Close call with another cyclist this morning, bloomin ninjas !

[cyberknight]

Cyling home after night shift , its about 5.15 am so still dark along the cyclepath that runs along side the A38 from Burton upon Trent when suddenly a figure on a bike whizzes past on my left side about 6 inches max from my handlebars.
The lane is not very wide and if you want to pass safely both cyclists need to slow down and pull to the edge .I had a "OMFG" moment and gave the other cyclist some choice words about the use of lights as they shoot past.
The cyclist had no ights , reflectives and did not even shout a warning and the oncoming traffic was behind them although i wear cycling glasses with an anti glare colour so i can see clearly .

Its great to see more and more cyclists on the road but when will they learn that being a ninja on 2 wheels is going to be a one way ticket to if their lucky hospital or worse given the level of wakefullness shown by drivers at this time of morning ?

 

[ianrauk]

Annoying as it is I think you will find that less ninja cyclists are involved with accidents then the lighted. helmeted, hiviz'd' all the gear commuting equivalent.

The reports one usually see of cyclist collisions is usually 'he/she is/was an experienced cyclist' blah blah.

 

[Graham]

nearly went straight through a paperboy on his bmx this morning, he was ambling out of drive relying on his ears not his eyes. Over the skidding noise of my back tyre, I think he apologised. I just gave him a waive and a grimace. Hopefully gave him a wake up call anyway.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

nearly went straight through a paperboy on his bmx this morning, he was ambling out of drive relying on his ears not his eyes. Over the skidding noise of my back tyre, I think he apologised. I just gave him a waive and a grimace. Hopefully gave him a wake up call anyway.

Got to be expected if he was very young,yes?

Depending on if he just appeared from nowhere I guess it would be harder for you/or anyone to predict.

 

[fossyant]

Sould have vapourised him with your lights !!

 

[Matthew_T]

nearly went straight through a paperboy on his bmx this morning, he was ambling out of drive relying on his ears not his eyes. Over the skidding noise of my back tyre, I think he apologised. I just gave him a waive and a grimace. Hopefully gave him a wake up call anyway.

Talking about newspapers, I havent received mine yet. The weekly Journal arrives on Wednesdays but it hasnt appeared. A complaint to the paper me thinks...

(Sorry for being off topic)

 

[cyberknight]

Annoying as it is I think you will find that less ninja cyclists are involved with accidents then the lighted. helmeted, hiviz'd' all the gear commuting equivalent.

The reports one usually see of cyclist collisions is usually 'he/she is/was an experienced cyclist' blah blah.

Yeah the ninjas are normaly on the pavement , although in this case it was a cyclepath .
I do not generally use this section for so long as i tend to go another route via country lanes but i had not dug out the MS yet so i was taking a lit route , teach me to not be prepared .

 

[Graham]

Got to be expected if he was very young,yes?

Depending on if he just appeared from nowhere I guess it would be harder for you/or anyone to predict.

You should expect anyone (regardless of age) to ride out into the road if they quite obviously haven't looked left and right. I'd disagree that you should expect a paperboy to ride out into the road simply because they are young - they are, after all, at least 13/14 usually? Shouldn't they be aware of the dangers of the road (by parents, school etc)?
Anyway, he came from behind a hedge and from drive which goes straight onto the road i.e. no pavement so I didn't have any 'slow down just in case' time.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

You should expect anyone (regardless of age) to ride out into the road if they quite obviously haven't looked left and right. I'd disagree that you should expect a paperboy to ride out into the road simply because they are young - they are, after all, at least 13/14 usually? Shouldn't they be aware of the dangers of the road (by parents, school etc)?
Anyway, he came from behind a hedge and from drive which goes straight onto the road i.e. no pavement so I didn't have any 'slow down just in case' time.

I don't think everyone as you say is perfect.Wasn't really blaming you.They aren't always aware,guess some of it comes down to experience.I've seen how some of the boy racers drive round here,hopefully they will learn how to drive better,(through experience) or perhaps not.

 

[Graham]

Thanks, hopefully the 'experience' they have won't be too painful! I expect I probably rode a bit erratically when I was paperboy too. Maybe that stopped me telling him off!

 

[fossyant]

Another reason for heat seeking missiles, or at least laser guided !

 

[Maz]

...being a ninja on 2 wheels is going to be a one way ticket to if their lucky hospital or worse given the level of wakefullness shown by drivers at this time of morning ?

It beggars belief.
He should've been hi-viz'd!

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

It beggars belief.
He should've been hi-viz'd!

Annoying as it is I think you will find that less ninja cyclists are involved with accidents then the lighted. helmeted, hiviz'd' all the gear commuting equivalent.

The reports one usually see of cyclist collisions is usually 'he/she is/was an experienced cyclist' blah blah.