Ways to Get Yourself Killed (on a bike) pt.2

Thus far you have avoided breaking some bones because you managed to NOT slip into the street car track. You also have been safely navigating the road, not jumping out and startling anyone, and causing an accident. 

While running away from the cops because of your stolen bike, you thief. 

Yet, there are some obstacles for you to overcome before you're home-free. Specifically, a red light stopping you, and some strategic side-walk riding.  

Running Past Red Lights

This should be common sense.

Yet, on a few occasions, I've seen it happen. I may understand a reason behind it: Having to stop. As bikers, we depend on one 'engine', which is ourselves. Starting and stopping can be annoying when one managed to hit top speed after a long time before the darned light decided to turn red, as if mocking you with it's evil red eye, saying, "Obey me! For I own thee!" and you decide, "hell with this," and run off. Oh hey, is that a car? It rams into your bike, and throws you on its hood. Then you think you hear laughter originating from the devil-lights above.  

Good times.

One incident, that I can remember, took place downtown. It was at Adelaide and Victoria. The biker was going north and if I remember correctly, he was going north, but the southbound traffic had an advanced green. The biker pops their head out, takes a good look and peddles on. 

I apologize in advance if they didn't mean to, and wasn't paying attention.

How can this get you killed?

This goes back to the times I mentioned how cars are bigger in both size and weight, which means it's easier for them to hurt you with little effort.

Just like how some bikers really hate drivers, it's true the other way as well. If you have a driver who hates bikers and is having a bad day, and you decide to be above the law, good job, you decided to give someone a reason to hit you.

It's not just the anger or hatred from other people, but also the possibility of error on the biker's part.

Let's say the biker went across without annoying anyone else. They looked to both sides, even though Adelaide is one way, but it's good to be safe because you never know. Speaking of being safe, you're running a red light anyway, but I won't elaborate on that.

Oh hey, a car. Sometimes you miss things. You're human. The driver making a left on their advance green wasn't looking out for you because they were hoping the people on the other side were obeying their signal too.

Regardless, the point is, obey the law. Yes, you might have been biking around Toronto for hours, but don't end the day with you redecorating the road.

In this case, you're running away from the cops because of your stolen bike, so go nuts.

 Going Down the Wrong Way (and riding on a sidewalk)

This has about three things put in to one. Since my list has involved things which I've either experienced or witness, the same goes for this. 

I was going south on Broadview in the 504 streetcar.

A biker rides south on the east sidewalk. He decides it's time to cross the street, and at the same time, possibly get himself killed. If his goal was to commit suicide, he was going for the right idea.

Nearing the intersection at Dundas, he jumps off without hesitating. Look both way? Yeah, only losers concerned about safety do that.

The moment he does this, I think in my head "Something bad is goi-- WATCH OUT!" A pickup truck makes a right to go north on Broadview (remember, the biker was going south). No, there was no collision. Luckily the driver was attentive and wasn't slamming the pedal as if cars produce air-cleaning agents after the turn.

First of all, he was riding on a sidewalk. It's illegal, and he can either hit a pedestrian, or someone can knock him off his bike. For some reason, an image of a pedestrian clothes-lining a biker on the sidewalk, comes to mind.

Second, remember that whole 'erratic behaviour' thing I mentioned in the second item of the first part? Same thing applies here. The pickup truck was taking a right and might have been unable to see the biker at all. It could have led into the driver being startled, and then possible scenarios mentioned before.  

Third, he was going the wrong way. The time the biker spent off the sidewalk and on the road, he was travelling in the opposite direction. Have you ever hit a vehicle not moving at all? I haven't, but I'd assume it would hurt when going at about 20 km/h. Have you ever hit a car that's moving in the opposite direction? I haven't done that either, but I'd assume it would hurt a lot more than hitting a vehicle going at 0 km/h. 

Remember though, in this case, you stole a bike and are on the run. This would be perfect for throwing the police off, or you know, getting yourself killed. 

____________________________________________________
- Azam Abowath
azam.charliesbikeshop@gmail.com 

Have more ideas of ways you can get yourself killed? Perhaps you have ideas for lists we can publish. Whatever the case, let us know!  

Comments

[Jack A.]

There's times when we all break the law. Sometimes it's when we are rushing a friend to the hospital, or when we are demonstrating against against horrid crimes against humanity. Other times it's because we are riding our bikes from point A to point B.

No one rides on the sidewalk because it's faster or easier; there are too many goddamned pedestrians in the way. We ride because it's safer in that particular instance. Like is it safer to coast a slow speed for 4 meters to the crosswalk, or to cross the road in mid-traffic, ride in the prescribed direction and then make a left hand turn from the left lane with twelve cars pissed off at you? We make decisions like these. Sometimes we are wrong, but we do our best. We don't depend on the HTA (*Highway Traffic Act) to protect us, because it won't.

The thing about riding on the sidewalk is, we are pretending we are pedestrians, so we need to respect other pedestrians, act as though we are pedestrians and keep our heads up and use some sense. If we do that, there's no reason why anyone needs to get hurt.

If a mother pushing a baby carriage crosses an intersection from the sidewalk and gets hit by a car, it's the car's fault. If a bike rider does the same thing, how is it the bike rider's fault? Does breaking a rule make the rule breaking and dangerous driving habits of a car invalid?

We, as bikers, need to keep our heads up, so as not to hit anything, and not to get hit. Do that, and you will be fine. Always assume that any car within 2 blocks will hit you, and ride accordingly. Always assume that a pedestrian will step in front of you, and ride accordingly.

That is what prevents accidents. Staying off the sidewalk, all by itself, will not prevent accidents.