Please, No Adult Bikes or Motorscooters On Sidewalks in NYC (and elsewhere)

Bikers Beware is a term we've heard that applies to  bicyclists and motorcyclists watching out for cars. They are the 'smaller vehicle' so the phsyics of force when two collide would favor the larger vehicle.

Plus there's no protection from being thrown off one's motorcycle or bike so on that account the rider would be wiser to avoid 'close calls with cars' or even parts of a car, such as a Car Door.

That sounds easy yet likely we need reminder stickers and buzzers to 'check twice' before getting out of a car or even into a car. Are there any bicyclists or motorscooters or motorcyclists who may be coming your way (from any direction?) Same goes for walking down a sidewalk...pedestrians and their strollers, walkers and pets should have priority.

The physics of a bike or even bigger person or fast moving person needs to take priority in making a judgement call. Smaller people and things need to get out of the way then get even later if possible with a call to 311 or 911, depending on the concern.

Local advocacy to have more buddy systems and ways to share the sidewalks reasonably could be promoted (with those who are supposed to use them, which would not include adults on bikes and maybe not even bigger children on bikes. They may need to walk them to a park or place that they can then use them freely and responsibly.)

Even if seeing a scooter coming your way and assuming they see you may not be 'enough checking'. In the case of a pedestrian getting something out of a car with the back door open to the street, the oncoming scooter person did not stop even though he thought he was well aware of the door opening.

In Brooklyn as in many places, there are bike delivery services, and the bikes varay from the  simple to the heavy-duty to the motorized scooter or light motorcycle. Unfortunately the scooter hit the fellow and the car door. Both men landed on the grounded, one near the car near the front door, and the other about 15 feet beyond the car after his bike fell over. The fellow then checked on the man he hit and proceeded to jump back on his bike and take off with two young security guards giving chase to no avail.

A few men went to check on the man near his car who was still in pain on the ground. They did not try to move him. The ambulance arrived shortly after a firetruck and two police cars effectively Blocked Traffic without calling the traffic control police. The man did not seem too injured but was in pain

. The offer was not clearly made that I could tell from initial proceedings if the man had insurance and a choice in riding in the ambulance to the nearest hospital. The ambulance takes a person to the hospital the ambulance is affiliated with.  Might someone have been able to help him ride in a cab or independently. Would his insurance cover the costs or possibly raise his premium for such a claim?

In addition to this episode happening when I was returning from being out for a few hours locally,I had experienced a lot of concerns earlier in the day about Traffic Problems in BrooklYN NY, but also realize there are many unchecked issues that the public simply does not take the time to consider. Sadly I learned just before  midnight on FB about a young father who I know  passing from a rare brain cancer. So what's the answer?

Maybe 'worry about what we can, and prepare for what we can't.' He had about 8 months to live with the awareness that his earthly life would soon end. His circles of family and friends are pulling together, raising 35K so far for a goal of $200K to help with expenses and for his young family to have support. Let me know if you would like to donate and I'll email you the gofundme.com info until I check with the family if I should post it on this blog.

The man who was hit by this small motor scooter could have been thrown in a way that resulted in far more harm than he seemed to suffer. In a way, 'he was lucky' and likely the car door was part of what kept the damage to a minimum. 

There are things to 'think through' at every turn of life. Maybe in the future when it comes to 'unloading things' or even getting out a vehicle, more people could aim to 'get out on the side rather than in the road' to avoid a great number of 'close calls' or unfortunate collisions. Knowing most are preventable is the edge to work with and remind ourselves and others that sometimes 'Slowing Down is a Great Way to Move Forward Effectively and Faster than if Caught Up In A Problem.'

Maybe there can be an app designed to help people practice safety leaving their home in the morning, and check their items and itinerary before any new location or transition in a vehicle is made. It can be easy to forget to put one's credit card or debit card back in one's wallet when checking out of a store.

Distractions of talking with someone, buying one more thing, keeping an eye on children or thinking about other things on the phone or about ' What's Next' can prove a bigger problem than many acknowledge. For instance many things are left on subways and trains. There is a Lost and Found at Penn Station with many things, even money there to claim. 

Now I want to mention something to be Aware of that really can save you money....Not Getting CASH with your credit card when at an ATM or at the store (when they say would you like extra cash back after your purchase.) If you are paying with your debit card (which you can run as a credit which may protect your information better and may save on any hidden charges which also may occur with some banks if you don't use your debit card ten times a month or other certain number of times or have a minimum balance, etc.) I should give some examples but hopefully you get the picture. There can be a minimum fee of ten dollars or a certain percentage of the cash you are getting charged for using your Credit Card. 

Make sure you pay your Credit Card IN FULL every month to avoid interest charges. That has to be done in a timely manner, and ideally would be linked to your main checking account that has plenty of money in it to cover your basic monthly use of your credit card(s,) Likely one only  needs on credit card (even for emergencies such as if travelling etc but again only if you can pay the bill.) If opening a new card, be sure that is linked to your main bank account or another one should you have it (even at another bank) so you are not caught off guard about paying the bill in a timely manner. 

A new shopping card for a store may be issued to help you save on initial purchases, but the bill may not come for a few weeks or more. Plenty of time to forget you even opened the card. Be sure to text yourself and keep the paperwork and receipts together. Ideally pay the initial bill with a regular card so you have a Zero Balance.

Then if you cancel the card you won't be stuck with a balance which can accrue late fees, interest and so on. Make sure there is no charge for having the card. There are many "Card Tricks" that can be played against a person using credit cards. I didn't have my own card until I was forty years old, but had loans from family to help me manage debts.

With credit card debt, research options if it gets ahead of you. There may be a statute of limitations in terms of how long they can hold you financially responsible for the debt, especially on a closed account. It may be about 7 years. If you want to pay them back voluntarily in full or in part eventually that is still an option, even out of your life insurance for instance.

If they call to say the debt is still on record but is not required to be paid, but you agree to consider paying it or make a plan along those lines, that could 'revive the debt' possibly so learn as much as possible and do not take calls or confirm information even  of your name if you don't know the consequences. Talk to professionals and do research online. None of what I share on this blog is to be construed at legal or professional or medical or financial advice. I am sharing in the sense of hypothetical 'what if this happened to me' terms.