Àlmost met my maker riding home tonight

30 minutes ago I came six inches from being implanted on a black Lexus.

I was riding home on Clark northbound around Cullum.  The street is very wide here, no cars parked on either side and great visibility.  I had front and rear lights on and with the cemetery wall to my right you couldn't miss me.

The Lexus is going SOUTHBOUND and pulls a U turn right in front of me. I wasn't paying any attentio to traffic going the  OPPOSITE direction so all of a sudden I see a car turning in front of me. The driver dude was looking to the north as he turned  so doesnt even see me.  I and several guys across the street start screaming. I hit the brakes and with about 160 of his degrees made he stops the car.  I scream "you almost killed me" and the guys across the street run over yelling at him too.  He takes off without an apology!

I guess the learning's are fellow bikers:

Always expect the unexpected

Drive defensively

Realize how dangerous biking can be

Josh

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on September 25, 2015 at 4:20pm

You are right on every count.  Thank goodness you are OK.  Ride safe!

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on September 25, 2015 at 4:21pm

Thank heaven you were paying attention. Expect someone (driver, cyclist, pedestrian) to do something stupid every second.

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on September 26, 2015 at 12:44am

Exactly Lisa.

Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on September 26, 2015 at 11:16am

Truly, that's the only way to survive.  Sometimes even that might not be enough to avoid trouble.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on September 26, 2015 at 12:21am
This might help also. Ride safely.

Madonna del Ghisallo, patron saint of cyclists holy medal.

http://www.bikeradar.com/us/gear/article/cyclings-patron-saint-mado...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_del_Ghisallo
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Permalink Reply by Rich S on September 26, 2015 at 10:18am
Glad you're safe!

Just a month ago I was riding south on Lathrop approaching Washington Ave in River Forest to meet some friends to ride the IPP. It was about 9am and I had the green light as I was approaching Washington on a clear and sunny morning. I looked to my right and saw a Jeep Cherokee approaching from the west and thought it was going too fast to stop. I pulled hard on the brakes and stopped in the middle of the intersection and the driver blew the red light at full speed. Never even saw me. I sat in the middle of the intersection stunned for a few seconds before continuing on my way. I still shudder when I think about that moment.

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