[SDCBC] FW: bike safety and good neighbor relations

[JonIsaacs at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/12/07 7:16:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
abulifia1 at cox.net writes:

> Are these stats your own personal opinion or did you pull it from some 
> other source?  in either case, I call it a great big steaming pile. 
> 
> You've never been run over by an SUV have you, Jon. That is what allows you 
> to live in blissful ignorance and spout your myths.
> 
=========
Hello

The statistics came from what I remember from the Road 1 course book and 
course work.   Looking at those numbers again in the book, they are accurate. 

But the bigger picture is that many of those that are the "fault" of the 
motorist can be avoided by the cyclist riding in an assertively defensive manner.  
Avoiding the door zone, awareness of the left and right hook, proper lane 
positioning.

As far as being hit by an SUV, I was broadsided several years ago, hit 
squarely at 90- degrees at the bottom bracket by a car making an illegal left turn, 
I was knocked into the brush.  Fortunately Isuffered no life threatening 
injuries though I clearly could have.  Also quite fortunately it occurred across 
the street from a hospital so I was able to seek immediate treatment.

This was clearly the "fault" of the hit and run driver making that turn but I 
also knew  I could have avoided being hit if I had been paying attention 
rather than talking to my friend riding in front of me.   That was my mistake, 
something I took and take responsibility for and learned from.  If I continued to 
"blame" the motorist for that incident, then I would have learned nothing and 
I would still be vulnerable in that same exact way.

I don't know the circumstances of your collision and it sounds quite 
devastating.  I hope though that you are able to learn from it.

Oh well...

Jon Isaacs  









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