People stepping in front of you

[Dis86]

So...had two incidences today of people stepping out in front of me.

Cycling to work in the morning. Straight, flat road. No traffic. Riding from the west. Woman with two dogs crosses from the opposite side straight in front of my path meaning I have to slam on the anchors.
I politely said "good morning" at which point she looked up and said "Oh sorry, I didn't see you there". At this point sarcasm kicked in and I pointed out that yes, I can understand it must be hard to see a 6ft tall bloke in hi-vis on a bright green bike on a clear morning.

The second was out in the truck around 1pm and I'm approaching a ped crossing. 3 women standing there all 50-60ish. Lights clearly green for me, red for them. One woman just walks straight out in front of me. ABS kicks in. She then just stands in the middle of the road because the traffic on the other side is flowing too freely. The other 2 women looked shocked as did the guy coming the other way who she nearly walked out in front of.

Now the thing is, if I'd hit either of those women I'd have been blamed.

What's curious is the second one happened at the same location as this:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/new...lant-driver-knocked-over-grandmother-14965805

Am I the only one thinking that if you're going to step out in front of moving traffic, whether car or bike, you kinda deserve what's coming to you?

 

[Dis86]

This is one reason why you have a dashcam.

Dont disagree. And as it happens the truck has one however I was still able to stop in time which would no doubt be their defence in court had I hit them.

 

[Dis86]

I thought you judt belly bounced them out of the way with your beer gut ^_^

It's a c.c.c.c.combo move. Smashes them off the shoulder in to the gut and then bounces them on to their ass. It's an acquired skill.

 

[Dis86]

I occasionally get people bumping into me from the side because they were looking in a different direction to where they were walking. I have a very narrow field of vision (almost blind), so I always look where I'm walking. Bit ironic that I'm not the instigator given my sight or lack of.

See I don't think it's to do with not seeing...I think people are just idiots. Either too self involved, too self important or just inconsiderate.

 

[Dis86]

I assume that it was traffic lights where the pedestrian flow is controlled by lights rather than a zebra crossing?
Why do you imagine that you would be blamed for hitting a jay walking pedestrian?

An increasing number of people, on foot, on a bike or in a vehicle are inconsiderate, impatient, thoughtless and frequently distracted by their mobile phones - it happens, get used to it.

It was, aye. And the reason for the assumption is that I had time (just) to stop as I'd been slowing down to turn left. If I'd have been going straight ahead, no chance.

 

[Dis86]

Apparently it is the law that bikes should come with one fitted and that has been the case with my 6 bikes in the last 6 years but all got removed. For a joke on my 60th somebody fitted a Thomas the Tank bell to my bike so I tried to use it instead of shouting. I found the bell caused more pedestrian confusion than shouting.

Ah the mass confusion of a bell ring. They stop. Turn around. (By which time you're upon them). They move left. Then right. Then just stand where they were anyways.

 

[Dis86]

I disagree with that. Making them sit a test will educate them and ensure they meet a minimum standard. It will also underline the fact that the road is a dangerous place and cyclists need to take responsibility. People who fail their driving test simply shouldn't be on the road - we need a similar filter for cyclists.

And yet look at the number of people killed by cars vs cyclists. Clearly the test doesn't work that well.
Whilst I'm all in favour of sorting out moronic cyclists it's totally pointless. We have laws in place already that don't work and aren't properly enforced. How's this going to be any different? What we need is a better police presence and application of judicial punishment.

 

[Dis86]

Not clutching at straws at all.

Claim #1 A Highway with cyclists on it will consume more fuel and generate more emissions than one that does not. True/False

Claim #2 It is likley that the effect of #1 is that the Cyclist will actually end up consuming more fuel and generating more emissions than he would have done had he been driving a car. True/False

(The issue isn't about driving slowly at a constant speed in congested traffic. It is the braking and then having to get back to speed. That consumes a LOT of fuel, especially for an HGV)

Any stats to back those figures up?

I have to brake far more for hgvs than cyclists. Can we ban hgvs?

 

[Dis86]

Indeed, and isn't the advice to walk on the size of the road towards oncoming traffic?

Yup. Makes you able to see them and allows for eye contact so you know they've seen you.

 

[Dis86]

You genuinely think it is odd that some people would rather excercise in the countryside instead of round towns where there is more traffic etc.? People excercise and then go home so you end up where you started else you would just cycle forever, do people go to the gym and never go home again, or runners are all Forest Gumps and keep on running not going home? Why would someone riding a road bike get off the thing they enjoy riding and buy a mountain bike they might not enjoy riding? Are you sure it wasnt you that was hit by the bike?

It's funny but every road cyclist I know describes it as painful and quite a lonely hobby. The mountainbikers (me included) love it. Anyways...gents...can we bring this back on topic please?