Last week I got rear-ended by a car while biking south under the Hiawatha Avenue overpass on Cedar. I was chatting with a friend about a movie. I asked him a question, but before he could answer I was rolling back onto the hood of a silver Chevy Malibu. My head shattered the windshield from one side to the other, and as the driver braked I was ejected about a dozen feet onto the road ahead.
There was something so in keeping with the boorish nature of cars in how it happened: not only was I assaulted and thrown to the ground, I was rudely interrupted. It felt less civilized than a drunken bar fight, which at least has a spark of intent. The desultory violence of cars is more base than the shit-hurling of the dumbest ape.
It’s important to strip away the numb familiarity and see cars for the relentless tide of degradation that they bring. That’s what I did when I limped from my house to retrieve my bike from the scene the next day.
If you look carefully you can see a piece of my red tail-light, unlike the guy who ran into me.
sounds horrible. i am glad i don’t have a similar story, and am relieved you look OK.
yr bike tho, nope.
I’d gladly return to the days of the occasional trampling by horses in order to get rid of the horrible damage cars do on a daily basis. Can I start a neo-luddite party that’s cool with computers and trains but not with cars?
Maybe you shouldn’t have been running a red light, not paying for roads, and ignoring traffic laws where a law-abiding, tax-paying motorist was driving his automobile.
I used to ride everywhere in the ’70s and I could ride to the U all the way from 32nd St on Cedar Avenue. It was wild. I don’t dare ride now, but I make room for cyclists. My husband is disabled and we have to use a car to get out of the city. Otherwise I love public transport. I have been honked at for slowing down while sharing a road with cyclists and in response I slow down more to protect the cyclist and for some enjoyment. Drivers are nuts at rush hour. Take care.
So glad you’re still in one piece! What a terrible experience! Stupid drivers. :/
Joe, glad you’re OK.
I hate that underpass so, so much. Every trip through it feels like risking horrible death. And it’s the fastest, most direct way to get to so many places from where I live. So glad you’re still walking.
Glad you’re okay. Sorry cars suck.
So what happened to the driver? Did you call the cops?
sorry this happened to you. such an evocative post though; esp. subtle signs of car violence and your car decal bling. keep collecting and you’ll have armour soon!