Damn Floridiot! @#%$!$#

chequita guevara · September 2, 2003, 21:23

I GOT HIT BY A *&#$%& CAR!!!! (I'm fine, btw. Only injury I suffered was a broken nail).

The whole reason I ride on the sidewalks in the first place is because these people are too dangerous to ride on the same street with, but leave it to them to find a way to get me anyway, at a crosswalk! 8th worst city in the US for accidents per capita (five of the ten worst are in Florida, thus Floridiots).

Buttmuncher was looking the other way, but he was stopped so I figured it was safe to go past him, but NO, he takes his foot off the break and mashes my bike (I pulled my foot out of the way when I saw movement).

The police take OVER AN HOUR to arrive, and then he doesn't feel like doing any paperwork, so no tickets get issued (running a stop sign, blocking a crosswalk, reckless driving--and a riding the bike on a sidewalk for me, most likely). He ADMITTED to the police officer he wasn't looking.

But what it came down to is this guy was gonna refuse to pay for the new rim, which is the only reason I sat around waiting for the cop. It would be too much hassle to fight with his insurance or take him to small claims court for a measly $50.

But I coulda been hurt, bad!

#$%&*@()#$*_@#+_^%#$()_@#($

Theben · September 2, 2003, 21:29

Well it's cool you're okay, bro.

If you got his license plate, track down his address. Then you can key his car.

monolith94 · September 2, 2003, 21:35

That exact same thing happened to me, two summers ago, only it was a tiny little bump, and not really worth sticking around for. I just rode on, and hoped that the driver would take it as a lesson.

chequita guevara · September 2, 2003, 21:36

At first I did ride on, but then I noticed the rim was really warpped, so I turned around and peddled after him. Luckily (or unluckily since all I did was waste my time) he was stuck in traffic, and thus catchable.

iamlod · September 2, 2003, 21:41

I just recently went through the whole "driving" thing. Learning to drive, taking lessons, learning all the rules. I also just got a car, so I can put it all to good use.
I remember similar experiences when riding a bicycle, so I'll do my best not to hit anyone. I haven't been in any accidents yet, but when you're new at it, there can be a lot of distractions.
In the words of George Carlin: There's a lot of **** you have to put up with when you're driving.

So please, if I happen to be the next one to hit you, don't get pissed at me...

monolith94 · September 2, 2003, 21:46

Actually, it's an interesting coincidence - just two days ago, I hit my brakes too hard going over a little bump, and slid off my bike and fell on the pavement, scratching myself up a bit, and having the bike land unceremoniously upside down on my back.

The lesson I learned? Well, I learned two, actually - never bike and eat ice cream at the same time, and never bother to wear a helmet when you're not going to be biking that fast.

Sprayber · September 2, 2003, 22:04

Problem is that most people take driving for granted and don't really pay attention to things outside their little bubble.

My 16 year old cousin rolled her brand new 2003 full size ford pickup last weekend on a gravel road. She was going the speed limit but still took a corner too fast. For those that don't have experience on gravel roads, they can be slick as hell when you go too fast. Anyway, the cop didn't give her a ticket and in his words said it was " Too much truck for a little girl to be driving"

Glad your ok che. Pedestrians and bikers are in a bad situation in a lot of places. Drivers are busy looking for other cars and don't seem to notice anyone else..

Dis · September 2, 2003, 23:38

Drive a SUV

MichaeltheGreat · September 2, 2003, 23:59

Sue the ******* in small claims anyway. Make him pay, and look like an ******* in the process.

MrFun · September 3, 2003, 00:44

Chegitz -- you shouldn't wear anything that visibly shows you're a commie.

Otherwise, that guy would not have "mistakenly" taken his foot off the brakes.

Victor Galis · September 3, 2003, 02:06

To be fair, the only collision between a bike and a car I was involved in, ended far worse for the car than for me. This was years ago, I slid off the sidewalk (not towards the street side), but the wheel rubbed against the sidewalk throwing my bike back up onto the sidewalk and at a parked car, which I put a dent into with my handlebar. I managed to stay on my bike. (This is why a sidewalk should never be higher up than the ground on the side opposite the street.)

BustaMike · September 3, 2003, 04:08

That sucks man. I can sympathize. Florida and Arizona must have the worst drivers anywhere. I personally have been hit in my car 3 times in the past 3 years (none my fault). About 6 years ago, I was actually hit by a car while walking to school, same kind of thing as how you got hit. He was turning right, not moving but not looking and of course as soon as I get in front of the car... bam.

Bike/car accidents happen all the time up at ASU. Seems just about every year, someone is killed on a bike. Several years back, one of my dad's students was killed. Two years ago, one of the campus busses ran over and killed a biker. I personally have seen a student end up on the hood of a car while riding his bike because someone ran a stop sign (going slowly thank god).

Anyway Che, that sucks, but at least you weren't hurt.

CerberusIV · September 3, 2003, 05:36

If it is just your cycle, not you, and minor damage at that, forget it and move on. It won't be the last time.

When I was a student (a long time ago) I was riding home and swerved to avoid a pothole. A car ran into the back of me, I was thrown onto the front of the car and headbutted the windscreen. No-one wore helmets on bicycles then. I was lucky to get away with four stitches in my forehead.

My cycle needed a new rear wheel.

Moral: it could have been a lot worse.

David Floyd · September 3, 2003, 07:20

It was probably some old bastard, right?

chequita guevara · September 3, 2003, 08:36

Quote:

Originally posted by David Floyd
It was probably some old bastard, right?

Not all that old, maybe mid to late fifties. Odd how the older you get, the further off old gets.

Lefty Scaevola · September 3, 2003, 08:47

You might well lose. The fact finder could easily find that riding on the sidwalk and crosswalk were the main negligent causes, both are 'negligence per se', being illegal.

chequita guevara · September 3, 2003, 09:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
You might well lose. The fact finder could easily find that riding on the sidwalk and crosswalk were the main negligent causes, both are 'negligence per se', being illegal.

Which is why I'm not gonna fight it, despite the cop saying I had right of way as a pedestrian. Or the judge could split it down the middle (since we both broke the law), and considering that there was some damage to his car, that would still be a loss for me.

Not that I've checked, but I assume riding a bike on the sidewalk is just as illegal here as it was in Illinois and Nebraska. But I'm not risknig my life for a law riding among these idiots. About a year back, a whole bunch of cyclists (seven) were taken out by a street sweeper. At least two died. That's the most extreme example, but cyclists get killed here all the time. I do not think being able to ride on the street is an important enough right to risk my life for.

Ultimately, it's not important enough to waste the court's time. I'm okay and I'm only out about $50, give or take. I can handle that.

Urban Ranger · September 3, 2003, 11:59

Sic the dingoes on him

SlowwHand · September 3, 2003, 12:11

Shouldn't wear your Commie clothes out in public.

MrFun · September 3, 2003, 12:58

You don't need to steal my line, Slowwy.

chequita guevara · September 3, 2003, 12:59

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Fun.

Arrian · September 3, 2003, 13:00

Glad you're ok, commie.

-Arrian

SlowwHand · September 3, 2003, 13:03

I thought he was talking about your hammer and sickle ear-rings.

chequita guevara · September 3, 2003, 13:04

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I thought he was talking about your hammer and sickle ear-rings.

Actually, I lost those long ago.

I haven't found any new ones in almost ten years. Maybe I need to go look in California.

Arrian · September 3, 2003, 13:05

MrFun · September 3, 2003, 13:05

Quote:

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Fun.

well, ok then

MOBIUS · September 3, 2003, 13:07

You're a brave boy riding a bike in the US - they can't drive for sh*t over there...

Japher · September 3, 2003, 13:10

Quote:

I haven't found any new ones in almost ten years. Maybe I need to go look in California.

I'll keep my eyes out, shouldn't be too hard to find. In fact, I think Davis is handing them out as his campeign buttons.!

David Floyd · September 3, 2003, 18:07

What gets me is that the driver refused to pay for the damage. I mean, come on. Regardless of the law, he should feel SOMEWHAT responsible for the damage.

MrFun · September 3, 2003, 18:08

Chegitz, now that I think about it . . . .

could Slowwhand have been the driver?