For an instant this morning, I thought I’d end up dead or severely crippled.
I was bike commuting to work on my regular route, traveling straight down Katimavik Road. I had the green light.
The next instant the front grill of a pick up truck filled my field of vision, I put my hand out and screamed.
I didn’t have time to brake. Braking would have done nothing for me.
But the driver braked. He had fast reflexes.
He was looking for other vehicles–the ones that are at least a ton, not for people riding silently on two wheels.. It looked clear, so he thought he’d turn.
When he had his morning coffee, I bet he didn’t think he’d turn from a pickup driver into a cyclist–from a father or brother into an accidental killer.
When I suited up this morning and kissed my kids good-bye, I didn’t think that it could have been for the last time.
It wasn’t.
The driver avoided a crash and I managed to stay seated on my bike. As my heart hammered in my chest and my breathing bordered on hyperventilation, I heard him pull up beside me.
Did we shriek epithets at each other?
No.
He said, “I’m really sorry.”
I looked over at him and said, “That’s OK. We’re all people. We all make mistakes.”
And then I pedaled and cried the last two kilometres to work.
But you know what? I’m getting back on that bike and riding home at the end of the day. It’s much too far to walk.
Why am I so philosophical? That could have been me behind that wheel. We’ve all messed up on the road. The stakes are high out there.
Tags: being human, bikes versus cars, near misses
Oh, thank God you are ok, physically…I realize it is quite traumatic emotionally! You handled the confrontation afterwards with dignity and grace.
holy crap! as another cycling commuter i know exactly what that is all about. had the same experience a few year back. now i stick strickly to bike paths and residential roads.
so glad you were about to write about it this morning and will be back in the saddle this afternoon.
take care.
My goodness Patti, so glad you’re OK!
Ugh. I’m glad that he didn’t kill you and that you were both gracious in an epically fraught moment. Let’s all be real careful out there.
And then I pedaled and cried the last two kilometres to work – I’ve done that too and I’m a man – take care all ‘us’ cyclists!
Oh Patti. Thank God. I really can’t say anything else but that ♥
What an epiphany. Grace under fire. Forgiveness. A gift from God. I hope when I grow up I can be like you.
You get to live another day. Feel the richer for it. Thank God! The cost may be limited to a change of shorts!
Dad
Good Grief. Instances like this certainly make you pause and be thankful for being on this earth. Be safe Patti – defensive driving 101! I need my big sister – more than ever!
Taking a deep breath of gratitude right now. I’m so glad you’re okay. Katimavik is a bear, isn’t it?
And I’m emailing this link to my husband, who also commutes on a bike.
Sending big hugs your way Patti.
Love you!
I am so glad you are OK! Be careful out there!
Patti, it says something about you that you didn’t holler … Wow. So glad you are alright.
It’s quite impressive that you were able to keep your composure. This scared me, not as a bicyclist but as a motorist. I’ll be more careful.
Great post–I am just happy you were able to sit down and write it afterward.
I think if you spend enough time on two wheels and you’ll have at least one of these experiences. You can be as cautious as humanly possible but sometimes the end result is out of your hands. Glad you got to write about this. <3