I made the mistake of biking with a lot on my mind yesterday, and that nearly got me killed. Heading West on Davenport, I normally change to the leftmost side of the car lane to indicate my intention to turn left from Davenport onto Shaw. Riding on autopilot, I'm not entirely sure where I positionned myself but clearly not nearly far enough to the left. After all the oncoming cars had passed I started to turn left and was very nearly taken out by a driver passing me on the left. Normally, I would have been completely over to the left so any car wishing to pass to go straight would pass on my right, and yet I *still* would have done a shoulder check. It was completely my fault and I'm afraid that I've now added to that particular driver's repertoire of "damned crazy cyclist" stories. I keep thinking how that very stupid move on my part would have resulted in nothing more than a fender bender had I been in a car (or nothing at all, since a car takes up more space and passing on the left would not have been an option). The cost of inattention is so much higher when you're on a bike. I'd actually thought in the morning that it might not be a good day for me to bike but I didn't want to miss my favourite ride of the week. Scared me enough that I wanted to share - if in doubt, better to take the TTC than to risk making a big mistake. Ride safely!
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Posted 3 years ago #
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Posted 3 years ago #
I'm glad this doesn't stop you from riding, Annie.
I'm also glad you're physically okay and only shaken up. We've all been there, times when we're not fully attentive when we're driving or cycling and then quickly something happens that could have been prevented.
Thanks for the reminder to us all to keep doing our shoulder checks, maybe get a mirror as well. -
Posted 3 years ago #
Yes... glad you are okay Annie. :)
I've been seriously considering one of those mirrors that connect to helmets... or sunglasses.
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Posted 3 years ago #
Thanks guys. I was *much* more attentive today. :)
At some point in the past I've tried both a helmet mirror and one that clips onto the handlebars but I didn't like either. Because my orientation always changes, I found that half the time the mirror was pointing at something completely useless. I'll stick to shoulder checks - promise.
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Posted 3 years ago #
Wow - scary! Glad you're OK.
I tried the helmet mirror but it was so far in my peripheral vision that it didn't get magnified by my glasses. I might try a handlebar one sometime. That said, nothing beats a shoulder check - there's always a blind spot if you use any mirror. A shoulder check often has resulted in a driver actually allowing me to merge in front of them so there's an added bonus.
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Posted 3 years ago #
Annie, it's great that you were unharmed in your incident. I do however think that the subject line "Nearly got Myself Killed Last Night" is a bit extreme and will only scare people from getting on a bicycle.
Imagine how discouraging it would be for a prospective utilitarian cyclist to perceive that one simple mistake will end your life forever. You and I both know that chances are, even if you collided with the automobile, in all likelihood you wouldn't have been killed.
In 2008, 2 cyclists were killed in Toronto, compared to 27 pedestrians, 7 car passengers, and 15 car drivers. Thousands of people cycle safely in Toronto without major incidents.
Compare these numbers with the number of people who die in Toronto from obesity and pollution and there is a huge benefit to get more people on bikes.
I think we all have a common goal on this forum to get more people to cycle in Toronto, and leading people to believe that riding a bike is as dangerous as it sounds on this thread is unhelpful (I think).
Cycling is already relatively safe, it's healthy, it's fun, and the more people we get on bicycles in Toronto, the safer (and healthier) it will be for everyone.
(But seriously, I'm glad you managed to escape unharmed in your incident).
James / theurbancountry.com
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Posted 3 years ago #
I disagree James. Given the speed at which the car was going, the fact that the driver had to swerve to avoid me (and ended up stopped at an angle as a result of the manoeuver, this wasn't a simple brush-by) I'm quite certain that a few seconds sooner and I would have been sent flying. I'm not going to downplay what happened in order to coddle some newbie cyclists reading the forum. I was back on my bike yesterday and today and have no plans to quit biking, let that weigh in for the other side. Bad collisions happen, and we hear about those in the newspapers. Near misses happen too, and sometimes they even happen to people who post on forums. Like someone said in another thread - people don't stop driving on the 401 even though we hear about collisions, injuries and deaths on it every day. My post was really meant for experienced cyclists. I think new cyclists are more nervous, and more likely to pay attention to every little thing. Those of us who have been cycling all our lives get complacent and are probably at greater risk of becoming inattentive. I don't want anything bad to happen to any of you guys.
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Posted 3 years ago #
Annie, I think it's very important for people riding bikes to be attentive, and I think it's great to discuss near misses on this forum as a way to raise awareness for all of us that we always need to pay close attention to absolutely everything going on around us.
I don't think anybody on this forum should "coddle" to newbie cyclists either. But that doesn't change my argument that your underlying assumption that your inattentiveness would have definitively resulted in death isn't helpful to cyclists (newbies or experienced). It's a HUGE assumption that feeds the culture of fear that persists all around us. The human body is more resilient than we sometimes give credit for.
When I interview people about why they don't cycle in Toronto, most of them say it's because they don't want to be killed. But most of these same people drive cars on the highway, some of them smoke, and some of them eat at McDonalds. The false perception that cycling in Toronto is like walking a plank on top of a pool full of alligators is the exact reason we have so few cyclists in the first place.
Sure, it might scare people into paying a bit more attention, but it might also scare people into thinking twice about getting back on their bicycle again. I'm glad to see that your near miss didn't dissuade you from continuing to cycle, but others might not be as brave - and the result is less cyclists on our streets and less safety for those who do cycle.
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Posted 3 years ago #
I have also been thinking of getting a mirror for my helmet.
I've been using extra caution as the days become shorter at rush hour as well.
I've had to stop picking up my kids at school with the bike and trailer too,
I already miss that part of my day. -
Posted 3 years ago #
"When I interview people about why they don't cycle in Toronto, most of them say it's because they don't want to be killed. But most of these same people drive cars on the highway, some of them smoke, and some of them eat at McDonalds."
maybe these people are lazy and are looking for an excuse to cover up the fact that they don't want to get off their asses and do something healthy not for just themselves but our society?
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Posted 3 years ago #
Kidonthehip... I don't understand how your two posts "jive" with eachother... one post says that you are trying to be safer as the daylight hours get shorter... yet say that people aren't concerned about safety with biking but lazy?
I think you know that people are frightened of being on busy roads beside cars, because cyclists are very vulnerable... and very often, the ONLY time cycling is in the news is when a cyclist gets killed.
Think back to when you started cycling... I'm sure you remember being scared to be right beside moving cars.
Personally, I started out using the Dundas East bikelanes to start commuting to work, and I was freaked out even in the bikelanes! :) I did it enough though, that I got used to it.
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Posted 3 years ago #
I took "theurbancountry" comment as being based on interviews of people that don't cycle. Not people that are getting started in it as a new form of transportation and or lifestyle.
Me, I have been cycle for many decades and in different cities and provinces.
Toronto was a new challenge because of the street tracks. Caution should always be taken.
My point on being a little more careful during this time of year is the sun sets earlier and motorists have a harder time seeing, cyclists, pedestrians, and even other motorists. But cyclists, being on the street with motorists do have more to be cautious about, because a collision can be a serious injury.
AnnieD's post is her own warning that anyone not paying attention to the action of the moment on the busy streets of Toronto can find themselves in a harmful accident, whether motorist driving west into the sun at dawn or dusk, pedestrian text messeaging while crossing a sidewalk, or cyclist that is not aware of the traffic around them. I deffeniatly don't want to discourage people not to start up riding a bike in TO rather than driving a car.
I don't know what I would do without my bike, and the more cyclists in the city means more attention on the concerns we have. -
Posted 3 years ago #
Okay.. I understand where you are coming from now. :)
When the clocks change in November (previously in October) is my least favourite time for biking... and it's been statistically proven that there are most accidents at that time of year... a common theory is that the the early darkness really confuses the brain (which doesn't have the luxury of an instant time change) and affects our perceptions.
I almost stop biking every year in the fall because I feel sooo unsafe on the roads for a couple of weeks. Cars seem to pass me closer, etc... but maybe it's all imagined, and it's *my* brain disoriented by the time change? :)
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Posted 3 years ago #
Joe, I did feel that there was a week or so just after the time change where drivers were more aggressive. The morning news constantly talked about watching out for drowsy drivers, so I assume those listening were taking the stance that the more aggressive they were the less danger they'd be in.
However, after that week I found drivers to give me a bit more room. Except on Friday nights, when people from outside the city come flooding in (most likely from areas with far less cyclists on the road).
And as for AnnieD's point. I've had a few "Whoa, that was close" moments when I let my mind wander. I remember driving in my car for long lengths of time and not really watching the road. You really can't do that on a bike. While it can put you in harm's way, I find it also takes me off course, missing side streets I should have taken or points me toward the potholes... each and every one!
Duncan's City Ride - That's my blog about cycling in the city of Toronto, natch! -
Posted 3 years ago #
Theurbancountry, you make me think of one of my dance instructors. On more than one occasion a student will complain that "you're trying to kill us!" to which he earnestly replies "No, I don't want to kill you", as if the student honestly believed that was his intention.
"You're trying to kill us!" or "I nearly got killed!" are expressions people use all the time referring to events with a whole range of real risk, from none at all to the genuine close call. The vast majority of people get that. If it's that important to you, Joe can go ahead and edit my subject line to "I nearly got killed, or severely injured!".
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Posted 3 years ago #
No... no... I'll keep the subject line as is... I think Annie makes a good point, and I think James (urbancountry) knows why you titled it as such. :)
Unfortunately, I can relate as well... my commute since we moved is along sleepy residential streets and alleys until I get to Broadview & Danforth, and I know I am less aware than I should be (plus, it's usually pre-coffee) because there are very little cars on those streets at 7am.
I do catch myself being less aware though... and it proves we all do it, whether driving, cycling or walking.
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Posted 2 years ago #
Keep conversation according to the topic
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