Hit by an Oncoming cyclist

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  • November 28, 2015 at 12:31 am #917612
    jasonhgross
    Participant

    Hey guys, I am registered under another user name but got locked out, and needed to tell this story. I was on my way heading west on 4 mile run on the way from the Mount Vernon Trail on my way to the W&O, on the blind hill just before the water treatment facility where the road meets going in three directions. This is just after the bridges/tunnel where people fish if you know where I mean. I go this route about twice a week, and each time recognize that its a dangerous area. As I am coming up the short by steep hill, a guy in crazy ugly kit (red and orange and yellow) on a road bike (like me) was coming down the hill. He couldnt get past due to a pedestrian on his side of the path. I got over as far as I dare (due to rocks directly off the path) — about 4 inches from the edge. But instead of breaking and waiting, the guy kept coming, entering my lane and hitting me (my left side to his right). Since I moved to avoid with nowhere to go and was thrown. The guy managed to stay on his bike. So instead of being patient and waiting behind the pedestrians as we all do, he entered the oncoming lane (my lane) without looking. I am ok, left hand and wrist are swollen where they impacted the rider, right side is scraped. Hit my head on the rocks, but I am ok. Aways were a helmet!

    So keep an eye out for this guy and other riders in the nice weather, very dangerous out there.

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Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • November 28, 2015 at 12:37 am #1041854
    Jason
    Participant

    Found my logon, this was my post.

    November 28, 2015 at 12:55 am #1041855
    awlcfa
    Participant

    Is this the area you are mentioning? If so, I agree it is rather dangerous. Hope you’re okay!

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]10150[/ATTACH]

    November 28, 2015 at 1:17 am #1041856
    Jason
    Participant

    I am ok, and many thanks for asking. That IS the area. Very good detective work. I was at the 7:00 area of your red circle, and landed in the rocks you can see right at the edge of the red after the collision.

    November 28, 2015 at 1:43 am #1041857
    wheelswings
    Participant

    Yikes – what a horrid story. Very sorry to hear. Did the rider ever stop after crashing into you? This is one of those situations in which it would have been good to have a camera on your helmet (I don’t have one either.)
    Heal fast. Sending hugs. w&w

    November 28, 2015 at 4:29 pm #1041859
    bobco85
    Participant

    That sucks, man. I hate that Y-shaped intersection as it’s not clear who has the right-of-way and few if any signal their intentions (combination of not caring and the steepness of that dip into the intersection making it harder to lift one hand off the handlebars). Of course, your situation didn’t involve those and could have happened anywhere there are curves obscuring views and irresponsible cyclists.

    I hope the cyclist stopped, but they might not have if (I’m assuming the best of character here) he did not see you actually go down (out of sight, out of mind). Did the pedestrian stop to check on you? At the very least, you’d have a witness to this cyclist’s dangerous actions.

    Take care and heal up fast.

    November 28, 2015 at 6:29 pm #1041863
    Jason
    Participant

    He slowed down about a block away (under the bridge) and looked back, dismounted. He didnt look sorry at all. When I asked him what he thought he was doing he just looked at me. I then said “you didnt maintain your line” No response. I then asked “did you even see me.” Finally he said “I’m sorry?” and kind of shrugged. I could see i was just inconveniencing him by slowing him down further. Basically, an irresponsible cyclist. I guess its a lesson, no matter what you do to avoid, and look ahead, there is still someone out there who can endanger you.

    Thanks for all the well wishes, Hopefully I wont be discouraged from cycling on the paths.

    November 30, 2015 at 5:28 pm #1041911
    creadinger
    Participant

    That intersection is indeed really bad with bad pavement, sharp turns, bad to no sight lines that get worse during summer due to vegetation, a hill, and no clear indication of ROW. I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often. Hopefully that goes to show that most of us aren’t a-holes like this guy and are willing to slow down to figure out the situation before plowing through people.

    In the afternoons I come up 4MR and make the U-turn up the ramp to Rt 1. I always signal that, and I’ve seen others do it too, but it’s difficult to see around the bend to the left to see if anyone is going to come down 4MR and up the ramp. Who would have the ROW in that situation anyway? Even simple situations like going down the ramp to do the left U-turn to 4MR aren’t easy because when a bike is coming eastbound on 4MR, it’s not clear who should yield and I’ve had a couple, “you go, no you go, no you go” situations. From that scenario it’s also difficult to if anyone is coming westbound from under the bridges. Terrible design.

    Throw some pedestrians and joggers into that mix and it’s a mess.

    November 30, 2015 at 6:20 pm #1041916
    PotomacCyclist
    Participant

    I knew which spot you were talking about right away, even though I haven’t ridden through there often this year.

    Unfortunately, I encounter that sort of behavior on the Mt. Vernon Trail a lot. That’s why I really dislike riding there during peak periods (i.e., rush hours, mild weekends). Almost every time I ride in busy periods, someone will try to pass pedestrians or slower cyclists and cross the center line or squeeze in between two-way traffic, narrowly missing everyone. Although I have to admit that I’ve misjudged an occasional pass myself, and ended up doing something similar, I usually just slow down and wait for the other side of the trail to clear before attempting to pass. If it’s not safe, then I just continue at a slower speed.

    There really is a mindset among a significant percentage of people that they have the right of way — on the other side of the center line — just because they are trying to pass. They don’t care if they force oncoming bike traffic to veer away, even though they are riding in the wrong direction on the other side of that center line. No doubt it’s similar to the driver mindset that they have the “right” to run a red light as long as they reach the intersection within a couple seconds of the light turning red (some sort of non-existent two-second rule).

    I hope you weren’t too badly injured. Sometimes the injury isn’t apparent right away.

    November 30, 2015 at 7:46 pm #1041858
    dasgeh
    Participant

    I would bet most people think they have room to pass, even if they think it will be close. Honestly, I’ve moved closer to the center at times to signal that, no, there is not enough room to pass in similar situations (but I don’t know this location well).

    December 2, 2015 at 4:20 pm #1042070
    Supermau
    Participant

    Sorry to hear about this. I ride that route to and from work, though I haven’t been commuting for over a month. Never had any issue there myself, though I’m not an asshole rider. Sounds like the one who hit you clearly is. I’m at a point now where I dare say I hate riding the MUP’s around here, unless it’s pouring rain – at least then I can count on being mostly alone. Glad your okay!

    February 1, 2016 at 7:58 pm #1046802
    jasonhgross
    Participant

    @dasgeh 128765 wrote:

    I would bet most people think they have room to pass, even if they think it will be close. Honestly, I’ve moved closer to the center at times to signal that, no, there is not enough room to pass in similar situations (but I don’t know this location well).

    This is good advice and actually I have been doing this since my accident. Nothing can stop a bad rider, but showing there is no room gives a heads up to dangerous passers. Since then I have also had a few ELITE riders pass too close, but moving into the center of my lane or even more-so keeps them tamped down to a degree.

    Thanks for all the well-wishes. I kept riding the MUPS, only work travel and snow slowed me down.

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