Best car accident EVER

When I decided I was going to start biking, I came across lots of statistics about how biking was really dangerous, then read more statistics which refuted these and maintained biking prevented diabetes, obesity, etc and was much safer than driving or walking. Well, I can now weigh in on this argument with personal experience because last night, I was hit by a cab while biking.

Considering how many times I've biked semi-recklessly through red lights or after drinking, it was kind of ridiculous how many things I was doing right this time. I was wearing a helmet, I had lights on, and I even had the right of way with the crosswalk (the white pedestrian light, not the flashing orange one). I saw the cab on the corner, but apparently he didn't see me, perhaps because he was talking on his cell. I pedaled forward, got hit by the cab and flew off my bike, which got stuck underneath the car. Katherine was with me and immediately thought I was dead. Au contraire, I bounced up from the pavement and spritely announced "I'm fine! I'm FINE!" Aside from some scrapes and bruises, I was feeling pretty good. In fact, I was awesome. It was sort of bizarre how great I felt after the adrenalin rush from being hit, a mix of giddiness at being alive and hubris at being relatively unscathed from a car accident.

Meanwhile, two other bikers had rushed over to the scene to see if I was ok and began yelling at the cab driver. Ah yes, the biker community at work! One guy was telling me I had to get the cabbie's plates, insurance info, etc, while telling him it was entirely his fault and he was a terrible person. Basically, it was the pent-up ire of cycling community towards cabs directed at this one driver. In his defense, he wasn't trying to run away and was making a reasonable attempt to give me all his insurance info, but there was just no way he could redeem himself at this point.

Cab Driver: Ok, here's all my contact information. Now, can I have yours?
Biker Guy: She doesn't have to give you any information at all!
Cab Driver: But look, I thought it was a fair trade! My info for yours!
Biker Guy: No, it's entirely up to you, but you don't have to release anything if you don't want to!
Me: Uhh...

Simultaneously, the other biker had cornered Katherine and was muttering under his breath about "all those damn Indian cab drivers. Look, they're all Indian! They wear the same shirt, every day! Seriously, what are they even doing in this country?" Some of this may have been promoted by the alcohol on his breath. Did I mention the cabbie wasn't even Indian? Katherine: "Um yeah, can I please just go tend to my injured friend? Thanks."

After the cabbie left, yon helpful biker dude gave me his number in case I needed a witness for claims. He also pointed us to a nearby bike shop, since my bike was not exactly ridable at this point. "Tell them Liam sent you," he said. So, we trudged over and hesitantly approached the counter. I explained that I'd been hit by a cab and name dropped, and it worked like a charm. The girl immediately grabbed someone and had them look at my front wheel. The bike is now in moving condition, but making lots of ominous noises, so I'm bringing it in to a mechanic later today.

By now, we were kind of in the mood to head home. Or, I still felt like I could run a marathon, but it was getting late. Somehow, despite our attempts to leave, we were getting lost amidst the paths around Navy Pier and kept coming back to the same Intersection of Death. Let me also point out that the chivalrous biker dude was working for Bike Chicago, so he was hanging out on the same street corner outside. On the third pass, we decided to just stop and ask for directions, and he asked if I was into jazz because there was a show on Tues night, and if I wanted more details I could call/text him. That's right, in one night, I was hit AND hit on.

Let me go dig up my hemp bag and patchwork skirt...