Have you ever been hit by a car?

davlbrown

What rear view mirror system is best?

I commute and have ridden roads for years in redneck America. Had a can of fruit cocktail thrown at me once. Fitting tribute I guess. Smart choice since a pack of Winston's has minimal impact.

I'd like to know the best rear view mirror system so I can tell what's coming at me and train my rear machine gun mount appropriately.

johnfward

Grazed by a Mercedes but didn't go down. Worse luck on a motorcycle. In the late 80's, I was headed down a gentle grade at about 40 MPH in when a Ford Pinto pulled out of a KMart in front of me. Laid the bike down 'cause the other option was to t-bone the Pinto and I lose that one big time. Trashed my left elbow and thumb on right hand, but fully recovered in about 11 months. Also had some road rash on my chin when I slammed my head into the pavement -- that was the only part the helmet and face shield didn't cover -- healed in a matter of days. Don't ride motorcycles any more, but bike 30 miles round trip to work every chance I get -- with a helmet.

stumprofig

I was cruising down 2nd Avenue in NYC, which despite being a 'bike route' has a ton of buses. Went to the left of one of them at a traffic light, and a guy in a green compact was accelerating to the light, as some are wont to do. Slight panic set in as foot by foot he closed the gap between the bus and I. My shoulder hit the car from the side and I flew off, landing on my elbow and hands. Luckily the light ahead was red and the taxis behind me saw my sprawled out form and didn't run me over.

The guy who hit me was nice enough to pull over a block ahead. I got back on my bike and rode up to him. He spoke very little English, and he and his worried passengers took turns explaining how all they heard was a 'bump, bump, bump.'

jcjordan

Been hit just once and just after buying a new bike and jersey.

Was doing about 35km/hr in a 50 zone when a comodore sedan whipped past me doing about 70+. He then decided to jam on the breaks and do a left hand turn right in front of me. Tried to do the turn with him as i had no where else to go, but my front wheel slipped on something and down i went. The sad part is i could hear the laughing as they drove off and I didn't get the plate.

End result was

gloves and Jersey were wreaked, my helmet had a nice dent (which meant replacement) and some cosmetic damage to the bike.

The best part was when i turned up at my mates work, i was meeting him to ride home, and he thought i was mad to still want to ride with gravel rash and blood down my leg

the upside, got a really cool looking line pattern scar from it

__________________
"Pain does not last, bones heal and chicks dig scars"

Beastt

I'll not comment on the rearward facing muzzle but as far as mirrors go, I prefer the small mirror that projects from the temple of your glasses. It's not all that stylish but it seems to give an adequate view over your shoulder, is fairly small and seems to stay adjusted better than the helmet mounted variety. Just make sure you really want one before you ride with one because once you've had a taste of knowing what's coming up behind you, it's twice as scary trying to ride while blind to the rear.

EoinC

Here in Malaysia, no cars, trucks, motorbikes, tanks or other weapons of mass destruction utilise mirrors - nobody looks sideways, let alone rearwards. Driving is based on the theory that the other driver won't want to damage his/her vehicle. Stops / Give Ways / Merges don't apply. Hell, with so much going on in front and beside me, I (as a minimal impact collision object) don't have time to be concerned about what is behind me.
A mate was walking back home along a footpath-less stretch of road last week and the oncoming cars were coming very close. Each time one came too close, he flicked his arm out and knocked their wing mirror (they would have heard it and thought that they'd hit him). On that 1/2 km stretch of road, he knocked 12 cars and not one of them slowed or stopped to see what had happened.
I have physical contact with cars pretty much each time I go out on my fixie over here, but I'm probably the cause as often as the victim. I tend to get my interval training from chasing after taxi's who've cut me off. They find it intimidating having a big honky on a bike catch up with them and lean in their window giving them a verbal rundown on their apparent driving skills. Pretty easy to catch up to vehicles here as they go from one log jam to the next - and it's much more fun than riding rollers.
Regards,
EoinC

Gittins

I feel like my answer doesn't quite fit the five choices. I hit the back of a car, but it WASN'T my fault. A lady cut me off so closely, there was nowhere to go but into her bumper, then down to the street. She drove about a block away, got out to see that I was still alive, then sped off.

For the most part, I've been very pleased with how the drivers of Okinawa treat cyclists. Any tap on the horn is either a "hello" from someone who knows me or a "heads up, I'm going to pass you on a narrow stretch of road". My favorite shortcuts are the narrow roads that are about one and a half compact Toyota wide. A car and a bike can pass each other slowly, with two cars, one has to pull over to let the other pass.

Gittins

[QUOTE]Originally posted by davlbrown
[B]What rear view mirror system is best?

I've tried the tiny mirror at my temple, but didn't care for it. I prefer to use my ears. Until Detroit and Yokohama come up with 200 pound mass-produced electric cars, I can hear the gas-guzzling soon-to-be-extinct dinosaurs approaching just fine. I can distinguish between a compact car, van, small SUV (I live in Japan, Hummers wouldn't FIT), or Hino dump truck.

A slight turn of the head is all I need most of the time. When I first started commuting I had to practice the full rear view, by touching my chin to my shoulder. It's a little weird switching shoulders (and side of the road) going back and forth between the US and Japan.

The rear view that's most important to me is that THEY see MINE. Don't apologize for using the roadway by sliding to the gutter or in the gravel.

mikeller

Once...won't forget it. Crossing an intersection with the signal in my favor; unknown to me, I was being overtaken by a Camero. The Camero cut me off as it turned right.

Don't know how I came to be clinging to the groove in the rear window as I pounded to get the driver's attention. We were both pretty scared!

Car stopped and I walked back to the intersection to retrieve my Cannondale.

I was lucky not to be Road Kill that afternoon!

utahsowle

I've been hit twice in last 3 years after 20 years of riding. Both times drivers fault, once driver turned left into me breaking several ribs and puncturing lung. Driver had no lic. but insurance did cover. The second time I have no clue except what marks it left in my head from the mirror on the truck knocking me out breaking collarbone, several ribs and again puncturing lung along with numerous other scars aand bruises.
My best suggestion is to ride very defencively expect the driver to do the stupid thing and you will survive. Yes I'm still riding and really enjoy it.

moltar

I've done the same thing, but on the trunk lid of a '66 Thunderbird, after passing him on a downhill he had to floor it to pass me to turn right! Into a gravel parking lot, spitting gravel, with me trying to knock out the rear glass.
Only injury was the T-bird's quarter panel. Instead of chewing him out, I remarked in admiring tones how well his car went at wide open throttle! It took a moment to sink in, but it made the right impression.

cordedpoodle

Never been hit but I've instructed my family to sue the pants off anyone who hits me. Lawsuits are finally the only way we are going to get the minority of jerks to realize that our lives are more important than the 10 or 15 seconds they save by driving in an unsafe manner. Some of you guys have been too nice to people who hit you. At the very least they should have to compensate you for your bike and your time in replacing it. I'd say $100 per hour is not too much for my time.

On the road I wear helmet and leather work gloves and heavy denim if it's cool enough. I'm as totally aware of cars around me as I can be. I don't trust any of them. The only way to be.

One thing I do differently is if there are two lanes and not enought room for a car to pass in my lane I hog the lane. I make them actually turn their steering wheel. Go around safely or hit me. Otherwise too many of them will try to pass unsafely.

I'd really like to have a bike that is completely reflectorized as well as reflectorized clothing. I commute all the time on my bike. My next upgrade will be a heavy duty light system.

jcafcw

Never been hit by a car but had a near miss this morning. Cycling quietly away at the side of the road just coming up to a junction when a car came speeding from behind me and just cut across me to turn into the new road. Without a quick reaction to hit the brakes I would have hit the car and done a Superman impression.

hippy

Mine were relatively minor, but it seems that aussie drivers don't like stopping
and seeing if you are alright. So much for being a 'nice' bunch of people!

hippy