Got the "I dont want to cycle anymore" feeling :(

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Armegatron

Active Member
Some of you may have noticed my cyclechat / youtube activity has gone dry lately. Thankfully this is due to a change of route that allows me to avoid alot of traffic, and a spacious timetable at University that means I only commute one day a week.

Having stopped while the ice and snow was around, I felt confident this Monday (13th...and Ive just noticed the unlucky for some association!) would be a good day to get back on the saddle.... How wrong was I...

5:15PM, almost home and approaching a set of lights where the road layout was recently changed (for the worse).

Im in the cycle lane coming down the bridge slope at a decent pace, circa 20mph. I shoulder checked and handlebar mirror checked then moved out of the cyclelane to take a sort of primary between the kerb and stationary right turning traffic (video will explain better but there is only one lane at this section). I continue past the stationary traffic until the lane splits into 3 and the cycle lane leads to a pavement / launchpad. Going straight on I took the 2nd lane in a relativly strong position. A taxi first undertakes at speed, running the amber (after moving from right turn lane (3), to straight on lane (2), to left turn lane(1)). Another car decided to move from the straight lane (2) to the left lane (1) and undertake too.

As the car is alongside me to my left, the lights turn red. Approximately 1.5 to 2 car lengths from the lights the car moves from lane 1 into my lane with no indication, forcing me to collide with him. I could have turned to the left and escaped into the other lane, but I felt that Id be more at risk of being squished if I did that.

Dialogue as follows - driver has arms folded and looking straight ahead. Speech is slurred and driver is quite scruffy:
Me: Ive just hit the back of your car mate
Him: Its alright I was trying to overtake you
Me: What was the point? It was very dangerous - your on camera. Do you want to have a look at the damage? (no response) Do you want to have a look at the damage?
Him: No your ok, Im not bothered.
Me: Im insured.
Him: No its alright Im not bothered.
Me: Well dont do it again, it was a silly trick.

Footage is available on YouTube:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGAZ0pjzM2c


Ive included the rear cam footage, as its attached to the bike you can hear the braking force increase when he cuts infront, and see a slight swerve to the left.

Following this Ive been increasingly feeling the driver should receive some kind of official response as the driving was utterly dangerous. Here is what happened today...

I went to the Police station at 5:15PM. The desk sgt said that I should have reported within 24 hours and that it was against the law not to. I responded by saying I thought this didnt apply to pedal bikes, she said its for EVERYONE.

So, I had to sit around with a bunch of drugged up chavs for 45 mins (one of whom got a lift home from a copper!) while I waited for an officer, only to be told that there is no one available and someone will probably come to my house tomorrow.

Basically when I got home I done some searching and found that the offence of failing to provide details / stop, and failing to report to police apply only to "Mechanically Propelled Vehicles"

AC10 / AC20: "Being the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle, owing to the presence..."

Approximately 8PM an officer came to watch the footage and take a statement. He has said that the driver clearly is in the wrong however it could have been argued that he simply was in the wrong lane and wanted to change, and that accidents happen etc. The officer has said that as its an S reg car his hunch is that its a "community" car used by scum, but he'll check it out. He said he isnt a traffic officer, so has no ideas to what charges he'd bring but he'd talk to his supervisor. He did suggest that a careless / dangerous driving offence could be it.

As an aside, the officer had firm views on cyclists should use cycle lanes etc as they hold up traffic. I had a bit of a rant (polite of course) that cycle lanes are inconvenient and dangerous and the road is often the better option.

The officer has called (about 1hr after watching footage) and said that the vehicle and owner is known to the police (local scum) and that if there is any damage to my bike the most he can do is a section 59 against the car. Any further action would force me to reveal my identity, but as I live rather close to the gang of undesirables this isnt a wise decision. Im feeling very lucky that I kept my cool, otherwise I could have been attacked :sad:

Im now feeling backed into a corner, and unsure of whether to persue a section 59 and risk the gang targetting any cyclists that fit my description, or not persue anything as the section 59 wont adequately solve the underlying bad driving as the driver clearly misuses the car regularly, or ask to speak to a superior officer to see if there is more that can be done whilst keeping my identity safe.

Also, its making me paranoid about riding on the road when the results from the Police (in my opinion) do not reflect the severity of the incidents reported. Instead Im considering just buying a mountain bike for off road and ditching commuting altogether :sad:

Has anyone else had a "I dont think its worth it" kind of moment before?
 

gbb

Legendary Member
Location
Peterborough
Really bad driving mike, really bad luck for you.

I think we all get this sort of thing once in a while, thankfully its rare (IME). Put it behind you, i would, and carry on riding.
 
OP
OP
Armegatron

Armegatron

Active Member
Thanks guys. Im still shook up and angry over the incident and response and Im trying to find some constructive way of venting this. I see the problem as being two different things, one is the lack of response (perhaps not the police's fault) to such incidents, and the other is the change of layout of the junction in question from the relativly safer (in my opinion) two lanes with bike lane (


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9X1H9KVIpI
) to the new disapearing bike lane set up which turns 1 lane into 3 lanes.

Im thinking a good vent could be persuing trying to discuss my concerns with my local MP, perhaps inviting him for a ride to see the state of the driving we have to put up with. Harumph
 

As Easy As Riding A Bike

Well-Known Member
Depressing post. Sorry to hear of your troubles, both with the initial incident, the.. .err... lukewarm response of the police ( the "accidents happen", "cyclists hold up traffic" guff) and the dilemma you have about pursuing this.


On the plus side, writing to your MP - with a link to the vid, and this story of the follow-up - is probably a good way to proceed, if you are so inclined.
 

slowmotion

Quite dreadful
Location
lost somewhere
Mike, it isn't easy, but I would try and forget the whole episode. Mr Plod is being a plonker, but complaining is a long road. The guy in the car may not be very pleasant and may have pals of a similar ilk. If you start ruffling their feathers, and they live locally, it could mean a stack of grief. You don't need to be looking over your shoulder every time you leave your home on the bike.

OK, it isn't what Charles Bronson would do. Try and let it go. Believe me, you will be a lot happier if you can.

Heh, Happy Christmas.:thumbsup:
 

gaz

Cycle Camera TV
Location
South Croydon
See if you can get any traffic cops involved. They are generally on the ball and should be really helpful.
Best of luck and keep those wheels rolling.
 

mgarl10024

Über Member
Location
Bristol
Hi Mike,

All I can suggest is that you let it go (as others have suggested), and try to remember what spurred you on to commuting by bike in the first place and why you enjoy it so much - then think what a shame it would be if someone driving badly took it away from you.
Are there any other further route modifications that you can make to avoid this junction altogether? - this may help you forget what happened (otherwise you might remember it each time you cross the junction).

AC10 / AC20: "Being the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle, owing to the presence..."
One query - isn't a bike mechanically propelled? I know that legs are providing the power, but the drive chain is mechanical? Not making a point - just wondering as not really up with the terms in this area.

Thanks,

MG
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
TBH you are best reporting incidents within 24 hours - just cover's your back. As it wasn't serious (even my off 2 years ago wasn't classed as serious - no major injuries) then you don't have to report it. What you are effectively doing is reporting the driving. As the vehicle is known, it will be logged against his record as another 'notch'.

The driver that chased and tried to run me off the road basically had a nother 'notch' logged on his record - again a known vehicle, but it was my word against his. My act of 'raising my hand' (note no fingers) was classed as agression (or so the driver thought) so I explained to the officer - OK so it's OK for him to then rev his engine, chase after me and try and run me off the road...?

As for the future, I doubt I'll be bothering to keep my cool, and just shout 'oi' etc -

Carry on, there are idiots everywhere.
 
Take a short break from riding if you feel like that... will probably be itching to get back on the bike in a week or two ;)
 

Dan B

Disengaged member
One query - isn't a bike mechanically propelled?
In law, no. My Hughes guide says "Mechanically propelled includes propulsion by internal combustion engine, steam or electricity. A vehicle will remain mechanically propelled providing motive power can readily be applied or re-applied." though somewhat unhelpfully it doesn't say where this is defined. Also "A Motor Vehicle is a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads. A Hovercraft is a motor vehicle (Section 188 Road Traffic Act 1988)."
 
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