Feel a bit ... guilty?

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Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
Had a guy in a silver VW bearing down on me as I approached this pinch point this morning:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=der...=1ZzXTcoJgmROyTal5Re9Jw&cbp=12,271.12,,0,16.6

Stuck my arm out as I was worried he was going to cut me up through it as he was travelling quite fast. I could see from the corner of my eye he'd slowed so as I passed through I waved back as thanks.

He then stayed behind me for about a 1/4 mile, before overtaking VERY wide on an uphill stretch, along with the substantial tailback of traffic behind him!

I suppose that should be considered quite a result ... but I feel weirdly bad about it, like I confused him with my hand signals leaving him too nervous to overtake.

I suppose I'm posting this here to seek assurances that I did the right thing so I can feel ok about it - always a risky thing to do on an internet forum! ;)
 

MrHappyCyclist

Riding the Devil's HIghway
Location
Bolton, England
You did the right thing so you can feel OK about it.
 

Thomk

Guru
Location
Warwickshire
The good news is that you've done nothing wrong , can't control the reaction of the other person, may indeed have improved their attitude towards cyclists and are safe along with the others. The better news is that guilt is a higher order emotion showing that you are highly evolved. The only note of caution is that excessive guilt can become a burden and a pedant forumite will probably find fault somewhere :bravo:
 

bicyclos

Part time Anorak
Location
West Yorkshire
Who knows he may be a cyclist himself...... When I am out in my car I naturally give cyclists room and time to manoeuvre if there is road islands and or narrow roads.
 

2PedalsTez

Über Member
Who knows he may be a cyclist himself...... When I am out in my car I naturally give cyclists room and time to manoeuvre if there is road islands and or narrow roads.

+1
It gives you a good feeling when the driver gives you plenty of time and room.
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Oddly, I know just what you mean. I've done the same, had the same reaction...and felt the same afterwards.

I think the truth is, it's unlikely that you can bully a driver into doing something they really dont want to do. But I do also think that your reaction made them stop in their tracks...possibly confused them a little while they tried to work out if you were some form of "Official" and then made them consider their next action as apposed to just doing the same thing they always do.

so...well played.

perhaps if you ever get the feeling this is happening again, pull over slightly (only enough to show intent), look back and wave them by with a thumbs up.
 
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Jezston

Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
Thanks for the words of support!

Seems I had my fill of good behaviour this morning - it was balanced out by a HORRIBLE pass on the way home - I can't remember having had such a close pass on this stretch of road before.

Video is unlisted for now.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=hJ6Bt0Yf74Y

Anyone care to estimate how fast they were going?

Going to to check tomorrow if it's a colleague's car before I do anything. Should I do anything about it? We don't have a Roadsafe equivalent up here unfortunately. If it's no one I'll know it'll be back up and public - in the correct aspect ratio - tomorrow :smile:

Then I had a right tosser in some clapped out old shitheap cut me up in Derby town centre on the way home - thought he then went on to jump a set of lights but frame by frame shows his back wheels JUST over the line as it turns red! I'll leave him to this inevitable heart attack ;)
 
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Jezston

Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
Video deleted ... turns out it was a colleague.

Oh dear.

Should be able to find out who it was. If they were one of the staff who attended another of our staff's funeral yesterday I'll let it pass, unless it happens again.
 
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Jezston

Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
Found out who it was.

I believe I started a thread not long ago asking for advice when a senior colleague cut me up - turned out it wasn't a senior colleague, but someone with a similar license plate and car as a senior colleague. Was in fact a stranger.

However this time it IS a senior colleague - confirmed license plate, have been told who it was.

I don't know them, and I don't know anyone who does know them so not sure what they are like as a person - if they are friendly, nasty, stressed at the moment, hate cyclists, were a close friend of the colleague who died recently etc. They aren't in today either.

Inclined not to take this further unless it happens again. If I find myself in a friendly chat with him for some reason in the future, I might bring it up.

Anyway, thanks for letting me get this off my chest!
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Video deleted ... turns out it was a colleague.

Oh dear.

I'll let it pass, unless it happens again.

Why oh dear, it was clearly someone who recognised you and gave you space as they felt a social connection...you stopped being "just another cyclist".

Hopefully it will happen again but I'd still let it pass, its not something to be embarrassed about, or worse still its not something you want them to stop doing.
 
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Jezston

Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
Why oh dear, it was clearly someone who recognised you and gave you space as they felt a social connection...you stopped being "just another cyclist".

Hopefully it will happen again but I'd still let it pass, its not something to be embarrassed about, or worse still its not something you want them to stop doing.

This was a different incident.

The lovely lots of room given was on the way in to work.

On the way home, someone in a black mini passed me on an A-road at 40mph+ within inches of my elbow. And it turns out I work with them.
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
This was a different incident.

The lovely lots of room given was on the way in to work.

On the way home, someone in a black mini passed me on an A-road at 40mph+ within inches of my elbow. And it turns out I work with them.


ahh right, I didnt realise you were referring to post 8.

Makes sense now.

:blush:
 
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