Biking home from work today a van hit me!!

Granted I was only hit on the shoulder, and also got my foot slightly ran over, but I was hit.  And thankfully the mirror was collapsable (one of those ones that can be turned in so as to save space) because I would have been knocked off my bike otherwise.

I’m a pretty “rules of the road” bike rider.  I ride in a bike lane when there is one (and there was one when I got hit) or near to the curb.  I stop when there’s a red light (I do follow the bus lights sometimes, but I consider that following the lights).  I use hand turn signals (really, do you know anyone who does that).  I wear a helmet at all times.  I don’t cut in and out of traffic and I always look both ways at cross sections even if I have the green light.

Today I’m coming down Euclid Ave in Cleveland when a white Ford van strikes me from behind.  Immediately my left shoulder and foot start to ache.  I don’t fall off my bike (or even stop) but am a little shooken up.  I look up to see the van drive off.  He hits the brakes a little hesistantly, keeps going, hits the brakes again a little, keeps going and finally stops at the red light a distance ahead (there was plenty of space to pull over).  So he knows he hit me, but doesn’t pull over.

Near as I can tell he must have swerved in towards me or just wasn’t paying attention.  The mirror struck my shoulder and my foot was dragged under the front tire a little (not under the tire, but the front tire must have hit my foot, and sucked it with it pinching it on its rotation).

I pull up along side him at the red light and he nervously asks if I’m ok.  Which essentially I am, so I say I’m fine.  I do make note of his licence plate as he drives away.

Upon inspection, I have two sharp red bruises (or at least what I assume will turn in bruises rather quickly) going up my left side starting below the should bone and ending up on top of my shoulder.  My foot, other than being red from being pinched, is ok.  It only took a year of biking in Cleveland before a vehicle tried to kill me.  That’s not so bad.