Did I deserve this?

[dondare]

I filter rather than overtake 90% of the time but I've being riding long enough to anticipate every eventuality and plan for it; but for an inexperienced cyclist filtering can be fatal, particularly round lorries. (Stop Press: News of another one in London just this morning.)
The u-tube video shows the problem with overtaking on this occasion: pedestrian refuges leave the bike with no room to manoevre. The driver should have given the cyclist enough time and space but didn't; which of course is dangerous driving and therefore illegal but unfortunately this is normal behaviour on the road. How would this bloke act in a supermarket if someone was blocking the aisle; ram them with his shopping trolley? Driving really brings out the psycho in some people.

 

[bryce]

Scary stuff, kind of incident you remember and never repeat again. I would have stopped behind the pedestrian crossing and waited for a gap in the traffic behind me (i.e. a red light) before moving on.

Alternatively if you were committed, you could pull into 'primary' so he can't overtake you - although this may risk you going under his wheels judging by his impatience..

 

[Bollo]

That one had me behind the sofa in the Dr Who style! Much respect for 'fessing up to some ordinary cycling. I think it shows how quickly a scenario can get out of control if you're not on the ball.

Like everyone else said, none of this justifies the lorry driver's revenge attack. A lot of motorist seem to forget we don't have a ton and a half of steel around us, so the usual driver-to-driver locking-of-horns can get a sight more serious when its driver-to-cyclist.

 

[san]

I was about a minute behind the fatality at Holburn today and I'm a little aprehensive at the moment, Only commuting for 3 weeks now. But I won't be pushing my way through traffic, specially dicing with lorry's. Reckon you don't push ahead on the right if you have an island ahead of you and the possability of the lights changing like they did.
I figure getting home to my kid on the bike is better than in a body bag. Thoughts are with the family of the cyclist.
Safe Cycling
San

 

[BentMikey]

The traffic island wasn't the problem, the problem was trying to get too far ahead in the queue, further than was safe. As other posters have pointed out, it's best to either bail out and wait in line with the pinch point if you get it wrong, or to negotiate back into the traffic earlier, i.e behind the lorry.

 

[bryce]

Makes you think whether a lot of cyclists have kids or wives/ husbands when you watch them do stupid stuff all in the name of getting to work 2 minutes faster. It's not cool, you just look like a d1ck. Would they do the same if their kids were following behind them?

 

[LostBoy]

Guys, wow, thanks for all the response, very reassuring. Tried telling the missus and shes like 'yes, very nice, hoover needs doing...'

Will be taking heed of all the advice, have been reading through nuttycyclist.co.uk and will search for a copy cyclecraft.

You live and learn as they say, will be more alert and avoid scenarios like this in future.

Can probaly figure out the licence plate from the original video but is it worth reporting it, cant really see the police taking any action?

I am quite impressed by the quality for 16 quid Where did you get this device from mate?

Got it from here: DealExtreme.com from HK free postage but does take a while in the post. After reading some of the other threads here, I can see where it would have come in handy as evidence in a collision etc.

 

[domtyler]

Put that one down to experience!

 

[Origamist]

You certainly did not deserve to have your life threatened for a minor miscalculation.

I would report the incident to the Police as it was a piece of egregiously bad driving and it was also totally unnecessary.

FWIW, I avoid that stretch and go Clapham/Stockwell.

 

[tdr1nka]

The lorry driver should not have put you in danger like that for any reason, but I will say that, as you have yourself admitted, you put yourself in a very vulnerable position and took a risk which you will learn from.

 

[Bollo]

You certainly did not deserve to have your life threatened for a minor miscalculation.

I would report the incident to the Police as it was a piece of egregiously bad driving and it was also totally unnecessary.

FWIW, I avoid that stretch and go Clapham/Stockwell.

Mr Lost Boy - "I'd like to report some egregiously bad driving"

Desk Officer - "WTF?!"

Sorry, I wouldn't have called that one a minor miscalculation. There was scope for all sorts of ugliness, even without the lorry driver's 'input'. Important thing is to LIVE and learn.

Unfortunately I think the police would view this without a huge amount of sympathy.

 

[Origamist]

Mr Lost Boy - "I'd like to report some egregiously bad driving"

Desk Officer - "WTF?!"

Sorry, I wouldn't have called that one a minor miscalculation. There was scope for all sorts of ugliness, even without the lorry driver's 'input'. Important thing is to LIVE and learn.

Unfortunately I think the police would view this without a huge amount of sympathy.

Unfortunately, there is scope for ugliness in any situation on the road. Lostboy timed the lights wrong and didn't pull in - I'm sure we've all done something similar in the past. However, what the HGV driver did could easily have resulted in another KSI stat as it seemed to be a "punishment overtake". All he needed to do was wait for LB to cut left. If all drivers, cyclists, peds etc decided to dispense justice in a similar manner, the morgues would be full in a day.

As regards the police, I have reported something similar in the past (WVM swerved across two lanes of traffic in order to chastise me for filtering between stationary traffic). I had a witness and the driver got a talking to - a minor success.

 

[Blackandblue]

Agree with all above comments re evasive action. I've cycled that route regularly and occasionally filter down the right but know that you need to be careful and also not to take chances near the lights - traffic in the opposite direction often leave little room for filtering on the right and when the lights change, traffic moves off very quickly anticipating the change of lights a couple of hundred yards further along.

I would have pulled in behind the lorry in those circs FWIW.

However, I never cease to be amazed at the way motorists think it is OK to use their vehicle to teach cyclists a lesson. How on earth would that lorry driver have felt if he had misjudged that manoeuvre and Lostboy had gone under his wheels?

Just breathtaking arrogant stupidity.

I'd be inclined to report it.

 

[4F]

Another bit of advice. Don't tell the other half about near misses etc as it often seems to send them into a flap.

Best be economical with the truth

 

[Blackandblue]

Unless she never listens to you...

In which case, why bother telling her (anything) anyway....