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SvennoJ on 25 April 2014
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Lusche said:
SvennoJ said:

Yes, you might still crash. But you have more time to respond, more time to slow down before hitting, and go at a lower speed to begin with.

I've been hit side on by a car, when I was about 10, while crossing the road. Apparently the car that hit me overtook the car turning right at the intersection. I don't remember the actual hit, it was at about 60 kph according to the police report. I had a broken leg and a severe concussion, the bicycle was quite dead. Anyway pretty survivable at 60. Dunno about 90, apparently it's not.


ouch, sad to hear. you got lucky. i saw people die in news with way slower speeds. was it inside or outside the town ?

thats why i keep the speed limits. and dont do silly stuff to get myself/other killed. but you never know ...
sad things always happen. sometimes you are at no fault, but still sad to see someone die/get injured.

It was inside town, speed limit was 50. I was lucky indeed, could have easily cracked my head open hitting a curb. Still it was ruled as inconclusive at the time. Since then the laws have changed, overtaking in intersections is illegal now I think, and at least in the Netherlands where i grew up, cars are automatically considered at fault when hitting more vulnerable traffic.

I guess I got the better end of the deal, not remembering much of it. Can't imagine what it's like to see a child flying of the front of your car in slow motion, playing over and over in your head.

Cycling in Canada I have noticed that people aren't used to share the road. I stay on the gravel shoulder when possible, I have had a couple of near misses with cars that pass too close, while others go so far over to the left you wonder if they'll end up in the ditch. Also had cars passing and cutting me off turning right,. I've been getting yelled at for using the road and not cycling on the foot path (which is illegal), some crazy drivers here.
Growing up in the Netherlands I was prepared for my driving exam here anyway, twice a cyclist passed in front of me through a red light. I responded before my examinator even saw them, he was like it's green, why are you hitting the brakes.

Cycling through traffic is a good way to train your situational awareness, if you survive.