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.
Glad The Father is, more or less, OK!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDelete