Got a little story to tell from a while ago.
Since I'm from continental Europe, everything is the "wrong" way round here, so I'll try to flip it all around for your convenience.
I was going down a pretty wide road, with two separate "turn left" lanes. I was riding on the cycle path, nicely done asphalt, about 2m wide and separated from the street by a row of parking cars. On my left was the footpath, another 2m wide. All in all, a pretty pleasant place to ride.
I was riding on the cycle path at maybe 20mph, when a car pulled through a gap in the line of parked cars, heading for the entry of a retirement home on my left, not checking the bicycle lane and consequently not seeing me.
I ended up on the side of the car, rear view mirror comfortably embedded in my stomach, bike on the ground, as my braking seemed to have stopped it, but not me, in time.
The passenger, an elderly lady in her 80s, looked quite shocked and the driver, her daughter in her 60s or so was completely devastated.
I got away lucky, could stand up after catching my breath, nothing broken, bike completely unharmed (it didn't hit the car after all). We exchanged details and after a short break I continued my ride. Was properly scared though, easily could have been more serious with a little different timing.
Still went to the doctor on the next day as I was feeling a little shaken. Turns out I had a contusion on my left shoulder, a mild whiplash thing in my neck, as my head didn't hit the car and, most annoying of all, a bent toenail, which was the only thing I noticed immediately after the crash.
Didn't bother with police, as no monetary damage was done and she was extremely apologetic.
This happened maybe a month ago, I healed up fine and the bike did not show any signs of damage.
Got a little story to tell from a while ago.
Since I'm from continental Europe, everything is the "wrong" way round here, so I'll try to flip it all around for your convenience.
I was going down a pretty wide road, with two separate "turn left" lanes. I was riding on the cycle path, nicely done asphalt, about 2m wide and separated from the street by a row of parking cars. On my left was the footpath, another 2m wide. All in all, a pretty pleasant place to ride.
I was riding on the cycle path at maybe 20mph, when a car pulled through a gap in the line of parked cars, heading for the entry of a retirement home on my left, not checking the bicycle lane and consequently not seeing me.
I ended up on the side of the car, rear view mirror comfortably embedded in my stomach, bike on the ground, as my braking seemed to have stopped it, but not me, in time.
The passenger, an elderly lady in her 80s, looked quite shocked and the driver, her daughter in her 60s or so was completely devastated.
I got away lucky, could stand up after catching my breath, nothing broken, bike completely unharmed (it didn't hit the car after all). We exchanged details and after a short break I continued my ride. Was properly scared though, easily could have been more serious with a little different timing.
Still went to the doctor on the next day as I was feeling a little shaken. Turns out I had a contusion on my left shoulder, a mild whiplash thing in my neck, as my head didn't hit the car and, most annoying of all, a bent toenail, which was the only thing I noticed immediately after the crash.
Didn't bother with police, as no monetary damage was done and she was extremely apologetic.
This happened maybe a month ago, I healed up fine and the bike did not show any signs of damage.