I’m not military, but I’m one of the phalanx of English teachers here (just past the 5 year mark) and I’ll probably stick it out another few years. I’ve read about some critical mass stuff here, but not specifically in my town. I’ve been chatting up a few other cyclists (the whole gamut- recreational to roadie) to see if we shouldn’t get a mass awareness ride together (perhaps even the local bike cops will come!).

Ok, I’m going to stop clogging up the comments now.

Are you U.S. Military?

I’ve only been reading your blog for couple weeks now, but I’ve gone back through a lot of posts and have found it quite inspiring. I hope you’re back in the saddle before too long.

I currently live in South Korea, where driving laws seem to be suggestion and are rarely enforced. Things we take for granted in our daily lives at home in North America and such (like people not parked all the way around corners) make bike commuting nearly impossible here, but I’m still going to try to get off my car crutch and make this a lifestyle. If I can do it for a year, I’m going to reward myself with a bike tattoo. A year or 30 pounds, whichever comes first

Anyhow, keep it up! You’re having an impact.

Kim

I hope you continue riding and never have to relive that day.
Again, if I was closer I would ride with you to help you get back to where you were.

Since reading about your wreck, I tend to ride more to the middle of the lane and make all motorist pass me just as they would any body else. Motorist who buzz me don’t get far before I bang on their window at the first red light. We have to stand up for our rights…

I myself may be hit by a motorist one day, but it won’t be because I am not visible. And I hope if that happens I won’t let that get to me”

I am glad you went to court, see if you can get a local paper to print an article about the motorist hitting you while passing and the charges, legal costs and losing in court as well as his insurance paying for every little item to you. Others may think better before unsafe passing knowing what will come of it.

I sat in the ER for 8 hours until my turn for a catscan – by the time I went in for a scan I could not sit up without blacking out, I had little to no blood pressure (they couldn’t even get blood for testing) and a heart rate of 150+. My spleen had burst and I had about 2 liters of blood in my abdominal cavity. A few hours under the knife and I was all cleaned up, albeit without a spleen.

I also herniated a disc in my spine, and it still bugs me today.

I began physical therapy 3 times per week shortly after, and didn’t feel comfortable getting back on a bike until April, when I bought a cheap Fuji to start getting back up to speed. Rain or shine.

Never give up, never surrender.