this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2023
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Bike Commuting
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I had someone who didn't yield while turning right at a 1-way only stop sign in a fairly remote area. I was going essentially walking speed on the sidewalk. He was looking for oncoming traffic and didn't start looking where he was going before initiating his turn. I braked, going slower and slower, waiting for him to look where he was driving, but instead he just casually ran over my front wheel, and I had to bail.
He was moderately apologetic about it, and ended up paying for a new wheel, but the whole thing could have gone a lot worse if I was less cautious.
Edit - Bonus accident that was completely my fault: I was late for school, biking standing up and pumping hard. I thoughtlessly took one hand off my handlebars to check the time, lost balance, the wheel locked out, and I went flying over the handlebars. Thankfully, no injury asides from my ego.
That's why we don't rider in the sidewalk where I live.
Yeah, this was out in the boonies where the biking infrastructure sucked. Biking on the roads is dangerous there, and there are very few pedestrians, so typically it's safer to just go on the sidewalks in some places. This bridge in particular was a bit notorious.
In any case, I could have just as easily been a pedestrian. If I was some old lady crossing, dude would've smoked her.
Good on him for not doubling down on being an idiot shitbag.
In your bonus story, what do you mean your wheel locked out?
Since I took one hand off, and was putting forward weight on the handlebars, the front wheel swung 90°.
Thanks for the clarification!