Last year end was going great. Greater than any year had gone in a long and, despite being on the verge of being cut from work, I was optimistic. The weather had been great, bonus season is around the corner and I was coming into more than a week off. I was on my my to work on Christmas and I decided to take my camera because it was probably the last chance I was going to get to commute by bike to Shinbashi. I have commuting by bike since June 1st and I can honestly say that I can't go back to taking the trains. I get frustrated by every stop thinking "jeesh, I could be at blahblah by now" or "I am going to get sick from the prick next to me coughing all over everyone". I was riding high on that buzz when BANG. I slipped on a wet patch and slid into a car waiting for the light. I dismounted, being already half on the ground and went over to the sidewalk. Now the driver didn't know what to expect and my gut said BOOK IT outa here but my conscience said you hit his car and you're at fault. Never did it cross my mind that all those drivers that have hit me with their sideview mirrors should have stopped or the taxis that speed in front of me and slam on the brakes to drop off a fare were in the wrong. I honestly felt that it would go smoothly. He called the police and I waited. This sort of thing has nothing really to do with cops but the guy was shocked and pissed and I was wishing I had kept on going. The cops showed up and took my information and his then proceeded to berate me about what I had done and how was I going to recompense the driver for it. I told them that I had stopped so I could give him my info and that I should pay for it but burst out laughing when the cop asked if that was it. I couldn't control my laughter and the driver, taking pity on me had to turn away and smile. The cop was upset so I asked what I should do and he told me to apologize so I responded " that's a good idea" but didn't say sorry because he was waiting for it and I thought I was going to lose it again. I haven't been back on a back until the 11th of this month. I was really pissed about the whole thing and I tried to hide it from my wife but the more I thought about the angrier I got at all the drivers that have squished me into parked cars or almost killed me while they talk on their phones. When I finally did tell her she laughed and asked if that was it because she thought that I had hit a pedestrian in a cafe in Israel or something. Nobody had been hurt and I was still alive. I have never been so relieved before. The whole time I had been doubting my choice to stay at the scene but I felt better about the whole thing and I was guiltless to start the year. I shot some other pics that day and you can see some of the sights I saw everyday on the way to work. Here's to 2009 RIDE SAFE!
The track bike that never moved. I guess there were some days that it wasn't there but I usually saw this bike on the way to and from work
Tokyo tower. I must have passed this place more than a 100 times and I always thought it was pretty cool. This is the park where I stopped for beers and the fixster took pity and talked to me. If I had the extra cash I would buy a Brooklyn machine works Gangsta (full brakes) because it was such a fun bike to ride
The arch thing by the park. When it was lit up at night it was cool and reminded me that I still had an hour to go before I was home.
Last year end was going great. Greater than any year had gone in a long and, despite being on the verge of being cut from work, I was optimistic. The weather had been great, bonus season is around the corner and I was coming into more than a week off. I was on my my to work on Christmas and I decided to take my camera because it was probably the last chance I was going to get to commute by bike to Shinbashi. I have commuting by bike since June 1st and I can honestly say that I can't go back to taking the trains. I get frustrated by every stop thinking "jeesh, I could be at blahblah by now" or "I am going to get sick from the prick next to me coughing all over everyone". I was riding high on that buzz when BANG. I slipped on a wet patch and slid into a car waiting for the light. I dismounted, being already half on the ground and went over to the sidewalk. Now the driver didn't know what to expect and my gut said BOOK IT outa here but my conscience said you hit his car and you're at fault. Never did it cross my mind that all those drivers that have hit me with their sideview mirrors should have stopped or the taxis that speed in front of me and slam on the brakes to drop off a fare were in the wrong. I honestly felt that it would go smoothly. He called the police and I waited. This sort of thing has nothing really to do with cops but the guy was shocked and pissed and I was wishing I had kept on going. The cops showed up and took my information and his then proceeded to berate me about what I had done and how was I going to recompense the driver for it. I told them that I had stopped so I could give him my info and that I should pay for it but burst out laughing when the cop asked if that was it. I couldn't control my laughter and the driver, taking pity on me had to turn away and smile. The cop was upset so I asked what I should do and he told me to apologize so I responded " that's a good idea" but didn't say sorry because he was waiting for it and I thought I was going to lose it again. I haven't been back on a back until the 11th of this month. I was really pissed about the whole thing and I tried to hide it from my wife but the more I thought about the angrier I got at all the drivers that have squished me into parked cars or almost killed me while they talk on their phones. When I finally did tell her she laughed and asked if that was it because she thought that I had hit a pedestrian in a cafe in Israel or something. Nobody had been hurt and I was still alive. I have never been so relieved before. The whole time I had been doubting my choice to stay at the scene but I felt better about the whole thing and I was guiltless to start the year. I shot some other pics that day and you can see some of the sights I saw everyday on the way to work. Here's to 2009 RIDE SAFE!
The track bike that never moved. I guess there were some days that it wasn't there but I usually saw this bike on the way to and from work
Tokyo tower. I must have passed this place more than a 100 times and I always thought it was pretty cool. This is the park where I stopped for beers and the fixster took pity and talked to me. If I had the extra cash I would buy a Brooklyn machine works Gangsta (full brakes) because it was such a fun bike to ride
The arch thing by the park. When it was lit up at night it was cool and reminded me that I still had an hour to go before I was home.
2 comments:
your staying at the scene likely prevented a trickle down effect whereby the driver becomes incensed at ALL cyclists and perhaps chooses to target them when behind the wheel. he'll probably think differently of cyclists now and view them as responsible citizens. you did the right ting.
i would have booked.
oh, and not trying to brag or anything, but last night when i biked home from work in the east end (about 10km), the temp was -18 (-31 with the wind chill). "when that wind hits you you'll be bawlin'". i saw one other cyclist the whole way home, and a lot of baffled/terrified faces in cars. streetz iz icy, son. funny thing is, when i got home i was toasty and happy and felt energized. gud timz.
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