I commented yesterday under my last post about having a good first day of work, when not much later, on my ride home, I got hit by a car. Spoke too soon?
Yes, really, I got hit by a car.
I was biking on a usually empty side street, and a driver heading towards me turned left into his driveway. The sun was facing him, and he just didn’t see me, until I hit his windshield. There are lots of ways I was lucky:
- He wasn’t going very fast, and neither was I
- I shattered his windshield with my shoulder and not my head…
- Even though I wasn’t wearing my helmet (never again, I don’t care how small the town is)
- I got to be tied to a back board, with a neck collar, and taken away in an ambulance. Excitement! And I was conscious for it!
- After tests and x-rays, I was confirmed to have only bumps and bruises, nothing broken.
- Scott is up in Maryland for a few days to celebrate his Dad’s birthday (Happy Birthday!), but my good friend Kathy came to meet me at the hospital, and kept me at their house for the night. She and Vance also fed me shrimp tacos, wine and listened to me say, with wonder, every 10 minutes or so, “I got hit by a car!”
Today, I’m a little sore, and I can see where I’m going to be black and blue in a couple of days, but I feel mostly okay, and extremely lucky. And my students found the story more than a little entertaining. Describing the importance of attending class, and my attendance policy, I got to say “I got hit by a car yesterday, and I STILL made to an 8am class today.”
On the down side, my bicycle did not make it through the ordeal. I fear what my neighbors thought when the police came and deposited the pieces in my driveway.
My coffee cup holder, some of you might be interested to know, also did not perform well in the crash test. The coffee mug flew out and onto the curb. I’ll have to rework the design when I get my new bike.
September 2, 2008 at 6:06 pm
that is truly horrific. I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m glad that you have Kathy and Vance down there and I shall never ride my bike without a helmet ever, ever again.
September 2, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I am glad that you are alright, Amy. I have crashed a few times (never involving a car, thankfully) and I know how quick it can happen. Heal up quickly, and happy bicycle shopping. I want this one: http://www.electrabike.com/amsterdam/
September 2, 2008 at 9:11 pm
G’ Day Amy, Glad to hear that you survived a frightning experience. I found out in my call to Scott’s Dad that he (Scott) has been away from the lawn. His blog is still bad or at least it was this morning. Take care when the sun is low in the sky…both at morning and evening…those low angle sun rays can blind a driver! Cheersfrom the west…..UB….sends…..
September 3, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Lordy. That is worse than you portrayed it on Facebook. Just goes to show–don’t believe everything you read on the internet. I second the glad for Kathy and Vance. Take care.
September 4, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Thanks, all. Yeah, it was all pretty dramatic, and now I have the most unimpressive bruises. I thought I’d be really black and blue, but instead, I just look like I’ve got some dirt smudged on me. But the insurance company is sending me a check for a new bike! Yippee!
September 5, 2008 at 6:58 am
Are you going to get the same bike?
September 5, 2008 at 7:50 am
I don’t think so – I liked my bike, but wanted something lighter and had planned on upgrading in the Spring. So I think I’m going put the extra money in for a nicer bike.
September 5, 2008 at 11:22 am
G’ Day Amy, Hope you have your rain weather gear ready, looks like you might need it! Is a new cup holder an option? Cheers from the warm west…..UB….sends
September 6, 2008 at 8:50 am
Glad everything turned out okay and you had friends around to help you through it. That must have been a really scary experience. I’m a big believer in helmets. In all honesty, we should probably be wearing them in every day life, actually…. bike or no.
September 6, 2008 at 11:36 am
Gah! I’m glad you’re ok.
Suggestion: Cover yourself, and your new bike, in Peeps. They’re bright, so drivers will always see you, and they’re soft and squishy so if someone gets distracted by the bright sugary goodness and hits you, you’ll be ok.
..i know, i’m brilliant.
September 7, 2008 at 7:51 pm
G’ Day Amy, How wet did it get on Saturday? I See that both Richmond and Washington DC had over one inch of the wet stuff Saturday? I also noted that the local College lost their game…did they play at home or away? We do well to even get the scores out here…the sports section in our Sacramento paper leaves much to be desired. Hope you are drying out and that you get your new bike soon. Cheers from the west….UB…..sends
September 10, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Amy is a real trouper.
(Hit by a car!!)
October 10, 2008 at 12:09 pm
OMG you got hit by a car!
Good thing you’re ok. Geez, what kind of crazy town did you move to, anyway?
(I am clearly a lot behind on my blog reading)