Although the accident on an icy road did not cause any injuries, the video exceeded 3 million views on X and led to numerous reactions. The explanations of the cyclist who narrowly avoided the collision.
A cyclist who rides at night, on an almost clear road, but in a snowy environment, and therefore slippery. It is Friday, November 22, at 7:05 a.m., on the border between the towns of Orléans and Fleury-les-Aubrais, the icy day after a day of snow.
When, suddenly, a vehicle arrives on the left and does not stop at the stop sign, heading straight ahead… The cyclist manages to brake and avoid the impact, the car hits a parked Twingo. Fortunately, no one is injured.
“I didn’t even have time to be afraid”
“The driver was really sorry, I don’t blame him, I have nothing against him,” says the driver of the electrically assisted bike.
“He braked like he does every morning, except that the ground was icy. He was not careful, okay, but it could have happened to others. I asked him if he was okay, we exchanged our numbers and then left. I didn’t even have time to be afraid.”
The cyclist, who prefers to remain anonymous, filmed the entire scene.
More than 3.3 million views on X
Published on November 22, at 6:48 p.m., on the account of the association Droit Accessabilité Mobilité Métropole Orléans (Dammo), the video has more than 3.3 million views (as of November 26, 4 p.m.). To this, we must add 436 shares, 3,000 little hearts and more than 560 comments.
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“I did not want to share it directly on the networks, I shared it in a private group of the Dammo association. If it was published afterwards, it was for the purpose of prevention, to show that the road is dangerous , and even more so when it’s icy. I come from a region where we’re used to snow, but it’s not a given for everyone.”
Equipped with a camera in the event of an accident
Our cyclist has been traveling for more than five years in the Orléans metropolitan area, well equipped with lighting and conspicuous clothing. And cautious on the 15 km outward and as much in return, to go to work: “I never play with red lights.”
He also equipped himself with a camera. “If I got into the habit of filming, it’s to have a record if an accident happens to me. Per week, I must have two or three cars that put me in danger, it’s not huge .”
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And if he is equipped with an e-bike, it is not to save money: it is to drive between 25 and 30 km/h and thus avoid annoying the motorists who arrive behind him.
“I was on my guard”
The Orléanais looked at the comments on X, with a bit of annoyance for those who want to attribute imprudence to him. If it is shifted to its left, it is because the grip was poor on the right side at this location on rue Barrière-Saint-Marc. “I had slowed down significantly at the previous roundabout, where it was really slippery.”
He was also able to adapt his driving to the conditions, he said. “I had been driving for ten minutes, I was able to test the braking conditions with an icy road in places, he explains. On the video, you can see that I do not move my hands to brake, I think that I had to have my fingers on the brakes. I was on my guard.”
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Philippe Cros
