Safety: My Crash
Editor’s Note: There were two riders involved in an accident that occurred on the Springwater Corridor Trail on January 16: Dave McQuery and Ken Lee. Each has graciously written about the incident for readers to learn from their experience how to ride more safely. This is Dave McQuery’s article. (For Ken Lee’s account, go to Safety: My Account.)
It is with a profound appreciation of the irony and no small measure of chagrin that I write this. I have pretty much regarded myself as a safe rider – one who is aware of what is going on around me. Nonetheless, not only was I involved in a crash on one of the Welcome Rides, I was also probably the principal cause of it. We have all recently been admonished to welcome new riders, talk to them, and instruct them if needed. Above all, we should set an example. Well, my example falls squarely in the category of “Don’t let this happen to you!”
On January 16, a little after noon by my reckoning, our group of just under 20 riders was heading east on Springwater. We had just crossed Johnson Creek Blvd and were on the bridge over the creek. I was riding sweep and was busy talking to one of the new riders. I was not checking my rearview mirror as I should have been on a path as heavily used as Springwater. My job as sweep is not only to make sure all the riders are accounted for, I was also responsible for noting any approaching traffic, be it bicycle or car, and calling out “Rider back” or “Car back” to pass the information forward. ✎
I heard someone call out “On your left.” I glanced over my right shoulder to be sure there was room and started to move that way. There were two riders I knew were nearby, and I saw they were slightly behind me and on the right, so…
Stupidly, I did not check my mirror to see if there was anyone back there on my left. I mistakenly thought I had accounted for everybody, so I moved back to my left. There had been, in fact, an overtaking rider, and he had called out “On your left.” Because I hadn’t checked and moved back to my left, I pinned the poor fellow to the railing. He went down, and I went down.
His bike had the brakes knocked off center so they were dragging, and his fender appeared to be rubbing on his rear wheel. The left shift/brake assembly on my bike was also knocked off center, and my brakes needed a little adjustment. But, after a few minor adjustments, both bikes were rideable.
The ribs on my left side were a bit stiff but not too bad. I rode the 3.9 miles (courtesy of RwGPS) back to Lents Park and even went to coffee and wasn’t feeling too bad, though I did notice that once I got back in the car it was harder to move the steering wheel than it usually is.
By the time I got back home to the Beaverton area, I was quite stiff, but got the bike off the car rack and inside, even taking time to realign the shifter and tuck in some bar tape that had been pulled out. A short time after I got home, I suddenly sneezed, and it felt as though someone had stuck a knife in my ribs. The ribs were really hurting by this time, and it hurt to extend my arm, shift in my chair, and do other simple things. So off to Urgent Care. First stop was X-Ray. The x-rays revealed no pneumothorax or evidence of cracked ribs. Just bruising (which isn’t going to show up in an x-ray). The physician asked if I had been wearing a helmet. When I replied that I had, and it had done its work, she wanted a CT scan. It seems that as one ages the blood vessels in the head get more delicate, and she wanted to be sure I did not have a brain bleed. CT scan was negative, so, at the moment, I am just taking Vicodin (three-day supply and I’m done), but the ribs still hurt like H-E-double-hockey-sticks. I had to cancel the ride I was supposed to lead that Tuesday both because of the pain and because I was kind of loopy from the Vicodin.
HOW TO FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT
When (not if) one of you has the misfortune to be involved in or witness an accident on a club ride, go to:
- The club web page (https://portlandbicyclingclub.com/)
- Select Rides/Bicycle Safety
- Scroll down and at the end of the paragraph on Accident Reporting is a link Accident Report Form
- Click on the link and fill in the blanks. There is ample space for a full description of the incident.
- You should also nag any witnesses (get their names) to fill out a report as well.
- You must fill out the report in a timely manner (i.e., as soon as possible!) so that your recollections are fresh, and you don’t dilly dally so long that you can no longer file a claim for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
What appears immediately below is a brief summary of benefits available to you as a club member.
Naturally, this is not the complete policy, but you should be aware of various benefits your club provides.
Being in a crash is not as much fun as you might think. Pay attention – all the time – and make sure of your surroundings before you change your line or speed.
My next article will focus on tools.
- Tools for day rides
- Tools for tours
- Tools for the shop
Dave McQuery, Member at Large