Cyclist-cyclist collisions

[rarelyused]

This morning I was involved in a minor (low-ish speed) collision with another cyclist on the path by the Clydeside expressway in Glasgow (near the bottom of Byres Road); he fell and I remained upright

We were approaching a fork in the cycle path he was to the left and I was going a bit faster so I decided to overtake. The path is wide enough for at least three bikes abreast, so there was plenty of space. However, it seemed that he wanted to go down the right-hand fork and turned just as I was passing him, clipping my pannier in the process and falling. I stopped to check he was ok; he was, we shook hands and he said I was fine to carry on. Still felt a bit guilty about it, though not sure what else I could do. If the other guy reads this, give me a shout and I'll buy you a pint

I guess there was fault on both sides as I was perhaps a bit close to the other guy and assumed he was continuing left, but he didn't look before turning. Just another lesson to not make assumptions about the intentions of other people.

Lessons learned:
1. Remember to give other cyclists a wide enough berth.
2. Never assume what the other guy is going to do.
3. Check behind when turning right, even on cycle paths!
4. Perhaps give a friendly warning when about to overtake

Anyone else have a similar experience or advice for next time?

 

[BSRU]

On the small section of cycle path I have to use I take very easy as generally the BSO's on it have no concept of riding safely.

 

[swee'pea99]

Good lessons all...but mostly covered by The Cyclist's Friend - that one question that should be running on a loop: What Might Happen? If you're approaching a fork, it's clearly at least possible that the guy in front of you might  veer right.

In an analogous situation, last night on the way home, car in front of me turning left off our main drag, other car coming out of that same secondary road onto main drag. Has he seen me? Will he pull out directly in front of me? He should have, and he shouldn't...but he might. Slow right down. Another cyclist might hammer on, on the basis that he has right of way and that car shouldn't pull out. 99 times out of 100, he'd be fine...

 

[fossyant]

Don't use cycle paths - simples

 

[gaz]

4. Perhaps give a friendly warning when about to overtake

I had one person suggest to me on several of my YouTube channels that I should ding my bell as a warning to other cyclists when I overtake. That's highly impractical when cycling through a busy city like London, as I would always be dinging this bell I don't have!

 

[magnatom]

If you just hang on a few minutes I will put up a video of some muppet who cut me up and knocked me off on a cycle path just along from Byres Road this morning......

Actually, I agree with Fossyant. Why cycle on the path? I've cycled along Dumbarton Road many a time. Much faster than the cycle path!

 

[mark barker]

Maybe not overtaking on the approach to a junction would be a good idea?

 

[gaz]

If you just hang on a few minutes I will put up a video of some muppet who cut me up and knocked me off on a cycle path just along from Byres Road this morning......

That will teach you for using the cycle path

 

[summerdays]

I often notice motorists won't necessarily slow down as they approach the Give Way lines until the last second - problem is that because they show no sign of slowing down I reduce my speed quite a bit preparing to stop if necessary and the end result is that they do give way to me but that it takes me longer to pass, whereas with those that slow right down in advance of the line you carry on at a more normal pace. (The same applies to cyclists too.)

 

[nasserblue]

Talking about being overtaken by a cyclist, it's amazing the number that do it as you are approaching a hazard.

There's been a few times I've done my second check behind me approaching a parked car, the (check to see if I need to signal), and as I look round I nearly head butt someone who's overtaking me miles too close, and with an impending hazard miles too fast.

Of course I would never do such a thing I'd merely get a tow until we'd passed the parked vehicle....

 

[decca234uk]

An unfortunate accident, your four advice tips are good especially the one about assumming what the other guy is going to do. I think alerting the cyclist that you are about to pass him in some way is a good idea but as mentioned not always practical on busy roads. At least no one was hurt.

 

[Amanda P]

I often notice motorists won't necessarily slow down as they approach the Give Way lines until the last second.

That's quite true. It's scary the number of people who come screaming up to a stop line showing no sign of awareness that they're approaching a junction at which they have to give way. If they're looking at the junction at all, they're usually looking fixedly to their left until they glance right at the last possible second - by which time you're convinced they aren't going to stop.

And that quick glance isn't actually enough time for them to assess how fast you're approaching, or perhaps even to pick you out of the background clutter at all. So sometimes, they don't stop.

Why this odd behaviour, looking left first? It's traffic from your right that's going to hit you first.

I think alerting the cyclist that you are about to pass him in some way is a good idea but as mentioned not always practical on busy roads.

Or actually, anwhere,really. Often, you ping your bell or call a freindly warning, and either they don't hear, or they jump or panic and wobble right in front of you.

 

[Crankarm]

This morning I was involved in a minor (low-ish speed) collision with another cyclist on the path by the Clydeside expressway in Glasgow (near the bottom of Byres Road); he fell and I remained upright

We were approaching a fork in the cycle path he was to the left and I was going a bit faster so I decided to overtake. The path is wide enough for at least three bikes abreast, so there was plenty of space. However, it seemed that he wanted to go down the right-hand fork and turned just as I was passing him, clipping my pannier in the process and falling. I stopped to check he was ok; he was, we shook hands and he said I was fine to carry on. Still felt a bit guilty about it, though not sure what else I could do. If the other guy reads this, give me a shout and I'll buy you a pint

I guess there was fault on both sides as I was perhaps a bit close to the other guy and assumed he was continuing left, but he didn't look before turning. Just another lesson to not make assumptions about the intentions of other people.

Lessons learned:
1. Remember to give other cyclists a wide enough berth.
2. Never assume what the other guy is going to do.
3. Check behind when turning right, even on cycle paths!
4. Perhaps give a friendly warning when about to overtake

Anyone else have a similar experience or advice for next time?

A lack of hazard perception on your part and failure to anticipate the approaching fork in the cycle path. Sorry I feel the collision as you describe was all your fault. Had you been more courteous and hung back to see which way he was going then there would have been no collision. I am sure the other cyclist believes you overtook then cut him up. You are just the same as the must get past at any cost impatient motons.

 

[dellzeqq]

we've got to look at ourselves on this one. I've long ago worked out that the highest risk on FNRttCs is cyclist to cyclist crashes - although not in terms of consequences - but these rides are an absolute dream compared to the goings on in Islington.

If any one of you believes that we've got the answer to everything then don't spend time anywhere near the Angel - it's mortifying. And heaven knows what we do about it - the police are there once a month or so, and I'd reckon that still the average Islington cyclist has no intention of being in anyway considerate to those around them.

 

[Panter]

A lack of hazard perception on your part and failure to anticipate the approaching fork in the cycle path. Sorry I feel the collision as you describe was all your fault. Had you been more courteous and hung back to see which way he was going then there would have been no collision. I am sure the other cyclist believes you overtook then cut him up. You are just the same as the must get past at any cost impatient motons.

I'd be interested to read your reply had the "victim" instead posted his story of swerving into the Right hand fork, without checking or indicating, and crashed into some numpty who was overtaking at the time?