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
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