My first bike accident

... if not sort of an accident.


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In short: Along Western, just in that little region shown above, I was riding along a black car in the bike lane. It's a down sloping street going south and thus I was picking up speed though I'm still not a speedy rider, letting gravity do the job. Suddenly, the black car, without signaling brakes and begins to make a sharp right turn into a parking garage... and my bike lane.

I too brake suddenly trying to avoid the car directly turning in front of me. My forward movement and braking stop me from hitting the car but force me over my handle bars, head first to the street. It's a good thing I wear a helmet. I get up and untangle myself from my bike. No blood. Bike is mostly fine.

Rachel, the driver handled herself well and we exchanged contact info. I felt fine at the time but slowly during the next hour as the adrenaline subsided I felt the pain in my wrists (which I used to brace myself) and my left knee cap and inner shoulder. My wrists have since felt fine though my knee and shoulder still hurt. I'll limp to a check up tomorrow.

Things I am upset about:

1. Rachel clearly did not signal and she claims she did.
2. Deciding to, for the first time, choose a route to work that had bike lanes instead of biking my usual, faster way down Madison.
3. Being a slow walker because of my limp. I hate walking slow.

Things I am thankful for:

1. Rachel being really considerate and offering first aid and many apologies.
2. My roommate Braden for picking me up from work during downtown rush hour traffic.