freaked out

Mochi

I was driving home from dropping DH off for his physical therapy. A block from my house, I hit a cyclist. No, to be precise, she hit me. She's perfectly okay. I was stopped and signalling to turn right. I started initiating the turn when she came up on my right. She bounced off me but because I had no speed, she was fine. The right-hand side mirror is broken. She immediately apologized and said it was her fault, and we exchanged numbers.

I asked her if I could take her to the hospital but she didn't want to go. She was fine and I'm completely upset. My life could have been changed forever.

It happened fifteen minutes ago.

I don't feel safe on my bike, and now I'm worried about driving. Cyclists are not careful at all. I'm so upset. I need to calm down.

13 years ago

Off Topic

13 replies

Latest reply was from Ornella

Raisin

Veteran

Oh that's a scary incident! But it's good news she is fine. I really hate that cyclists do not obey traffic laws. It's not ok to just drive up beside cars like that because of exactly what just happened to you! But, a lot of them just do what they want. Sorry you had the close call, but glad she realized it was her fault and you're both ok. Hopefully you can relax now!

13 years ago

Anonymous

Mochi, that is so scary and upsetting! Of course your nerves are jangled. But she is okay. Breathe deeply, have a cup of tea. We're here if you want to process it more.

13 years ago

Mochi

Veteran

Thanks. Two years ago in November, I was hit by a car while on my bike. (It was the car's fault, but luckily they were also going very slowly.) Just about a year ago, I had an accident on my bike, no car involvement, where I fractured my shoulder.

I live in downtown Boston where cyclists and cars have to coexist. Cars are bad; drivers are on their cell phones. Cyclists are constantly pulling crazy stuff; I'm surprised more of them aren't getting killed.

I will feel better in a little while....

13 years ago

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Mochi,

I'm so sorry about the accident and I know how you feel about these bicyclists not obeying the law. They do it here in DC all the time and makes me cringe. I try not to because I always feel like something might happen.

Luckily I haven't hit anyone but I've had a cab hit me and then I've also gotten stuck on rail tracks which caused me to fall. Anyway, take deep breaths and luckily you bicyclists was okay.

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Oh, Nancy, what a horrible experience! I am glad that both you and the cyclist are fine (physically at least) and that she was reasonable about it. Did you know that in Boston cyclists are considered by the law to be pedestrians and so have all the associated rights - I have a friend who was involved in an accident like yours (he had just parked and they were getting out of the car when a cyclist came down *between* the parked cars and the sidewalk and hit the passenger door as it was opened. Nobody was injured but the cyclist was threatening to sue.)

I don't drive AND I'm afraid to bike in Boston, for the reasons you've mentioned. These days it seems like walking and public transit are the safest options, if annoying at times.

So, as an aside, you know those Hubway bike rental things that have been popping up all over the city? They drive me nuts because you don't need to have a helmet to get a bike from them. And if you don't have your own bike you most likely won't have your own helmet either. I am always seeing inexperienced cyclists on Hubway bikes (that are probably the wrong size for the rider anyway) wobbling around on the busy streets, next to the bus, in traffic, etc. I really want to write to the company or something... not that I have any idea how one would enforce a helmet rule for something like that. But maybe have the unlock mechanism keyed to something in the helmet?

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Yikes! How awful! I prescribe a cup of tea ASAP and a nice big glass of wine the minute the sun is over the yardarm!!

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Nancy, how horrible! I hope you are feeling a bit better now. What a scare you must have had!

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

That stinks, I'm sorry you're upset. But as far as possible horrors, this was a best case scenario.

Bikers are getting worse and worse out here. Going the wrong direction on the street, delivery bikes going fast through pedestrian areas, not signaling... well, I've ranted about bikes before. The reckless population ruins it for regular riders, too, because drivers then treat all riders poorly. I wish cities were better designed to accommodate bikes. The bike paths we have are wonderful!

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, that's got to be so scary! I don't blame you one little bit for being so shaken up. It took me hours to get over it when that truck ran me out of my lane and over a median a couple of weeks ago, even though my car was OK and no one was hurt. The truck just kept on going, but one other driver stopped to make sure I was OK.

But something involving a bicycle? That's just so scary. A bike is at such a huge disadvantage to a car. I'm glad everyone is OK, and I hope you got settled down with a nice cup of tea. Or a stiff drink.

ETA: My stepson worked for a little while as a bike messenger in Boston while he was at school at Berklee. Suffice to say we worried a lot about him during this time.

13 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

What a scary experience, Nancy-(( I'm relieved to hear that neither of you were hurt, but it does take time before your heartbeat and pulse go down again. Do take it easy and give yourself time to process everything.

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I would be freaked out too! I am very sympathetic to bikers but I am sure no matter what, people always assume the car is at fault which is annoying. Sounds like this person was unharmed and sensible about the situation. Deep breaths....

13 years ago

Anonymous

Crap, I'm sorry. Something similar happened to me years ago, when I took my first, FIRST driving lesson. There was a man delivering goods on bike that came out of nowhere. The instructor did not see him. I did not hit him but he fell off his bike. So scary. That made a very squeamish driver out of me.
Thank God she is OK and your life is unchanged

13 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Scary stuff and very familiar, similar thing happened to my husband.

One word of caution though - I have no idea how it works in the US, but you might want to speak to your insurance or even police, just to cover your back. Although in my husband's incident everything was seemingly OK at the scene, a few days later he got a letter from the police - the guy basically tried to report the incident later, claiming all sorts of nonsense, injuries and damage. The good news was that DH had a witness who made a statement, the car was not damaged so there was no physical evidence of the extent of the 'reported' collision (which hadn't happened at all, so the credibility was basically blown away on this fact alone), but it took time to clear it all out.

Bottom line - be kind to strangers, but don't trust anyone when it comes to traffic incidents. Protect your back.

13 years ago

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