Hello,
I just had my first ebike crash and I'm quite embarrassed when looking at the helmet-cam footage. I'm not sure whether to post it. I state exactly what happens in this post.
I was riding home from work. There's a long stretch of country road that I must take, it includes a sketchy overpass and drivers are going 60 mph while I top out at 20 mph. No bike lanes, the shoulder sometimes gets wide. I ride in the middle of the lane as much as I can. I wear a full upper body high vis jacket, front and rear lights, and the helmet cam blinks too.
Driver A is oncoming down the overpass as I begin entering it. Driver B is riding my ass, I'm thinking Driver B cannot safely pass so I just focus on what's ahead. Then suddenly, Driver B hits the gas and I see the extremely close reflection in my rear view mirror. I swerve hard right, lose balance, overcorrect the steering left, I then wobble and fall. The fall was at approximately 20 mph. In hindsight, I could have done nothing and been fine.
My knees and back took most of the force, they're already sore. The bike doesn't appear that badly damaged, the front tire is chewed up, headlight is broken, steerer tube area might be damaged, pedal got a bit mangled. My helmet has a few scratches, minor dent.
Looking back, I should have taken the full lane especially because it was the overpass that I dread every fucking time I ride to and from work.
So for my own good, I'm no longer biking on this particular road and getting uber until I can buy and drive a car. As much as I love biking, there are roads where we need to be extra vigilant while riding, or don't ride on those roads at all as they're a massive cyclist safety risk otherwise.
And no, Driver B didn't stop but Driver A did.
Excuse the bad grammar I'm still shaken up.
by Corgerus
4 Comments
Is there any alternative route? Sometimes going 5 km out of your way is better than dealing with unsafe routes.
I’ve had 5, two on an electric trike.
First one was a tiny lip on the edge of the path, enough to destabilise me. Another was me forgetting what my hands are for…
The trike ones were down to me not knowing how to ride a trike then forgetting how to ride a trike and twisting the steering out of alignment.
sorry that happened. In those pinch points, you either need to take the lane completely or just pull off and let other traffic pass before you enter.
That sucks, man. Glad you’re okay. I had a guy hit me coming out of a Wendy’s once and that some was awful, I can’t imagine a near Miss in conditions like that.