matter what State either.

We need more pro active ghost bike memorials that are allowed as permanent fixtures. Confront lawmakers at re-election and demonstrate their failures to provide safety for pedestrians and cyclist.

Pray better cycling cameras are soon available and low cost. Something that clearly shows license plates, and the ability to report to LEO's, upload to YouTube the perps, serve them as attempted murder. Make laws tough as they've achieved for DUI.

I've been a victim more than once.

Use this
https://closecalldatabase.com

SurferRosa

While in the right hand bike lane, I can't tell you how many times the car directly in front of me turned right without its signal. I never pass a car on its right if it's possible they could cut me off.

Andy_K 

I'll add my voice to the "glad you're OK" chorus, but I also want to say that I've got some triple Shimano STI shifters on the parts shelf. Send me a PM and let's see what we can work out.

3speed

As mentioned before, I never pass a car on the right(when nearing an intersection or turn in). If they seem like they're turning right, I'll take the lane behind them and go around their left. I've had people try to turn into me before just as you did. Ya gotta be proactive about the jerks in cars. 60% of them shouldn't have a license.

That's an awesome idea!*

*Minus the intense, bright flashing part. If it's that bright during the day, it might be blinding to ride on the road with you at night...

7up

Lemond1985

Glad you survived, and the car actually stopped. Was it a right hook or a left hook?

vintagerando

right hook

rumrunn6

the bar strobe is not visible to the rider

Furyus

RiddleOfSteel

Glad you're ok, as well. This week has not been a good week for city traffic. I was bumped at a light yesterday morning as the sun was at absolute maximum blinding angle (plus the glare off the wet road etc)--and I didn't have a windshield to worsen my vision! The lady had stopped behind me and was creeping forward and bumped me. She was thankfully apologetic, and the only casualty was my dremel-cut-up cheap plastic $5 fender (been meaning to replace it with something prettier) that broke in its weakest part (under duct tape, so I straightened and still rode it. That was a nice notification to avoid the road at all costs during that blinding hour and just use a segregated two-way cycle path a block over. The fender is mended, and I told her not to worry--I've bumped other drivers with my bike to no detriment of either of us or our property, and they've been gracious. This was a chance to return it, especially as a ride off a curb gives one's backside a lot more of a jolt.

Usually BMWs are the ones without functioning turn signals. Tonight it was a late model VW Golf or GTI, tinted frickin' windows (I hate tinted windows as a driver and as a cyclist--can't see crap!), and a busted taillight bulb. Three/four lane one way traffic up a main artery in downtown, medium traffic, 15-20 mph, my front wheel just eclipsed his bumper laterally and the driver just shoots over into my lane. Both brakes on hard, locked the rear and swerved with room to spare. Not cool, VW driver.

Soon it won't be so dang cold and I won't be on slow and lower-inflated (for snow/ice grip) CX tires--my acceleration and fast cruising speed are affected enough that it's just outside of normal traffic flow, which I dislike as in-the-flow = generally fine and out-of-the-flow = potentially quite hazardous. I should just take that 2nd Avenue protected bike lane more on the way back. It's actually a nice break from the mayhem. I'll just need to break my main 4th Avenue habit.