If somebody will design for me a very nice sandwich board sign that asks "Why do you only look left when you turn right?" and loans me a funky costume, I'll get it in the news.
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Yesterday The Dad, standing on the corner waiting to walk his bike across the Minnesota Ave & I-229 intersection, was knocked over by a right turning left looking driver.
Lesson 1: even knowing the hazards isn't full protection from drivers who don't look.
Lesson 2: make the report on the scene. Failure to do this could result in very messy living room carpet. And MAKE THE REPORT because THEY need to know it happened.
Lesson 3: if you get run over and you are related to or friendly with me you will be assigned to write a report.
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Accident, Eastbound exit ramp of I229 at S Minnesota Ave
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
When I ride my bicycle I am at risk. It doesn’t matter that I know it’s a dangerous intersection, and I’ve been there hundreds of times. It doesn’t matter that I know how to get through that intersection. It really matters that I don’t know everything, and I am at risk. (I’ll add parenthetically here that my planning paid off and I am not hurt.)
Today, at 4:20 PM, 6 miles into my bicycle ride I got to my intersection. The first car exiting the interstate looked left and turned right (across my intended path). I stopped as required by Sioux Falls’ law, but this driver was intent. I got off my bicycle because pedestrians have more rights that a bicyclist. I stood there saying to the driver repeatedly, “It’s my turn; it’s my turn.” The driver made the turn, and it scared the bejesus out of her when she saw that I was there and she drove where she never looked.
The rule is that the second driver learns from the first driver. Today that changed. I stood there saying repeatedly to the second car, “It’s my turn; it’s my turn.” The driver made the turn, and this time she turned sharply into the nearest lane. Seeing me scared the bejesus out of her, too! I couldn’t get my bicycle out of the way fast enough. She rolled over my front tire pushing the bike down and, domino like, pushed me down. I went flat on my back into the snow bank. I knew my left knee hurt, and it got a minor abrasion.
Must have been the third car that witnessed the event. Her first words to the driver were “you ran over his tire pretty good.” I say, “Thank you, ma’am”, and I got her card. My bicycle is fine, the wheel is true.
My new rule is that in all the planning and anticipation of dangers, include calling the police and making a report. The city needs to know that these things happen.
If you’re still reading, don’t miss this advice. Go ahead and call the police right there. I made a late report. Fire and ambulance came with sirens and lights. They’ve got their protocols, you know. Ten of them filed into my house like there was an emergency! As I write this, Nora has not yet seen the carpet; not-to-fear, I know how to call 911.
Harold
The police report is #16-1162.
2 comments:
Glad The Father is, more or less, OK!
I am very glad everyone is ok. Still, it was not an accident, as the report is titled, but rather, unsafe operation of a motor vehicle by a driver who turned without looking where she was going. Be safe, all.
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