Wow- almost died tonight (again)

Going south on Ravenswood approaching Irving Park. I have the green. Not I'm about to get the green, not I'm about to lose the green. I have the green.

For whatever reason, I'm cognizant of the lights towards my right, rapidly approaching left. It's a cab. White with light blue effects.

I really don't know how we didn't collide. I turned left, turned my head even further left, jammed on my brakes and…

I'm pretty sure that the cab's path did not alter. I landed on my left butt cheek. I suspect a large bruise is forthcoming.

I've nearly died a number of times, ranging from falling out of a big rig when I was three, to getting square on run over by a two ton car a few years ago.

But for whatever reason, this morning's encounter has shaken me more. Just the pure randomness of it. A few hundredths of a second slower on the brakes and I wouldn't have the luxury of typing this from the comfort of my pillow.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 23, 2010 at 8:12am

Glad you're mostly OK.
Did the cab stop? Any indication of why it happened?

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Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on October 23, 2010 at 10:24am

i ride up and down ravenswood all the time. to my understanding of the incident, the cab was coming from the west. if so, i wonder if the cab driver didn't see the light because of the Metra bridge. glad you're ok.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 23, 2010 at 11:13am

I'm glad that you're relatively okay, and that the incident wasn't worse. That sounds scary as hell.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Maher on October 23, 2010 at 11:14am

Westbound cab was running a red and didn't stop. I was east of the tracks.

It's an obstructed view intersection due to the Metra pillars, and the intersection dipping down under the tracks.

I suspect I landed wrist first, as it hurts like hell right now.

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Permalink Reply by cutifly on October 23, 2010 at 12:25pm

The nature of being ...

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Permalink Reply by Davo on October 23, 2010 at 4:16pm

I know this intersection well. I don't think that the obstructed view of the stop lights justifies why the cabbie ran the red. I'm always try to be more aware of my surroundings when traveling parallel to bridges.

Wait the cab was west bound. If that was the case, they are a huge Ahole

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Permalink Reply by Vilda on October 23, 2010 at 4:41pm

Glad you are mostly ok! No one like cabbies!!!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 23, 2010 at 5:40pm

Yes, that is a tricky intersection. This is a good reminder to be extra cautious and watch out for east- or westbound vehicles at these visually obstructed intersections along the UP North line in Ravenswood.

Davo said:

I know this intersection well. I don't think that the obstructed view of the stop lights justifies why the cabbie ran the red. I'm always try to be more aware of my surroundings when traveling parallel to bridges.

Wait the cab was west bound. If that was the case, they are a huge Ahole