02-05-2026, 12:28 PM
Yeah... regarding the other driver. If you didn't make contact with that Tesla, and the car was in self-parking mode, chances are the driver was zoned out and didn't even connect with you mentally. You were just a guy on a motorcycle who fell down. Or, the driver was panicking about your possible reaction, and figured the "don't make contact, don't engage" route was the best course to take. Most people naturally don't like confrontation. I sure don't.
I have had one contact with a car in my riding career, and was faced with the "do I try to stop or do I lay down" decision in early 2020 with a left-turning driver who didn't see me till the last minute and stopped in front of me, panicking. I took the "keep braking" choice, and got lucky. Very low impact, I stayed on the bike, didn't fall over, and just shattered my front fender. The driver of the car tried a meek "you were going too fast" argument, but the fact that I had time to slow to a near stop negated that argument. Following that, she basically hid from me till the police arrived, probably afraid of what I might do. Which was nothing... I realized she made a mistake, I was Ok, and didn't want to cause her any harm. Her insurance bought me a shiny new fender, I'm still enjoying the bike, and that's all that mattered to me.
I have had one contact with a car in my riding career, and was faced with the "do I try to stop or do I lay down" decision in early 2020 with a left-turning driver who didn't see me till the last minute and stopped in front of me, panicking. I took the "keep braking" choice, and got lucky. Very low impact, I stayed on the bike, didn't fall over, and just shattered my front fender. The driver of the car tried a meek "you were going too fast" argument, but the fact that I had time to slow to a near stop negated that argument. Following that, she basically hid from me till the police arrived, probably afraid of what I might do. Which was nothing... I realized she made a mistake, I was Ok, and didn't want to cause her any harm. Her insurance bought me a shiny new fender, I'm still enjoying the bike, and that's all that mattered to me.
You know what? I actually would like a pickle.