It just occurred to me that the title of this post might’ve been a line from ‘80s cop show Hill Street Blues, which was the ‘Thursday night TV ensemble drama’ of its day.
In any case, it comes down to this. I’m not going to write a long, scary story about bike accidents, especially because I wasn’t in one, but I did get to be part of one yesterday, and folks... be careful out there.
I and running partner-in-crankiness Susie were headed up the sidewalk of Riverside Drive on mile 3 of a planned 15 at around 8AM when a bike rider barreling down a hill hit Susie head on. The biker (who was not wearing a helmet, she was not an athletic type, just going somewhere on her ’74 Schwinn way too fast) was thrown headfirst onto the ground, right after Susie was hit in the head and thrown as well. Two women down and bleeding from the head, and blogboy here on an empty thoroughfare.
I did not plan to get cranky, since I didn’t suffer a scratch, it wasn’t my bad day, but… why is it that when you have an emergency and need to call 911, and you run up to a stranger and beg them to use their cell phone, they look at you blankly like you’re not to be believed? Seriously, I had to ask at least four people, none of whom wanted to even answer me, until some guy finally relented after I looked back at him skeptically. I’m appreciative that he let me call EMS, but did I have to show him pools of blood first? Everybody and their brother in this town spends half their life calling idiots on their cell phone to see what time the 10 o’clock news is on and all of a sudden nobody owns a phone. Jesus.
Cutting to the chase, the cops, then the ambulances showed up. Susie was well enough, despite the blood loss, to still be her old self, and the speed demon bike girl made it safely off the ground to a stretcher. Much paperwork, explanations, and time at the emergency room followed. Susie is fine now, but she knows she’s lucky she didn’t lose an eye, or teeth, she just has a very bad cut and a Tysonesque shiner.
Like I said, it wasn’t my bad day, I’m the lucky one. But let me tell all of you, and you know it before I say it… things can happen in a blink of an eye, and then your running/biking/swimming/scrapbooking days are over, or worse. I know you do because you have to, but be aware of others who can’t be bothered to be aware of you. Daytrippers on bikes, unleashed dogs, even runners who decide to just stop in the middle of the road for no reason… watch out for them, and keep reminding yourselves to watch out. It doesn’t matter if they meant to trip you up or not; if you end up in the hospital, or dead, it’s too late.
Thanks for reading my little public service announcement.
- R
Followup: Susie is registered (as am I) in this weekend’s NYC Half, and has every intention of running it after taking a few days off. The surgeon who took care of her in the emergency room happens to be running the marathon this year (ah, fate), so he understood perfectly, and told her to go for it… Nice.
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10 comments:
Wow - keep us posted on Susie! Hope she is feeling better and gets a PR in spite of it!
I can't believe no one lent a phone. I was broken down once in my car and 5 people stopped to offer their cell. I was okay and already had someone on the way, but goodness - when you really need it. ugh!
I almost broke my leg tripping over a dog almost 2 years ago. I pay attention to animals, but not everything else, so thanks for the post - I'll be more alert.
Best of luck to both of you in the race!!!
Dang! The phone thing really gets me. Like, what, no one's ever heard of an accident? Message to New Yorkers: You can get off the phone with your real estate broker who's been managing your account for the past 10 years while you look for the perfect little 3 bedroom that's not off an airshaft for under $7 million to let someone call 911. Ever heard of karma?
I am relieved to hear Susie is okay. I look forward to her mind-blowing performance in the NYC Half this weekend. Yours too!
Thanks to both of you for the kind words and encouragement, I'll send them along to Ms. S. She's the one that told me once 'why don't you start crankyrunner.com?', so you can blame her!
Not to slam New Yorkers (like anywhere, you get your good and your bad, except in NYC it seems to be intense both ways), having worked with clients all over the US in a previous career, I found the nicest, most understanding folks are... in the south. So Dusty, I'm not surprised to hear you say you didn't have a big problem finding helpful people. In fact, they found you. So I'm not hating on anybody anywhere, I'm just saying that I always found more laid-back folks in the south. Maybe it's all that hot weather!
Idiots. They should make you get a license to ride a bicycle in public places.
Wasn't the good samaritan law what sunk the cast of Seinfeld in the end?
Yes, absolutely right, it can happen in a blink of an eye! My husband and I rollerbladed for the first time in our lives a couple of years ago and at the end he fell...broke his leg, got surgery and screws. It happened on the west side, too, but people were absolutely amazing. They came running, wanting to help. I was so glad, since I was in a bit of a shock.
And yes, it’s not us who are careless, it’s that we have to pay attention to others who will not care. I got to feel that at yesterdays run. Drivers watch only one way when they come out of an alley – their direction!
Glad you weren’t hurt.
Whew, glad it all worked out all right for both Suzie and the rider!
Sometimes it takes a shock to our routine realities to realize how fragile we are.
I think I just quoted a Sting song.
You're famous! I just saw you in my New York Runner magazine.
Yes, Renee, I'm shocked to see myself in that magazine, too. Not the greatest picture, but I've seen A LOT worse. I never see myself in race photos, and there I am in a whole lineup of folks who are a bit more serious than I am. Must be my 15 minute-mile of fame.
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