Survive Getting Hit by a Car on Your Bike (ed: Eek!)
Contributed by : Jason “Eight Left” Makman
I recently(yesterday) became a member of the hit by a car club. Many of my bicycle-riding friends have long been part of this dubious fraternity, and now I begin to understand. I am alive, only bruised and scraped. Mos important though, is that my bicycle is OK. Below is my two cents on the subject of bike safety:
Survive being hit by a car while bike riding by following these easy tips:
1. Wear a helmet(no brainer [get the double meaning here?])
2. Do not weave where there are not parked cars. Picking and following a straight line allows cars to see your route, and dodging behind a car hides you from the drivers vision.
3. Make sure your bike is tuned up.(working breaks, wheels secured onto the forks, and seat and handlebars are adjusted to the rider)
4. If you ride in the street, obey traffic laws, lights, and signs. Drivers assume you will stop, and if you don’t bad stuff will happen.
5. If you drive at night have a headlight. This is less for cars to see you and more so you can see the terrain. Potholes kill!
6. Ties your shoes. Getting a shoelace caught in your pedal or chain will take away your attention to the road, and that is no good.
7. Pay attention! Do not talk on cell phone, listen to ipod, or get distracted by the landscape. Drivers can get away with this because they have a big metal car to protect them, bikers do not.
8. Leave early for you destination. If you are worried about being late, your decision-making will be compromised.
9. Don’t drink and ride. It can be even more dangerous than DUI’n it.
10. In case you forgot #1, wear a helmet!!!!!!!
No Road Rash pics?
Just wanted to add a tip from the runners and walkers among us: please don’t ride on the sidewalk unless it’s specifically posted. It endangers everyone, yourself included.
RocketGirl is right, stay off pedestian areas whenever possible, and if you must be on the sidewalk go at a pace that is similar to walkers, heck act like a pedestrian. If you do not have bike lanes in your town, contact your councilman/woman. Each year Chicago adds about 5 miles of bike lanes in the city, GO CHICAGO!
When I was on my run the other day, I saw the most idiotic thing– Bike Rider is in the righthand auto lane, stops at the red light. Car goes to turn left in front of the biker when, suddenly, he decides he’s a pedestrian now and decides to cut to the left into the crosswalk and onto the sidewalk (scaring the shit out the driver and nearly getting creamed in the process.)
So, another tip: Be a car or be a pedestrian- but DON’T BE BOTH! Nobody will know what to anticipate.
Oye mates,
Yes, no riding on the sidewalk is the law. But as a rider you must use your best judgement and take whichever path seems fit. Sometimes the sidewalk is the best choice because there is no danger of one opening their car door into you. Though a door smash is the best way to go because the bike is less likely to be injured.
I was also currently hit by a car the car was going 45 mph and the driver was drunk i was transferd to the hospital by life flight and i have a shatterd foot and a broken shoulder bone.