It finally happened:
I was hit by a car on my bike ride home.
Obviously, I'm okay. Or rather, blessedly, I'm okay. Very shaken up. Very bruised, some scratches. I hyperventilated and was in shock for at least a half hour, trembling and sobbing.
I've always known this was going to happen. Stupid drivers who don't look both ways before pulling into an intersection. I was careful: I thought the driver had gestured me to go in front of them, so I went. Turns out it was just conversational gesture, not directed to me at all. So he pulled out as I pulled out and BAM!
Fortunately, just my tire rammed into his car, so I was jolted off the bike, but I must have landed on my feet. I don't remember the actual crash much. My coat sleeve somehow tore open to the shoulder, and my whole lower region is bruised up. Chain came off my bike, my brakes were unaligned, but the bike seems to be in working order as well. I did bike the rest of the way home (maybe a mile left).
They were young guys, maybe early twenties. They stopped, apologized for what it was worth, said they hadn't seen me, asked if they should call someone for me, asked if I was okay. But I was in so much shock I was doing all I could to breathe and not burst out bawling (which I did plenty, lately). I know I should've gotten their license plate, their insurance info, names, etc. But I didn't.
I am okay.
It's funny: every other intersection before that one, even when cars clearly slowed down and were stopping for me, I didn't trust them and signaled them to just go on; I'd wait. When I finally decided to go when given the chance--thinking I had seen that gesture--that's the time I screwed up.
I'm just...so exhausted. I already gave up fighting traffic and cars months ago; if there's any doubt that cars see me, I wait. I AM careful; I don't take the risks I used to. These inattentive, rushing drivers just really piss me off. There are too many instances when I didn't get hit, but nearly did. The world needs to slow down and be more observant.
Biking has made me a better driver. Driving has made me a better biker. But really? I think bikes should have car horns so we can blast them at all the people who nearly run us over when we don't even do anything wrong.
P.S. Li'l Chap, don't tell anyone about this, okay? It'll probably only backlash and make them lecture you and try to stop you from biking anyway.
Also, our tree was finally cut down today, so we've been busy outside all evening cleaning it up. Probably catch up with everyone later this week.
I'm just going to take it easy for awhile, you know? Still kind of trembling, four hours later.
EDIT: Actually, the more that time passes, the more I can see it was the same as ramming into that fallen tree a few years ago. Better, actually, since I didn't fly over my bike's handlebars. I don't know why I was so disturbed by it to the extent of hyperventilating and freaking out. I think just the idea that it was a car this time really affected me.
Obviously, I'm okay. Or rather, blessedly, I'm okay. Very shaken up. Very bruised, some scratches. I hyperventilated and was in shock for at least a half hour, trembling and sobbing.
I've always known this was going to happen. Stupid drivers who don't look both ways before pulling into an intersection. I was careful: I thought the driver had gestured me to go in front of them, so I went. Turns out it was just conversational gesture, not directed to me at all. So he pulled out as I pulled out and BAM!
Fortunately, just my tire rammed into his car, so I was jolted off the bike, but I must have landed on my feet. I don't remember the actual crash much. My coat sleeve somehow tore open to the shoulder, and my whole lower region is bruised up. Chain came off my bike, my brakes were unaligned, but the bike seems to be in working order as well. I did bike the rest of the way home (maybe a mile left).
They were young guys, maybe early twenties. They stopped, apologized for what it was worth, said they hadn't seen me, asked if they should call someone for me, asked if I was okay. But I was in so much shock I was doing all I could to breathe and not burst out bawling (which I did plenty, lately). I know I should've gotten their license plate, their insurance info, names, etc. But I didn't.
I am okay.
It's funny: every other intersection before that one, even when cars clearly slowed down and were stopping for me, I didn't trust them and signaled them to just go on; I'd wait. When I finally decided to go when given the chance--thinking I had seen that gesture--that's the time I screwed up.
I'm just...so exhausted. I already gave up fighting traffic and cars months ago; if there's any doubt that cars see me, I wait. I AM careful; I don't take the risks I used to. These inattentive, rushing drivers just really piss me off. There are too many instances when I didn't get hit, but nearly did. The world needs to slow down and be more observant.
Biking has made me a better driver. Driving has made me a better biker. But really? I think bikes should have car horns so we can blast them at all the people who nearly run us over when we don't even do anything wrong.
P.S. Li'l Chap, don't tell anyone about this, okay? It'll probably only backlash and make them lecture you and try to stop you from biking anyway.
Also, our tree was finally cut down today, so we've been busy outside all evening cleaning it up. Probably catch up with everyone later this week.
I'm just going to take it easy for awhile, you know? Still kind of trembling, four hours later.
EDIT: Actually, the more that time passes, the more I can see it was the same as ramming into that fallen tree a few years ago. Better, actually, since I didn't fly over my bike's handlebars. I don't know why I was so disturbed by it to the extent of hyperventilating and freaking out. I think just the idea that it was a car this time really affected me.