Sunday 22 March 2009

But you didn’t see me

This has been around for a while, but with spring come more bikes on the road and, unfortunately, more accidents, so it seemed timely to post it again. (Thanks to The Lonely Rider.)
I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.
But, you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But, you didn't see me playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But, you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by.
But, you didn't see me driving behind you when you tossed your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless kids.

I saw you stare at my long hair.
But, you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
But, you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me cry as my children where born and how I have their names written upon my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
But, you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you yelling at your kids in the car.
But, you didn't see me pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
But, you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain.
But, you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But, you didn't see me trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
But, you didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
But, you didn't see me...I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family.
But, you didn't see me...Because I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker...
A person with friends and a family.

BUT, YOU DIDN'T SEE ME!! 
Please ride safe.

5 comments:

  1. Certainly a good piece...make sure you're never in their blind spot and you'll be fine... also maintain enough space around you (Can be done)
    Safety and educating both the public as well as the rider is a big issue.

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  2. True enough, but it's the ones you aren't anticipating that will get you... the guys that come out of, literally, nowhere.

    http://ontwowheels-eh.blogspot.com/2008/09/two-legged-four-wheeled-buffalo.html

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  3. Baron makes a good point but sometimes I swear some peoples blind spot is everywhere. If they are not looking at all how can they ever see you? Personally I give myself as much space as possible and assume they are all out to get me.

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  4. Danny - agreed. There's lots a rider can do with respect to drivers around him, but here's the real problem. You can only protect yourself from threats you can identify. It's the guy you don't see that comes roaring across 3 lanes of traffic right into your lane that's going to make life very difficult, or at least very interesting for a brief moment. And I'm not sure what to do about those guys. Sometimes the sixth sense kicks in, but I had a very close call last year that I still have no idea how I could have avoided it.

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  5. Sorry about your close call. Wish I knew how to predict those things. If I could I would share that with everyone.

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