Car vs. Bike
Hey Everyone!
So since gas is so expensive and my work is so close (3+ miles) I ride my bike there. Today on my way home I was biking on the side walk passing hotels and business--I started to cross a drive way when a car just speeds out and almost hits me! I swerved to miss the car and fell off my bike! The girl that was driving backed her car up to the place where you are supposed to stop--you know behind the stop sign--as opposed to the 4 feet in front of it where I fell off my bike. She kind of got out of the car to say sorry--but it was totally insincere--she just watched me drag my bike out ofthe street...blerg...people suck so bad! Oh well--I didn't get hurt, and hopefully the driver will be more careful!
Drives--watch for bikers!! :P
Yikes!! I'm glad your OK!!
My biggest fear while driving is hitting a ped or a cyclist... I always swing SUPER wide to the point where one of these days I'm gonna get hit!!
I did a stupid thing yesterday, and got tired of waiting at the cross walk...so I thought no cars were about to go...and I crossed..and a car had to stop to not hit me! It was idiotic. My bike is all fixed...so I have to start practicing so that I can ride instead of walk! I'm a li'l scared.
i know it seems scary to ride your bike in the street, but it is actually WAY more safe to do so.. more people get hit by cars riding on the sidewalk than in the street.. and technically you are suppose to ride your bike in the street and follow all traffic laws that cars do, cuz bikes are considered vehicles, so much so that you can get a DUI on your bike (at least in CA).. i only ride in the street and will go so far as to take up the whole lane so cars dont try to "sneak" past me in the same lane, which could cause you to get hit by people in parked cars opening up their doors.. aka known as getting "doored"..
so seriously, try riding in the street.. dont worry about people honking at your or being mean, cuz remember if they are honking at you that means they see you.. people on bikes get hit by people that dont see them, and they arent honking.. after a few days of riding in the street, you really get used to it.. i even turn left from the left turn lane and stuff like that.. just pretend you are a car, use hand signals or at least indicate to drivers what you are going to do and just go for it.. also its super awesome to cut in between cars that are stopped at a red light to get to the front of the intersection and then go when the light turns green.. i swear i have kept up with the same group of cars for over 10 miles on city streets cuz they go all fast past me, get stuck at a light, i catch up and then we start form the same spot again.. its really funny to see how mad people get hehe.. i will never own another car and will only take bus/train and my bike anywhere i need to go..
I got hit once by someone pulling out of McDonalds drive through. I was riding on the sidewalk, too. I thought I was fine, but it bent my bike frame. >:( I don't know what to do about it, except for maybe to ride on the street instead of the sidewalk? I think 1) they might be more likely to see me on the street and 2) they'd have more reaction time. Dunno. My friends who ride their bikes to work (~7-10 miles) have all be hit.
Wow, I'm so glad you weren't hurt! People never cease to amaze me...I can't believe she diidn't get out of the car and make sure you were O.K. and offer to fix your bike or drive you home! That really frosts my patooties! I can't imagine treating someone like that! >:(
i know it seems scary to ride your bike in the street, but it is actually WAY more safe to do so.. more people get hit by cars riding on the sidewalk than in the street.. and technically you are suppose to ride your bike in the street and follow all traffic laws that cars do, cuz bikes are considered vehicles, so much so that you can get a DUI on your bike (at least in CA).. i only ride in the street and will go so far as to take up the whole lane so cars dont try to "sneak" past me in the same lane, which could cause you to get hit by people in parked cars opening up their doors.. aka known as getting "doored"..
so seriously, try riding in the street.. dont worry about people honking at your or being mean, cuz remember if they are honking at you that means they see you.. people on bikes get hit by people that dont see them, and they arent honking.. after a few days of riding in the street, you really get used to it.. i even turn left from the left turn lane and stuff like that.. just pretend you are a car, use hand signals or at least indicate to drivers what you are going to do and just go for it.. also its super awesome to cut in between cars that are stopped at a red light to get to the front of the intersection and then go when the light turns green.. i swear i have kept up with the same group of cars for over 10 miles on city streets cuz they go all fast past me, get stuck at a light, i catch up and then we start form the same spot again.. its really funny to see how mad people get hehe.. i will never own another car and will only take bus/train and my bike anywhere i need to go..
I do ride in the street usually--but this area doesen't have a bike path in the street and at the time of day I go home (12noon) the street is PACKED with cars waiting to get into the fast food restaurants on that street--so on this particular street it's better to be on the sidewalk. But I agree it's safer in general to be on the road!
I got hit once by someone pulling out of McDonalds drive through. I was riding on the sidewalk, too. I thought I was fine, but it bent my bike frame. >:( I don't know what to do about it, except for maybe to ride on the street instead of the sidewalk? I think 1) they might be more likely to see me on the street and 2) they'd have more reaction time. Dunno. My friends who ride their bikes to work (~7-10 miles) have all be hit.
I'm pretty much taking it as a given that one day I will really be hit--seems like I'm more concious of other drivers than they are of me! People are so fracking oblivious behind the wheel! Sucks your frame got bent--boo on that person--but since they were coming out of McAnthrax we know you will win in the long run since they will die sooner >:D
I'm a li'l scared.
:nono:
I think that when a car almost hits someone, the person who almost got hit should have the option of slashing the tires our defacing the car with a sledgehammer.
ETA- If someone actually gets hit, they can pull a Michael Biehn and drop a homemade pipe bomb into the gastank, Terminator style.
I think pinks and I found another person for our special black ops unit, only I guess it would be straight forward in your face and not necessarily black ops. Black ops optional?
I'm a li'l scared.
:nono:
Yeah, so I got this bike from Patrick's boss..for free..and the only thing it needed was a new chain. So, yesterday Patrick went and bought the chain, put it on..and fixed the bike up nicely! I have his gel seat on it that he didn't like. I went on my first ride today (haven't really ridden since like age...10?)...and it was great! We took the route to work together..so that I would know where to go, and it went very smoothly. I wasn't scared once I actually got out there. He says everyone is mostly very courteous of bikers (nice bike lanes), so there shouldn't be any problems. So, I did 4 miles in like 30 minutes (?) for my first time! Yay! I was tired at the end though! ::)
eta: haha, idiot (me).....I just realized that you were 'no noing' the word li'l...not anything else. Silly, CK.
That's great Ally! I hadn't been on a bike in looooooong time either and it's true--you never forget how to ride a bike! I love it a lot--I'm really thankfull i can ride to work and live in a bike friendly city (most of the time!)
Tee hee, Cap. I just noticed that I've passed you in posts. ::) :P
I think that when a car almost hits someone, the person who almost got hit should have the option of slashing the tires our defacing the car with a sledgehammer.
ETA- If someone actually gets hit, they can pull a Michael Biehn and drop a homemade pipe bomb into the gastank, Terminator style.
yeah, you are so in our little black ops stealthy club now. Welcome.
Tee hee, Cap. I just noticed that I've passed you in posts. ::) :P
Well--I don't have as much to comment on any more--haven't really thought like my imput was needed on a lot of stuff that goes on here lately--besides, you are probably much more knowledgable about stuff anyways--all I have to offer are goofy pics :P good job on surpassing me.
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk40/spazzlovezbubblez/funny.jpg
I gladly accept the position. I mean, I'm already all about ninjas anyway.
;D 8-)
Well--I don't have as much to comment on any more--haven't really thought like my imput was needed on a lot of stuff that goes on here lately--besides, you are probably much more knowledgable about stuff anyways--all I have to offer are goofy pics :P good job on surpassing me.
Hey! I didn't mean anything like that!
I'm really sorry about the unfortunate bike accident. I'm glad you are OK!!!
Fortunately for me, I live in a small town, so not too much traffic to worry about. But I almost got hit once by a lady pulling out of the alley (talking on her cell phone, surprise, surprise.)
Good for you for riding your bike to work though!! ;)b
Capture, thank God you are OK! How is the bike? Did it get damaged? We are not allowed to ride our bikes on the sidewalks here although many do. I often have to get off the sidewalk so Cali and I aren't hit by a bike.
I too am a huge swerver (not really a word I know). If there is a jogger or biker on the street, I make a huge swerve. I know at some point, I will not be paying attention and a car will be beside me and I will hit them.
I am just thankful you are OK. Just a reminder that in summer (well at least where you and I are from) there are way more bikers, joggers and roller bladers out. Take extreme care when driving. I have often had to slam on my breaks because a child has come bombing down their driveway into the street without a care in the world. Scares the crap out of me.
Oh, reason being for Capture and me, we have winter big time!
Anyway, I am truly thankful you weren't hurt.
Hugs
Di
Capture, thank God you are OK! How is the bike? Did it get damaged? We are not allowed to ride our bikes on the sidewalks here although many do. I often have to get off the sidewalk so Cali and I aren't hit by a bike.
I too am a huge swerver (not really a word I know). If there is a jogger or biker on the street, I make a huge swerve. I know at some point, I will not be paying attention and a car will be beside me and I will hit them.
I am just thankful you are OK. Just a reminder that in summer (well at least where you and I are from) there are way more bikers, joggers and roller bladers out. Take extreme care when driving. I have often had to slam on my breaks because a child has come bombing down their driveway into the street without a care in the world. Scares the crap out of me.
Oh, reason being for Capture and me, we have winter big time!
Anyway, I am truly thankful you weren't hurt.
Hugs
Di
Awwww! Thanks Di!--yeah, I'm fine, just a bit of road rash on my legs and my bike is A OK! I was out this morning on a long 20 mile ride--it was fantastic :) Yep--we do have "winter big time" up here don't we? Seems like the weather just got nice and I'm already thinking about what I need for the next snow season *boo* maybe one day I'll actually live where it's warm for more than 3 months a year!!!
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