Here’s the thing nobody tells you: being hit by a car changes you. Not just the bruises. You start looking at intersections like they’re enemies. Every turn signal becomes a threat.
You become hyper-aware of the sound of engines. A loud muffler makes you flinch. A car that comes too close to the bike lane makes your soul leave your body. You’ve been baptized by asphalt. You are now a veteran.
Boy, 11, rushed to hospital after hit by car crushing bike | Daily Mail
But also—you get this weird pride. Like, “I survived something dumb and dramatic.” You have a story to tell at parties. It’s a terrible story, but it gets free drinks if you milk the limp.
What Do You Do Now?
Do you get back on the bike? Yes. But maybe after a week. And maybe after buying a bell so loud it shatters car windows. You also invest in a rearview mirror because trust is broken.
You ride slower now. You stop at stop signs like a responsible adult. You even wave at other cyclists like, “You get it, bro. The cars are out to get us.” It’s a secret society of survivors.
