Discussion
Clipped by a car yesterday evening - the first and hopefully the last time.
Quiet A-road, good visibility and a dozy so-and-so in a Jazz or Civic wiped-out his wing mirror on my bars as he/she went past.
Certainly made me jump, but I was able to stay on - and then the blighter didn't stop, despite having what was left of the mirror dangling from its wires and clattering against the door.
Happily the following car slowed to check that I was ok and then caught the Honda and got its number - so this morning I have been able to do my civic duty and report the matter and someone may in due course get a letter that invites them to wake up behind the wheel.
No harm done, then, I suppose, except perhaps to my personal sense of invulnerability: what can you possibly do to stop someone ploughing into you from behind as if you're not there?
Quiet A-road, good visibility and a dozy so-and-so in a Jazz or Civic wiped-out his wing mirror on my bars as he/she went past.
Certainly made me jump, but I was able to stay on - and then the blighter didn't stop, despite having what was left of the mirror dangling from its wires and clattering against the door.
Happily the following car slowed to check that I was ok and then caught the Honda and got its number - so this morning I have been able to do my civic duty and report the matter and someone may in due course get a letter that invites them to wake up behind the wheel.
No harm done, then, I suppose, except perhaps to my personal sense of invulnerability: what can you possibly do to stop someone ploughing into you from behind as if you're not there?
Sometimes if I'm going slowly and can hear a vehicle coming up behind me I'll drift out to the right then cut back in to the left before they go past. Helps to give a bit more margin for error if the 
was planning a close pass (usually tossers in white vans or chav scum in their mom's shopping cars).
was planning a close pass (usually tossers in white vans or chav scum in their mom's shopping cars).I had a 'chat' with 2 people this morning about the cars width that they should be using when passing a cyclist. One guy was fine and reckons he wasnt that close, believe me your were! the other one wouldnt even look at me or wind his window down.
I ride 8.5 miles to work and the .5 is on an uphill double white lined busy road, its the scariest part of the whole ride and everyone overtakes you without crossing the solid lines, usually at 60mph!
I ride 8.5 miles to work and the .5 is on an uphill double white lined busy road, its the scariest part of the whole ride and everyone overtakes you without crossing the solid lines, usually at 60mph!
Fluffsri said:
I had a 'chat' with 2 people this morning about the cars width that they should be using when passing a cyclist. One guy was fine and reckons he wasnt that close, believe me your were! the other one wouldnt even look at me or wind his window down.
I ride 8.5 miles to work and the .5 is on an uphill double white lined busy road, its the scariest part of the whole ride and everyone overtakes you without crossing the solid lines, usually at 60mph!
Had this the other night as the guy zipped past me (narrowly missing me) and then proceeded to try and get away from me - in London traffic, bike is always going to win I ride 8.5 miles to work and the .5 is on an uphill double white lined busy road, its the scariest part of the whole ride and everyone overtakes you without crossing the solid lines, usually at 60mph!
), caught up to him, got him the wind his window down, had a go at him and he maintained I was behind him. If he actually believed that, I'm slightly scared that he didn't see me at all when I was infront of him. 
I started road cycling about 6 months ago and I've been knocked off my bike twice. On one of the two occasions it was a guy in a white van who clipped my bars and kept driving while I was left on the deck. It was a fairly heavy impact so I very much doubt he didn't notice.
Perhaps naively, I was amazed that someone could do that and not stop. Scum of the earth in my opinion. I think part of the issue is the american style 'sue them' culture we seem to have cultivated. Anyone who stops is probably worried they'll get pounded for 000's of personal injury charges.
The other occasion some douche in a jeep didn't give me right of way in one of those 'priority over others' traffic calming measures which narrows a perfectly fine wide road into a single lane. He tried to squeeze through at the last minute meaning I had to hit the brakes. My front wheel washed out (was icy) and I ended up under his jeep but thankfully he had come to a stop so I wasn't squashed.
Again, naively I gave him a evil look and asked him what he was thinking and he humbly apologised. I therefore let him continue without taking any details. This was a bit of a mistake in hindsight. My bruised/cut up knee I didn't care about as it wasn't that bad and would heal in a week or so - but only after he left did I realise my handlebars and cogset were bent out of shape! WOuld have been nice to get him to at least pay for that.
Perhaps naively, I was amazed that someone could do that and not stop. Scum of the earth in my opinion. I think part of the issue is the american style 'sue them' culture we seem to have cultivated. Anyone who stops is probably worried they'll get pounded for 000's of personal injury charges.
The other occasion some douche in a jeep didn't give me right of way in one of those 'priority over others' traffic calming measures which narrows a perfectly fine wide road into a single lane. He tried to squeeze through at the last minute meaning I had to hit the brakes. My front wheel washed out (was icy) and I ended up under his jeep but thankfully he had come to a stop so I wasn't squashed.
Again, naively I gave him a evil look and asked him what he was thinking and he humbly apologised. I therefore let him continue without taking any details. This was a bit of a mistake in hindsight. My bruised/cut up knee I didn't care about as it wasn't that bad and would heal in a week or so - but only after he left did I realise my handlebars and cogset were bent out of shape! WOuld have been nice to get him to at least pay for that.
Update.
I had wondered what, if anything, had been the outcome of the Police investigation into this, and out of the blue took a call from them this morning, apologising for the lengthy silence and explaining that enquires had revealed that the registered keeper of the vehicle - and sole inhabitant of the address to which it was registered - was now deceased.
I thought that was a bit harsh - it was only a minor RTA, after all, but there you go.
My sympathies to his/her family.
I had wondered what, if anything, had been the outcome of the Police investigation into this, and out of the blue took a call from them this morning, apologising for the lengthy silence and explaining that enquires had revealed that the registered keeper of the vehicle - and sole inhabitant of the address to which it was registered - was now deceased.
I thought that was a bit harsh - it was only a minor RTA, after all, but there you go.
My sympathies to his/her family.
That seems like a drastic way to get out of a telling off. I've had my first bit of truly bad driving today after two months of commuting in London. One of the darling Addison Lee drivers drive through a red light, albeit slowly due to traffic infront of him, and in the next 200m up to another set of lights (Cornhill) he proceeded to change lanes twice to the left, no indicating, and no taking any notice of the bike to my left who was almost wiped out, or me who he swerved at with the second lane change.
on another note I have seen a couple of Policemen down by euston this morning handing out warnings or fines (I wasnt stopped, just sat at a light when someone was getting some form of ticket). He was explaining how badly hurt someone had been there yesterday when struck by a cyclist running a red.
on another note I have seen a couple of Policemen down by euston this morning handing out warnings or fines (I wasnt stopped, just sat at a light when someone was getting some form of ticket). He was explaining how badly hurt someone had been there yesterday when struck by a cyclist running a red.
robpearson said:
That seems like a drastic way to get out of a telling off. I've had my first bit of truly bad driving today after two months of commuting in London. One of the darling Addison Lee drivers drive through a red light, albeit slowly due to traffic infront of him, and in the next 200m up to another set of lights (Cornhill) he proceeded to change lanes twice to the left, no indicating, and no taking any notice of the bike to my left who was almost wiped out, or me who he swerved at with the second lane change.
on another note I have seen a couple of Policemen down by euston this morning handing out warnings or fines (I wasnt stopped, just sat at a light when someone was getting some form of ticket). He was explaining how badly hurt someone had been there yesterday when struck by a cyclist running a red.
Avoid Addison Lee at all costs these days - they're known for having no regard for cyclists, I assume because they're driving looking at the sat nav on the screen and not out the windows.on another note I have seen a couple of Policemen down by euston this morning handing out warnings or fines (I wasnt stopped, just sat at a light when someone was getting some form of ticket). He was explaining how badly hurt someone had been there yesterday when struck by a cyclist running a red.
IroningMan said:
Update.
I had wondered what, if anything, had been the outcome of the Police investigation into this, and out of the blue took a call from them this morning, apologising for the lengthy silence and explaining that enquires had revealed that the registered keeper of the vehicle - and sole inhabitant of the address to which it was registered - was now deceased.
I thought that was a bit harsh - it was only a minor RTA, after all, but there you go.
My sympathies to his/her family.
Bet the car had been sold on and the new keeper hasn't informed the dvla. They didn't stop because they weren't taxed, insured or (likely) licensed. Police have dropped it because the trail is cold. I had wondered what, if anything, had been the outcome of the Police investigation into this, and out of the blue took a call from them this morning, apologising for the lengthy silence and explaining that enquires had revealed that the registered keeper of the vehicle - and sole inhabitant of the address to which it was registered - was now deceased.
I thought that was a bit harsh - it was only a minor RTA, after all, but there you go.
My sympathies to his/her family.
Fluffsri said:
I had a 'chat' with 2 people this morning about the cars width that they should be using when passing a cyclist. One guy was fine and reckons he wasnt that close, believe me your were! the other one wouldnt even look at me or wind his window down.
I ride 8.5 miles to work and the .5 is on an uphill double white lined busy road, its the scariest part of the whole ride and everyone overtakes you without crossing the solid lines, usually at 60mph!
Bear in mind if you are travelling at more than 10mph, it is actually illegal for them to cross the white lines in order for them to pass.I ride 8.5 miles to work and the .5 is on an uphill double white lined busy road, its the scariest part of the whole ride and everyone overtakes you without crossing the solid lines, usually at 60mph!
daz3210 said:
Bear in mind if you are travelling at more than 10mph, it is actually illegal for them to cross the white lines in order for them to pass.
It doesn't stop them doing it most of the time, and if it's illegal to pass by crossing the white line, but the lane is too narrow to allow them to pass safely without crossing it, then the overtake is a non starter. Even if you are doing less than 10mph, vehicles are only permitted to overtake where they are CERTAIN that it is safe to do so."Give a cyclist at least as much room as you would another motor vehicle when overtaking" ??
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff