Huckleberries Online

Bent: Bike Riding Can Be Hazardous

Posted by DFO

May 15, 2009 5:48 p.m. • 5 comments

Bent: Man, lots of bike accidents on Bike to Work week. I almost caused an automobile accident this morning while riding my bike into work. I was on Upriver Drive just east of Avista headquarters, and I dropped my water bottle. It rolled out across both lanes of traffic and I cannot believe that the cars swerved and almost collided just to avoid hitting my water bottle… Heck, I probably would have hit it.

Question: Have you ever had a close call with a vehicle while riding bike? Tell us about it.

Five comments on this post so far. Add yours!

fortboise on May 15 at 9:03 p.m.
Does “deliberate assault and battery” count as a close call?

http://fortboise.org/assault.html
florined on May 15 at 10:16 p.m.
Rainey evening, about 6pm, Dec 21 a few years ago, intersection of Government Way and Appleway. I had ridden up onto the sidewalk so I could push the button and when the white walker light flasher started up, so did I.

The (&%$!*# in the pickup truck with the covered bed chose to turn right, in front of me, and I crashed into him. He didn’t even stop.

I have a few white scars to show for it, but — listen up, everybody— I whonked my head pretty good, first on the back of the accursed truck then again when I hit the pavement. But I was wearing my helmet, as always, and didn’t even have a headache. Wear them helmets; and be sure your kids do, too, forward on their heads and snuggly fitted.
Stickman on May 15 at 10:21 p.m.
Since I drive for a living, I am very conscious of bike riders. Even so, I have had a few encounters that were very scary. I hope everyone that rides a bike has a very defensive attitude, because some people shouldn’t be driving as it is and they just don’t see you. Some don’t even care.
Beez on May 15 at 11:30 p.m.
I got my bike wreck out of the way last week.

Changed out a flat tire on the front tire, but either the new tube was faulty or I might not have sealed it correctly (more likely) because it exploded while I was making a right-hand turn near work. Tube and wheel instantly came off the rim and the party came to an abrupt halt, throwing me to the pavement.

I was more pissed off than injured, but it bunged it my bike pretty good, breaking the derailer and scarring up the front rim. I limped home, got out a spare and got right back on the horse.

I love riding my bike, to work or just around town. It’s one of the simple pleasure of life. I just have to do a better job with the maintenance and repair end of it.
lewis8457 on May 17 at 9:40 a.m.
Yesterday going north on wall a car was turning left and had traffic stopped. Some of the more careless drivers simply went around the line by going into the bike lanes. Since bike lanes will hopefully become a popular thing in Spokane, it is up to the automobile drivers to train themselves not to impede on the bike lanes. All it takes is the attitude that it is “only” a bike lane and a quick maneuver around a turning car could result in an injury or death to the bike rider in his or her own lane.

Habits can be controlled simply by refusing to use the bike lane in your daily travels insuring you will never make an instinctive maneuver that could take a life.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.