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Cyclist Gets Hit by Driver on Bike Lane Just Hours after Its Inauguration

Irony. It is a very difficult technique to master, regardless on which of its two ends you may find yourself. Being ironic does not come easy for most as it needs a witty and quick-thinking mind while being its recipient and taking it gracefully requires a lot of self-confidence.
Ottawa cyclist accident 10 photos
Photo: Submitted to CBC News Ottawa
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However, for those who simply stand back and observe its manifestation, there's nothing simpler in the world. It doesn't take a genius to spot it, either: you just look for things that happen despite all odds being against it. You know, things like a weatherman coming to work soaking wet because the rain took him by surprise. Or a towing truck driver having his car towed. Stuff like that.

How's this for irony, then: the city of Ottawa is proudly opening a new bike lane on O'Connor Street. The Canadians are well known for their attention toward bicycle users, so the event is welcomed by a lot of people. More bikes mean fewer cars, which is a good thing for absolutely everybody as it cuts air pollution and time spent in traffic.

The O'Connor Street is a one-way street, but the bike has two lanes, a detail which raised concerned over its safety even before it was launched. But the asphalt was painted lime-green and Canadian drivers are used to sharing the road with cyclists, so the odds of anything going wrong were slim.

Yeah, if by slim you mean 'five minutes without an incident, guaranteed,' then you'd be right. Just a few hours after the city officials had cut the ribbon, a car ran into a man on a bike, sending him to the ground, CBC News Ottawa reports. He was only identified as a 30- to 40-years-old male who was then taken to hospital in stable condition. He suffered shoulder and rib injuries, but their severity is unknown.

Could this situation have been any more ironic? Sure. Just imagine the cyclist being the mayor of the city, for example - or, even better, him being the driver. That would have been hilarious. Well, the bicycle rider did come out of it with bruised shoulder and ribs, so maybe 'hilarious' isn't the best choice of words.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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