(no subject)
Mar. 10th, 2011 10:21 amIt is a spectacular morning in BR. Bright, sunny, breezy and a crisp 49F. Too cold for the locals, so the multi-use path that I use for part of my bike commute was totally empty. Too bad I almost got killed anyway.
The main thouroughfare between my neighborhood and LSU is currently closed. The city is digging up the street to fix the sewars. This is poorly publicized and on any given day, there is some new and funky detour setup based on which portion of the street is closed. Right now the crews are diverting traffic down a small residential street. It's a completely ridiculous detour since there is no turn off from that street that allows you to get where you are going. Instead of "detour" the sign should read "turn here and circle back" because that's the only benefit to be had. The other thing about most residential streets in BR is there are no curbs and no shoulders. If anything, there is a ditch at the edge of the road. Such was the little road I was on when an old man, poor and probably rural, driving a beatup pick-up with a long trailer came down the detour. He randomly decided to make a left turn onto the street I was on. In his own words he said, "well I guess I cut the corner too much." This after he basically pointed his pickup right at me as I stood at the edge of the road, stuck between him and the ditch. The only thing that saved me was he had his window down and heard me screaming. He sure s*** wasn't looking at me. It's even more amazing if you consider the flourescent yellow reflective jacket that I wear when I ride. Luckily, he stopped 1 foot from my front tire. My voice is hoarse from screaming but I am otherwise unscratched.
The main thouroughfare between my neighborhood and LSU is currently closed. The city is digging up the street to fix the sewars. This is poorly publicized and on any given day, there is some new and funky detour setup based on which portion of the street is closed. Right now the crews are diverting traffic down a small residential street. It's a completely ridiculous detour since there is no turn off from that street that allows you to get where you are going. Instead of "detour" the sign should read "turn here and circle back" because that's the only benefit to be had. The other thing about most residential streets in BR is there are no curbs and no shoulders. If anything, there is a ditch at the edge of the road. Such was the little road I was on when an old man, poor and probably rural, driving a beatup pick-up with a long trailer came down the detour. He randomly decided to make a left turn onto the street I was on. In his own words he said, "well I guess I cut the corner too much." This after he basically pointed his pickup right at me as I stood at the edge of the road, stuck between him and the ditch. The only thing that saved me was he had his window down and heard me screaming. He sure s*** wasn't looking at me. It's even more amazing if you consider the flourescent yellow reflective jacket that I wear when I ride. Luckily, he stopped 1 foot from my front tire. My voice is hoarse from screaming but I am otherwise unscratched.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-11 12:47 am (UTC)So glad you're okay, and I wish evil things to that inconsiderate and inattentive driver.
Yeah I'd say he cut the corner too much.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-16 02:30 pm (UTC)hit on a bike
Date: 2011-03-11 09:51 pm (UTC)