Every cyclist knows the feeling when you ride through an intersection or pass a driveway, and seeing the oncoming driver not see you. You immediately perk up and make yourself big, and then you try talk to the driver in your head by saying something like “you better look up and make eye contact w/ me”, and then something like “if you hit me I’m going to sue you for everything you’ve got”.
You might even be using some expletives in your head.
Yesterday at the least likely spot on my ride I was pushing myself at 26 mph in the hammer as hard as I could when this car shot out in front of me. On her damn cell phone the lady slams on her breaks when she sees me. This does nothing for me because she’s now completely tee’d me up, and I’m less than 20 feet away and closing. I squeeze as hard as I can on both breaks, and within a second my back tire skids out from under me and then the front tire putting me at a 45 degree angle, and perpendicular, sliding towards her car. My bike slowed and the forward momentum of my body pushed me backup to 90 degrees and I whipped my front wheel 90 degrees in hopes to recover parallel to the road. I missed breaking a leg, or worse, and her front bumper by a couple of inches.
My heart rate monitor spiked from 180 to 195 immediately and I couldn’t stop shaking. And when this lady pulled up next to me at the intersection she didn’t have the decency to roll down her window and apologize. So the light turned green and I gave her the bird as I went on my way.
This applies to everyone: get off the damn phone! There is no need to be talking on the phone when you drive. Wait until you get to your destination and make that call.
This week’s Rosie Award goes to people who drive while talking on the phone, and those damn girls who try and text message while driving. You know who you are!
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