May 2016 Moms

Terrifying Encounter

Today I experienced something that scared me so badly I cried a few seconds after. I was walking out of work on the sidewalk and nearing a turn which is hidden by bushes. Meaning I can't see who is coming towards me nor can the person coming towards me see me. Is that comprehensible? 

So I'm walking and this guy on a bicycle on the sidewalk - flying by the way at such a high speed almost swerved into me. Carelessly riding his bike at such a high speed. 

This is a small calm city and I work right next to a school so kids could be walking in groups as well. 

I got so scared. All I thought was if he slammed into me the entire bike and his body would land on my stomach. He freaked out and started saying sorry sorry sorry and I said "no sorry - sorry isn't doing anything. Think think think about things and make decisions that will be right and be careful. I'm pregnant- you could have killed everything for me." On that note, hearing myself like that- I had to turn and walk away because I realized how close it could have been. I feel like locking myself in the apartment and not walking out until it's time to go to the hospital. 

It was terrifying. My unborn baby could have been hurt because someone wanted to ride at high speed on their bike - one with really thick tires on the sidewalk. 
I called my husband but I was shaking so much and started crying that I couldn't talk and hung up on him. Even revisiting the memory still has me crying. 
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Re: Terrifying Encounter

  • I'm really sorry to hear this. Just reading this post gave me anxiety. It really shows that our instinct to protect our unborns is so strong, and when something like this happens it emphasises just how vulnerable they/ we are. That guy is so stupid for even riding where people walk, the fact he could have injured anybody is scary enough. I'm sorry for your scare, and I hope this incident doesn't affect the last ( however long you have left to bake) , stretch of this very special time you have. 
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  • This is something I've also experienced. Different situations (people in cars etc) but it angers me that everyone is not always vigilant when it comes to how their actions might affect others, pregnant or not. Sorry you had such a scare, and like PP said, I hope this doesn't spoil the last stretch for you. Hope you feel better and calmer soon. 
  • Sorry you had such a scare. Bikes on sidewalks is a pet peeve of mine, but more than that, dangerous. Everything is okay, though, thankfully. I'm sorry you had such a scare!
    Me: 38; DH: 41
    DS: Born 5-17-16 

  • Dang, glad you stood up for yourself! I have had not one but TWO close calls with people and their shopping carts recently, and its really pissed me off. It would piss me off to almost get a shopping cart slammed into my gut if I WEREN'T pregnant, but to have it almost happen when I am pregnant!? Cmon people! And nobody said anything! I wish I had said something like you did!
  • I'm sorry that you had this experience-- this was/is always a cause of anxiety for me especially when I have DS in a stroller. I hate having him too far ahead of me when I come upon corners because I'm afraid someone will run into him.
  • I'm so sorry, I know it's scary. Living in NYC bikers rarely obey any traffic laws, going in the opposite direction of traffic, weaving, blowing through red lights etc, so I'm always hyper alert. When I first moved here a bike messenger slammed into me attempting to stop way too late while I had the right of way to cross and I was shaken up for a long time, not even pregnant. It's actually illegal here for bicycles to be on the sidewalk for this reason too. It sounds like this doesn't happen a lot where you're from so hopefully this is your one brush with it, so try not to stress too hard and let it consume you. Big hugs!
  • Jparke2 said:
    Dang, glad you stood up for yourself! I have had not one but TWO close calls with people and their shopping carts recently, and its really pissed me off. It would piss me off to almost get a shopping cart slammed into my gut if I WEREN'T pregnant, but to have it almost happen when I am pregnant!? Cmon people! And nobody said anything! I wish I had said something like you did!
    I've had this happen SOOO many times. And then when the people end up having to move out of the way they get all pissy like it's so inconvenient. I never say anything just bc I always forget in the moment, but DH has made enough comments to last a lifetime I'm sure. 

    I've also lost track of the people who pretty much almost hit me with their car in the parking lots of places, however that's not even just when I'm pregnant. Seriously... It takes like 2 seconds to pay attention, stop, and wait for a person to cross the road to the store. There is nowhere THAT important that you have to be that you would rather hit someone with your car.
  • dsmith211 said:
    Jparke2 said:
    Dang, glad you stood up for yourself! I have had not one but TWO close calls with people and their shopping carts recently, and its really pissed me off. It would piss me off to almost get a shopping cart slammed into my gut if I WEREN'T pregnant, but to have it almost happen when I am pregnant!? Cmon people! And nobody said anything! I wish I had said something like you did!
    I've had this happen SOOO many times. And then when the people end up having to move out of the way they get all pissy like it's so inconvenient. I never say anything just bc I always forget in the moment, but DH has made enough comments to last a lifetime I'm sure. 

    I've also lost track of the people who pretty much almost hit me with their car in the parking lots of places, however that's not even just when I'm pregnant. Seriously... It takes like 2 seconds to pay attention, stop, and wait for a person to cross the road to the store. There is nowhere THAT important that you have to be that you would rather hit someone with your car.
    Right?! I never thought that I would particularly expect "special" treatment while pregnant, but its almost like recently people have been even more careless than before. I went to Costco last week and a girl ran into the side of me and didn't even say anything. I loudly said to my mom "Am I invisible?! I'm TWO people!" but I doubt the girl heard me
  • How scary! So glad you're ok!



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    BFP 1: 9/15/2013 | DD 5/23/2014
    BFP 2: 9/15/2015 | EDD 5/26/2016

  • So sorry that happened to you. Bicycle riders can be scary. Definitely not supposed to ride on the sidewalk, and even worse to go at a  high speed. I think @dshannah is right and you probably scared him enough to make him think about others more. 

    That's one reason I would never wear headphones while running on the hike and bike trail. Sometimes the bikes are going fast and all they do is yell "on your left!" when approaching. 

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  • So sorry that happened to you. Bicycle riders can be scary. Definitely not supposed to ride on the sidewalk, and even worse to go at a  high speed. I think @dshannah is right and you probably scared him enough to make him think about others more. 

    That's one reason I would never wear headphones while running on the hike and bike trail. Sometimes the bikes are going fast and all they do is yell "on your left!" when approaching. 
    I live right by a running/bike trail and as a runner I would never wear headphones while out on it. So many bikers and they're going very fast and at least in our area they kind of have a reputation of not being particularly accommodating to runners. Not to mention if I had them in, I'd probably jump 10 feet in the air if someone came near me. I like to be aware of my surroundings.
  • People can be butts sometimes.  :|
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  • I'm sorry you had to deal with this, i can emphasize with you for sure. I work on a college campus and every single day I am nearly run down by a skateboarder, bike, blader etc. I have to be on alert at all times because these people simply do not care if they mow you down or hit you.  Its really out of control.
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