Thursday, November 08, 2007

I'm Not Going to Make Too Much of a Big Deal About This, But ...

... My prayers have been answered. (Thanks, Classy, for the tip.)

In other news: On my bike ride into the Loop today, I was actually hit/sideswiped by a car. As in, my body actually came into contact with the car. I was riding in the bike lane, and the driver came up next to me and tried to make a right-hand turn, pushing me to the curb.

Luckily she was going slow, but I wasn't. She didn't hear the initial "thud" sound of me coming into contact with her rightside back door, but she did hear the "thud" created as I kicked - hard - at her back bumper.

She stopped the car and I swung around to the drivers side window and the hilarious* conversation that ensued went like this:

Me: "You hit me!"
Her: "...."
Me: "You HIT me. With YOUR CAR!"
Her: "Sorry?"
Me: (Sensing that she did not speak English, I made hand gestures showing her car [left hand] running into me [right hand]): YOU HIT ME WITH YOUR CAR. YOUR CAR HIT ME. ON MY BIKE."
Her: "Oh... Sorry. I sorry."
(At this point a few people on the sidewalk had stopped, but I didn't care if I was making a spectacle - I was fucking pissed.)
Me: "You need to pay attention to where you're going! This here is a bike lane. For bikers!"
Her: "I sorry."

I'm reasonably confident, based on my interaction with her and the general condition of her vehicle, that she didn't have insurance and had something happened, my own insurance would have been picking up the whole fucking tab. This woman made no attempt to ask if I was OK; she was more concerend about trying to get away. Fucking people.

* And by "hilarious" I of course mean "so help me, if I had a knife I'd gut you like a grouper."

19 comments:

5 of 9er said...

It would of been a lot cooler if you were on a scooter. We should get scooters!

Michael5000 said...

Yikes, that's some scary shit! Is your bike OK? (I assume you would have told us if your body was messed up.)

The [Cherry] Ride said...

Niner: Only if we can wear our panda outfits when we ride - that would be awesome!

M5K: Yes, me and the bike are fine, thanks for asking. My bike is old school, weighs about 120 pounds, and probably caused the car a couple hundred $ in dents. Not that the driver would probably ever take the car in to get it cleaned up.

Mr. Shain said...

this post was both racist and sexist. congrats.

but seriously, are the winter coats alright? i won't even mention the role your back-fat might have played in the accident....

Kritkrat said...

That is why I prefer to only leave my couch when I am getting into a large SUV.

carolyn says said...

glad you weren't hurt! good use of sign language in a tense situation though!

nickabouttown said...

Glad you weren't hurt, but my god, you made me laugh out loud.

I instantly love your blog. Thank you :-)

The [Cherry] Ride said...

Shain:: I know, right? I'm the model of racism and sexism! Thanks for the concern over my winter coats - I am pleased to report that none were hurt in the accident. As far as the backfat goes, I hate to admit it, but that extra backfat cushion may have saved my life.

Dyck:: Hey man, we bikers are just like everybody else. We don't want special rights; just that bad, crazy drivers pay attention every once in awhile.

Kadonkadonk:: Why do I get the feeling that if it was you driving, my carcass would still be trapped underneath your car?

Carolyn:: Thanks! This incident has increased my desire to learn (or rather re-learn) another language.

All:: What, no comments about the Spice Girls?? Its the Spice Girls, people!

Cap'n Ergo "XL+II" Jinglebollocks said...

"hell is other people."

---someone terribly famous

Unknown said...

I think based on this you seriously need to consider changing the name of your blog. Google "Cherry Ride" and you get a million and a half hits. I won't even start on Ms Mirren's breasts. Google "Back fat saved my life" and you get nada - it's virtually unique if you use inverted commas on the search. Just do what you can to differentiate your site from my new favourite mycatsavedmylife.com

Oh yeah - glad to hear you're OK. And the bike. And the winter coat.

minijonb said...

for some reason, i never start those road (rage) conversations with meek ladies who don't speak English very well. i start them with off-duty cops and correctional facilities officers. i'm not a very bright person sometimes. whatevs.

Michael5000 said...

You know, I honestly can't bring a single Spice Girls song to mind. I think I was busy that year, or something.

My loss, I'm sure.

ReckenRoll said...

Dude. I am in for the Spice.

That's really all I have to say about that.

classyandfancy said...

What kind of devil site does that link lead me to? The Ticket Triangle, huh? $129 for the cheapest tics!?

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater said...

I've never seen such hostility from Cherry! Maybe the soothing sounds of the Spice Girls will be good for your soul.

Airam said...

Is there a language barrier when it comes to hitting people with your car? Or is it like belching after a meal where in some countries it's a form of respect?

d said...

around these here parts people use the bike lane as an extra parking lane, a right-hand turn lane, a jogging lane, an unloading delivery vehicles lane, you get the idea. it's exasperating.

i'm glad neither you, your bike, or your coat were hurt in the accident.

RevRee said...

THANK GOD YOU'RE ALRIGHT!!!

Geeky Tai-Tai said...

I'm glad you're alright.