Should I make a complaint?
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vistring posted 1 year ago.
Call. Many drivers need more education. Also, I ride apporx 3 feet from the curb, forcing the drivers to see me and to slow down, I move closer to curb when they come behind me to let them pass. I notice if you ride closer to curbs drivers rarely pass you with enough space. On roads like this I tend to think safety in staying closer together. Let your wife draft and pull her along. Also I pick my roads carefully. All that being said you can do everything right, and still something happens. The point is the minimize the risk.
The training is worth it. And a major lesson is learned: ride defensively. I learned this lesson the hard way. Several times.
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azmojo804 posted 1 year ago.
Better to call, and get rejected by the police than to not call and regret a month down the road not calling. Especially since you have the plate, that's definitely beneficial.
Yep, training is worth it, as is the exercise. Don't give it up because of the a-hole or the a-holes out there. Don't let them ruin it for you.
It may be better to ride closer together. My wife is slower and does like leading, luckily. I make sure not to draft off of her, but I do make sure to hang out a little more in the road than she does, plus, I'm a bigger target and usually wear brighter clothes. I hope that I get hit before she does, and hope that by big @$$ shows the cars that someone is there.
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jtrimom posted 1 year ago.
that's aweful! I am glad your wife is alright. I think I would call, if for nothing else, so that you don't feel like a victim. They may or may not do anything, but you did your part. I am always so nervous riding on roads. I ride on a hike/bike trail, and have to cross several main streets, which scares the heck out of me, but I feel that's safer than riding around with so many inconsiderate and unaware drivers on the street.
ride safely,
Sharon
Taper Naked
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Leroy Bonkers posted 1 year ago.
CALL! I think the cops will file it as a complaint, but can't do anything without witnesses. I had a similar incident and the cop told me 'its your word against his'... but at least the driver will be contacted. Maybe a visit by the po-po will make them think twice next time.
And call soon!
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RV posted 1 year ago.
Glad she is okay - could have been so much worse.
unfortunately that is one of the many risks on the road.
I would hate seeing something like that happen to my wife.
Choosing routes that are less traveled or have good shoulder area are obviously important. Though I wouldn't really recommend riding too far into the lane if there is suitable room - that just makes some hothead drivers looking for an excuse a reason to be an even bigger jerk.
We've all had run-ins with road rage, inattentive, or plain bad drivers while out training.
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zagfan posted 1 year ago.
Sorry to hear this happened to your wife and I'm glad to hear she's okay. Its also great to hear that she's going to give the race a try. I get worried about my wife when we're out riding b/c she doesn't ride as defensively as I would like. I always try and pick safe roads with good shoulders when I take her out. I also ride behind her and to the left. That way a car giving me space ends up giving my wife a lilttle more b/c I'm out about a foot more. Also, if a car is going to hit us, they hit me first and hopefully miss her. Unfortunately its a risk we take being on a bike, similar to what motorcyclists have to deal with.
"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." Lance Armstrong
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laprokop posted 1 year ago.
I would call... There really is no excuse for a car to be one driving 20 mph over the posted speed limit and two they should move over... I am bias of course but I move completely in the other lane before a pass a biker... I have had some close calls in my day and the least the police will do is patrol the are a little more.
I am glad you are all safe!
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JMA posted 1 year ago.
You should file a complaint. In Illinois there is a law that motorists must give a minimum of 3 feet of clearance to a bicyclist that they are passing.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently took time out of his busy schedule fighting fellow Democrats over the state budget to sign a bill that requires motorists to give cyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing.
"Primarily, it will reduce risks from drivers squeezing by cyclists in narrow lanes," said Ed Barsotti of the League of Illinois Bicyclists, noting the legislation attracted wide bipartisan support in both the state House and Senate.
The bill, endorsed by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, also permits cyclists to stay in the center lane when going straight when a right turn lane is available. That move is to prevent crashes caused when a vehicle misjudges a bicycle's speed and turns in front of the two-wheeler at an intersection.
Cyclists also may stay away from curbs to avoid debris and other hazards and can signal right turns by simply pointing right rather than the old way of pointing toward the sky with their left arm with elbow bent.
The league "encourages both motorists and cyclists to follow all traffic laws, to share the road more safely," Barsotti said.
Seven states already had passed the 3-foot provision. Bills similar to Illinois' law are pending in several more states.
It might be on the books in your state as well...
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jperubog posted 1 year ago.
thanks again for all the replies, its really nice to hear, i think I am going to call, if anything maybe the cops will patrol the road and catch some speeders. thanks again, I give her(my wife) a lot of credit, she got right back on that bike and rode it home. That's the second person in two weeks in my family that was hit by a car, my dad got hit two weeks ago, he's ok, but his bike got trashed, luckily for him the guy's insurance company bought him a new bike. I better watch my but now, since I am the third and last person that bikes in my family.
Thanks again,JP
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kylie posted 1 year ago.
Glad everyone is ok, and best of luck to both of you at the race.
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.
I would call and give them the plate number. If you have any police friends drop their name.
I try to be careful when I riding my bike and I am even more careful as a motorist.
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
I would call as well. Check with your state laws, Oregon also has a law that motorists have to give a cyclist 3 feet of room. And with the speeding, they were definitely breaking the law there. I'm glad your wife (and your dad) are okay. Good luck in the race!
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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diva_mom posted 1 year ago.
+1 on all the above
Don't be so easy on yourself 'cause this one might be all that you have left
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groovyjen posted 1 year ago.
Ditto all. So glad she's OK.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.
You said your wife didn't think the car hit her. It might have happened quick and she might have been clipped slightly.
Several years back I was close to a curb making a turn and this car was very close and the mirror just brushed me, and I picked up my foot and the I felt the car brush my foot. I was somewhere between angry and poop my pants at that point and my heart was pounding and I was loaded with adrenaline.
The car passed, and I was swearing at the driver as they flew past.
Then I put my foot down and realized the car tore my pedal off.
I tried to ride my bike home but pedaling was tough and I had to walk on the uphills.
With everything happening so quickly I didn't even feel the pedal being knocked off.
The next day I had a bruise on my arm and on my foot where the car 'brushed' me.
I would file a complaint. Maybe there will be damage on the car, if the car 'brushed' your wife.
Good luck and I hope your wife is feeling better.
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
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KevDaddy posted 1 year ago.
I am REALLY glad your wife is ok!
I try and see these occurrences from both sides, but from what you describe I am concerned about the driver's lack of awareness or care for the cyclist. The problem is that you really can't tell if the car caused your wife's accident or not. It is possible that the car just happened to be there. If I had to bet, I would say it is likely the car passed dangerously close and caused her fall- but that is just from having had so many close calls myself. I definitely lose sympathy for the driver when something like that happens and they don't at least stop and offer assistance (or an apology, since it may have been warranted in this case).
It can be so scary and I certainly sympathize.
Best of luck!
Kevin
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jperubog posted 1 year ago.
Well, I did make the call, I didn't give the plate number, but just told the police the story, they were pretty cool about it. I didn't give the plate just because my wife was still not sure and I didn't see the car until it was past her so I am not going to blame someone for something they may or may not have done. Maybe that's wrong or irresponsible, but hopefully the cops will patrol that road and maybe they'll nab the guy sooner or later. What goes around comes around eventually. After reflecting on it, we have just decided to move on, it's going to be a tough week for her, she's a little more banged up than she thought. Thanks for all the comments, its nice to be able to vent to people who acutally have been through similar experiences.
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Socket posted 1 year ago.
Glad she's ok and that you've decided to move on. It's the zen thing to do; don't know if I would have held back though.
Things like this are why I ride at 5:AM on streets that get busy because at that hour of the morning, it's just me and the bunnies.
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azmojo804 posted 1 year ago.
get her a visit to the chiropractor and a massage. :) That should help the bangs a bit...definitely the chiropractor.
Sorry, this is going to be long, but I just had to get it off my chest. Yesterday, had one of the scariest moments in my life. My wife and I are on a normal training ride, on a familiar route, I usually bike in front, she is slower so she hangs back a bit, but she was having a good ride, I was really impressed, she was hanging with me for the most part. If I get too far ahead I’ll sow down and let her catch up because I like to keep an eye on her, most of the time I take a look back quickly just to make sure she’s ok, she hates when I ride behind her. So anyway, I looked back to check on her, and I see her going down, front wheel jackknifes, she tumbles over the handle bars, and lands up against a guardrail, and a car had just passed her at the point I saw her going down. She was about 50 yards behind me, I immediately stopped, took a quick look at the car that passed her as it flew by me(30 mph speed limit, probably going about 50) turned around and raced back to her. The car never even slowed down. I get her up off the ground, off the road, onto some guys front lawn. She was pretty shaken up, bleeding, Asked her if she needed me to call an ambulance or the police, she insisted that I don’t. I only saw her go down and the car was by her, but she said it didn’t hit her. After we get home, and we were sure she was ok(just cuts and bruises), we start trying to recall what happened, the shoulder(road) was very narrow, maybe 2 ft, I don’t think the car hit her, but I think because of its speed and perhaps it came a little close, maybe the wind going by caused her to lose control? Anyway, she’s still not sure what happened. I am not sure If I should at least call the police and just make a complaint or just let it go and be thankful nothing serious happened?(I did get the plate number) All in all, I consider her very lucky. Unfortunately we have a race this weekend, I think she is going to try it but I told her not to push anything, just see how she feels over the weekend. Sometimes I wonder if all this training is really worth it, you train all year long, and then something like this happens because some a-hole can’t slow down and move over a little, I don’t know, it just plain sucks, the total lack of respect there is for cyclists on the road. Just the fact that the car didn’t even slow down to see if she was alright? It would be different if it was me, but to see it happen before your eyes and not be able to do anything about it, just plain sucks.