Yesterday we met an Australian TV information reporter who survived a brush with loss of life when a bicycle owner rode previous him in a motorbike lane at an inexpensive velocity:
Little doubt it was a terrifying ordeal, however I’m guessing he wouldn’t need to commerce place with these two riders in Texas:
Little doubt you’ve heard about this by now because it’s the largest cycling-related story within the non-cycling media since that entire factor with the chef–not as a result of persons are notably involved about cyclists getting run over, however as a result of there’s a horrific video of the incident, which I’m not going to publish right here. In any case, right here’s what occurred:
Love. It’s what makes a Subaru a Subaru:
It definitely appears intentional within the video. Whether or not this was in truth the case is unclear, however being a Subaru driver he did try and apologize afterwards:
Mercifully and extremely, each riders appear to have fared a lot better than you’d probably think about after watching the video. As soon as was handled on the scene, and the opposite appears not less than be effectively sufficient to speak to reporters–and in a twist, credit his bike for saving his life:
Right here’s why:
I’m assuming that’s a carbon fiber bicycle, and that on account of its inherent lateral stiffness and vertical compliance it acted as a spring as per Jan Heine’s principle of planing.
Regardless of the case, hopefully each riders make full recoveries, and proceed to trip for a few years to return–although definitely experiencing one thing like this could trigger even essentially the most devoted rider to query the knowledge of doing so. Once I’m driving on the highway I typically take into consideration how a lot belief (or relatively blind religion) we place within the drivers behind us. As they overtake me I think about what is perhaps occurring contained in the automotive at that second to take their consideration away from the highway–often I see a hand groping round in a console for a cellphone or one thing, inflicting them to float into the shoulder–and it at all times looks as if a small miracle when this doesn’t occur and so they cross me with out incident. Then there are the instances when the do cross carefully sufficient for me to really feel it in my arm hairs, and I by no means know for positive whether or not they did it to make a degree, or they have been merely oblivious to my presence as they succumbed to any one of many gazillions of petty distractions that may transform issues of life and loss of life.
As cyclists we regularly really feel uniquely susceptible, and in some ways we’re. Nevertheless, you don’t have to be out on the open highway for one thing like this to occur to you, nor do you even have to be on a motorbike. Your life is equally topic to the whims of the strangers behind you whenever you’re doing one thing as mundane as ready for the subway:
“Solely” 17 folks have been hit by subway trains final yr on account of being pushed into the tracks. Whether or not you’re on a motorbike or a platform, statistically the percentages are effectively in your favor, and also you’d be out some huge cash if you happen to have been to maintain inserting wagers by yourself demise. Bicycle owner or a straphanger, you’ve had one million folks in your tail with out incident. Nevertheless, this doesn’t make the prospect of one among them hitting or pushing you any much less actual, no matter whether or not they do it out of malice, negligence, or derangement. All we will do is take the standard precautions, and keep in mind the knowledge of Frank Drebin:
I meditate on these phrases just about each day.
