Today, while riding home from work I was hit by a car. With that bit of info there's a lot of ways you can imagine it went, and since I'm writing this you can infer the driver didn't kill me.
Accidents happen. It's not uncommon to see cars pulled to the side of the road during rush hour, the drivers filling out forms to the light of a patrol car. But when a collision happens between a car and a cyclist the risk isn't even close to even. The driver is cocooned in a metal bubble while the rider is prone to bounce around and pop. Like a bubble.
That's why I cut through parking lots.
Normally inside a parking lot cars go at a fraction of the speed. Less speed translates to less momentum and easier emergency breaking. That was the difference today between me landing gently on the hood of a car being brought to a sudden stop, with only a bruised ankle to show for it; and being flung in the air at bone shattering speeds if I'm lucky, or run over if I'm not.
Bike needs a little work. Happy there was nothing more to it.
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