Mondofresh
07-18-2007, 07:59 AM
I had a very close call while commuting into work to Lloyd District at about 8:15 this morning
Eastbound in the bike lane on Multnomah, riding about 10 miles an hour, visibility is marginal as it is raining heavily. I have a red 7-led flasher on the back and bright white flasher on the front. I'm wearing bright yellow jacket and bright red and white helmet.
As I approach the entrance to the Kaiser Building parking garage a blue forester comes from the middle lane and dives across the right lane and bike lane and enters the parking lot. I lock both brakes and do a MTB butt drop to keep the bike upright. Came within a couple of feet of him. I carefully continue eastbound but realize that this is a great opportunity to share my opinion with a dangerous driver. I turn and enter the parking structure and immediately I'm flagged down by a driver of a CRV who shows me where the guy is parked.
As I calmly wait for the guy to get out of his car, the CRV driver walks over and says that he saw the whole thing. When the forester driver gets out:
me: "Sir, did you realize that you crossed two lanes of traffic without signaling and almost hit me?"
him: "I signaled" <ha ha ha>
CRV guy: "Sir, you didn't signal and you almost hit him!"
me: "Sir, can you please, please, please be more careful. Please use your signal and look next time."
him: "Sorry about that (not very convincingly).
It was nice to have CRV guy for "backup". He had a rooftop bike-rack setup so I think he is a rider. I'm very non-confrontational, so it was very nice to have some support.
A few months ago I broke and bruised some ribs in a similar situation where I was not able to stop in time. It was nice to escape injury and get to confront the driver this time. I don't think the driver got the message, but it was nice to calmly address the situation with him.
(CRV guy - if you're reading this, PM me and I'll buy you lunch sometime)
Eastbound in the bike lane on Multnomah, riding about 10 miles an hour, visibility is marginal as it is raining heavily. I have a red 7-led flasher on the back and bright white flasher on the front. I'm wearing bright yellow jacket and bright red and white helmet.
As I approach the entrance to the Kaiser Building parking garage a blue forester comes from the middle lane and dives across the right lane and bike lane and enters the parking lot. I lock both brakes and do a MTB butt drop to keep the bike upright. Came within a couple of feet of him. I carefully continue eastbound but realize that this is a great opportunity to share my opinion with a dangerous driver. I turn and enter the parking structure and immediately I'm flagged down by a driver of a CRV who shows me where the guy is parked.
As I calmly wait for the guy to get out of his car, the CRV driver walks over and says that he saw the whole thing. When the forester driver gets out:
me: "Sir, did you realize that you crossed two lanes of traffic without signaling and almost hit me?"
him: "I signaled" <ha ha ha>
CRV guy: "Sir, you didn't signal and you almost hit him!"
me: "Sir, can you please, please, please be more careful. Please use your signal and look next time."
him: "Sorry about that (not very convincingly).
It was nice to have CRV guy for "backup". He had a rooftop bike-rack setup so I think he is a rider. I'm very non-confrontational, so it was very nice to have some support.
A few months ago I broke and bruised some ribs in a similar situation where I was not able to stop in time. It was nice to escape injury and get to confront the driver this time. I don't think the driver got the message, but it was nice to calmly address the situation with him.
(CRV guy - if you're reading this, PM me and I'll buy you lunch sometime)