What made today a terribly bad day was the fact that I saw a horrible motorcycle accident (at Gaglardi Way / Cariboo Road - Bob will know...) on my way home. Ambulance was already gone but the bike looked badly mangled. Then another traffic jam, and another accident close to home involving a public transit bus.
And then this: As I enter the third level of the parkade where my bikes live...
Everything looks normal, or does it?
Have a closer look:
Can you see it now?
From the other side:
A wire rope hanging down at level with my throat while I was riding down the ramp. If I hadn't seen it, it could have thrown me of the scooter, or strangled! What are people thinking? Was it somebody who hates riders? Or pure and simple stupidity? The husband immediately called the strata emergency services to report this. I am still upset about what could have happened...
This day really sucked all over! I hope that the people involved in the previously mentioned accidents are somewhat o.k. I will update if I can find out more. Having a cup of tea now and resting on my sofa cuddled in a blanket.
Hubby went down again to check. The issue has already been taken care of before somebody was seriously hurt. But I am still upset.
Hubby went down again to check. The issue has already been taken care of before somebody was seriously hurt. But I am still upset.
That wire could have ended badly .. glad you are ok!
ReplyDeleteUpset! I would be fucking ropeable!!!!!!!!!!!!......( sorry I am normally not prone to bad langage) But I would of been spewing. Upset.......I can think of stronger words to use. Glad you are ok. SOme people ore just plain dickheads.
ReplyDelete@Sergei: Thanks, very kind of you. I really got lucky today.
ReplyDelete@Raftnn: Roger, believe me the 'bad language' was in full rigor when my husband spoke with the building management. I was rather calm... a bit shocked I guess.
That is bad. Did the wire look like it had been put their on purpose? Or was this accidental? If on purpose, I'd have thought about calling the cops.
ReplyDeleteSonja, a bad day indeed. I hope the motorcyclist comes out of it OK. Thank heavens you weren't distracted riding in that normally safe situation. It's a risk that commuting poses, particularly when you take the same routes frequently, you can be lulled into a false sense of security and fail to spot a new hazard until it's too late. If you weren't as vigilent as you were, you could easily have fallen victim to that wire.
ReplyDeleteThere was a similar incident in Toronto recently where a rider wasn't so lucky and was seriously injured. In that case a fine wire used for kite fighting was stretched across the road and caught the rider in the neck. Police are investigating to determine if the incident was accidental or deliberate. Look at it this way though, with a day like that, you're due for a long stretch of great riding. Be safe Sonja.
Holy Crap! I'm glad you saw it first! Do you think it was stupid kids who didn't realize the magnitude of their prank? Or, is there someone who really has it out for the resident riders? Either way, I'd be so distrustful of everybody I saw and would want to question them.
ReplyDeleteI hope your management helps you with some answers, or at least gets some video surveillance installed. It might hamper further attempts.
I concur... bad day. Let's move on to tomorrow!
Sonja, the rope being there was inexcusable stupidity on someone's part but congrats on being aware and keeping a sharp eye out even when near home....usually its when riders are near home and in familiar surroundings that some relax their guard and get into trouble. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThe way the rope was draped looked like sloppy maintenance work to me at first, perhaps the threat of a lawsuit is in order?
Glad you were riding aware and are unharmed.
Dom
Redleg's Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
sSonja
ReplyDeleteIt's always stomach churning and upsetting to see accidents - I pity the Emergency services who have to deal with this day in day out.
The wire? you saw it, and you would have seen it on Rover ABS or no ABS!
N
SonjaM:
ReplyDeleteI heard about that accident so I avoided it. I take that way home, sometimes, but that on ramp is very dangerous as you have to merge while on the corner and cannot see the upcoming traffic. There was another mishap on Marine Way, down by your office so I had to take the slow route through Kingsway home. That's why I like to have my radio on whist riding. I didn't the other day when there was a fire Byrne/Marine Way near your office and I got caught in miles of stopped traffic. It was a nightmare to finally get out of it. I don't know how you managed to get out of your parking lot. So you see, I was thinking about you.
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
@Gary France: I am thinking some idiot cager damaged the gate again, and tried to fix it. We need a surveillance camera...
ReplyDelete@David Masse: You are so right, that one can get lulled by routine trips like the daily commute, and I have to admit that I am not immune to it. But I guess I was maybe twice as alert due to that horrific motorcycle accident.
@Lady Ridesalot: It didn't look like a prank by kids or done on purpose. I tend to believe a stupid grown-up was the perp.
@Charlie6: I have sent the photos to the strata management, with a serious letter attached. A lawsuit came to mind, and if that ever happens again... I am very thankful that my eyesight is still pretty good but I was lucky, too I guess.
@Nikos: I agree, and I said 'oh sh!t' out loud when I passed. It looked like it was the rider's fail to yield oncoming traffic but I still feel for that guy. Hope he'll recover soon.
@bobskoot: Yes, it is a very dangerous spot and accidents and close calls happen almost every week there. The recent fire was also not helping traffic. I stayed late until the worst was over and took the route via New Westminster that day.
So sorry to hear about your day. Passing a bike accident would be very upsetting. It's hard enough seeing it on the news.
ReplyDeleteWhether deliberate or not, that cord hanging down is really bad! I'm glad you were able to spot it in time. And glad to hear that the powers that be got an earful.
Sonja I feel sorry for youn&'your bad day. I hate it every time I hear about a rider being hurt.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with the a-holes who are stinging wire everywhere. It makes me wonder what they think is so brilliant to hurt someone. If you had been a titch more distracted & thinking about your day you could have missed the wire & been badly hurt. I am glad that you noticed the wire. Stay safe my friend and I hope tomorrow is a better day.
@bluekat: Kari, it always gives me the creep when I see an accident, but it especially hits close to home when it is a motorcycle involved.
ReplyDelete@Dar: It must have been some idiot not thinking but I hope that is was not done deliberately. Still it was a stupid act, and I hope that they get one day some of their own sh!t.
The man on the motorcycle died at the scene My son was at the scene too.
ReplyDeleteI was reading over this and thought of how crazy it would be to go through that day, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the accident u saw was a good friend and unfortunately he was taken from us too soon. He was just on his way home:(
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: I am so sorry to hear that the rider didn't make it. I had hoped and prayed it wasn't as bad as it looked. So sad.
ReplyDeleteA truly bad day. And you were drinking nothing stonger than tea?
ReplyDelete@irondad: Dan, I would have liked a stronger intake, but I never have alcohol at home... it would go bad before I have consumed it ;-)
ReplyDelete