My brother bounced off of another car yesterday. He does this a lot. He claims the car suddenly turned left, just in front of his bike, in order to snag a parking spot. My brother already had his brakes on because he was going downhill so it wasn’t high-speed or anything.
The same thing happened a couple months ago (I told you it happens a lot) and my brother tried to lean away from the taxi and ended up getting a little damage on his bike (and 20$ from the guilt-ridden driver). So, with lesson learned, this time the boy genius decided to lean into the Ford Explorer and hold himself against it with his right shoulder and thigh to help him turn.
But the car hit him regardless, and (pissed off as hell) my brother rode up onto the sidewalk, got off the bike and started walking toward the guy (I think he’s getting sick of getting hit)
THE DRIVER: “Didn’t you see my signal? I had it on!”
MY BROTHER: “Yeah…AFTER I was already passing you!”
THE DRIVER: “I didn’t see you.”
MY BROTHER: “No shit! I think that’s the fucking problem!!”
Then the driver got out of his car and ended up being really nice. He stood with his back to his car, facing my brother and apologizing profusely, telling him how he really does try to watch for cyclists, and how he really respects them, and that he has friends who are cyclists, etc, etc. Turns out the driver was really worried that my brother or his bike were damaged.
MY BROTHER: They weren’t, thanks to my cat-like reflexes. (I think my brother is damaged…but for other reasons)
While the driver is apologizing and asking my brother if he is okay, my brother looks at the side of the car and sees a huge, round, knee-sized dent in the door where he “leaned” into it.
THE DRIVER: Do you want my insurance card?”
MY BROTHER: No, no I’m fine, the bike’s fine—let’s call it good.
By now my brother is just trying to leave before the driver notices the dent. They shook hands and my brother took off…quick. I think they ended up pretty even on that one.
