Got Knocked Off :(

[Ste T.]

Sorry .Cynical? Well.....maybe.

I was half joking, but to see what they really think of us you could go to pistonheads.com. Everything the driver could want, including forums, and if you put the word cyclists in the search box it will throw up 57 pages, each page with 20 threads, each thread containing scores of postings and guess what? The majority of them aint blowing us kisses. Some of the pure vitriol and naked hatred has to be seen to be believed.
While there may be a fare bit of bitching about the standards of drivers on these pages, it pales into insignificance in comparison. Especially when you think the worst we can do to them is scratch their paintwork while its not unusual for them to smear us on the road like jam.
Here's a little tester for you. Next time somebody gets knocked off their bike near where you live ( you won't have long to wait at the rate we're going ) and it is reported in the local rag, go to its web site and read the story. Then read the comments posted. No matter how innocent the cyclist, there will be reams of bitterness thrown up. Everything from 'road tax' to RLJing to the fact that Hitler rode a bike on Sundays. I wish it wasn't so, but sadly it is.

 

[jmaccyd]

Sorry .Cynical? Well.....maybe.

I was half joking, but to see what they really think of us you could go to pistonheads.com. Everything the driver could want, including forums, and if you put the word cyclists in the search box it will throw up 57 pages, each page with 20 threads, each thread containing scores of postings and guess what? The majority of them aint blowing us kisses. Some of the pure vitriol and naked hatred has to be seen to be believed.
While there may be a fare bit of bitching about the standards of drivers on these pages, it pales into insignificance in comparison. Especially when you think the worst we can do to them is scratch their paintwork while its not unusual for them to smear us on the road like jam.
Here's a little tester for you. Next time somebody gets knocked off their bike near where you live ( you won't have long to wait at the rate we're going ) and it is reported in the local rag, go to its web site and read the story. Then read the comments posted. No matter how innocent the cyclist, there will be reams of bitterness thrown up. Everything from 'road tax' to RLJing to the fact that Hitler rode a bike on Sundays. I wish it wasn't so, but sadly it is.

Plenty of hate on display on this forum if you hang around and read it. Basics here though isn't it? Get as many witnesses as possible and take pics of the scene. Although not easily thought of after picking yourself off the deck!

 

[ACW]

Sorry .Cynical? Well.....maybe.

I was half joking, but to see what they really think of us you could go to pistonheads.com. Everything the driver could want, including forums, and if you put the word cyclists in the search box it will throw up 57 pages, each page with 20 threads, each thread containing scores of postings and guess what? The majority of them aint blowing us kisses. Some of the pure vitriol and naked hatred has to be seen to be believed.
While there may be a fare bit of bitching about the standards of drivers on these pages, it pales into insignificance in comparison. Especially when you think the worst we can do to them is scratch their paintwork while its not unusual for them to smear us on the road like jam.
Here's a little tester for you. Next time somebody gets knocked off their bike near where you live ( you won't have long to wait at the rate we're going ) and it is reported in the local rag, go to its web site and read the story. Then read the comments posted. No matter how innocent the cyclist, there will be reams of bitterness thrown up. Everything from 'road tax' to RLJing to the fact that Hitler rode a bike on Sundays. I wish it wasn't so, but sadly it is.

went to pistinheads for a look and found this My link

 

[Ste T.]

Yeh but, no but......





















I'll get me coat.

 

[Dayvo]

Plenty of hate on display on this forum if you hang around and read it.

I don't really see your point!

A cyclist might delay an impatient driver for a few seconds, whilst said driver is attempting an overtake. And a cyclist, AFAIK, has never killed a motorist in a collision, even if it was the cyclist's fault.

Not every driver is bad (the vast majority of us here are drivers) but how many cyclists are abused, bullied, assaulted, knocked down and even killed by drivers?

I think the 'hate', as you call it, is justified and understandable, whereas their 'hatred' of us, is at best, unjustifiable.

 

[Black Sheep]

The first thing that springs to mind is, as already said, is keep to the facts.

you were overtaking and should only do so when safe, but, the taxi driver should use his mirrors before pulling a maneuver, especially like that.


I had a car do a U turn right in front of me (he was coming the other way, didn't see him until he was pulling round in front of me) and nothing I could have done about it.

 

[vish22]

Got told by the solicitors there is not a lot i can do about it unless my injuries last for more than 4 weeks. I can't believe he will just get away with it. Without an independent witness there are a lot of ways he can twist it to his defence. He could say I was filtering too fast, there was sufficient time to react after him indicating etc. It's my word against his. These black cabs are scum on the road. Funny enough the day after I got knocked off I was coming home and saw another cyclist on the side of the rodad who got knocked off by a black cabbie, loads of cyclist around to help her. It looked like she had broken something though. They are a menace on the rodad.
It looks like I'm going to have to fix my bike myself

 

[fossyant]

Hmm, Is the solicitor going to take it further ? If a member of CTC/BC their solicitors would have picked it up anyway as you pay part of your membership for legal cover.

The driver is clearly in the wrong, doesn't matter what he say's - u'turns are a stupid manoeuvre. Good luck with the solicitor - they are your best hope.

TBH my experience of cabbies (usually private hire) aren't good. I had an accident in my car with a private hire many years ago, and I couldn't get details out of him, cops weren't interested either.

As for the bike - does your household policy extend to cycles - could get a repair that way.

 

[jmaccyd]

I don't really see your point!

A cyclist might delay an impatient driver for a few seconds, whilst said driver is attempting an overtake. And a cyclist, AFAIK, has never killed a motorist in a collision, even if it was the cyclist's fault.

Not every driver is bad (the vast majority of us here are drivers) but how many cyclists are abused, bullied, assaulted, knocked down and even killed by drivers?

I think the 'hate', as you call it, is justified and understandable, whereas their 'hatred' of us, is at best, unjustifiable.

I don't know, I see plenty of 'wrap a d lock' round their head' type of post on here, something you seem ready to excuse. Threatening and abusive behaviour by a road user is threatening and abusive behaviour. I'm riding a bike and have been badly treated by another road user therefore I can threaten and abuse seems to be the acceptable mantra on here . No, sorry dis-agree there is very little difference between the 'hate' expressed on here (by some) than the 'hate' expressed on Piston-heads.

It should also be said that the kind of pin-heads who are part of the piston-heads 'community' probably view the the run-of-the-mill driver purely using their cars as a mean of getting from A to B, and who is dis-interested in their deluded fantasy world, with almost as much contempt as they view cyclists

 

[vish22]

Hmm, Is the solicitor going to take it further ? If a member of CTC/BC their solicitors would have picked it up anyway as you pay part of your membership for legal cover.

The driver is clearly in the wrong, doesn't matter what he say's - u'turns are a stupid manoeuvre. Good luck with the solicitor - they are your best hope.

TBH my experience of cabbies (usually private hire) aren't good. I had an accident in my car with a private hire many years ago, and I couldn't get details out of him, cops weren't interested either.

As for the bike - does your household policy extend to cycles - could get a repair that way.

I used Bikeline (as suggested) and the solicitor sent me a very thorough and informative email. He essentially said that filtering is an inherently risky manoeuvre and without a witness I'll have a hard time proving that I was filtering safely. I know the black cab driver will say I was going too fast which is rubbish. They also said without a witness I'll have a hard time proving that the taxi didn't leave me enough time after indicating to react and that I didn't overtake in the face of an intention of the taxi driver to turn right across my path.

Essentially it all boils down to my word vs his and how well my evidence came across and how well his came across. He also said a 50:50 outcome would be best case if the court believed his side.

He said in terms of my injuries if they last for more than 4 weeks then I am left with residual symptoms and am entitled to £1000 minimum so they can take on my case as they will be able to recover the legal costs. Without this I doubt they will be able to take on my case.

I'll give him a call on Monday and see what they recommend.

This is extremely exasperating, a prick does a U-turn in front of me without checking his mirrors then shows no remorse and there's jack I can really do about it because I didn't get a witness. Appalling really. I have yet to hear what the police have to say about it. I am also seriously thinking of taking out some insurance going forward. Doesn't sound too pricey.