Close Call

Thread started by
Drew at 08.18.09 - 4:48 pm
I want to put something out there in hopes it will give you pause/cause to think.
So I live in SD and come up to play with you all as much as I can..
Some times I take the train, sometimes I drive.
Friday night I rolled out of my place on my way to La. I threw my bike on the roof rack and backed out of my space. I put on my left signal to go up my hill and looked to make sure it was clear. I started my left when out of the dark came a girl on a bike with no front light and one of the Knog single blinkies on the back. I stopped about a foot from her as she rode by looking at me blankly. I was freaked!! The law I believe is front light and rear reflector.
So I look again and go to make my turn and WOW!! There is her friend with exactly the same thing!! No front light and a Knog in back. I was like two feet off her and was so pissed at this point that I yelled at her to get a fucking front light god dammit!!! She looked at me stunned, like she had no idea what I was talking about and that she had almost been hit.
The thought of hurting anyone, especially a cyclist kills me and I take alot of care when driving to be aware of bikes on and off the street. I read the stories here and elsewhere of ridas being hit by cars and clearly some of those people are douche bags. But please make sure that you cover your ass and get lights if you don't have them. I quite possibly could have won in court....if you could call it winning. But I would still have ruined me mentally if I had hit someone.
Thanks.
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I can see it now...
Safe riders: "Yeah man...people should get lights. Nice driving!"
Unsafe riders: "You should've been paying better attention!!! Get a bike asshole!!!"
Me - Safe rider.
BlAcKnYeLLoWfUji08.18.09 - 4:52 pm
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Have to deal with the same thing when riding back and forth to work over here.
Too many people riding without lights going in the wrong direction, I already busted my shoulder and totaled a front wheel once because of that.
bentstrider08.18.09 - 4:57 pm
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Would you trust your safety to a Knog? I wouldn't. I don't. Knogs are simply a bare-minimum used to circumvent bicycle laws. (not that the law is justified by being in an I-told-you-so position).
Hi Drew!
Eric Hair08.18.09 - 5:16 pm
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Lights?!?! You mean you guys can't see in the dark??
mattspeed responding to a
comment by Eric Hair
08.18.09 - 5:20 pm
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Natural Selection
these chicks will produce dumb ass kids
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by Eric Hair
08.18.09 - 9:20 pm
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Thanks for posting that story here Drew!
TheJen08.18.09 - 9:41 pm
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I gave total stink eye to one of my neighbors that pulled out in front of my one night when I was riding. they were very apologetic and I accepted that, and said no problem.
I felt really douchy 1 block later when it occurred to me that my front light was off for some reason and I was really in the wrong because in that situation it is near impossible to see a bike coming.
Light your shit up and/or be extra careful!
trickmilla08.19.09 - 2:39 am
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no need for bike lights.
when you're cool, the sun is always shining on you...
...and this is why.... "I wear my stunna shades at night..."
sciencefriction08.19.09 - 3:02 pm
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