Categories: cycling
Tags: Cycling
Date: 19 September 2008 16:38:24
I was cycling home from work this morning after working all night, and as I was cycling down a bike lane I spotted a pedestrian on the side of the road, looking as if she was about to cross the road but without checking the way I was coming. The road was a one way road for cars and a two way road for bikes, and the first thing she was stepping into was the bike lane. I rang my bell and started to brake, but it was too late - she walked straight into me. Knocked me clean off my bike, into where the cars would soon be driving. My right elbow, right leg and head all made contact with the ground, although luckily I was wearing a helmet so my head remained undamaged. I quickly got up, worried about the approaching cars, only to receive the blunt blame for this accident from the seemingly uninjured pedestrian. She claimed I was on red. No - the cars coming the other way are on red. I am a bike. And that set of traffic lights had a little green bike picture on it. That means bikes can go. I wasn't that rude to her face though... I said I was sorry, but that I did ring my bell and I was on green. She handed me my front brake handle that was lying on the ground and stormed off, without any apology or checking that I wasn't significantly injured.
I got myself onto the pavement and inspected my injuries. Nothing too bad, just a stinging graze on my elbow and the beginnings of what I think will be a massive bruise on my leg. I was pretty shaken up though - I did let a couple of tears fall down my face as the shock and tiredness from the night hit. I thought I was going to have to walk my bike home, which would take at least half an hour, but I wanted my bed so much that I cycled home (slowly) without a front brake. Luckily I didn't have to go down any big hills.