My close call with a car got me thinking. All those ‘what ifs’ raced through my head last night and my confidence level was a little low. As I prepared my Ibex X-ray for my 30 mile commute, I kept asking myself if it is worth it. Being a father of two beautiful girls, I always ride on the cautious side and I take longer routes to be safe, but that lapse of concentration could have been disastrous.
As I took to the streets today, I was anxious. The anxiety kept me vigilant while riding in traffic and maybe a little paranoid. As I reached the river trail, I began to reflect and remembered that I had many close calls when driving a car. My thinking is that God will decide when is my time to go, whether I’m riding a bike, walking down the street or driving a car.
I enjoy riding my bike to work, and I know that there are some risks involved, but is it worth it? You bet! I think that the close call was a reminder to not take life for granted; enjoy your family, your friends and be thankful for what you have.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 danielo // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:45 am
I share your thoughts. I have a 5-year old son, and as I have no automobile, he joins me on many rides. However conservatively I ride when alone, I ramp that up 1000% with him in tow. There are days when I wonder if I’m adding too much risk to his life. But then I remember how he will know that life can be lived — and loved — without a car, and that reassures me.
2 Val // Mar 25, 2008 at 11:00 am
Always remember that you are reducing your risk by riding a bicycle. There is always risk, and riding in a car can give the illusion of safety, which is why so many people drive the way that they do. When you get on a bike, the risks are much more obvious, though actually less than the dangers of driving. The sheer immediacy of it all tends to make you more alert, which not only lowers your risk, but it is good for the brain. Don’t forget that you are also lowering your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease (checked the incidence and mortality rates for those lately? yikes!). Whenever you ride, you are doing your family a favor.
3 RL // Mar 25, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I know the feeling Moe. A while back, after having a confrontation with a guy on the road, I drove to work the next day. Sure enough, he was waiting for me…but being in the car, he didn’t recognize me. That situation kept me from riding my bike for at least a week…anxiety sucks.
4 Gabriel // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I DO feel vulnerable, but I used to drive at 70 MPH on the highway to work — I felt vulnerable there, too, knowing that I could be crushed flat at any moment by a semi or a retaining wall. We all must try to live today like it matters, because it does. At risk of going DEEP into cheesedom… we should live today like it’s the rest of our lives, because it actually is.
So ride on!
5 Jamis_Bater // Mar 25, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I have a buddy who owned a motorcycle and rode everywhere on that. One morning he nearly got clocked by an elderly woman pulling out without looking. He completely lost his nerve after that and sold the bike. Differences between bicycle and motorcycle aside, I often wonder if I’ll have an encounter that I just can’t shake. A buddy of mine was nearly sliced in half by the roof of a drunk driver’s car. After many years of rehab and battling back to “normal” he got back on the bike and rode an MS150. Just so he could kick the fear. That was cool, but then again he hasn’t ridden again since. He just can’t shake it completely.
What a lousy time for me to post a comment like this. I gotta leave in like ten minutes. Great.
6 Lance // Mar 25, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Scary stuff Jamis. Just another reason to love that family like there’s no tomorrow.
7 Mike Myers // Mar 25, 2008 at 3:45 pm
It is difficult to “come back” from getting hit. I was hit about a year ago(the story is on this site). My injuries were luckily very minor—physically. I did get back on the bike pretty soon as a form of physical and mental therapy, but it has taken me a LONG time to be comfortable in traffic. I ride the same commute route I did, and when I still don’t feel comfortable. When I get to the section where I was hit, I take my bike offroad. I feel like a wuss but it still freaks me out.
8 Franky // Mar 26, 2008 at 6:45 am
I had countless close encounters of all sorts, but I would never give up riding. My wife is always worried about me when I take my bike to work, and I always tell her there is no guaranty in life. You can’t live your life in fear, enjoy every day!!!
9 John // Mar 26, 2008 at 7:57 am
I just started commuting(13.5 miles RT) on a regular basis a couple of months ago and already have had a few close calls. Not to go into details but one I could have avoided if I would just be more cautious in that particular area and not try and go balls out, the other was just incompetence on the part of the driver. Both of these happened on the way home within a span of about 10 mins. Yeah my adrenaline was pumping but I still remained calm and alert at the same time and I expect more close calls in the future. No different than driving a car when some guy cuts you off from nowhere and you were being as cautious and aware as possible. Not to discount others beliefs(in a God/time to go) but I’m not one of them. If an obese person dies from a heart attack…was it his time to go? If a 2 yr. old child gets sick and dies…was it their time to go?? Bottom line is some things are preventable and within are control, some aren’t. This is your only life, live it.
10 Quinn // Mar 26, 2008 at 8:41 am
Close Calls- on 1 hand make me glad that I don’t have a wife or kids right now, No one is depending on me to make it to work and home again.
On the other hand, I know how bad it sucks to spend 10 days in the hospital and only get 1 visitor that only spent half an hour.
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