Saw a roadie get taken out by a car this morning...

[JoeTruth]

Around 9 am, driving down the street and saw a roadie get taken down by a little old man making a left and he didn't see the guy on the bike coming the other way. The roadie was laying face down, his face in a pool of blood but consious. At one point, he began to close his eyes and I kept talking to him telling him to stay awake and not to attempt to move. I think his face took the brunt of the fall but for most part, I think he'll be okay. Bike seemed okay, one shoe was about 15 feet away with his water bottle and glasses in different directions. I gathered everything up and turned it over to the police. The little old guy who hit him was shaking and crying. He was in shock and he felt horrible. I felt horrible for him but these are the kinds of things that confirm why seniors above the age of xx should have to re-take the driving test.

The most peculiar thing with this all was how nonchalant his riding buddies were and some quickly left before the paramedics or police arrived. I over heard one old guy say something like "looks like there's plenty of people here (which none were riders nor acquaintances) so you won't need us." As he said that, the poor fallen rider on the ground called out the old guys name and asked him to stay. It was obvious they were all part of a club. I just couldn't believe the lack of camaraderie and concern I was witnessing by his fellow riders. I can't imagine leaving a fellow rider in the hands of strangers and leaving.

Anyways, I hope the guy turned out okay, minus some cuts and bruises. I left once the paramedics and police were in control. My 2 girls were in the car and looked a little stunned by it all but that's okay. I always teach them to be helpful and selfless with others. This is not the first time they've seen their old man stop and help someone in need. Hopefully, one day they'll do the same, if called upon or needed.

This particular intersection (Orange Grove and Altadena Drive in Pasadena) must be a dangerous and busy intersection as this is the 2nd accident I've witnessed there in 6 weeks. Traveling westbound as I was this morning, I was one of the first ones on the scene and stopped to help. Some Marine recruiter, talking on the phone and failed to notice the light was red, ran through it with no hesitation, got t-boned and went airborne and proceeded to do 3 flips before he came to a stop on the sidewalk across the street. Luckily for both parties, everyone walked away almost unscathed, thanks to seat belts.

[dirtmistress]

I've come across a few accidents and then split when there got to be too many people. After I've helped of course. But there must be more than meets the eye with the friend leaving. Unless he's just a really bad friend! Or not really. Whatever! You stopped and that's a good deed done!

[Pain Freak]

Some buds, they are! We had a group ride going out last year and there was a new rider who joined us. He was a kid about 16 I think I heard later. His parents did sign the waiver though. Anyways we were motoring along and this kid impressed me that he could hang with the "A" group. I eventually worked my way up to him and told him good job. He was a little eratic in his steering though and made me nervous, I worked my way around him to the front and couldn't help but wonder if he knew about riding in a group. About a mile down the road I got my answer, seems he wasn't knowledgeable about crossing tires and when a rider in front of him went to go out they hit tires and the kid and the rider in front of him went down. This group was about mid pack and then almost everyone plowed into the fallen riders. Well we had some that needed to get to the hospital and after the paramedics came we all decided to ride over to the hospital. We never leave a rider! We got to the hospital and no one left till finally a doctor came and talked to us to give us an update on all 3 of our fallen riders. Two days later everyone was home and today everyone is riding, ecept the kid. Don't know where he went.

[ShinKen]

fallen rider on the ground called out the old guys name and asked him to stay. whoooaahh!! that's not freakin cool!!

[bighit8]

Sounds like maybe he was worried about the cops for some reason. How could you leave a friend hurt! That is just unheard of.Maybe when the guy that crashed gets better he should look into why his friend left.

[mazer75]

That's awesome that you helped that guy out and stayed with him until help arrived. That's the right thing to do, which obviously his riding "buddies" didn't believe in. I'm glad I don't ride with people like that, but instead ride with the fine community here on STR! We never leave people fallen and/or behind.

By the way, I grew up right near where that accident happened. I grew up right off of Altadena Dr. and E. Mountain St., specifically house 2360. I was there from 6 months to age 18, then I went to college in Irvine, my dad passed away, and then my mom sold that house. Now I'm 33. If I'm in the area I'll swing by the old house sometimes, and it always makes me think of my dad.

[theclayster]

props to you for staying and helping him out, i would be pretty pissed if the guys i were riding with left me if i were to go down and leave me with people i did not know

[BFloFoxRider.]

my great gramma, 84, was driving yesterday, swerved to avoid a car that was going to hit her and sideswiped another car. she drove home immideately, and didnt tell anyone. the lady she sideswiped got her licence plate and the police showed up at her house this morning. She told them that she tried to flag the lady down but the lady was busy doing something else. my grandpa, my great grammas son, talked the lady into not pressing charges so my great grammas licence will not be taken away. but i honestly think she shouldnt be driving. her car is all dented up from backing into things and hitting the poles for her mobile home. not to mention my 56 year old gramma sucks at driving

[EMrider]

I felt horrible for him but these are the kinds of things that confirm why seniors above the age of xx should have to re-take the driving test.

That is so true, but unfortunately no politician I'm aware of has the courage to make that part of their agenda.

Glad you were able to help and that it appears the downed rider will recover.

The whole scene conjures up bad memories for me of a nasty crash on Latigo cyn 15 years ago. That marked the end of my road cycling days.

[madrider]

your post hit my buttons...

thanks for hanging out with the guy, I'm glad there are still people out there like you, hopefully his "buddies" learned something from your actions...

I am a mtb'er that rides road for variety, but cars scare me to death, too many roadie death statistics and annual memorials...

when I do ride in to work, I must pass 3-4 roadies each way (20mi 1 way), I swear they TRY to avoid being social and having to say Hi to me. I now treat it as a joke and roll up and smile and stare at them at the lights, I think it makes them uncomfortable . Complete opposite of what I see and feel on the trail...

Old people driving, c'mon, we all know our bodies break down over time, what's the harm in making sure you're still safe to drive? Unfortunately, the right to drive and their voting strength means testing will never happen...

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by madrider

your post hit my buttons...

thanks for hanging out with the guy, I'm glad there are still people out there like you, hopefully his "buddies" learned something from your actions...

I am a mtb'er that rides road for variety, but cars scare me to death, too many roadie death statistics and annual memorials...

when I do ride in to work, I must pass 3-4 roadies each way (20mi 1 way), I swear they TRY to avoid being social and having to say Hi to me. I now treat it as a joke and roll up and smile and stare at them at the lights, I think it makes them uncomfortable . Complete opposite of what I see and feel on the trail...

Old people driving, c'mon, we all know our bodies break down over time, what's the harm in making sure you're still safe to drive? Unfortunately, the right to drive and their voting strength means testing will never happen...

Yea what is up with a lot of road riders ( not all, to clarify not ALL)? I ride to Orange a lot on the river trail an always say hi to everyone! The serious riders don't even acknowledge me. A lot different when riding the trails.

[ericfoltz]

I almost got tagged 3x in the last two weeks. All three out in Santa Margarita.

Twice at the "T" intersection where you come out onto Antonio from O'Neill when riding the Tijeras Creek Loop (mountain biking). Two drivers looking right and blowing by the stop sign almost got me. Luckily I can yell louder than a car horn when required (I knew the military training would pay off someday).

Third time coming down Santa Margarita Pkwy (road ride) by the Shopping Center on Antonio. Driver in a minivan tried to turn left into the parking lot right in front of me (once again the yell worked, barely). I was moving along at 25+ mph and would never have been able to stop had she not heard me.

All three got me within 1-2' of being a hood ornament.

Hope someone does stop if/when I do get tagged.

[Pain Freak]

I have close calls sometimes, but not that many. With road riding you develop a sense as to what's going on around you. I'm not saying others are less of a rider, but my close calls are not the frequent. I spend a lot of time making eye contact and always considering where my out is. I won't get boxed in, I always save a way out. I stay towards the outside of the bike lane so drivers have a better chance of seeing us/me. Depending on where you are riding also plays a part in it. Not saying anything against my southern brothers, but the drivers in OC are the worst. It almost seems like they are aiming at riders sometimes.

Another factor is to know a route that is safer. Wide shoulders and a clear view of vision helps too. And it does help to ride as a group or more then one as you're easier to see. The most common words spoken after a car hits a bicyclist is "I didn't even see him/her". It pays to wear that bright roadie gear.

[chauvinist_youth]

Originally Posted by bighit8

Yea what is up with a lot of road riders ( not all, to clarify not ALL)? I ride to Orange a lot on the river trail an always say hi to everyone! The serious riders don't even acknowledge me. A lot different when riding the trails.

they're in the "zone".

[peewee2472]

Originally Posted by bighit8

Maybe when the guy that crashed gets better he should look into why his friend left.

Or better yet... Sell his road bike, get a MTB and join the STR family. No one gets left behind!

[CPATCRASH]

"The little old guy who hit him was shaking and crying. He was in shock and he felt horrible. I felt horrible for him but these are the kinds of things that confirm why seniors above the age of xx should have to re-take the driving test."

Hey! You have to be 18 now to drive right. I think there should be a upper limit as well. How about 75? The roads would be less crowded and insurance prices would go down. It would be safer riding around Laguna Woods too!

[ericfoltz]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I have close calls sometimes, but not that many. With road riding you develop a sense as to what's going on around you. I'm not saying others are less of a rider, but my close calls are not the frequent.

In 30+ years of riding (road & MTB), these were the closest I've ever been to being hit and all in a very short period of time.

The driver coming in to the parking lot looked straight into my eyes as she turned in front of me. I could see her mouth "FU" when she saw I wasn't going to/couldn't stop. I almost turned around to go slap the crap out of her.

The other two just never looked anywhere but to the right as they went through the stop sign. In both cases I was well out in the intersection when they came up to it and neither even seemed to slow down. The second time I was actually thinking to myself "I bet this one tries to hit me too." The bad part is that this is where the bike trail crosses the street right next to a school. If it had been a kid, I bet the kid would have been hit.

I think we have a combination of distracted drivers in a hurry and typical SoCal narcicism fueling a feeling of entitlement to the right of way.

Whichever it is, keep your eyes/ears open and the rubber on the road.