Be Careful Out There...
To preface this story: I ride year round, I wear a helmet & reflective clothing, I have lights like crazy all over my bike, I claim the lane when I need to and I actually stop at stop signs and red lights etc. etc. etc...basically I am about as safe on the road as a bicyclist can be.
This morning I was riding to work. At the corner of Church and Crawford in Skokie I started into the intersection (when the light turned green) heading westbound on Church, and a driver rear ended the stopped car waiting to head North on Crawford. If that car hadn't been there the driver would have undoubtedly run the stoplight and I would have been hit.
I stopped to see that the woman driving the first car was alright, and she seemed to have a neck injury, so I called 911. The guy driving the other vehicle seemed a little off kilter and when he saw me call the police he stumbled back into his car and sped off. The guy was pretty obviously drunk. I was able to get the license plate number and relay it to the 911 operator. By the time the police showed up to the scene of the crash the officer who interviewed me told me they had already caught the guy.
Bottom line is that I take every precaution to minimize the risks of bike commuting, but if the stopped car hadn’t been there this morning I still would have been hit. This hasn’t deterred me from riding…it has only reaffirmed how important it is to be careful and aware when you ride and to appreciate every moment that we have been given!
Be careful riding out there.
Respectfully
-Elliot
This morning I was riding to work. At the corner of Church and Crawford in Skokie I started into the intersection (when the light turned green) heading westbound on Church, and a driver rear ended the stopped car waiting to head North on Crawford. If that car hadn't been there the driver would have undoubtedly run the stoplight and I would have been hit.
I stopped to see that the woman driving the first car was alright, and she seemed to have a neck injury, so I called 911. The guy driving the other vehicle seemed a little off kilter and when he saw me call the police he stumbled back into his car and sped off. The guy was pretty obviously drunk. I was able to get the license plate number and relay it to the 911 operator. By the time the police showed up to the scene of the crash the officer who interviewed me told me they had already caught the guy.
Bottom line is that I take every precaution to minimize the risks of bike commuting, but if the stopped car hadn’t been there this morning I still would have been hit. This hasn’t deterred me from riding…it has only reaffirmed how important it is to be careful and aware when you ride and to appreciate every moment that we have been given!
Be careful riding out there.
Respectfully
-Elliot
Views: 94
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on
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Thanks Elliot, good point and something we should remember.
I was 2 minutes behind a cyclist who got hit yesterday going through a yellow....
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Permalink Reply by lauren sailor on
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glad you're OK, and glad you got the plate #!
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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on
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Geeeeeezzzz Brett!!! As you know I used to ride down Church all the time...but these days I've found parallel residential streets further south for my Skokie commute. I might see you here and there this summer on the way to Des Plaines, though.
Glad you're OK!
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Permalink Reply by joe on
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thats pretty much what happend to my roommate last friday...he stopped at a stop sign...a car went thru..when it was his turn he went thru and the lame ass suv going north blew the stop sign and wrecked him...should make for an interesting law suit
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Permalink Reply by Greg Coleman on
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Hopefully, justice will prevail. Church Ave has always been wacky with people trying to drive in the bike and parking areas. I'm glad you are okay, and my thoughts are with the woman. Greta job on getting the plates and I deeply hope some good will come of this (i.e.- getting a hazardous driver off the road).
Speaking of texting drivers, one blew a stop sign in front of me and the lady on our way out this evening. Thankfully, the person was about 20 yards in front of my girlfriend, but they person just slowed down enough to make the turn, no heed to the bright red, unobstructed stop sign. *sigh*
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Permalink Reply by Jon on
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Jesus, glad you're ok. On a weird note, and I swear this is 100% true, I saw something that almost caused me to get in to a car wreck today. I was driving home from work on the Kennedy, and as I glance over to change lanes, I see a little latino kid, couldn't have been more than 12 or 13, riding on the shoulder of the Kennedy. Just peddling along. I saw him go right across an on-ramp without even looking and last I saw he was heading the wrong way up an on-ramp somewhere near Nagle. Blew my mind. Also? No helmet.
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Permalink Reply by igz on
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I think most urban cyclists have developed a keen third eye around precarious situations, but it goes to show ya...shit happens...even if we are taking all precautions. Keep safe, y'all!!
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Permalink Reply by Gary Gilbert on
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Sad news from Oklahoma
3 cyclists hit by drunk driver
http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=10505050
video link- http://cfc.ktul.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=42256
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Looks like a loonng and speedy divided highway....
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