OBRA: OBRA Chat: RE: Another cyclist injured...

RE: Another cyclist injured...

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Hopkins, Larry

2003-01-24

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Geri,

Your email is very enlightening and heart felt with a solid statement about reality. I agree, we need to think differently about ourselves and our vulnerability as cyclists. As a cyclist you put the exclamation point where it belongs, squarely on safety and taking responsibility for ourselves.

Larry Hopkins

-----Original Message-----

From: Geri Bossen [mailto:GeriB-@hotmail.com]

Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 9:34 AM

To: Hopkins, Larry

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Another cyclist injured...

PLEASE be well lit. BE VERY VISIBLE

I was driving home and came upon an bike rider who I am sure thought she was well lit-but she was almost invisible. She had on one tail light that was visible- the other one was aimed at the ground and had really dead batteries. She was in the left turn lane and I did not see that she had her arm out because she was wearing all dark colors.

I look for riders but almost did not see her.

If someone hits you and you were very visible it increases the chance that they will be found at fault. If you as a cyclist are doing ANYTHING wrong or if you are not overly visible you can be found partially or totally at fault--even if you are not.

One thing they tried to use against me when I was hit ---was that I was not wearing a bright colored jersey. They actually tried to find me partially at fault because I was wearing a blue jersey. They tried to say I was riding recklessly because I was going about 20 in a 35 MPH zone. They tried to say I was at fault because I was not keeping a good look out because I did not look for her car (traveling the same direction in the inside lane --not the lane next to me) to suddenly speed up and turn right in front of me. (She was speeding up to cut in front of Mikkel.) They tried to trick Mikkel into saying we were riding recklessly or that I had actually been riding on the sidewalk when she hit me.

Ride smart--follow the rules of the road--be visible. Then if you do get hit you have a chance of getting your medical and equipment expenses handled.

ALSO raise your PIP (personal injury protection) and increase it to 2 years on your own car insurance--that is what will pay for your rehab.

I always figure if you are really prepared--it will not happen to you.

Geri Bossen

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<DIV>

<DIV>Geri, </DIV>

<DIV> </DIV>

<DIV>Your email is very enlightening and heart felt with a solid

statement about reality. I agree,

we need to think

differently about ourselves and

our vulnerability

as cyclists. As a cyclist you put the

exclamation point where it belongs, squarely

on safety and taking responsibility for

ourselves. </DIV>

<DIV> </DIV>

<DIV>Larry

Hopkins</DIV></DIV>

<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left>-----Original Message----- From: Geri Bossen

[mailto:GeriB-@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 9:34

AM To: Hopkins, Larry Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Another

cyclist injured... </DIV>

PLEASE be well lit. BE VERY VISIBLE 

I was driving home and came upon an bike rider who I am sure thought she

was well lit-but she was almost invisible. She had on one tail light that was

visible- the other one was aimed at the ground and had really dead batteries.

She was in the left turn lane and I did not see that she had her arm out

because she was wearing all dark colors.

I look for riders but almost did not see her. 

If someone hits you and you were very visible it increases the chance that

they will be found at fault. If you as a cyclist are doing ANYTHING wrong or

if you are not overly visible you can be found partially or totally at

fault--even if you are not. 

One thing they tried to use against me when I was hit ---was that I was not

wearing a bright colored jersey. They actually tried to find me partially at

fault because I was wearing a blue jersey. They tried to say I was riding

recklessly because I was going about 20 in a 35 MPH zone. They tried to say I

was at fault because I was not keeping a good look out because I did not look

for her car (traveling the same direction in the inside lane --not the lane

next to me) to suddenly speed up and turn right in front of me. (She was

speeding up to cut in front of Mikkel.) They tried to trick Mikkel into saying

we were riding recklessly or that I had actually been riding on the sidewalk

when she hit me. 

Ride smart--follow the rules of the road--be visible. Then if you do get

hit you have a chance of getting your medical and equipment expenses handled.



ALSO raise your PIP (personal injury protection) and increase it to 2 years

on your own car insurance--that is what will pay for your rehab. 

I always figure if you are really prepared--it will not happen to you. 

Geri Bossen</BLOCKQUOTE>

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