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Before I tell this story, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am a safe driver. It's been WELL over a year since I've had even a minor brush with the law, I no longer speed and I have always checked by blind spot. That being said...had a tiny brush with death last night. Not my own so much, but that of a bicyclist.
See. It was 11:34 pm. Approximately. I was driving home from my friend's house and was at a stop sign on a side street. I look left-nothing, look right, nothing...begin to turn right, when suddenly...out of nowhere, there is a guy on a bike literally inches from the front of my car on the passenger side. He was none-too-happy about the fact that I almost killed him (understandably) and yelled "Oh my he--!" (censored to protect the innocent) as he softly pounded the hood of my car. He stops and I can tell he's preparing to really yell at me. I think to myself "So...since technically I didn't hit him, if I just drive off...it's not a hit-and-run, right?!" But then I think of all the times running that I've almost been hit by drivers and decided I at least owe this boy a decent apology. It goes something like this:
Mad Cyclist (MC): "Ahhh! What were you thinking?!?! Didn't you see me?!?"Me: No, I'm so sorry, I didn't.
MC: Ahhh! You scared me! You seriously almost hit me!Me: I am very sorry.
MC: What were you thinking?!
Me: (thinking, I know this boy is in shock but this conversation isn't going anywhere) "I'm sorry"
MC: Didn't you see my light?Me: (getting annoyed and defensive) "No, I didn't, you were going too slow, you hadn't passed me yet and the light is in the back of your bike, not the front!"
MC: "You almost hit me!"Me: Yeah, I know. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?
So imagine that conversation cycling through a few times (nice pun, eh?). I said other brilliant things including "I ride a bike too!" and "I don't just HIT people!!!" (Wow Jules...deep). He said dumb things too. Understandably. Eventually he calmed down and said "I'm sorry, it just scared me." It was then that he said "Can I ask you a question?" To which I respond "Sure"...he asks my name, I tell him, he introduces himself (gives me his hand to shake-through the 3.5 inch gap in the
passenger side window) and then he then says:
"I know this is weird, but...do you think I could take you out sometime?"
Are you kidding me?!?! I burst out laughing and said "After I just almost killed you?" He says "Yeah, you seem like a nice girl." Random. So to abbreviate. I have a date with a guy I almost killed. Do not fret, I will meet him in a public place, he has minimal info about me...and I'm guessing this may be a one-time deal. He did smile while talking and say "Maybe this happened for a reason?" Hmmm. Hard to say. I do intend to tell him that next time he should A) get a light for the FRONT of his bike (as per AZ law regarding riding at night) and B) wear a helmet. I will do my part by being more aware. And I will apologize again. Only one more time though, as I still think it's mostly his fault.