City Commuting - confidence after RTA
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City Commuting - confidence after RTA
TL;DR: My first ever ride on my brand new new bicycle I got hit by a car crossing on foot, at a pedestrian walkway with lights, wearing helmet, hi vis and camera. I've not had my confidence knocked like this and it's not as if I have a bubble wrapped lifestyle...
I'm a woman in my late 30s and have a short 6 mile commute one way. Kinda busy part of the city, typical peak times. 17 years driving, two on a motorbike not to mention horseboxes. I ride my horses on the roads too! NOT a newbie. Ditched my car thinking to save money and got a folding electric. The speed (stability?) & feeling of vulnerability is off putting... I feel safer jumping on my beasts. So, at a 4 lane roundabout I decided to cross at the pedestrian crossing on foot, until I felt more comfortable. I was nearly across the wide crossing but got smashed when the light went amber. The man driving admitted he was looking at his phone saw the light go amber and slammed the accelerator. I suffered minor injuries, my brand new bicycle totalled. The bloke needed an ambulance more than me, given his reaction. He covered the cost and that was that.
Since then though I've been too afraid to cycle and its even affected my ability to ride my horses out, as what if I was on one of my girls (not that I'd ride there). What are the chances of this happening, for a while after I felt like I was destined to die and wouldn't even mount my horses. Between stable chores, showering and public transport 3 hours of my day is sucked up. I can save 10 hours a week if I cycle... I don't know what I'm looking for but its been making me miserable. Everyone around me is brushing me off, as if because I have a dangerous hobby, that I don't have the right to feel this way.
I see people cycling at night with no light in black clothing, or crossing 4 lane roundabouts... but I'm the one that got hit crossing a road?
I'm a woman in my late 30s and have a short 6 mile commute one way. Kinda busy part of the city, typical peak times. 17 years driving, two on a motorbike not to mention horseboxes. I ride my horses on the roads too! NOT a newbie. Ditched my car thinking to save money and got a folding electric. The speed (stability?) & feeling of vulnerability is off putting... I feel safer jumping on my beasts. So, at a 4 lane roundabout I decided to cross at the pedestrian crossing on foot, until I felt more comfortable. I was nearly across the wide crossing but got smashed when the light went amber. The man driving admitted he was looking at his phone saw the light go amber and slammed the accelerator. I suffered minor injuries, my brand new bicycle totalled. The bloke needed an ambulance more than me, given his reaction. He covered the cost and that was that.
Since then though I've been too afraid to cycle and its even affected my ability to ride my horses out, as what if I was on one of my girls (not that I'd ride there). What are the chances of this happening, for a while after I felt like I was destined to die and wouldn't even mount my horses. Between stable chores, showering and public transport 3 hours of my day is sucked up. I can save 10 hours a week if I cycle... I don't know what I'm looking for but its been making me miserable. Everyone around me is brushing me off, as if because I have a dangerous hobby, that I don't have the right to feel this way.
I see people cycling at night with no light in black clothing, or crossing 4 lane roundabouts... but I'm the one that got hit crossing a road?
#2
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That attitude everybody has once again demonstrates how society views bad driving as an acceptable norm. Cycling isn't dangerous. Driving is. Every person who gets into a car to drive increases the risk of every pedestrian, cyclist, other drivers and their passengers and even occupants in buildings.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3564461
Drivers get into auto collisions all the time, but nobody ever tells them to quit driving because it's dangerous.
Last edited by Daniel4; 07-31-22 at 07:42 AM.
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#3
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Aside from your ptsd, glad you're ok.
That attitude everybody has once again demonstrates how society views bad driving as an acceptable norm. Cycling isn't dangerous. Driving is. Every person who gets into a car to drive increases the risk of every pedestrian, cyclist, other drivers and their passengers and even occupants in buildings.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3564461
Drivers get into auto collisions all the time, but nobody ever tells them to quit driving because it's dangerous.
That attitude everybody has once again demonstrates how society views bad driving as an acceptable norm. Cycling isn't dangerous. Driving is. Every person who gets into a car to drive increases the risk of every pedestrian, cyclist, other drivers and their passengers and even occupants in buildings.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.3564461
Drivers get into auto collisions all the time, but nobody ever tells them to quit driving because it's dangerous.
If you have not refreshed your bike safety training, I would check out the League of American. Bicyclists safety videos. They have just been updated.
BTW, it is a safe guess that the people you see at night with no lights on their bike are the working poor. People returning home from an evening shift using their bikes as their only choice of transportation
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Find a therapist to talk it through. You are clearly a smart and sturdy person and you can tell something is not right. Depression is a problem you can work on. My wife is an LMFT and this is about the minimum of what she'd suggest.
You won't find worthwhile answers on BikeForums. Treat your emotional well-being as the goal, not bike riding.
You won't find worthwhile answers on BikeForums. Treat your emotional well-being as the goal, not bike riding.
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Last edited by Darth Lefty; 07-31-22 at 10:31 AM.
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Daniel is right, motorists don't stop driving. And most of them providing advice can't provide a single statistic about motor vehicle collisions with active transport participants. And if I understand the description of your collision, you were not a cyclist but a pedestrian walking their bike
If you have not refreshed your bike safety training, I would check out the League of American. Bicyclists safety videos. They have just been updated.
BTW, it is a safe guess that the people you see at night with no lights on their bike are the working poor. People returning home from an evening shift using their bikes as their only choice of transportation
If you have not refreshed your bike safety training, I would check out the League of American. Bicyclists safety videos. They have just been updated.
BTW, it is a safe guess that the people you see at night with no lights on their bike are the working poor. People returning home from an evening shift using their bikes as their only choice of transportation
So take your time to heal up and then venture slowly but surely out again. Ride around your stable to get some confidence back. Ride on the pavement to get used to the feeling of traffic and acclimate again, and of course, talk to someone about your trauma.
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Glad that you are alive.
Angry that you were injured by another careless jerk behind the wheel of a car.
As a pedestrian and cyclist, distracted drivers scare the crap out of me.
In 2007 while commuting by bike I was nearly killed by a speeding jerk in a Porsche 911.
I will tell you getting back on the bike was a challenge.
As for the lingering effects of your crash I will also suggest a good theraist.
fat biker
Angry that you were injured by another careless jerk behind the wheel of a car.
As a pedestrian and cyclist, distracted drivers scare the crap out of me.
In 2007 while commuting by bike I was nearly killed by a speeding jerk in a Porsche 911.
I will tell you getting back on the bike was a challenge.
As for the lingering effects of your crash I will also suggest a good theraist.
fat biker