tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post219604780829911255..comments2023-12-20T10:44:37.768-08:00Comments on The Incidental Cyclist: Too damn close (and why I should have called it in)Kate (and Mike)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12314278577720373140noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post-90194724989739627302012-10-13T11:55:59.116-07:002012-10-13T11:55:59.116-07:00As a sidenote, re-reading this, "closest brus...As a sidenote, re-reading this, "closest brush with death" sounds REALLY overdramatic. Sorry about that! :p Tammi Nhhttp://twitter.com/nhtamminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post-91867427932393066662012-10-13T11:55:08.630-07:002012-10-13T11:55:08.630-07:00I called Ottawa Police over 8 traffic complaints I...I called Ottawa Police over 8 traffic complaints I had compiled over a few weeks' time and they couldn't do anything about them because I didn't have enough information. Even when I had the license plate, the car, the location, and time it took place, they said that it wasn't enough--I needed to know what the person looked like because multiple people could be driving the car. <br /><br />One of my worst encounters was when I was in a left-turn lane and a car decided to pull out to my left (i.e., into oncoming traffic...) and when I reported it, I didn't have any info because it had scared me so much. The operator was very nice about it, and she said she could file the report, but nothing would really happen. <br /><br />Oh, wait, another terrible encounter I had was when an 18-wheeler passed me... and then started to merge back into the lane while I was still there. I think that was my closest brush with death because I had to slam on my brakes and jam my foot on the curb to stop in time. And of course, every time this happens to me, I'm too busy trying not to get smushed to get the plate #, make, etc... <br /><br />On the topic of Bank Street being the worst to bike on, I prefer Airport Parkway because even though they're driving at 80km/h and I barely have a shoulder, that's still safer than Bank Street. Terrifying.Tammi Nhhttp://twitter.com/nhtamminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post-54411892666216521992012-05-19T19:59:44.964-07:002012-05-19T19:59:44.964-07:00If you can get into the slipstream after they sail...If you can get into the slipstream after they sail past though, free ride all the way home! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnYp4srEooI<br /><br />Making light of it but I am very sympathetic, they are terrifying when close.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post-72158982713542334922012-05-18T13:06:06.126-07:002012-05-18T13:06:06.126-07:00Thanks - I did call the police, the next day. Some...Thanks - I did call the police, the next day. Somehow I felt better about calling them when the adrenaline had worn off. More like I was making a real complaint and less like I was just reacting. Not logical, I know, but when your voice is all shaky you can feel a lot more like people will dismiss your fears. <br /><br />It's made me think, too, about how often/how many cyclists feel like I did, that their safety concerns won't be taken seriously. Interesting to think about.Kate (and Mike)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12314278577720373140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post-56865265226490688542012-05-16T10:04:32.211-07:002012-05-16T10:04:32.211-07:00Wow, strikingly similar to my twitter photo and vi...Wow, strikingly similar to my twitter photo and video. The trucks are really scary. The long ones actually produce a lot of wind buffeting too so it's just so wrong for them to pass so close. I have phoned in a few to the police, if you can give them a time/date, license, description of vehicle, what they did and description of driver they will usually do something. 311 is not the avenue for complaining about bad drivers.Ken Walkerhttp://www.bikeview.canoreply@blogger.com