I've been into a lot of close calls. Ones that would have likely killed me. I don't have all of that metal between you'an me. I'm a cyclist.
Bit of a story on this collision. The particular BMW I hit had splashed a co-worker recently. I remembered the license plate, and later keyed the car as we had confronted the bastard while he stopped to get gas. He response was "Don't want to get splashed? Don't go outside without a car. You can't do anything about it." So, I grabbed his license plate, I keyed the fuckwagon when I saw him later in MY parking lot.
This was very shortly after such keying. 1AM, just a light sprinkle. Not really fair to say it's raining again, and my backpack was full of drinks. Fatigued I lowered my head on a street where lights were sparse, and the very same BMW was parked on the side of the road. I barely even noticed it when I looked back up, and when I did notice it, It was too late. I tried to stop, but my front wheel hit is bumper, my backpack broke and flung over my shoulder, hitting his trunk. Another little dent. Not enough noise to wake anyone. When I realized it was black, BMW, and had funny white lines along the side of it, I decided to pick up my backpack, grab the handlebars, and walk the rest of the way home.
As for close calls? I'll give ya one. Phoof... One of the roads I drive on is Bayers. There is not enough room on Bayers for cars, let alone busses and bikes. But I needed to go on it. Did I mention that the road is an atrocity? There's potholes as large as me on there!! Well... On the way to work, I had to ride on the road. I was avoiding potholes going down the hill when I hear a buss behind me. That's okay, I can keep up with his speed downhill, and there's a bus-stop coming up soon. I'll stay ahead of him and turn into the parking lot near where I work.
The bus decides to pass me, about, eeh, 50 feet before the bus stop. I'm going at a good clip. He's going at a better clip.
The bus turns on his signal to turn right. I cannot see this, I am side-by-side.
The bus goes into my lane, I am not about two feet behind it, very, very concerned.
The bus gets very, very close to the curb and slams the breaks, at this point, I had just swung a leg over to jump onto the sidewalk, taking my bike with me. If I had stayed the course... I probably would have hit the corner of the bus at about 30-50 kph.
Dem busses.