Had a nice run-in with the pavement last night at about 7:45 at North Park. I was in the bike lane, riding with my husband in front, and saw my husband signal that he was slowing. I decreased speed, then suddenly a car was directly in front of me, making a left into the boat house parking lot. It was either mash on the brakes or hit the car, so the brakes went on, locked up and I went for a nice sail over the top/side of my bars and skidded a few good feet. My husband made sure the motorist stopped while other cyclists in the area made sure that I was OK and took care of my bike. All told, I've got some gnarly road rash, a cracked, ruined, helmet, a ruined left shoe and some new ultegra components to buy. Police were called and ambulance checked me out as a precaution. Dude claimed innocence...didn't see us due to sun glare. There were at least 5 cyclists coming down the hill within a few feet of each other, and he didn't see us?! Seems to me like sun glare is the stock answer for any motorist induced crash in the Pittsburgh area. BS. The dude made eye contact with my husband before he turned, and we had the right-of-way. Don't know where I am going to take this one. I def want my gear replaced, at the very least. Ugh.
i used to ride there a LOT every day when i lived in the area. i HATED that turn. i assume you were going down that big hill. i used to fly down that, and every time i saw a car with a turn signal on or slowing down, i would get so nervous that they would make a left into me. i would sometimes take the middle of the lane because i thought the person in the car would see me better.
i'm glad that you're ok for the most part. people do drive too fast through there sometimes.
I agree with mark. Contact Marc Reisman, he will talk with you and let you know your options. I would suggest you limit how many details about the accident you post online.
It burns me that police dont enforce any speed
limits or aggressive driving in NP. pearce mill is
like a through way, and ingomar is not any better.
Sorry to hear about this. Most helmets have crash
replacements. I have some Ultegra SL 10 in the
basement if you want a deal or a lender until the
insurance works out.
Even if he did have limited visibility due to glare, it doesnt mean he still doesnt have the responsibility to control his vehicle. The glare may have affected him, but he still chose to make the turn even with the deteriorated conditions.
Also, call your auto insurance, give them the police report, call his insurance a make a claim.. When my wife was hit, they paid for the repairs to the bike in a week and the damaged gear (helmet, clothes, etc). Still waiting on the pain and suffering settlement.
"The sun was in my eyes" is an admission of guilt.
It means "I couldn't see, I knew it, and I was driving anyway". Hopefully he said this where someone else heard him.
i would sometimes take the middle of the lane because i thought the person in the car would see me better.
You were absolutely right.
On a somewhat related note, but far less serious...
I've had several people within the last few weeks quickly pass by me to make a right turn, then stop in the road after they've already passed me to see if I'm going to keep going
So then I'm in the position of of having a vehicle in front of me with a right hand turn signal
I'm not about to blow through them and risk getting hit
Bah. If they just waited five seconds for me to clear the intersection we wouldn't have to both stop
This was where? On Pierce Mill road and you were traveling on the right hand side of the road? Is there a bike lane on Pierce Mill?
If a driver makes a left into on coming traffic they are 100% at fault. I know this because I did this, misread someones left turn signal as they were actually intending to turn left and pulled out in front of them. I was still ruled at fault.
I don't know whether or not it matters whether you hit them or not. It could.
