Bad Bike Juju Everywhere

What a follow up. On my way into work this morning while riding on College crossing the intersection at Elizabeth St. - Women’s College Hospital - a driver making a left hand turn panicked when the light turned yellow and despite my being in the intersection, made the turn and struck me. I was thrown off my bike several feet and skidded to a stop on my left side - shredding the front off of the left leg of my shorts. I immediately stood up and someone handed me my bike. The entire intersection came to a stop and a pedestrian even stood in front of the van to prevent them from running. I was actually quite surprised. A motorist yelled out, “she ran the light!”. I don’t believe that is the case but the way everyone was concerned for my safety was really quite surprising given people’s attitudes of late. I mean, this is my second contact with a car this week and I am very careful in the city. Both times were completely inattentive drivers. I walked over and calmly said to the woman that she needs to look out… “you almost killed me”. She opened the door and almost collapsed. She was about my moms age and on her way to pick up her daughter and brand new grandchild to bring them home for the first time. From Stoufville - outside of Toronto and for all intent and purposes “the country” - and had just learned her route to the hospital. She admitted her head wasn’t there and that she was basically running through the motions. And that, is the problem that we have.

Cars have become such an essential part of so many people’s daily lives and getting a drivers license is so easy that it is no longer a privilege but a right to drive. Like so many rights people come to take it for granted and it becomes background noise. We’re out there rolling around essentially unprotected with people who are robots piloting several tons of metal at high speeds.

After a call into work I was persuaded to head over to the hospital. My pants were almost ripped off my one side, I had decent road rash on my left knee, elbow, foot and my left wrist felt like it had been landed on pretty hard. I also have broken my left elbow several times without knowing so there was also some concern about that. I spent the entire morning in the hospital - mostly waiting - got x-rayed and the a-ok from the doc. Overall, I’m fine. I have some road rash and bruising, my wrist still doesn’t feel too hot, but my shoulder is really still - from the Tetanus shot. I’m also pretty wiped out - no pun intended - but I’m sure to sleep like a baby tonight. Which is fitting because I’m sure to feel about a thousand years old when I wake up tomorrow.

With that, let me just say to any of you out there rolling around; never trust a car. Always be on the lookout and be extra cautious. Keep your head about you and ride safe. Hard and safe.

Details on a service for Charlie “Shiznaz” Princep are as follows:

Tuesday August 14th, 2pm
St Paul’s Church
277 Bloor St. E. (at Church St.)

A critical mass style ride is being planned as well with details tba. I’ll post here as soon as I know.