Always ride safe

[Quentin]

As some of you may know, I was hit by a car on route to Friday's ride. I was heading eastbound on Bay street (just about to cross the bridge at Tyee) and was hit by a car coming westbound who left turned in to me. I was taken to hospital in an ambulance. The x-rays were negative, no broken bones, just a few gashes, lesions, buises and a very sore shoulder. The bike is messed up.

A big thank-you to Sylvan, who took care of my bike and helmet, recorded the license plate for me and made sure I was ok while I waited for the Ambulance.

While I was completely in the right, it doesn't matter; when a car hits a cyclist, the car always wins. Since the accident, I have been doing some thinking about what I could have done to avoid this collision and I came up with a list:
1. Always assume that a car does not see you.
2. Assume that a car coming in the opposite direction will left turn in front of you; be ready to brake or take evasive manoeuvres.
4. Do the most you can to ensure that a driver will see you: eye contact, flashy lights, bright clothing...

I came away with what appears to be only short term damage, but when I look back at what could have happened, I got lucky. This has been a huge wake-up call for me, I have always believed that I am a very safe cyclist, but in retrospect there is always more I could do. That is the lesson learned for me.

Always ride safe.

Quentin.

[Rolf]

Thanks for the reminders, Quentin. A lot of this stuff can't be said enough; especially number 1. That's one way group-riding makes you safer: it's damn hard to miss seeing a group of 10+.

I hope you heal well and are soon back on the bike. And I hope you documented the entire incident and your injuries in the event such facts are needed at a later date. For example, if recording a licence plate was necessary, a criminal conviction is hopefully pending.

[Lister Farrar]

Bummer. Heal well Quentin.

I read somewhere that motorists see best what's in the car lanes, stuff outside that not so much. So staying to the right of the normal width used by the drivers is best, so you're where they are looking. Close to the right hand curb in this case is not as good. No idea what part of the lane you were in Quentin, nor the group at Beacon. But might interesting to know.

Also seems the motorists in both incidents were headed west, so the rising sun shouldn't have been a factor.

[barton bourassa]

Quentin, heal well and heal fast. I am glad nothing is broken, other than the bike! See you soon I hope.

Barton.

[Lund]

Glad to hear you're more or less okay, Quentin.

A few years ago I read a great book called The Art of Urban Cycling. The author, Robert Hurst, suggests that cyclists should assume responsibility for everything that happens to them while cycling in an urban setting. If you get attacked by a parked car’s door that suddenly swings open – your fault. If you get sideswiped by a Smart Car that ignores the stop sign and shoots out from a side street – your fault. If you get flattened by a bus that doesn't cut you a wide enough berth – your fault. I quote:

The most effective way for a cyclist to stay out of trouble on city streets is to forget entirely about the possibility of blaming others, and to take on full responsibility for his or her own safety. This attitude will be fundamentally different from the prima donna mind-set displayed by many humans, drivers and cyclists among them, who put their safety in the hands of others, count on everything working out just right, and have a royal freak-out at the first sign of trouble. The successful urban cyclist counts on nothing but chao and stupidity.

That final sentence bears repeating and remembering: "The successful urban cyclist counts on nothing but chao and stupidity."

Quentin's right: we have to be cautious, vigilant, suspicious, cynical. Expect the worst, and ride accordingly.

[Lister Farrar]

Interesting view Steve, but I fear that raises the level of concern about all risks in traffic to the same level. That's a possible problem on a few counts. Newbies think cycling is dangerous, which it's not (say vs drinking and driving, or even just being sedentary). And it suggests all risks are the same, which they are not. For eg, intersections are more dangerous than collisions from the rear, which newbies often fear more. (Maybe that's why there are more intersection issues for cyclists, because they are thinking about getting mowed down from behind, when that's really a very minor proportion of accidents?).

I may be delusional, but I look ahead, ride out from the curb a bit (except in two abreast groups) so drivers can see me in the main traffic lane, avoid swerving in and out of parked cars, sharpen up at intersections, stay away from parked vehicles I can't see through, and shoulder check often (apparently a major subliminal wake-up call for following drivers, besides letting me know what's going on), have confidence in my bike handling skills, and feel little fear in traffic.

Again, hasten to say I'm not suggesting anyone else doesn't do these things, just that there are things you can do vs armouring up.

[Lund]

I agree wholeheartedly with your tactics, Lister. Ride confidently, be visible, be steady and predictable, keep a broad field of vision, and try at all times to have an escape route. There's as much danger in riding fearfully as there is in riding with a sense of invincibility.

I don't think Hurst is arguing for timidity. It's simply about remaining constantly vigilant and never expecting motorists (or other cyclists) to do what they ought to (i.e., it really shouldn't surprise us when the unexpected happens, because that's the very nature of an urban environment populated by people who feel their right to the road trumps everyone else's...and people who are just plain oblivious).

[Brian S]

Quentin I am glad to hear you are bruised but not broken. Heal well.

My solution. Move to Holland, well, at least Amsterdam.

Bikes have complete equivalency with cars. Your own lanes pretty well everywhere, your own lights at intersections, and complete awareness and understanding between bikes and cars. All very cool, but certainly the results of years of evolution and the complete and general awareness of having bikes around. One very significant difference, however, is that no. One in the city of Amsterdam is using the streets and bridges for training. That activity takes place on the roads out of town. Hardly Ever saw a road bike, just 3-8 speed up right bikes, and never anything in carbon!