I was hit by a car on my bike. I’m lucky to be alive.

Hearing the loud horn from a car and then, in a matter of seconds, seeing it in front of me was not how I’d planned to spend my night.

My dad and I were enjoying our time together and following the law by riding our bicycles on the street in Wausau. I’m 16 years old; this was about three years ago. I’ve always felt unsafe riding on the street, but I am a law-abiding citizen — not the usual image of the way people view BMX riders — and the law says bicycles should keep off the sidewalk.

Out of nowhere that day, a car slammed into my bike, sending me flying through the air and more than 20 feet backward.

I was not trying to get hit. I could not avoid the car in front of me. The driver was not paying attention and didn’t stop at a stop sign. I’m not sure why not — possibly the driver was texting, or maybe simply having a bad day. For the most part, I presume the driver, a woman with a man in the car with her as passenger, was following the laws and it was a fluke thing to miss a stop sign. But a fluke thing almost killed me.

I'm sharing my story because it almost happened again recently. In fact, it is much too common.

Barely a second passed from me talking with my dad while we were biking until I woke up on the ground. Initially, I felt like I was out for a long time, but my dad said he didn’t notice me blacking out, so I wasn’t out long at all if at all. My hands, arms, legs, even my chin were bloody and for all I knew my back was broken.

Luckily, with my dad’s help, I could get up. I realize now I should have gone to the hospital because since that day I have had pains in my right leg hip and ankle, all of which were bruised and swollen, but I didn’t go in because I thought I was all right.

When I realized I had just been hit by a car while doing what I love, I was in complete shock, telling myself out loud that this must be a dream. The whole thing didn’t last long because my dad and I left as soon as I came out of shock.

The only way this could be avoided was if I hadn’t been on the street. It happened in less than a second’s time and will stay with me forever, physically and mentally. The next day, all bruised and hurt, I couldn’t even get out of bed.

The sheer number of deaths that occur from bicyclists hit by cars made me feel lucky, and more so, blessed to be alive. I had no control over the situation and I never even saw it coming.

It almost made me sick to read of the death of 52-year-old bicyclist Donna David, a Marshfield woman who was biking in the town of McMillan when she was struck and killed by a motorist. It shows how dangerous it really is to bike on the street. It’s a real gamble on life.

Even if bicyclists are smart and observant, there are times when a crash may be unavoidable. I feel the best way to prevent these deaths isn’t for bicyclists to be more observant but not to put yourself in the line of danger. You’re not driving a car and you shouldn’t be where cars are right next to you. There is a big difference between a bike and a car. These dangers can be avoided simply by allowing riders to bike on the sidewalk. I know it is more safe. At this point in my life, even though it’s the law, it is hard for me to follow the law that requires me to bike on the roads, next to vehicles that can put my life in danger.

Kaleb Tesky, 16, lives in Lincoln County. He is a BMX rider of all kinds and still rides on the street sometimes.