General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Was it my fault I fell or the driver Rss Feed  
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2012-05-24 10:36 PM

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Subject: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

On my ride today I fell down. At red light car in front turning right. light changes the cars in front of guy go straight. Guy going right starts going. I start going clip in feet. Guy stops. I yell GO. Guy starts again. I slowly move forward. Guy stops again. I stop at back right tire put hand on trunk. Guy goes. Me and bike fall to the left. Tractor behind stops THANK GOD. The guy turns corner an then stops. People on sidewalk and in cars all ask if im ok. I am. There is a cop about 3 cars back, pulls up and sees if i'm ok. The cop says he didn't see anything. The guy turning right says he never saw me and never started and stopped. No damage to me or bike though I had a flat later in the day. my question is

1. Was it my fault I think it was just like if I was driving a car.

 

2. When you come to a light with more than 1 car some turning straight do you go up to the light or do you stay behind the last car in line.

3. From the fall do you think it started the slow leak flat



2012-05-24 10:43 PM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

It was your fault.  Don't be in some kind of hurry or expect cars to accommodate you.  Don't touch a car.  I get in line with the cars, and don't ride past them to get to a light.

 



Edited by Goosedog 2012-05-24 10:44 PM
2012-05-24 10:50 PM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

Cars here are not very friendly, so I stay in line where I am.

Also I don't pass them on the right, as they may turn.

2012-05-24 11:02 PM
in reply to: #4228327


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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

I always wait in line in case someone who doesn't like to use their turn signal turns into me.  Besides, its illegal to pass on the right unless specified otherwise.

2012-05-24 11:14 PM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
deadman - 2012-05-24 11:36 PM

 I stop at back right tire put hand on trunk.

It's your fault. Why would you lean on a car?

Also, when you're riding on roads you have the same rights as a car and therefore the same responsibilities. You should wait at the point in line where you arrive to the stop light/sign unless there is a bike lane or something. With that said, I often skip up in lines to get my ride going faster. You just have to be aware. 

A fall from 0mph wouldn't have caused a slow leak. Probably not enough psi or you hit something during your ride.

2012-05-25 12:40 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
Why in the world would you touch the car?


2012-05-25 5:34 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
Your fault. If you were driving a car and you rear ended him who would be at fault? You would be - regardless of whether his actions were stop and go or not. You need to be responsible for your own safety. What if the car had planned to go straight and then suddenly turned right and you T-boned him - same thing YOU need to know how to react.

Take a bike safety class (forget the Bicycling Association name) but they offer Road Bike Safety 1 (and 2) - how to stop on a dime, how to turn when a car turns in front of you, etc. Best 1/2 day I spent....

Stay in line (just like a car) and PLEASE if there is a left turn lane (say 2 lanes, one to go straight/turn right and 1 to turn left) and you are turning left GET IN THE LEFT TURN LANE - do not make the left from the right shoulder.....
2012-05-25 7:15 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

Turning straight?

Yes, always expect cars to turn straight...

You assumed too much control of the car.

Cars can stop anytime they want, so can you

2012-05-25 7:26 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

100% your fault in this situation.

Know the laws in your area.  Here in Ga, it's 100% legal to go to the front of the line when you are riding a bike.  I actually think that is better.  It prevents you from slowing down traffic behind you as you get up to speed at a light. 

You are a vehicle, treat yourself as such.

I'm glad you're ok.

2012-05-25 8:52 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

Pretend you were in another car (or a motorcycle, if that make sit easier). Would you have done what you did? (e.g. Passed on the right, touched/bumped the fender, etc.)

You are another vehicle in the stream of traffic--obey the laws. If you don't, that's your choice (let's face it, sometimes we all break the rules), but it will be your fault when something happens.

2012-05-25 9:24 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

All your fault. Why would hold on to a car?

 

I never wait in my spot in the que... confuses too many people. Yes I know I have the same rights as a car... but half the drivers out there do not. I always go to the front of the line. Much much easier for me to get out of everyone's way. No confusion. Nobody has ever got pissed because of it.

No designated turn lane is exactly why I do it. Much too confusing if you get on the driver side rear assuming they turn and they don't. Now you are in traffic. If the light is green and you are in the flow of trafic... you always always have to leave an out. Riding someones passenger rear quarter is bad news. Wrong place to be. If I am in the flow I will take the lane behind car in front incase it turns... otherwise go straight and get back on the side after the intersection.

Never ever ever rely on someone else's actions to keep you safe. They will always turn in front of you. They never see you. They will never stop for you... and no, they will not wait there for you while you catch your balance.

 



Edited by powerman 2012-05-25 9:27 AM


2012-05-25 9:44 AM
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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
If there is no bike lane I wait in line. Too many horror stories of people getting 'doored' into traffic. Outside of the city I'll move up if there aren't cars parked on the side of the road.
2012-05-25 9:44 AM
in reply to: #4228520

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
Marvarnett - 2012-05-25 8:26 AM

...

Know the laws in your area.  Here in Ga, it's 100% legal to go to the front of the line when you are riding a bike.  I actually think that is better.  It prevents you from slowing down traffic behind you as you get up to speed at a light. 

...

I did not know this. 

 I stay on the right shoulder (or right side of the appropriate turn lane) behind the last car.  I don't pass stopped cars in line because there may not be enough room to go by on the shoulder and because it pisses off some drivers.  I do make an exception for a bike lane.  In the rare instance that there is a bike lane, I ride to the light in the bike lane.  I make eye contact with the first driver in line on both sides of the intersection if possible and indicate that I am going straight.  Getting nailed by a turning driver is the most common accident between cars and bikes.  Car drivers are just not looking for a bicyclist off to the side of the lane.  They are looking down the center of the lane for cars coming.

I understand the OP's problem with maintaining balance with clipless pedals in stop and go traffic.  It gets tricky getting clipped in or out while cars are passing you pulling away from the light. I sometimes ride with my cleat on top of the pedal unclipped and use the other leg to pedal so I can put a foot down easily.  The problem may be learning good biking skills with clipless pedals.  With practice you can get clipped in, stand on the pedals, and maintain balance just barely moving, like a track stand.  It takes some time in a parking lot or driveway to get the hang of it.  If you ride in stop and go traffic, you need to learn how.

Sorry that you fell.  It is embarassing but don't let it stop you from riding.

About the puncture, if you punctured your tire somehow in the fall, it would have to have been some sort of pinch flat where the tire hit something hard and was pinched between the object and the rim.  A pinch flat usually results in a two holes in the tube, one on each side of the rim.  It looks like a snake bit the tube.  The tire normally goes down very fast.  Since you were going slow, my guess is that you did not damage the tube in the fall.  You just picked up a piece of glass or something later in the ride.  That was a really unlucky day.  I hope things go better today.  Surely they will. 

TW

2012-05-25 9:48 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

Big one for me: you're waving for a car to go ahead of you, and he's ALSO waiting on you.  Just wait longer.  Really.  Drink out of your water bottle, whatever, but look disinterested until he actually goes.

You don't want to be in the situation where you both get fed up and go at the same time.

*I know this isn't quite what happened here, but it is common at intersections with oncoming traffic making the turn.



Edited by spudone 2012-05-25 9:50 AM
2012-05-25 9:55 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
So the driver just stopped for no good reason as if they just forgot how to make their car move forward?  I would assume you live in South Florida, as I see that kind of thing a lot when I travel down there. 
2012-05-25 10:00 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
If there is a potential for a car to turn right, I stay in line with the cars.  I happily take up an entire lane in Chicago traffic because if you squish to one side - that's when you get buzzed by people trying to squeeze past you.  This way, they have to pass in the other lane.


2012-05-25 10:10 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

I'm confused.
Were you behind the car, waiting for him to turn right? So, just impatient?
Or were you next to him - like you passed a line of cars on the right who were stopped? And you were trying to go straight as he was trying to turn right?

Either way, you should act like a car and be prepared to stop if the drive in front of you does. 

2012-05-25 10:22 AM
in reply to: #4228327

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
Nobody has mentioned it, but you don't need to clip in right away either. Wait until you're clear of the area, then clip in. The pedals still work the same.
2014-09-20 1:06 PM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
Firstly, I'm very glad you are okay!

It is not a good idea to ride up to the right beside cars at a light. Always get in the line as if you were a car.

http://bicyclesafe.com/

See #5 and #6. And read the whole page, too, as it's filled with great advice how to not get hit by cars!



Edited by keyone 2014-09-20 1:07 PM
2014-09-20 2:59 PM
in reply to: keyone

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver

It was your fault in 2012 when you asked, and it probably still is.

2014-09-20 6:17 PM
in reply to: Left Brain

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
Originally posted by Left Brain

It was your fault in 2012 when you asked, and it probably still is.




:p

there should be a law against reviving threads more than 6 months old.


2014-09-20 6:28 PM
in reply to: jennifer_runs

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Subject: RE: Was it my fault I fell or the driver
oh crap, sorry! This thread was in a "related thread" underneath some other thread I was reading. My bad.
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