EasyPeez
Veteran
- Location
- Cottingham, East Yorkshire
Hi,
Got knocked off my bike on the way to work this morning; it's the first time that's happened so was a bit shook up briefly, but generally ok I think. Ironically I was on my way to a bike shop for a meeting so the bike's been checked over, bent rear hanger fixed, no other apparent damage.
The lady stopped to help and was very apologetic. She has given me her number and said to let her know if there was any damage to me or the bike. My shoulder hurts like hell so I'll get that checked out, but other than that it's just cuts and bruises. My head took a whack on the tarmac after I'd gone over her bonnet so my helmet is cracked. I'll ring her and ask if she's willing to pay for a new one.
I'm not in the business of trying to make anyone feel guilty and certainly not looking to sue etc - it was a bad junction and it's not like she was driving recklessly.
Anyway, just wanted to check with the knowledge base here if I could have made better choices this morning to inform my future riding. Situation was this -
Cycling along a busy A-road, a long line of traffic at a standstill in front of me (800-900 yards worth, maybe more) queueing for a roundabout. There is no cycle lane on the road and the cars are too far over to the left to allow filtering on the pavement side (which I tend to avoid anyway for fear of getting squeezed in). So I chose to filter along the drivers' side. I am overtaking the line of traffic but still within 'my' lane, so cars on the opposite side are not impeded and that side is flowing freely. I am doing 15-16mph at this point and being as observant as poss, but clearly not observant enough as before I know what is happening a car pulls across my path from my left, obv pulling out to turn right into the free flowing lane. As she pulled out in front of a stationary van she had not seen me coming, nor was I able to see and anticipate the junction with her car pulling out. The van has clearly done the polite and reasonable thing and stopped before the junction to allow traffic to pass between the stationary line so I have sympathy for the woman as she would feel invited to pull out and couldn't have seen me. In coming out she knocked the bike from under me and sent me over the bonnet. Thankfully, as it was clear on the opposite side of the road (hence her pulling out) no major damage was done to me or the bike, being as that's where we both ended up.
Any comments/thoughts/advice most welcome.
Anticipate gaps in the traffic ahead to represent entrances or junctions and slow right down is one learning point I've taken from this. In not doing so this morning was I essentially cycling badly and therefore essentially largely to blame?
Cheers.
Got knocked off my bike on the way to work this morning; it's the first time that's happened so was a bit shook up briefly, but generally ok I think. Ironically I was on my way to a bike shop for a meeting so the bike's been checked over, bent rear hanger fixed, no other apparent damage.
The lady stopped to help and was very apologetic. She has given me her number and said to let her know if there was any damage to me or the bike. My shoulder hurts like hell so I'll get that checked out, but other than that it's just cuts and bruises. My head took a whack on the tarmac after I'd gone over her bonnet so my helmet is cracked. I'll ring her and ask if she's willing to pay for a new one.
I'm not in the business of trying to make anyone feel guilty and certainly not looking to sue etc - it was a bad junction and it's not like she was driving recklessly.
Anyway, just wanted to check with the knowledge base here if I could have made better choices this morning to inform my future riding. Situation was this -
Cycling along a busy A-road, a long line of traffic at a standstill in front of me (800-900 yards worth, maybe more) queueing for a roundabout. There is no cycle lane on the road and the cars are too far over to the left to allow filtering on the pavement side (which I tend to avoid anyway for fear of getting squeezed in). So I chose to filter along the drivers' side. I am overtaking the line of traffic but still within 'my' lane, so cars on the opposite side are not impeded and that side is flowing freely. I am doing 15-16mph at this point and being as observant as poss, but clearly not observant enough as before I know what is happening a car pulls across my path from my left, obv pulling out to turn right into the free flowing lane. As she pulled out in front of a stationary van she had not seen me coming, nor was I able to see and anticipate the junction with her car pulling out. The van has clearly done the polite and reasonable thing and stopped before the junction to allow traffic to pass between the stationary line so I have sympathy for the woman as she would feel invited to pull out and couldn't have seen me. In coming out she knocked the bike from under me and sent me over the bonnet. Thankfully, as it was clear on the opposite side of the road (hence her pulling out) no major damage was done to me or the bike, being as that's where we both ended up.
Any comments/thoughts/advice most welcome.
Anticipate gaps in the traffic ahead to represent entrances or junctions and slow right down is one learning point I've taken from this. In not doing so this morning was I essentially cycling badly and therefore essentially largely to blame?
Cheers.