Analyzing the contributing factors we decided that the guy acted stupid. He could have lost his life for it. All accidents are a combination or series of mistakes leading up to the grand finale. Needless to say the hearts of driver and target (nearly a statistic) went a-flutter. The man, nearly flattened, was on a bike. Our 4000# hauler would have survived (rule of physics). Stupid because he disregarded every rule cliche you’ve ever heard during some corny ‘how to ride a bike safe and sane’ AV:
Riding at night.
Riding without lights.
Riding without reflective gear.
Riding on the wrong side of the road
Riding with one’s head up and locked
( and no helmet on it neither )
The last one is the biggie and I give him benefit of doubt that he was a novice — a man who last took to two wheels umpteen years ago and was now riding his kid’s conveyance because his car was out of commissh or something. Anybody who has ever been on foot in and around vehicular traffic knows (has learned) to respect cars. Right or wrong, the other guy is considred an menace or impaired or he just plain doesn’t see you. Cars win. You might be in the right but you’ll be dead right. Well, let’s just say that now he’s clued in. Luckily the chain of events were broken and this: ‘that was a close one’ — averted — but not without a thrill.