Anyone ever hit a pedestrian?

1id10t

Hit another cyclist when he cut directly across my path the other day. Nothing major; ie neither of us fell off our bikes. He apologised profusely though. I just grunted and extricated my front wheel from his bike and rode off.
However, the strangest cyclist/pedestrian collision I saw was severalyears ago. It happened one lunch time on the middle of a busy Sydney CBD street. Strangely, there were no motor vehicles nearby having been stopped at lights about fifty metres either side of this intersection. The pedestrian lights were still red and a lone cyclist was rolling along one of four lanes (two lanes each way) toward the crossing. A lady decides to step out onto the road, gets about two metres across, looks up and notices the cyclist about 15-20 metres away. Mind you, he is not going fast at all. She stops like a rabbit caught in the spotlight, the cyclist looks at her but doesn't swerve as though he's waiting for her to move and then Bam!!...they collide. Well, they go down in front of a large crowd of stunned onlookers (none of whom go to either ones assistance; I guess we were all to stunned) but not long after get up again. Neither were hurt but it was such an odd thing as they both seemed to have plenty of time to react but chose not, instead awaiting the other to make a move.
I laughed about that one afterwards as it seemed absurd. Fortunately, both seemed unhurt as after a short exchange they appeared to part company.

bikelet

I once hit a little boy on cycle track outside a speedome. It was like a cycling day for young and old and he had been running back and forth across the track all day despite many warnings from his parents. Actually- i didn't hit him- he ran into the side of me in one of his blind runs across the track. I came off and was on an old bike so it was all good. The kid was screaming and i didn't feel very sorry for him at the time. I was going about 30km at the time over the crest of a bit of a hill and into a covered area so i was temporarily blinded too, i think. I did try to swerve but it was inevitable; he kept coming. I don't think i did any real damage to him and maybe he'll cross roads more carefully now.

rek

Funny you mention this! The only pedestrian accident I've had is very similar, except at a higher speed, probably 25km/h or so... there was a 4-way intersection with my direction having the green light, and there were three jaywalkers crossing; two had the good sense to get the heck out of there once they noticed the road wasn't clear, and one had the "deer in the headlights" look and stayed right in the area I turned in order to help avoid the others

Ended up being able to turn just that little more and miss them, only hit their backpack.. they got twirled around almost like a spinning top, and I ended up skidding down and came off the bike.. interestingly enough the other pedestrians couldn't give a stuff about the jaywalker, they were more interested to make sure I was OK

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Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

peetee

I hit a paper boy on his bike when he rode off the pavement without looking. Also the same year I hit one of a group of five running across the road at the bottom of a hill. Scariest of the lot was a near miss with a push chair - the mum had her back to me walking along the pavement, she turned, pushed the front wheels of the buggy into the road and then looked.
People like that should be banned from breeding.

Sedje

I ran into one guy who couldnt get out of my way when I turned right he did so too. I was on the side walk at the time but luckily I slow down to a leisurly 15mph (which I think is about 22kmh) on the side walk. He was not hurt and I think he found it more funny than anything else. I was just thanking god I didnt hurt him.

I clipped another guy with my handlebars and had one guy catch my bars after I started skidding into him this saved us both from alot of pain.

If you lived in Orlando you would understand why I am on the sidewalk alot. We have five of the top 20 most dangerous roads in the US. It's so insane on the road here and the city doesnt recognize how benificial promoting a safe road for commuting is. Hopefully this changes in the future with $4.00 per gallon gas prices.

I would have to say feel lucky. My sister hit a kid on his bike in her car and mangled his leg up badly. He sped out in front of her on his bike with out looking. The opposite side is pretty scary.

wooliferkins

Ah the old you wouldn't dare run a small child down routine, what is it with pushchairs etc?

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Neil

www.dotbike.com

Blademun

I hear ya, I live over in Port Richey/New Port Richey area north of St.Pete and it is just unreal how horrible the drivers are. We have US 19, another of the nations top 20 dangerous roads. Ever seen a bumber sticker saying "Pray for me. I drive on 19."? Yeah. I use the sidewalks, if they exist, otherwise I'm on the 3 foot wide shoulders that line most of the major highways, like ole 19'.

The sidewalks are pretty brutal too. They are in disrepair, they are breaking apart at points and cracking into pieces. Thats what happens though when you build upon sand. Fortunately there are very few pedestrians in this area. I actually pass by many more cyclists on the sidewalks. ('cylists' is a relative term, these are people on Roadmasters and Next bikes from wal-mart doing a half-mile trip to the liquor store.)Sidewalk riding is just a accepted part of cycling here. In my one accident involving a car, because I was on a sidewalk at the time, the officer told the driver it was her fault because 'pedestrians always have the right of way' LOL.

So far I am pedestrian Accident free..I've only been in one car accident, and the rest of my accidents are from me misjudging my speed or hitting a sand trap.

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cavedog

Okay, no one will read this, but....lets set the way back machine to (oh rats, gotta think...) 1972....I was....well, lets just say I was in school, okay. On a sidewalk, booking on my "ten speed". Group of girls ahead. I yell "look out". I swerve to the left. All four step off the sidewalk, to the left. I swerve to the right. One steps in front of me. No time to brake, turn, do anything. I hit her. I go over the bars, do a header. Onto the sidewalk. Concrete. Split my skin at the eyebrow. She is flopping around like a mullet (the fish) out of water. Find out later she ended up with a broken leg. Enough fault to go around. I'm bleeding like, well, most skull wounds bleed, vigorously. Bent my wheel. Didn't ride for a year afterwards.

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Sedje

I found a great way to get people to move is to tell them loudly to move in the direction you want them to. People respond to instructions very well, especially in stressful situations where people are waiting for someone to tell them what to do. It's worked most of the time when I've used it though once in a blue moon you get the thinking impaired.

11ring

I hit a pedastrian who walked out into traffic when i was a courier. 45 kmh, 3 broken ribs and a sprained rist. 0 days off work though as no work, no pay.

I make a fake truck horn sound to move them, also make it clear you are going through, if you slow down in advance people keep walking out infront.

If you really want to make people move, make the horn sound, stand on the pedals and speed up, and look like you are mad as a double cut snake. Facial grimaces are good for this. Also holding post-it tubes and waving them around in one hand helps too.

Aussie Steve

Agree with that last comment about insisting on your right of way. At the slightest hesitation, pedestrians (oncoming ones) will continue on their path. If you hold line and don't back off at all, they will usually move.
after leaving work, my favourite route begins in an easterly direction on a shared pathway...oncoming people are blinded by the setting sun and cannot see me clearly. Thats' where my AirZound comes in very handy.
Some of them will walk four abreast and it's bloody hard to make them move but the horn startles them...so even the morons with head down chatting to their mates will notice the noise...

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