Clipped a Cyclist

[dhd.evans]

... or why headphones are a dangerous thing.

Belting home the other night, maybe 20mph on the cycle path, see a cyclist up ahead. Guy in lycra pootling away (maybe 15-17mph).

Sound my bell off a few times as I approach, more rapidly as i get closer. He moves to the left of the path. I begin to overtake then... *clink* "WOAH! WATCH IT BUDDY!"

Bugger had just wobbled left, not consciously moved, headphones in, hadn't heard me at all. I clipped his handlebars as he casually swerved back right causing us both to almost come a-cropper.

Torrent of abuse (why are cyclist so abusive anyway?) from him before he calmed down to make sure I was ok. He apologised, said he hadn't heard a thing because of his headphones. Apology accepted I saddle up and head off, shaking head all the way.

 

[Matthew_T]

The whole reason why when I do have music on, I have an external speaker. So that I can hear fine as well as having something in the background.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Glad to hear it ended reasonably happily, maybe he'll think twice before plugging in, turning on and falling off next time.

 

[gaz]

I know what you mean. I cycled into a deaf person the other day. Bloody fool couldn't hear my freewheel clicking when I was behind him.

People are in a world of their own sometimes, dinging your bell doesn't mean you don't have to slow down and take care. If needs be wait a bit until you can overtake them safely.

 

[smutchin]

Belting home the other night, maybe 20mph on the cycle path...

You were doing 20mph on a cycle path, made a too-close pass on a slower cyclist, and you think it was his fault?

Yeah, I would have given you an earful in those circumstances. And I wouldn't have apologised, headphones or not.

d.

 

[MacB]

20mph on cycle path, classify someone doing 15-17mph as pootling............I think the fact you were only sworn at is you getting off lightly

 

[smutchin]

People are in a world of their own sometimes...

Yeah, though they usually call it being "in the zone". As in: "Can't slow down, I'm in the zone!" I call it being an inconsiderate twerp.

d.

 

[dhd.evans]

What I didn't add was that I slowed down on approach; that requires noting. I wasn't crawling along, certainly, but then neither was he. As for 'too-close pass' it look like he'd made a conscious swing to the left (enough for me to re-engage the pedals anyway) before arcing out to the right as I passed.

Maybe I was travelling too fast, but it still doesn't excuse not paying any attention to your surroundings like this chap did.

 

[lordloveaduck]

Hope you have insurance, sooner or later you will need to pay out.


PS that's a big change from what you first said!

 

[smutchin]

As for 'too-close pass' it look like he'd made a conscious swing to the left (enough for me to re-engage the pedals anyway) before arcing out to the right as I passed.

Rash assumption.

You should approach these situations in exactly the same way as if you were driving a car on the road. You don't know why he moved. Maybe he was avoiding a pothole. When you're overtaking a cyclist, you should give enough room to account for possible swerves. If there isn't enough room, don't overtake.

The onus is very firmly on you as the overtaking driver/cyclist to avoid causing a collision.

d.

 

[marzjennings]

You initiated the overtake, you should have been in control on the situation, you failed.

Maybe the cyclist in front should have made more effort to be aware of other path users, but regardless the responsibility for a save overtake lies with you.

 

[Linford]

20mph on a cycle path is fine as long as it isn't done near others. If the path is a busy one, and you want to do 20mph, perhaps look to take an adjacent road instead.

 

[gaz]

Rash assumption.

You should approach these situations in exactly the same way as if you were driving a car on the road. You don't know why he moved. Maybe he was avoiding a pothole. When you're overtaking a cyclist, you should give enough room to account for possible swerves. If there isn't enough room, don't overtake.

The onus is very firmly on you as the overtaking driver/cyclist to avoid causing a collision.

d.

The DFT suggest that 2.5m is needed to safely pass another cyclist. Or that translates to around 1m from handle bar edge to handle bar edge.

 

[dhd.evans]

Hope you have insurance, sooner or later you will need to pay out.


PS that's a big change from what you first said!

I carry a set of knuckledusters to settle disputes rather than insurance. Usually that sorts things out.

 

[marzjennings]

I carry a set of knuckledusters to settle disputes rather than insurance. Usually that sorts things out.

So insurance and a good lawyer then.