I want to take a minute to relate a biking incident that happened to me this past Wednesdy night. I was heading downtown on my way to meet the bridge ladies for dinner at Knock on 12th between walnut and spruce streets. I was riding east on pine and I was in the bike lane for some portion of time. I then turned onto 11th streest and stopped at a traffic light. No sooner had I stopped, than i heard a banging on my passenger side window and looked over to see a male cyclist dressed in black banging and yelling at me. He said, "Do you know that you cut me off?". I shook my head "no". I had not seen him until he arrived at my car, and did not see any lights on his bike. It was about 6:30 and completely dark out.Before I could roll down my window to apologize for any harm I had caused him, he put both hands together and began banging with all his might on my sideview mirror until he had completely destroyed it. I was unable to move, as there was a car in front of me.I think I was also in a state of shock at the ferocity of his enragement. I did not experince fear, it was more like shock. He didn't say anything else and after he had punished the mirror beyond repair he rode off. I watched him leave. I wish he would have given me the chance to apologize and to ensure that he and his bike were ok. As it is I will be paying for the mirror and I would rather have seen the money go to him. I hope he reads this and learns I am truly sorry for any harm I caused, and for his safety comes to realize that he was not visible at night without lights and or refelctive clothing. I have been thinking about this incident since it happened and realize in a very Jungian way it is a story about the dark side of biking, both on the part of bikers and the part of motorists. You often see signs up about sharing the road. I would like to add to that, caring. I know I will be more vigilant as a driver and as a rider, to know who I am riding with and to care more about that relationship. Hope some good will come of the incident for both me and the rider.ReplyDelete