How can i get over this...?

[NorcoRichie]

Hi All
A car drove past me at over 50 mph recently, probably about 4 inches away from me. i heard a car coming from behind at speed, so i moved closer to the kerb. i think i would have been hit if i hadn't done this.
i can only assume the driver didn't see me, and sailed past, oblivious to my presence.
the first thing that went through my mind was, no. i cant carry on cycling, the roads are too dangerous these days. i have been trying to get this thought out of my head and enjoy my cycling again, but i find that i actually no longer have that desire to go out on my bike. i just think of that sh 1tty little blue car that almost killed me, and that there are drivers out there that are a danger to us all and shouldn't be on the road (i called 101, they literally couldn't have cared less)
has anyone else been through this?

 

[AndyRM]

Yup, I've had similar.

Road positioning is important for cyclists. Regular shoulder checks and the confidence to hold your line are important. Don't let yourself be bullied off the road!

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Got hit from behind by a car when I was 17. Smashed my knee and my Grandfather who was cycling behind me was killed. I didn't ride after that for 3 years, and when I did start, I used to tense every time a car approached from behind. My solution was a kill or cure journey in which I cycled from Norwich to Romford along the A12. 30 odd years later I am still cycling. I know I could get killed on my trike - but cycling makes me less likely to die of a stroke or heart attack and we all have to die 1 day. 1 thing with a recumbent trike is you really need a mirror to check behind you and I am now used to scanning it when I hear a car approach so I know what they're doing - you may find purchasing a mirror is a good investment too. Don't give in.

 

[welsh dragon]

I think we have all been there at one time or another. As well as the advise above, you can fit a mirror to your handlebars. It won't make drivers give you a wider space , but at least you will be able to see them earlier than you can at the moment, and can take evasive action sooner. As andy RM says, dont let them frighten you into not riding your bike anymore.

 

[Banjo]

Got hit from behind by a car when I was 17. Smashed my knee and my Grandfather who was cycling behind me was killed. I didn't ride after that for 3 years, and when I did start, I used to tense every time a car approached from behind. My solution was a kill or cure journey in which I cycled from Norwich to Romford along the A12. 30 odd years later I am still cycling. I know I could get killed on my trike - but cycling makes me less likely to die of a stroke or heart attack and we all have to die 1 day. 1 thing with a recumbent trike is you really need a mirror to check behind you and I am now used to scanning it when I hear a car approach so I know what they're doing - you may find purchasing a mirror is a good investment too. Don't give in.

Thats an incredible story of overcoming fears crerated by a traumatic experience.

Mirrors can definitely increase your confidence on the road. Theres a theory that overtaking cars give you as much space as you give yourself so keeping close to the curb encourages them to squeeze by even closer.

Stick with it @NorcoRichie Claim your space on the road dont be bullied and your confidence will return.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I absolutely agree with the above. Riding assertively will keep you safer. Not deliberately holding back traffic - but giving yourself a foot or two from the kerb and more if for example you are approaching a squeeze point such as a traffic island. Pull in nearer to the kerb to let cars pass you, when it is safe for you to do so. Motorists are conditioned to look for the car in front - so when you tuck yourself right into the kerb, you are in their peripheral vision. Look up "primary and secondary position" to find out more.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

....oh and when you look up primary and secondary position - don't blame me if your search engine doesn't take you to the ROSPA website! :-)

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

So long as you are taking all the usual precautions, making every effort to be seen, avoiding dangerous roads and junctions, not wearing headphones or using your mobile etc, then the chances of being hit by a car are much the same as for a pedestrian carefully crossing the road. And there's plenty of enjoyment to be had off-road cycling in any case.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

So long as you are taking all the usual precautions, making every effort to be seen, avoiding dangerous roads and junctions, not wearing headphones or using your mobile etc, then the chances of being hit by a car are much the same as for a pedestrian carefully crossing the road. And there's plenty of enjoyment to be had off-road cycling in any case.

All good advise, however, I do wear headphones and I can still hear cars coming or hold a conversation with a cycling mate. I guess the type of headphones and volume make a difference.

I do see people on the road that make zero effort to be seen, all dressed in very dark colours and cycling at night. I have even seen people cycling with no lights in the rain. I think that following a cycling track gives them a sense of false security..

Taking primary position when approaching a roundabout big enough for one car is something I always do after seeing a nasty incident.

I don't use a mirror but I think I'd like one, sometimes the road surface is so bad that quickly looking over your shoulder, when preparing to turn, can get you into trouble and loose control. I can't see the benefit of constantly looking back though as I think it would intimidate me seeing vehicles approaching and make me move closer to the kerb.

 

[Sara_H]

Hi All
A car drove past me at over 50 mph recently, probably about 4 inches away from me. i heard a car coming from behind at speed, so i moved closer to the kerb. i think i would have been hit if i hadn't done this.
i can only assume the driver didn't see me, and sailed past, oblivious to my presence.
the first thing that went through my mind was, no. i cant carry on cycling, the roads are too dangerous these days. i have been trying to get this thought out of my head and enjoy my cycling again, but i find that i actually no longer have that desire to go out on my bike. i just think of that sh 1tty little blue car that almost killed me, and that there are drivers out there that are a danger to us all and shouldn't be on the road (i called 101, they literally couldn't have cared less)
has anyone else been through this?

I'm in a similar position to you. I was knocked over in a deliberate hit and run in July.
I couldn't ride for a while due to injuries, but since I've got back on my bike I've altered my route to work drastically to avoid roads as much as possible using cycle paths where I can, I've been using the pavement quite a lot where I can't avoid busy roads.
I haven't taken my son out on the bike at all, I daren't.
So sorry, I don't know what the answer is.

 

[John the Monkey]

I've been knocked off three times, had a driver stop and threaten to punch me, and the various near misses, tailgating and close passes (both as "punishment passes" and inattentive/indifferent driving) that characterise cycling in Britain. One of those three offs, several cars drove past me as I lay on the pavement (I'd fallen on to it) winded.

I ask myself the same questions the op does, and I'm not sure I have a better answer than that (most of the time) I like cycling enough to cancel out the bad stuff.

Where it's been possible to, I've used different routes, or walked dodgy bits until my mojo returned. I didn't ride the same route at the same time that I was threatened for a couple of years.

Mrs M often says "It's happened, it'll happen again, just ride." Which, I guess, characterises cycling in Britain fairly well - I feel somewhat on edge throughout every ride on road, and I ride 6 days a week, most weeks on a mix of rural, suburban and urban roads.

One of the times I was knocked off, I was riding home somewhat gingerly (I'd escaped without much more than bruising and road rash on my elbow, luckily), and got a close pass on the crest of a hill - I did a "Why" sort of a gesture to the driver, and got the finger from him in return. That was oddly helpful - I just thought, "Ah, that's the way it is" and figured I had to either deal with it, or stop riding.

 

[byegad]

Another recumbent triker here. I use three mirrors, one on each side of the trike and a glasses mounted one for scanning my rear 180. positioning is everything IMHO. too close to the kerb and you have nowhere to go if a car gets too close, too far out and you generate the loony-tunes into trying to force you to the left as they pass. However by and large a recumbent trike gets a shed load of extra room from passing motorists compared to a DF bike.

I still get the odd close pass but very few in a given year are of the underwear spoiling kind, maybe one or two a year get close enough for me to wonder if they've seen me, my flag or the road for that matter.

 

[ufkacbln]

I think the fact you are asking this question indicates that you have thought about this, and want confirmation that your decision to keep cycling is sensible.

It is.

These experiences are unpleasant, feel dangerous and do make you think, however if we can learn from them and putthat learning into practice we end up safer

Please keep cycling and do not let this incident put you off

 

[Racing roadkill]

I recently had a to do with a car hitting me. Some drivers just drive around in a daze, they just do. Make yourself as visible as you can, position yourself to give maximum visibility, pays yer money, takes yer chances. Although it sounds on paper, like a bad idea, don't move to the gutter if a car is approaching from the rear. That will actually cause a problem, because you're more likely to wobble due to drains, potholes, debris etc.

 

[John the Monkey]

I... Although it sounds on paper, like a bad idea, don't move to the gutter if a car is approaching from the rear. That will actually cause a problem, because you're more likely to wobble due to drains, potholes, debris etc.

But don't hold primary to the exclusion of good sense either - one of the advantages of the position is the escape room it gives you if / when some idiot decides they're overtaking anyway.