Hit by car for second time in 2 weeks

peter_hutson · 23 Mar 2006 at 06:13

I think it's fair to say that there are plenty of morons out on the roads. Idiots are not restricted to one mode of transport, some are on bikes, some in cars , others on foot. It might be a safer place for ALL of us if we ALL showed more consideration. Just becuase a cyclist is slowing you down does not give you the right to knock them of their bike, equally stacked up traffic does not give cyclists the right to ride on the pavements.

In my opinion many people turn in to complete gimps when on the road and use any excuse to justify driving/cycling aggressively. "They did not pay road tax", "it was safe for me to go through a red light" etc, It's all BS. Stop being selfish and remember that doing something that's stupid could result with you living the rest of your like knowing you contributed to someones death. Cars, bikes, mopeds, whatever......they are all potential killing machines!

I can't remember who said it earlier, but there was a comment about cyclist taking up too much space on the road. Sometimes this is good practice, it's called claiming your road space. It's often used by cyclist (and horse riders) to prevent others from overtaking when they consider it to be dangerous for them to do so. I'm not saying that this is always the case, but try and remember that they may be doing it to protect themselves.

dirtydog · 23 Mar 2006 at 07:36

This reminds me of a few months ago when I was driving in the early hours of the morning.. I came within a hair of pulling out of a junction right in front of a cyclist who must have been doing at least 20-30mph. If I'd pulled out he might well have been killed. Despite it being pitch dark he didn't have any lights on :rolleyes:

DiG · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:01

dirtydog said:
This reminds me of a few months ago when I was driving in the early hours of the morning.. I came within a hair of pulling out of a junction right in front of a cyclist who must have been doing at least 20-30mph. If I'd pulled out he might well have been killed. Despite it being pitch dark he didn't have any lights on

The number of people who do this is scary, and without helmets seriously even on lit city roads use lights! And unless you want to be scraping your skull along the road a helmet too!

peter_hutson · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:17

DiG said:
The number of people who do this is scary, and without helmets seriously even on lit city roads use lights! And unless you want to be scraping your skull along the road a helmet too!

Is it not a legal requirement for cyclist to have lights? Same is also true of some car drivers, driving along no lights on, "I can see everyone so they must be able to see me " attitude. Usually happens at dusk or in medium to heavy rain.

jpmonkey69 · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:23

pegasus1 said:
I raced to him and grabbed him by his mayonaisse splattered lapels.
We discussed the issue and both agreed that my view was the right one.
Luckily my Kona was unhurt but this lads suit was a right mess.

Do you realise that that's actually illegal?

You may be angry at someone, but you have no right to grab them.... I guess you just saw red at the time.

DiG · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:33

peter_hutson said:
Is it not a legal requirement for cyclist to have lights? Same is also true of some car drivers, driving along no lights on, "I can see everyone so they must be able to see me " attitude. Usually happens at dusk or in medium to heavy rain.

It is illegal to cycle in the dark without lights, doesn't stop people doing it though

PsiFox · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:38

I was at a roundabout yesterday, waiting to join with a lorry on my left.

I saw a cyclist in my rear view mirror closing fast on me.

He pulled into the middle of the road, rode up the island on my right and then crossed in front of myself and the lorry that were just about to move off.

He had no intention of stopping and wass nearly flattened.

peter_hutson · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:39

DiG said:
It is illegal to cycle in the dark without lights, doesn't stop people doing it though

What people sould be aware of is that in the event of an accident, not having lights on a bike MAY impact any insurance( payout received(for injury). This is allready being practiced by some insurance companies in accidents where the injured person was not wearing their seat belt. They are considered to have contributed to the accident. Such lack of regard for your own safety completely shocks me!

weescott · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:40

ScarySquirrel said:
lol, is that how he speaks?

Ya, He ist ein crazy German, but not a crazy cyclist.

...well I'm off to work now with my reflective jacket, reflective trouser clips, iluminous spokey dokeys, some orange plastic indicators, an air horn and full Downhill Body Armour. I'm sure I'm missing something.

peter_hutson · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:45

weescott said:
Ya, He ist ein crazy German, but not a crazy cyclist.

...well I'm off to work now with my reflective jacket, reflective trouser clips, iluminous spokey dokeys, some orange plastic indicators, an air horn and full Downhill Body Armour. I'm sure I'm missing something.

The problem with Aberdeen, is none of that will do any good when you get squashed by the Arctic lorry loaded with drill pipe, flying down wellington road :-)

jpmonkey69 · 23 Mar 2006 at 08:51

weescott said:
Ya, He ist ein crazy German, but not a crazy cyclist.

...well I'm off to work now with my reflective jacket, reflective trouser clips, iluminous spokey dokeys, some orange plastic indicators, an air horn and full Downhill Body Armour. I'm sure I'm missing something.

a helmet?

and lights

Or...

another 2 wheels and an engine!

dirtydog · 23 Mar 2006 at 09:01

peter_hutson said:
Is it not a legal requirement for cyclist to have lights? Same is also true of some car drivers, driving along no lights on, "I can see everyone so they must be able to see me " attitude. Usually happens at dusk or in medium to heavy rain.

It is a legal requirement for a cyclist to use lights at night, yes. I agree 100% about drivers who don't use lights in dim light as well, it is one of my pet hates. Either that or they use side lights for crying out loud. Put your headlights on muppet!! (not you Peter

)

Wossi · 23 Mar 2006 at 09:28

Normally I'm quite considerate to whoever is using the road but 1 incident involving a bike nearly caused my car to be written off. For those of you that know Fosse Park in Leicester, I was heading there one saturday coming from Barwell and as I turned left in Enderby (where the new traffic lights are) I saw a cyclist up ahead on the pavement. As I got near him he decided to swerve off the path onto the road to avoid hitting a bloke walking towards him, the moron never even looked to see if anyone was there and luckily there was nothing coming the other way as I had to swerve the car into the other lane as there isn't an awful amount of space. People like that give the rest a bad name.

Sputnik II · 23 Mar 2006 at 09:35

weescott said:
Bah, what is it with some people not looking where they are going or not showing caution?

At the end of last week i was cycling to work down a bus lane when a car and a van overtook me in the bus lane. I though to myself - cheeky ghet's, they got to a roundabout so i went up on the the pavement, overtook them both and sat infront of the car (Green Rover 216) the traffic moved a bit an the boy tried to overtake me when there was clearly no room. I shuffled about on my bike a bit, his car hit my leg so in anger I punched his car..oww!

None of that would have happened if you hadn't broke the law and gone on the pavement!

weescott said:
A few days ago I crossed a junction onto a road where a slip road was joining. On the slip road was a parent who just dropped off his child. he looked STRAIGHT PAST ME! then started moving. I slowed down as i got to him and he hit my back tyre. 1" more and he would have knocked me off! I shouted some profanity and carried on!

It is the duty of all road users to observe others actions and act according, good road users would also try to predict what they think might be going to happen and take precautions such as slowing down.

weescott said:
Cyclists have the right of way!

Get real!

weescott said:
The attitude of some peope in cars towards cyclists really gets up my nose!

Really ? your rant seems to hint that your attitude towards cars leaves a lot to be desired as well.

turbotoaster · 23 Mar 2006 at 09:37

i was in the same perdicament when i had a scooter, cars never payed any atention to me and i was constantly watching them to make sure i didnt get killed, now when i drive a car, i always look out for bikes, because i remember the fear you have when i car starts edging out of a junction and your not sure if they have seen you

weescott · 23 Mar 2006 at 09:49

Sputnik II said:
None of that would have happened if you hadn't broke the law and gone on the pavement!

It wouldn't have happend if *** car and van hadent't broken the law and used the bus lane. The second incident I didn't nothing wrong!

Sputnik II said:
It is the duty of all road users to observe others actions and act according, good road users would also try to predict what they think might be going to happen and take precautions such as slowing down.

True

Sputnik II said:
Get real!

like I said, new law.

Sputnik II said:
Really ? your rant seems to hint that your attitude towards cars leaves a lot to be desired as well.

not at all. It's the attitude of drivers, thier lack of respect and consideration towards 2 wheels that bothers me.

D33 · 23 Mar 2006 at 09:53

VaderDSL said:
You don't exactly sound like a very considerate cyclist (I cycle and I do not drive) but the problem on the roads is that Cyclists think they should have right of way and own the highways!!!

Thought I was the only one who read his post like that.
At the end of the day, cars are faster. Of course they will overtake you.

bakes0310 · 23 Mar 2006 at 10:03

About a month ago i was coming home from work and the road was unusually buisy at that time (roadworks i think). Anyway this car was getting a little close for comfort and it actually knocked the side of my pedal sending me crashing into the curb and off my bike.
I was so angry i quickly got up and keyed the side of his car and opened his boot (opening ppls boots while there in traffic is a family tradition after much booze

)

It just annoys me that some ppl are real jerks and i wont let them get away with it.

PsiFox · 23 Mar 2006 at 10:08

bakes0310 said:
About a month ago i was coming home from work and the road was unusually buisy at that time (roadworks i think). Anyway this car was getting a little close for comfort and it actually knocked the side of my pedal sending me crashing into the curb and off my bike.
I was so angry i quickly got up and keyed the side of his car and opened his boot (opening ppls boots while there in traffic is a family tradition after much booze )

It just annoys me that some ppl are real jerks and i wont let them get away with it.

Sorry but the driver caused an accident (through stupidity or lack of awareness) so you decide to cause deliberate criminal damage.

That loses you a lot of brownie points and makes you worse than him

Sputnik II · 23 Mar 2006 at 10:12

weescott said:
It wouldn't have happend if *** car and van hadent't broken the law and used the bus lane. The second incident I didn't nothing wrong!

Was the bus lane actually active at that time? cars and vans can use bus lanes during certain hours of the day when they are deemed inactive. This information would be on a blue sign next to the bus lane.
Even if they did break the law by driving in a bus lane, YOU broke the law too by riding on the pavement to get your 'revenge' and placed yourself in a dangerous position. Its YOUR responsibility not to put yourself in danger. While you were getting yourself into this position the driver was probably looking to his right for oncoming traffic on the roundabout , totally unaware that you were sampling his paint on your handlebars.
Maybe leave home a little earlier so you can have a more relaxed ride to work, Remember better to be late than dead.