So, I got knocked down this morning...
I was coming downhill on Queen's Park Avenue to the roundabout at Meadowbank Terrace and Duke's Walk, checked right and progressed to go straight over. Once I could see right down the first left onto Duke's Walk, I spotted a car which I hoped would stop at the entrance to the roundabout. He didn't.
By the time he hit me, I was just past the mid-point of his bonnet, so I was well progressed on the roundabout already by the time when he should have spotted me. Anyway, head and face made contact with the bonnet, followed shortly after by contact with the road in a remarkably effective pincer movement of pain which I really hadn't anticipated.
This was my first 'collision' to use the parlance of the media and I was very lucky as - despite the fact he was clearly going too fast to see me - I was able to get up afterwards, albeit a little shocked. I did, however, go to the hospital as I couldn't remember the immediate aftermath of the crash and I had quite a bit of pain down my spine which has fortunately all turned out to only be muscular.
The driver, to be fair, stopped and admitted it was his fault - pretty difficult to do anything otherwise. I was certainly going less than 15MPH, had my lights on and was wearing my day-glo luminous yellow cycling jacket and he STILL didn't see me. Meanwhile, he was approaching a roundabout and should have been anticipating people coming from his right, so I've no idea what he was doing. Apart from not paying attention, of course.
Anyway, apart from the concussion, rather a lot of pain and some scrapes to the face and knee I'm alright. I'm hoping the bike can be saved but the incident has sealed the deal on where I now come down on the helmet debate: firmly pro.
It does also rather make me wonder what the hell else you can do to make yourself safe - all the gear, lights and obeying the letter of the Highway Code and still you're entirely at the mercy of someone else being alert to other sentient beings as we like to call ourselves.
I started a new job in December and have been doing my new commute since then, although I don't believe for a second that this was a factor in the crash. Believe it or not I was also supposed to be taking the opportunity this morning at an office-wide meeting to encourage everyone to get involved in a local cycling scheme. Maybe put that on the back burner for a few weeks.
I think I'll take the longer way round when I'm next heading to work.
Be safe, folks... Cars really hurt.
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