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Now, THIS is dangerous!

fittycent's picture
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1321 days
started by fittycent on April 12, 2007

The other night, I was driving in the Med Center (a really busy part of town) and saw a guy riding alone, fast (20+ mph), in complete darkness, without a headlight, while listening to loud music!

I know the music was loud because I pulled alongside him to warn him (I'd come very close to pulling out right in front of him). I tried to get his attention as safely as possible - "Hey bud!" "Hey pal!" "Yo bro!" "Hey dude!" - finally after I'd yelled out my window about eight times he acknowledged me and I said "You should get a headlight for your own safety!" He nodded and said, "It's burned out." I just said, "Alright" and went on my way.

I can hardly believe how foolish this guy was! Riding in Houston is dangerous to begin with. There are few cyclists, the roads are narrow and bumpy, and the drivers are the worst I've seen (having lived in many big cities).

He WAS wearing a helmet though. :)

dr_rios_ec's picture
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dr_rios_ec posted 2 years ago.

Maybe the guy had a death wish...
I can´t believe that he was doing that here in Houston.
But, you know bro, I live now close to the Medical Center, and there is a runner maybe over 70 years old...and he runs everynight after 9 or 10 without nothing reflective or a head light or something...a couple weeks ago he came out from the dark...I was driving...man...he scared the living $$$ of me....
Another fellow athlete with a death wish...
I can´t understand how people do that...

-Santiago
"Man!! Defeat is worse than dying, cause´you have to live with it" -My Dad
"It ain´t about how hard you can hit...it is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"-Rocky Balboa

trainDaBrain's picture
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trainDaBrain posted 2 years ago.

A friend of mine knows this guy who believes that if he rides 'stealth' - all black attire - the veritable bike ninja, that he will be safe because drivers won't freak out by seeing a biker and will drive safer.

Uhh.... The only thing that guarantees is that they won't even know they ran him over.

"Was that a pothole?"

LongTime's picture
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LongTime posted 2 years ago.

Maybe he's a Lance Armstong wannabe--running red lights, hellbent for glory, God only knows.

Or maybe he has a very, very trusting nature.

tri-ac's picture
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tri-ac posted 2 years ago.

maybe he just hasn't been hit yet...

deepbluex's picture
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deepbluex posted 2 years ago.

I've seen those ninja bikers - usually at the last minute.
Drivers, including myself, don't automatically leave room between the edge of a sidewalk and their car to let a biker fit through when none are visible.

The only reason I haven't hit a ninja biker is because of pure luck.
I'm a damn Disney electric parade when I'm biking in the dark.

JamieM's picture
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JamieM posted 2 years ago.

Don't see too many of those around here. They were probably taken care of long ago.

I ride with a good headlight, two flashing taillights, reflective material in my bag and a jacket that's just obnoxiously bright.

I figure at least, if I ever do get hit, after looking at my gear the "But Officer I didn't see him" defense just isn't going to fly.

bgreinke's picture
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bgreinke posted 2 years ago.

Yeah, most people in Houston come close to hitting bikers in full daylight. Hell, I was hit by a car a few weeks ago at 10 in the morning (very lucky, VERY slow speed - no injuries). If you're not in a car around here, most people think your nuts and would just as soon hit you so they didn't have to share the road.

Braden

watrbg2's picture
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watrbg2 posted 2 years ago.

fittycent;66153 wrote:
I can hardly believe how foolish this guy was! Riding in Houston is dangerous to begin with. There are few cyclists, the roads are narrow and bumpy, and the drivers are the worst I've seen (having lived in many big cities).

I'll second that Houston is a dangerous place to ride. I lived in the Clear Lake area for five years and I had more close calls (being hit once, almost being hit too many times to count, objects thrown at me, etc.) than all the other years I've biked put together. I guess it's hard to see bikers, walkers/runners and small cars when you're driving a gigantic SUV/pick-up truck...

'In a world that tries its hardest to separate us from what matters, the Ironman helps us to reconnect with the pulse of our lives." - Scott Tinley

Paintrain's picture
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Paintrain posted 2 years ago.

tri-ac;66184 wrote:
maybe he just hasn't been hit yet...

There is no doubt he hasn't been hit "YET"

What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass 6 hours a day... What are you on? - Lance Armstrong

triNick's picture
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triNick posted 2 years ago.

I thought I remember seeing a post like this. Tonight I was driving home from a friends house down a 4 lane road, speed limit at 40 at 10:45 pm, oh yeah no street lights, pretty much pitch black. This road doesn't have a shoulder, but it does have a nice paved sidewalk. Up in the distance there was this this red spec on the same side of the road I was driving on. I thought some one might have attached a reflector on a sign post or something. I paid more attention when it seemed to be moving, but still wasn't sure what it was. Then I realized it was a biker and quickly moved over to the other lane. After I passed him, I did notice a little headlight, but really small. He did not have any reflective material or lights on his body.

THIS GUY WAS NUTS!!! I can't belive he was out there, why do people do dumb stuff like this.

After I passed him I noticed some distance behind us an ambulance with it's lights on catching up to us. I wonder what their expression was when they caught a glimpse of him, hopefully they saw him.

People call me nuts for training so much and racing in Ironman events, but this is ridiculus.

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Jstyle's picture
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Jstyle posted 2 years ago.

It's like trying to explain to people that smoke how it will kill them in the end. You might make it a few years with out any problem but, it will most likely catch up to you.