It's not just cyclists they pass too close

[wafflycat]

This morning I decided to take a walk to town. Five miles from home to town walking about. Being rural, most of the walk into town, I have to walk on the road as there is no footpath. So I walked along the edge of the road, facing oncoming traffic, as one should when walking along the road. Whilst the great majority of vehicles were driven courteously, with the drivers pulling out to pass me, giving me plenty of room, too many did not. I had drivers pass me who seemed to be oblivious to my presence, as if they had not seen me at all and this was worrying as it was the middle of the day in glorious sunshine and good visibility. Then I had the odd few who obviously saw me as in advance of me they would pull out as if to overtake, but then *before they were passed me*, and in some cases *before they reached level with me*, *they pulled back in again* leaving me to dive into the trees/bushes/ditches at the side of the road.

So it's not just cyclists they are idiots towards - they seem to be idiots to pedestrians too.

Frightening, isn't it, the lack of observation skill and courtesy towards more vulnerable road users...

 

[Amanda P]

In their arrogance, that last group of drivers thought it was your job to dive out of their way, not theirs to avoid you.

 

[Piemaster]

Their behaviour, sadly, doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

I genuinely believe I've become a more patient and considerate driver since I got back on a bike again but I was out in the car a few days ago and passed a youth on a bike a lot closer than I would normally ever consider as his sudden appearance surprised me. A classic SMIDSY? Not really - I was at a roundabout, about to take the first exit when he appeared from in front the car in front of me where he had just cycled the wrong way round the roundabout down the cycle lane quite casually with a phone held to his ear.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Friend of mine take a hefty walking stick on such walks and "casually" swings it about when cars approach.................

 

[Glow worm]

This morning I decided to take a walk to town. Five miles from home to town walking about. Being rural, most of the walk into town, I have to walk on the road as there is no footpath.

I can't help you with the dangerous motons but it occured to me that in Bircham, not too far from you, they had a similar problem with a stretch of road without a path. They approached the landowner(s) on one side of the road who agreed to allow a path in the field parallel to the road but on t'other side of hedge. Worked a treat. If you know who owns the land adjacent to the road it may be worth asking. If it is farmland, the landowner may get some extra cash for allowing access if he/ she is in a scheme called higher level stewardship (HLS).Probably unlikely to work for 5 miles of course but could be worthwhile on the dodgiest bits!

 

[porteous]

I just found this on the Thames valley Police website:




Bad driving puts lives at risk. Thames Valley Police deals with bad driving through either enforcement, or driver education schemes.

Being a victim of bad driving includes any situation where you have been made to feel unsafe by the actions of another road user.

How to report bad driving

If you have been involved in an incident of bad driving which has not ended in a collision, call 0845 8 505 505 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0845 8 505 505 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or visit a local police station to report the incident.

You will need the following information:

• The registration number of the other vehicle.
• Details of an independent witness or witnesses.
• You also must be prepared to go to court to support proceedings.

Police will decide if there is sufficient evidence of an offence which can be investigated. If further information is needed for an investigation, the complainant will be contacted by a member of the Roads Policing department.

If the information provided by the complainant and other witnesses is not enough to enable police to investigate, the complainant will be notified of this result in writing.




Evening All

 

[snorri]

As a driver I feel quite saddened when I see a pedestrian leap on to the verge because they just do not expect me to pull out to pass them. It's as if they think they have no right to be on the road.

 

[NormanD]

So just a normal uneventful stroll then   they become boring when nothing happens!

 

[ufkacbln]

But they'd have passed you even closer if you'd been wearing a helmet!

However they do pass further away if you have a carbon tipped Leki stick!

 

[buggi]

Friend of mine take a hefty walking stick on such walks and "casually" swings it about when cars approach.................

that's brill. now we just need him to come up with something cyclists can use. i might start waving a replica handgun.

 

[HJ]

Lets face it, most driver think (wrongly) that road are for cars and if you are not in a car you should not be there. Sadly there are a lot of people who hold driving licences who really shouldn't

 

[Amanda P]

that's brill. now we just need him to come up with something cyclists can use. i might start waving a replica handgun.

In the past I've suggested carrying a giant comedy can opener across your rear rack, with the sharp end sticking out to the right. Where can I get one?

Lets face it, most driver think (wrongly) that road are for cars and if you are not in a car you should not be there. Sadly there are a lot of people who hold driving licences who really shouldn't

Funny, I've seen sentiments along those lines before somewhere...