First of all, I’m fine, it (thankfully) wasn’t a big impact. But as uber-careful as I am, it caught me completely off guard.
Here’s the story. I run to work a couple of times a week as a dependable way to shoehorn a run into my day (who actually wants to sleep at the office?), to give the run a true destination, to save gas, to set a good example, and to start the day right. I’m not typically an crack-of-dawn runner but this is honestly a fun and grounding way to begin a workday.
So yesterday at about 7:00 a.m., at pre-dawn light with the streetlights already off, I reached the first major road crossing on my route – the four traffic lanes and a one turn lane of the Turnpike. I was wearing a neon yellow vest with reflective strips, a reflective arm band, though I hadn’t yet turned on my headlamp, which I use for cars to see me rather than to find the way. I was standing on the corner waiting for an opening as the cross traffic stopped for the red light.
The car in the lane closest to me had commendably stopped, but partway into the intersection. The middle third of the car was smack dab across the pedestrian crosswalk, the front third nosing out into the intersection, and the back third safely behind the crosswalk. Amused, I glanced at the driver and wondered briefly if he was in a hurry and had tried but decided at the last minute he couldn’t make the light. Rush hour traffic can be highly competitive.
As my light turned green, I started to jog across the intersection. There was only one car moving in my direction, coming from behind and turning left in front of me so I moved slowly toward the middle to allow it time to move on its way so I could safely cross the remaining two lanes. I always give cars the right of way and never, ever assume they’ll respect a mere ped.
To get there, I had to cross turn lane, then choose which way to move around that awkwardly-stopped car. I chose to go behind it since I wasn’t at the moment in the driver’s line of sight, though the driver could certainly see me if he was looking. I took my time, keeping peripheral vision open to spot any movement in the vicinty.
In hindsight, it still seems unexpected. The turning car had plenty of room around the awkward car that hit me and had almost completed its turn. There was no reason for the driver to reverse, a pretty stupid move considering there was a car behind him anyway.
But WHAM! The next thing I knew I was crumpling over on top of the guy’s trunk with an “oohfff,” arms and shoulders banging against the cold, flexible metal and hip hitting the hard back of the trunk.
Thankfully, it was a short back-up and I kept on my feet.
I reacted as fast as it happened. Fight yelled to pound a dent in the top of his trunk with my already-clenched fist but Sanity jumped in, asking “what good would that do?” “Nothing.” I was ok, just shaken, bruised. Scenarios flashed through my mind but nothing positive would come of getting the license plate number, confronting him, or anything else. As the wave of anger receded, I knew he didn’t mean to do it, it’s just one of those things that happen. Then Flight kicked in. The clock had been ticking and there were probably only seconds left to cross the rest of the intersection or turn back. I hoofed it across the rest of the intersection to safety.
As I stood there and pulled myself together, I didn’t bother looking back at the car. Let him deal with it. My choice was to let go the reaction (grudges and resentments are way to useless and heavy to carry), take the lesson (don’t assume hazards are only from cars going forward), and see the humor in the absurdity of it. After all, I take my time at every intersection on my route, standing pat if there’s any doubt about making it across, and checking multiple times in every conceivable direction before and even during a crossing, but never imagined getting backed into on a highway!
No, he didn’t come check on me or apologize, though he had to have known he hit me since I banged around pretty loudly on his car and his radio wasn’t on. Instead, a woman and her daughter, complete strangers with their own agenda that morning, took the time out of their schedule to turn around and ask me if I was ok or needed to go to the hospital. That simple kindness washed away any of the negative left by the driver and left me free to enjoy the rest of the sunrise run to work.
Oh my gosh Susan. I was hit once by some guy turning right on red (so he thought). The light was actually green and I had the right of way. Glad you too escaped unscathed (shaken of course). A few cuts and bruises. Mostly annoyed at the driver’s ignorance of pedestrian laws. Waiting for your Florida report . . . again, glad you are ok!
March 5, 2010 at 12:55 pm | Reply
Glad we’ve both survived! I just assume drivers don’t know pedestrian laws – they certainly don’t follow them. One other thing I’ve learned on the commute is that drivers instinctively respect things that can hurt them – other cars, concrete barriers – but don’t have the same respect for the “softer” obstacles – peds, bike riders, dogs…guess it’s the instinct for self-preservation. I always assume they’re not going to give me the right of way even when the law says so.
Florida report on its way!!!
March 5, 2010 at 1:10 pm | Reply
I’m really relieved you’re OK. I had a similar close encounter at Westland with Ebanezer. It was one of the cold evenings with some snow as well. I was coming on the sidewalk on Ebanezer towards KP and a van coming from Westland (from the left) was comfortably waiting on the pedestrian crossing (to make a right on Ebanezer). Since the light was red for the Westland traffic I went on to cross towards the front of the car (where there was still some free space on the crossing, then the van started suddenly to make a right, in a hurry to get in between 2 cars traveling on Ebanezer. I changed my direction in the air, avoiding the side mirror as I bumped off the side of the van dissapearing quickly out of my sight. Some Romanian swearing came to mind, it just seemed proper seeing that the car didn’t even slow down a bit to see what happened… I was fine, but that was quite a warning. Never assume that a stationary driver looking at the traffic from the left will have the decency to check one time to the right for pedestrian traffic. Lesson learned.
Hey, I wanted to do Buncombe Trail 34M and Enoree Passage 50M. I’ll use the Knoxville maraton as a training run building for Buncombe. Any thoughts? Have you run on those trails? I appreciate any advice or impression!
March 6, 2010 at 3:08 pm | Reply
Susan, I know we are all so careful of traffic when we are on the roads, but someone always seems to suprise you. So glad you were not injured and only scared to death. Your heart is probably still beating quickly. Rick
March 8, 2010 at 7:16 am | Reply
Glad you were not seriously injured, and your restraint is commendable. My sailor side kicks in all too often!
March 8, 2010 at 1:38 pm | Reply
Radu/Rick/Kristin,
We’re lucky to get the reminder – and that it’s just a reminder. While running my commute, I’ve also seen cars jump the red light (I saw two do that on my drive home from a meeting tonight). I don’t like to wave on well-meaning drivers that wait for me but I don’t trust most drivers and can’t afford to make an exception. Still, none of that prepared me for a car going in reverse (it was quiet and I still didn’t hear or see any sign that he changed gears). If nothing else, I suppose this is a good reminder to everyone to avoid making ANY assumptions about what a driver will do!
March 8, 2010 at 9:48 pm | Reply