Close calls make one introspective.
My only physical complaint today is my knuckles are pretty stiff. I punched a car yesterday.
I am lucky to be here.
You know how people drive out of their condo entrances, not a care in the world. So I am always fairly cautious up by the beach. I hit the brakes and laid the bike down three times yesterday. The first two times were just practice, I guess. It was the third time that saved my life.
This guy was coming out, and I hit the brakes hard, basically laying the bike down on the edge of the drive. He was turning right, so he was looking left, and nudging, nudging, further and further over the sidewalk. Meanwhile, I was straddling the bike unable to get free, plastered up against his passenger door, my face pressed into the window, where I could see him in there looking the other way.
So he was nudging, nudging, edging closer and closer to take off. The car was pressing against me, pushing me, pushing me, back and back. I just knew he was going to hit the gas as soon as the road was clear. I started punching the passenger door as hard as I could, trying to get him to look. He took off anyway. I was so lucky – if I had stopped six inches later, both my bike and I would be mangled, possibly beyond repair.
At least, he did pull over down the road. When he got out of the car, I thought he was coming back to beat me up for punching his Lexus. But fortunately, he was very nice, and apologized. Hopefully next time he will look both ways.
I just got back on the bike and got riding toward home. Felt a little scraped where the bike tire was pushing up against my leg – and my knuckles hurt – but otherwise, so lucky! Took about 6 hours for my heart rate to go back down.
Now I have to rethink. Is this some sort of lesson? Should I restrict where I ride even more than I already do? Or - just continue to be careful? Since being alert did exactly what it was supposed to do – saved my life. I already don’t do trails by myself. If I can’t do streets, then what? Drive to rail trails? Ride around and around the walking trail at the park? Not appealing….
