I just used up one of my lives. A big accident on my bike. Cycling down a hill, probably at least 20km/h, and whilst in the bike/parking lane, a driver opens their door on me, as I'm level with the car. BANG! I hit the fully opened door full on and bent the door almost off the hinges.
I go flying over my bike, hitting my left arm and collar bone on the bike as I sail through the air. Hit the road, thank God, in the parking lane and not on the road.
I lie there, the crowd gathers, 3 girls from the car, the cyclist who was behind me, and another guy. I stay down, I feel ok, nothing really hurting, but of course, the pain will set in later.
The driver is shocked, my shock is setting in later, my back feels a bit compacted. I've grazed my knee, bruising on my inside left upper arm, grazing across both left and right collar bone.
The car door is a write-off, my front forks are a write-off, the wheel is a bit buckled, the brakes are damaged, the handlebars are bent off centre from the force, but seem ok when put back. It seem the door and my front forks have taken most of the blast, and I landed to my left in bike/parking lane. Very very lucky.
Walked a bit, rode the bike on the footpath with the twisted handlebars, bent fork, wobbly wheel, and damaged front brakes.
Now recovering and feeling sorry for myself.
Ouch, Irrespective of how you feel I'd get a proper medical checkout. If it was hard enough to bend a fork & write off a car door...
Posted by: Robin Capper | Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 10:17 PM
I'm very sorry to hear about the accident, Tony. I wish you a speedy recovery!
Posted by: Lisa Taliga | Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 07:54 PM
I am sorry to hear you got "doored". It is a very common problem.
I ride daily and it is one of the things I am extremely conscious of because drivers rarely check their six before opening their doors.
Get well soon.
Posted by: mb | Thursday, April 03, 2008 at 02:40 PM
So what happened with the driver? Are they paying your bills and did they take responsibility?
Posted by: cameron | Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 05:15 PM