serious accident

[tholub]

There was an interesting study that for pedestrians, the most dangerous place to cross the road is at an intersection. Why? Because right-turning and left-turning drivers are both looking the other way for car traffic as they make their turns; they'll scan the intersection for pedestrians before they start to move into it, but they usually don't turn their head back around until they're in the crosswalk. Sounds like that's what happened here.

The study suggested mid-block crosswalks. As a general rule, always try to put yourself in the place where cars will be looking.

[johnfoss]

He sounds like a great kid. One of those majority of unicyclists out there that have nothing to do with our little community here on the forums.

From the brief description of the accident I get the impression that the driver was a minor (name not released), which means inexperienced. All are very lucky the outcome wasn't more dire!

[colinoldncranky]

Hmmm - seemed to be doiing what I do many times a day - cross from the path to the other side at an intersection.

So far in many many thousands of kilometers I have not had any collisions with anything metal and only once where I clipped the calf of a pedestrian. I ride a lot in city and town doing just what he apparently did. Touch wood.

I am very careful to watch for vehicles coming out of city carparks or from city laneways. That is the most common hazard for me.

Good luck to the kid and hope he keeps riding.

[onewheeldave]

Originally Posted by tholub

There was an interesting study that for pedestrians, the most dangerous place to cross the road is at an intersection. Why? Because right-turning and left-turning drivers are both looking the other way for car traffic as they make their turns; they'll scan the intersection for pedestrians before they start to move into it, but they usually don't turn their head back around until they're in the crosswalk. Sounds like that's what happened here.

The study suggested mid-block crosswalks. As a general rule, always try to put yourself in the place where cars will be looking.

Yes, they are danger spots- I recently had to do an emergency brake at one of those.

In fact there's a case to be made for riding on the road being a bit safer than being on the footpaths if there are a lot of such intersections, especially if you're a bit tired, cos really, it's entirely your responsiblity to be looking out for the cars, and, that usually involves having to look backwards as well as all the usual things you're looking out for.

[tholub]

Originally Posted by onewheeldave

Yes, they are danger spots- I recently had to do an emergency brake at one of those.

In fact there's a case to be made for riding on the road being a bit safer than being on the footpaths if there are a lot of such intersections, especially if you're a bit tired, cos really, it's entirely your responsiblity to be looking out for the cars, and, that usually involves having to look backwards as well as all the usual things you're looking out for.

Certainly for bikes it's safer to be on the road. For unicycles, I think it's safer if you're moving significantly faster than walking speed. Nearly all bike-car accidents happen at intersections, and the intersections (including driveways) are more dangerous if you're on the sidewalk, entering the road at speed.

[johnfoss]

One of the biggest scares I've had recently while driving was almost hitting a guy who was riding on the wrong side of the street. There are a lot of him out there! I was pulling out from a side street, checking both directions as normal, but the last side you look at is to your left. Then just as I started to go (swinging my head from the left), a guy goes cruising in front of my car as it rolls forward. I didn't notice him until he was basically in front of my moving car. Idiot. And it was dark. And he had no lights, which is also typical of the wong-side rider.

The first-best way for cyclists to avoid mixing it up with the cars is to be visible, and be predictable! Ride in a straight, or predictable line, signal your turns, make eye contact with the motorists, and never assume they see you, even if they're looking right at you.

[aracer]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

The first-best way for cyclists to avoid mixing it up with the cars is to be visible

Which is one reason being on a unicycle is possibly safer than being on a bike. The problem with motorists not seeing you isn't generally that they don't look in your direction, but that their brain simply didn't register you - a unicycle is sufficiently unusual that you're more likely to get registered by the conscious bit rather than just being part of the background clutter the motorist ignores.

Having said that, like others I won't ride on busy roads - my biggest wheel is an ungeared 29er, and a cruising speed of 10mph just doesn't feel fast enough to safely mix with traffic. I only ride on side roads where traffic speeds and density is low (and where I'd hope the drivers are half-awake), otherwise on pavements (sidewalk) - though a lot of those I use are officially mixed use paths.

[masterfulmoron]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

One of the biggest scares I've had recently while driving was almost hitting a guy who was riding on the wrong side of the street. There are a lot of him out there! I was pulling out from a side street, checking both directions as normal, but the last side you look at is to your left. Then just as I started to go (swinging my head from the left), a guy goes cruising in front of my car as it rolls forward. I didn't notice him until he was basically in front of my moving car. Idiot. And it was dark. And he had no lights, which is also typical of the wong-side rider.

The first-best way for cyclists to avoid mixing it up with the cars is to be visible, and be predictable! Ride in a straight, or predictable line, signal your turns, make eye contact with the motorists, and never assume they see you, even if they're looking right at you.

Here! Here!