# A truck just ran over me and my bike **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927 "2012-07-01T18:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/41 "2012-07-02T13:15:20Z")
In built-up downtown areas I can see it being illegal to bike on the sidewalk since people can come around and out of buildings in the blink of an eye. But despite current laws I can’t see it being illegal elsewhere, as safe biking on the sidewalk is much safer than safe biking on the road. At least on the sidewalk you can avoid unsafe intersections and only cross conservatively. Plus if you do get hit it will usually be at low speed. And the number of car-bike interactions that must be successfully negotiated is smaller because they only happen at intersections. But no amount of safe biking is going to make dozens of cars a minute whizzing past you at a 30 mph difference pass you any safer. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/42 "2012-07-02T13:18:03Z")
**Sir T-Cups** , I’m glad you’re still alive. Stay that way, OK? > [@Rick](#): > > The driver is used to looking to the right for X distance for pedestrians, not 4X distance. I agree with your entire post, except for the quoted part. There are many drivers who are not used to looking for pedestrians. I’ve been in the situation you describe many times, only on foot. There are a lot of drivers who not only do not stop at the stop sign, but actually speed up through the intersection while only looking left. I trust no one. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/43 "2012-07-02T13:57:19Z")
Amen, tdn. “Trust no one.” I’ve been hit on my bike while stopped at a red light. The car that hit me came up behind me and turned right. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/44 "2012-07-02T14:23:37Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Lets see, in GQ, you damn near killed yourself with your own car when it tried to run over you I think you have me confused with someone else on this one. I’ve never been almost run over with my own car. And holy hell I am still overwhelmed with the amount of responses that it is illegal to ride a bike on a sidewalk. I never, in a million years, would have thought this…ignorance fought I guess. To update the story: There is a bike shop a couple miles north that he and I are going to go to together tomorrow (closed Sunday and Monday). This is especially good because the guy will be there when the bike guy says “there is frame damage it’s totaled” and then (hopefully) we can just go to Target and buy me a new 200 whatever dollar bike and just call the thing over. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/45 "2012-07-02T14:39:52Z")
This accident is 95% your fault. The driver is under no obligation to replace anything damaged on your bike. Consider this a cheap lesson in why you shouldn’t ride your bike like an idiot and/or illegally. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/46 "2012-07-02T14:58:54Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Blind in one eye? Doesn’t that tend to make depth perception tough? I would think that would disqualify one from driving. No, it doesn’t. Where I live you are not allowed to drive for a year if you lose the sight in one eye, but that’s about that. > [@Lightnin](#): > > My wife is blind in her right eye. It’s noted on her drivers license, but she’s never had a problem getting a license. I don’t think it would have been noted at all where I live, had I ever taken a license. > [@Lightnin](#): > > The issue is that she’s got less peripheral vision on her right side, so she has to compensate by turning her head more to the right when she drives. True. I don’t know how many glasses and other things, placed on my blind side, I have toppled throughout my life. > [@zoid](#): > > I’m shocked there are places where it IS legal. > Your bike has no fuck’n place on the sidewalk. Old people and toddlers are using the sidewalk because that’s the only safe place for them. Likewise pedestrians should get the hell out of bicycle lanes. Not that I cycle anymore, but I always wonder if people think pictures of bicycles on sign posts or painted on the ground are there for ornamental purposes. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/47 "2012-07-02T15:13:10Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > Likewise pedestrians should get the hell out of bicycle lanes. Not that I cycle anymore, but I always wonder if people think pictures of bicycles on sign posts or painted on the ground are there for ornamental purposes. Near where I live there is a bike path right next to the sidewalk. For reasons I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand, most pedestrians prefer walking on the bike path. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/48 "2012-07-02T15:16:20Z")
> [@treis](#): > > This accident is 95% your fault. No, it’s still the driver’s fault. It was his obligation to look where he was going. The only thing that **Sir T-Cups** did wrong was not anticipating that the driver was going to be an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/49 "2012-07-02T15:26:16Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > No, it’s still the driver’s fault. It was his obligation to look where he was going. The 5% of his fault comes from not anticipating someone operating in a dangerous and possibly illegal fashion. > [@tdn](#): > > The only thing that **Sir T-Cups** did wrong was not anticipating that the driver was going to be an idiot. I’m reasonably certain blasting through an intersection at speed going the wrong way counts as wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/50 "2012-07-02T15:28:20Z")
I am looking and looking and I see no where that it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk in Alabama (where I’m living for the summer). The laws state about bike paths, and there are plenty here, just not on 59 where I was riding. So unless someone can Google-fu better than me, or can interpret the laws better I don’t believe I was doing anything illegal. Also, there is no way under God’s green earth that I am obligated to replace my own bike. > [@tdn](#): > > No, it’s still the driver’s fault. It was his obligation to look where he was going. > > The only thing that **Sir T-Cups** did wrong was not anticipating that the driver was going to be an idiot. Thank you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/51 "2012-07-02T15:31:20Z")
> [@treis](#): > > The 5% of his fault comes from not anticipating someone operating in a dangerous and possibly illegal fashion. > > I’m reasonably certain blasting through an intersection at speed going the wrong way counts as wrong. Ok then what was I supposed to do? Stop? I’m going to stop at every single little restaurant outlet that a car is sitting at while they’re stopped? And I wasn’t at an intersection, nor was I “blasting” or going “the wrong way”. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/52 "2012-07-02T15:43:16Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I am looking and looking and I see no where that it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk in Alabama (where I’m living for the summer). The laws state about bike paths, and there are plenty here, just not on 59 where I was riding. So unless someone can Google-fu better than me, or can interpret the laws better I don’t believe I was doing anything illegal. These are generally city laws. Besides, even if it is legal to ride on the sidewalk that does not give you the right of way when entering the intersection. In other words, when you are on the sidewalk, you are not on the roadway. When you do enter the roadway you have a responsibility to do so in a safe manner, yielding to vehicles already in the roadway. > [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Also, there is no way under God’s green earth that I am obligated to replace my own bike. Of course you are. The accident is mostly your fault. > [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Ok then what was I supposed to do? Stop? I’m going to stop at every single little restaurant outlet that a car is sitting at while they’re stopped? And I wasn’t at an intersection, nor was I “blasting” or going “the wrong way”. Oh my! The horrors of riding a bicycle in a safe manner! ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/53 "2012-07-02T15:47:21Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I am looking and looking and I see no where that it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk in Alabama (where I’m living for the summer). The laws state about bike paths, and there are plenty here, just not on 59 where I was riding. So unless someone can Google-fu better than me, or can interpret the laws better I don’t believe I was doing anything illegal. Well, my Google-fu isn’t great or anything, but when I search for “Is it illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in Alabama?” I get quite a few results saying that it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/54 "2012-07-02T16:06:22Z")
> [@treis](#): > > The 5% of his fault comes from not anticipating someone operating in a dangerous and possibly illegal fashion. The two main rules of operating a motor vehicle: 1. Look where you’re going 2. Don’t run into stuff The problem here happened because the driver was looking left while moving forward. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/55 "2012-07-02T16:14:26Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > Near where I live there is a bike path right next to the sidewalk. For reasons I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand, most pedestrians prefer walking on the bike path. I don’t walk in bike paths, but I do understand why a pedestrian might choose to do so. When I walk on the sidewalk, there are many uneven places that cause me to lose my footing and stumble if I am not looking down at my feet while I walk. Most bike paths are smooth. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/56 "2012-07-02T16:28:30Z")
> [@treis](#): > > These are generally city laws. Besides, even if it is legal to ride on the sidewalk that does not give you the right of way when entering the intersection. In other words, when you are on the sidewalk, you are not on the roadway. When you do enter the roadway you have a responsibility to do so in a safe manner, yielding to vehicles already in the roadway.! I wasn’t in a roadway. It was on private property. I didn’t jet out in a three lane traffic or anything. [Right here is exactly where it happened.](https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&authuser=0) I was on the sidewalk (come towards the camera) dude was right where the thick white line is and he pulled out and hit me as I was crossing in front of him. Look at the street, there is NO room for me to ride there. And how do you think I was riding? going 30MPH with my eyes closed? I clearly saw the guy, like I and others have said my only fault was assuming the driver wasn’t a goddamn idiot. edit: Damn the google maps link isn’t working ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/57 "2012-07-02T16:29:44Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > And holy hell I am still overwhelmed with the amount of responses that it is illegal to ride a bike on a sidewalk. I never, in a million years, would have thought this…ignorance fought I guess. that may be age dependent. trikes (child size) and bikes with training wheels and below a certain age would be allowed. decades ago if you lived in a small city, with a small sized newspaper, it was the path taken for bicycle delivery. though the prohibition might be unenforced if your weren’t running people over. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/58 "2012-07-02T16:32:13Z")
This is one of my pet peeves. Older cyclists who who ride against the traffic. A driver has to have some confidence that after he has swung his eyes from right to left (having viewed the clearance of slow pedestrians and unlawful cyclists to the left) to view the immediate concern of traffic in the closest lane as he pulls out that he is good to go. If the driver has to look again for a cyclist from the right, knowing these guys can appear out of no where in a split second, then he will never be able to safely exit . It gets even worse for the driver when he backs out of the driveway. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/59 "2012-07-02T16:34:43Z")
Another edit: Google maps “Big O’s seafood, gulf shores parkway” and street map it. That’s where I was ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927/60 "2012-07-02T16:35:22Z")
You’re lucky that you were hit by someone that’s ignorant of the law and feels guilty for hitting you. If I’d hit you, you’d have to take me to court to pay for your bike, and you’d lose, because you were in the wrong here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-truck-just-ran-over-me-and-my-bike/626927.md?page=4)