Idiot tailgating...

[thomas]

On the way back from work today, got into UNI. Decided to go around the block before locking my bike up. I start going down the hill and there's a car a little way behind. Get closer to the bottom and he is (no joke) 3 feet from me. I slow right down and tell him to back off. Carry on cycling but he doesn't.

I then get off my bike and we have a bit of an arguement, his bumper was on my rear wheel at this stage, or at least nearly touching it. I know this as I was going to thump his bumper with my wheel, I didn't though. At this point I' off the bike and he's reversing around me. I'm worried he'll just run me over so let him past.

Catch him up in another minute. Make a sarcasic comment and as he looks like he's going to get out of the car and thump me I go up the the campus security office. The policeman was there which was handy.

The policeman and a security officer went to the car, but he'd gone...so they clamped it. He then has to go speak to them and say what has happened in his point of view...and the policeman will give him 'words' (ppfft).

A bit of a fob off really I know, but he got clamped which made me laugh.

The footage dosen't really show a whole lot but maybe worth a watch anyway.


View: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M3KFuw3wdZc

 

[BentMikey]

Oooh, I hate it when drivers do that. The last time, a white BMW backed off sharpish when I motioned to them that they were too close.

 

[thomas]

It slowed him down more than just waiting though. I know there was someone on here to did an emergency stop to make a point about a tailgating car. If I'd of done that I'm 100% sure I'd of been taken off but I didn't really feel like scraping my face across the road.

If anything like this happens again and the campus police officer doesn't take it more seriously than he has been, "well, for the first time I'll have words with him", I'll be having words with him to buck his ideas up. The campus security guards are always really nice and do acknowledge the problem where as I find him to be such a fob off.

One of the security guards was a bit jelous about my camera and knew all about it

 

[hackbike 666]

If I feel threatened by a motorist for any reason generally I will try to get out of the way or pullover.

 

[downfader]

Yep been tailgated too. Several times, and I usually just turn around and stare at their bumper for a second and they get the idea. Theres no good reasons and many, many bad ones for doing it.

Its weird. Do they think that we on bikes are any better at braking than they are in their ABS equipped saloons?

 

[peanut]

people just don't think do they. Its really scary. There is no way they could react in time let alone brake.

I see drivers tailgating each other at 80mph+ on the way home with less than a car length between them. They are constantly on and off their brakes the whole time

I think they should be made to re-take their tests and have special tuition to explain the danger and risks.

Its really not a pleasant experience cycling anymore is it . I'm just anticipating some stupid driving all the time

 

[Twiggy]

If there is no one else on the road I'll just slow down.
I'd rather people overtake me, in a safe manner, than sit on my rear wheel.

Though if they are doing it in traffic, I tend to find standing on my peddles and throwing the bike from side to side works wonders for aquireing space.
Might partly be the sudden increased visiblity of the inherent instablity of the bicycle, combined with the assumption that I'm not a very profient rider at all.

 

[thomas]

Well I've emailed the campus security and police officer the video so they can take a look at it.

I asked to be told what happens, don't know if I will be. The driver's car was clamped so he'd have to go speak to them.

The policeofficer on campus delt with a incident where I had to hit the side of a bus as it overtook so close. He got the bus companies standard responce of "identifiying the driver..." so I don't hold much hope.

 

[downfader]

Well I've emailed the campus security and police officer the video so they can take a look at it.

I asked to be told what happens, don't know if I will be. The driver's car was clamped so he'd have to go speak to them.

The policeofficer on campus delt with a incident where I had to hit the side of a bus as it overtook so close. He got the bus companies standard responce of "identifiying the driver..." so I don't hold much hope.

Good luck. With a bit of luck the guy will get a little shaken by the Officer's presence and perhaps realise how dangerous, or indeed how threatening, he was being.

 

[Amanda P]

Thomas, didn't you know, when a driver wants to get past, you're supposed to submissively creep into the gutter, or get off your bike altogether. After all, you're an inferior form of life and you should act like it.

That's clearly what your fat man in a blue shirt thought, anyway.

 

[wlc1]

Er...... a police officer at Uni ? ? ? Why ? ?

 

[thomas]

He's a PCSO... I'm not sure if that's one of those fake ones or not? There's just the one, on site one.

 

[wlc1]

ah, a plastic copper.

Makes sense now.

You do realise that he will have no powers to deal with the driver don't you. He can't even issue a parking ticket, can't perform a search, can't detain anyone, infact he can't do anything apart from report it to the "real" police - much the same as you could do.

Either way I hope the driver thinks again.

PS - my uncle is a lecturer at UEA

 

[thomas]

PS - my uncle is a lecturer at UEA

I assume he's not bald, fat and doesn't wear a blue shirt?

I might push this and say I want to file a proper report about it. Make the driver squerm a little bit.

 

[Will1985]

I watched the link straightaway and didn't pay attention to the title or subsequent posts, but thought "I recognise those buildings!"

Are you a student? I'm only back in Norwich outside of term times.

We have regular police patrols and PCSOs on foot, car and bike around the campus during the week. A large security team does it the rest of the time.